Opening day for the 2014 season at the Rock Creek Market served as the venue for the announcement of a $25,000 New Horizons for Seniors grant to the West Boundary Foods and Resources Society (FAR). The grant will fund their Seed to Table – Passing on the Knowledge that will see hand-on gardening and skill building mixed with many exciting workshops and programs over the coming year.
FAR President Vivien Browne said the group is relatively new. It grew out of work done over the past few years by Food Sharing.
Lilly Zekanovic, Constituency Assistant for BC Southern Interior MP Alex Atamanenko attended on his behalf and read a short statement.
“It is truly wonderful to see such a forward thinking and inclusive project being undertaken to make the food security of all of the community such a high priority.
“May we always be thankful and give support to our local farmers and producers, without whom our communities would be so much poorer.”
MLA Linda Larson was there and told the assembled crowd, “I am a firm believer that we should be feeding ourselves. That a country can feed itself is the most important thing you can possibly do. Congratulations to you for all your hard work.”
Area E Director Bill Baird, who has supported Food Sharing in the past, was also on hand and offered congratulations. “Just keep up the grant writing and I will do what I can do. This is a worthwhile project and its’ success is evident. Thanks for participating in this and keep it up.”
Erika Tafel is the Grant Administrator for Seed to Table. “I really look forward to working with the society and everyone else. I am available to speak with you if you have ideas or anything like that. I am available please feel free to contact me and I will try to incorporate everything that people believe is important into this project.” Her phone number is 250-528-1000.
FAR also has a Facebook page. It defines the group as “a new organization focused on establishing methodology for implementing and formulating a strong more resilient food security network within the Boundary region of B.C.
Coffee and cake (decorated by Mc- Mynn’s Family Foods) was served to all after the speeches.
FAR is looking forward to harvesting food from gardens located at Dale and Pat Pownall’s, the Midway Community Garden in Midway and, in a new partnership between FAR and the Kettle Valley Recreation Society, in new raised beds being set up at the little red school house.
Tafel is also working on school projects and encouraging individual gardeners to get involved by adopting a seedling tray that will be replanted to the FAR gardens.
Another project is Grow-a-Row where home gardeners are encourage to plant and harvest an extra row or two for the community.
The next meeting of FAR will be on May 31 at Midway Seniors Centre at 6:30 p.m.
They will also be at Garden Days at Freeman’s Country Store on May 9th.