For the first time in years, I did not plant a veggie garden. I simply didn’t have the time in the spring, so as priorities go, it got cut. I’m an average green thumb; my gardens aren’t overly prolific but I usually get a reasonable harvest.
But did I ever pick a bad year not to plant a garden. For months now, I’ve been watching, enviously I admit, as the citizens of Squamish proudly display their incredible garden bounty online. It’s been a constant parade of luscious vegetables and fruits ready for eating, an abundance of nourishment fresh from Squamish soil.
Squamish used to be a farming community. In fact, farming was the valley’s first major industry dating back to 1890 until the First World War, when much of Brackendale near what is now Eagle Run were hop farms, and Squamish Valley hops made some of the finest ales and lagers in the British Empire. Today there is a resurrection of sorts, as two young entrepreneurs begin to farm hops in the Upper Squamish Valley, looking to capitalize on the rise of the craft brewing industry in the Pacific Northwest.
Now this is where I could easily get distracted and write about craft brewing and our very own pioneers of the microbrew movement, Howe Sound Brewing, or Gillespie’s, the new distillery in the business park, or the locally roasted coffees by Britannia Beach’s Gallileo Coffee Co. and newcomer Counterpart Coffee. I’ve heard of another microbrewery opening up in Squamish so suffice it to say, there is a burgeoning craft brewing-distilling-roasting movement, which is adding fantastic cache to our economic tapestry and tourism feast. But I did want to focus on food, so I will leave it at that.
About three years ago, Squamish Climate Action Network brought forward a Squamish food charter for council’s consideration. It was endorsed at the time but not officially adopted by District of Squamish council until this summer. The charter sets out five principles to foster community economic development, ecological and human health, equal access to healthy foods, and collaboration, participation and celebration.
Our food charter lays out foundational values and principles for more significant policy documents like Squamish Official Community Plan, which will be going through a comprehensive review in 2015-16. I’d also like to see us partner with the regional district in developing an agricultural plan to further address sustainable economic development, emerging market opportunities, specific land uses, food security and access issues.
But in the meantime, let’s celebrate our local, lovingly harvested food, tradition and community Sept. 12 at the Brackendale Fall Fair, where I’m sure to get lots of inspiration for next year’s veggie garden. Let the zucchini races begin!
