Tag Archives: Permaculture

Food, Gardening

Wildflower Cidery: A Unique Model For A Small Island

In this morning’s interview we hear from Sara Stewart of Wildflower Produce and Cidery, near the southern tip of Cortes Island.

Sara Stewart: “I’m not a religious person, but when you depend on the natural world you become deeply ingrained in it. I used to think I was building connections with the natural world when I lit a fire on Imbolc (the Ancient Celtic beginning of Spring) and celebrated Soma. I now find that rituals or ceremonies can disconnect you from nature. So I try to cultivate the spirituality of a squirrel. I don’t see wildlife celebrating Imbolc—you just notice what’s happening in your body and respond accordingly.” 

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Community, Health, Spirituality

Heather Deeth: Hollyhock’s new Interim Executive Director

As of this morning, Heather Deeth has been the Interim Executive Director of Hollyhock for 19 days. Cortes Currents caught up with her on Sunday to talk about the changes in her life, as well as what’s happening in one of the most dynamic retreat centres on the West Coast. 

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Food Security, Water

Rainwater harvesting: A more responsible way to water your garden

Quadra ICAN sells 250 gallon water storage tanks at cost ($200 each). 

According to Kris Wellstein, from the ICAN water security team, they have sold about 200 so far. She connected Cortes Currents with two Heriot Bay residents to get further details about their installations.  

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Food, Food Security

Food sustainability strategies for the West Coast’s weird weather

Four articles from qathet Living, via the Local Journalism Initiative

By Pieta Woolley

Even though she lives on a shallow well, Cathy Ickringill kept her garden going strong last summer. It flourished through the record-setting June heat dome and even the drought that followed. 

It helps, of course, that Cathy is the nursery manager at Mother Nature – so she knows a thing or two about gardening in weird weather. One key, she said, is shade cloth. The black, see-through fabric is suspended above the outdoor nursery at the gardening store, partially covering the plants. This year, the store will add more, to protect the whole nursery. 

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Food Security, Water

What Wicking Beds Offer water challenged gardeners

By Mike Gall

Quadra Island’s demo wicking bed system is up and running. This educational demonstration gardening system explores how small landholders, senior citizens needing raised beds, or renters may experience growing abundant, nutrient dense food within the smallest possible footprint while using the least amount of water. The technique is widely used in Australia and other low rainfall regions or where access to water is restricted during dry summer months. The beds themselves are constructed from reused Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) totes and integrate a passive water storage technique eliminating water evaporation. Plants draw water from their root systems instead of soaking in from surface watering. 

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