Hello everyone!
The seasons have shifted and here at the farm I am feeling energized by the return of Spring. I don’t know about you, but the sun on my face feels especially warm and welcome this year. There is lots to catch you up on, so I will dive right in.
I have spent a lot of time this month staring at this incredible expanse, imagining all that it was and what it will become.
Our New Location
As many of you know, Fireweed Farms was previously located on leased land in Brentwood Bay. Last fall that land was sold, the farm closed, and Jessy and Ravensong Seeds and Herbals relocated to the Comox Valley. I have spent the winter in search of new land, and am delighted to say that the farm has a new home! I am incredibly fortunate to have been chosen as part of the Farmpreneur program at the Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture in North Saanich. We are a group of seven individuals growing a variety of different crops, all in the start-up phase of our businesses. Through this co-operative program we have access to support from seasoned farmers, business and community orientated mentors, and each other. It’s so rad!
Below is an excerpt from Sandown’s website on the history of the land.
“In 1857, just over 160 years ago, brothers John and Mark Coles set up a trading store and became the first resident settlers to the area. Around them, and since time immemorial, the W ̱SÁNEĆ people have practised their cultural version of land management & stewardship. Their medicines, foods & materials came largely from this land and waters – a truly robust local food system!
Geographically, the Sandown site sits between two village sites: The original Tseycum village called W̱SE¸IKEM, or Tsehum Harbour, on the east side of the peninsula, and the later village site on the west side, where the Tseycum community lives today.
As North Saanich became a centre for agricultural activity, the lands now known as Sandown became part of the 500 acre (!) Glamorgan Farm. The handsome buildings from this historic family farm are still in operation, right across the road. Aerial photographs from 1952 show the first signs of work on two racetracks which became the Sandown Racetrack. Horse races took place here for over 50 years, and many locals have fond memories of the excitement of those races.
In 2014, the District of North Saanich approved the transfer of this Agricultural Land Reserve land to the municipality as part of the priority actions in the District's Agricultural Strategy. After a period of community consultation and input called Vision Sandown (led by the superlative local food organisation CRFAIR), land title was transferred in November 2017. There was strong community sentiment for Sandown to serve as a site for local food production, teaching & learning, supporting emerging famers, and land and water stewardship.”
2021 is the first year that this vision will begin to take shape. The board and society members are working tirelessly, as there is so much to do. To be in the start-up phase means that there is a lot of enthusiasm, huge potential and a collective dream for the future. It also means that all of the infrastructure is going in right now - and things take time to get done. Putting in a greenhouse, power, irrigation, workable soil - everything is a bit of a waiting game right now - and yet spring waits for no one! Normally many of the plants Fireweed carries would have been seeded last fall/early spring or divided off in early spring from new growth on the farm. This season I am starting everything (including all the plants for the farm) from seed. While I am truly delighted by how much of my time is spent with a handful of seeds right now, the circumstances of space and timing require that I scale back a bit from what you may be used to. As I take this season to re-establish the farm and inventory, please know that I am working towards the same extensive selection of medicinal plant starts previously available. I welcome your input so please reach out to me if there are particular herbs that you would like to add to your garden. I will do my best to grow them for you!
With that in mind, there are still lots of things poking their heads up in the greenhouse and I have an initial plant list. I will be opening the nursery for plant sales in the first week of May. Please contact me directly for orders at fireweedandyarrow@gmail.com.
Plant List Spring/Summer 2021
Alfalfa
Meadow Arnica
Wild Arugula
Ashwaganda
Camphor Basil
Holy Basil
Bee Balm
Borage
Burdock
Calendula
German Chamomile
Roman Chamomile
Chives
Echinacea
Elecampane
Feverfew
Western Goldenrod
Coastal Gumweed
Hyssop
Lemon Balm
Lupin
Marshmallow
Wild Mint
Spearamint
Mojito Mint
Motherwort
Mugwort
Mullein
Broadleaf Plantian
Narrowleaf Plantain
California Poppy
Clary Sage
St. John’s Wort
Self Heal
Blue Skullcap
Spilanthes
1000 Year Old Tobacco
Valerian
Western Yarrow
Thank you for your time and happy growing!
Stephanie
Fireweed Farms, Victoria, BC, Canada
Powered by Squarespace