I know a place in the heart of the Creek that has gathered together a good deal of the magic of the Gumboot Nation and made it manifest, where the love of the Earth and the love of people come together in a special way. In a world where we feel helpless to do anything to solve real problems, a group of dedicated people have put their hands into the ground and are literally growing solutions to serious issues on a tiny farm right in our midst. The One Straw Society. Since 1995, with local food security as a primary motivator, One Straw works to bring knowledge of how our food comes to us and to strengthen the connections between producer and the consumer. The work they do is too vast to cover in 500 words, but here are two projects that they do for our community.
Now in its third year, the Crop Circle Community Food Box Program, a partnership of local farms, puts fresh fruits and veggies into local kitchens every week. The idea is simple: pay a flat rate at the beginning of the growing season for months of food as it ripens. The upfront money allows farmers to plan ahead, invest in infrastructure and ultimately increase our local food supply. This program is a smart way of investing in our local food system, supporting our producers and building a resiliency in to better handle impacts of natural disasters and supply chain disruptions. In previous years, there were grants that made it easy to subsidize the bounty offered for those in need (In 2021, approximately 30 per cent), now there is an option to purchase a week, a month or a whole season of food to sponsor a senior or family who would otherwise not be able to receive the box. Neighbours helping neighbours, I love it! The link to register for Crop Circle Food Box is onestraw.ca/cfb.
Seedy Saturday has become a whole seedy month! This event is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., every Saturday in March, with half right here in the Gumboot Nation, offering opportunities to buy, connect and learn about growing, sustainability, seeds, and community.
- Saturday, March 5 at Quality Garden & Pet, Pratt Rd, Gibsons.
- Saturday, March 12, “Farm, food, seed & garden market with Seed Exchange” Roberts Creek Community Hall, the classic Seedy Saturday!
- Saturday, March 19, Seaside Centre & Streetside Garden.
- Saturday, March 26, behind the Gumboot Restaurant, onsite at the Tiny Farm. Tour the Tiny Farm, connect and learn from seed savers.
With about 460 members, the One Straw Society now has charitable status in Canada and the U.S.! If you know someone who would like to support this essential work, they will receive a tax receipt for their contribution.
Become a member, be the change you want to see in the world! Go to onestraw.ca for all the info that won’t fit here.
And thanks to Steve Reed and Brian Rossiter, the Tiny Barn is now up! The Tiny Farm, now with extra “cute”!
