September 2012 Issue 46

SEPTEMBER 2012 ISSUE 46

• Fabulous Fall Food Events • Top 5 Reasons to Drink Local Wine • Fresh Pastas Made Right Here • Cowichan, Have You Any Wool?

• The Valley’s Best Kept Secret For Relaxation

FREE

COWICHAN VALLEY FOOD FARMS ART EVENTS RECREATION COMMUNITY 1

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Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

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Published by Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine Sheila & Richard Badman Contact us at: editor@cowichanvalleyvoice.com 250 746 9319 - 936 Arbutus Avenue, Duncan V9L 5X4

Visit us online at www.cowichanvalleyvoice.com Copy Editor

Maeve Maguire Advertising Enquiries Please Call Adrienne Richards 250 510 6596 or 250 748 0926 e-mail adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com *Non Profit Community Ad Rates available please enquire.

Happy 4th Birthday Cowichan Valley Voice!

COMMUNITY CALENDAR LISTINGS ARE FREE! Please upload your information through our website Please include: Date & Event Title IN SUBJECT Be advised that space is limited to up to 2 spots per business and is prioritized by 1st sent, 1st printed.

Next EVENTS deadline SEPT 15th for OCT 2012 Issue.

E-mail to: events@cowichanvalleyvoice.com Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine reserves the right to omit and/or edit submitted listings due to space limitations Valley Voices Bill Jones, Jo Ludwig, Raelynn Gibson, Rick Dennis, Margit Nellemann, Nicolette Genier, Lynn Shortt, Nathalie Chambers, Shari Patterson, Vivienne Challandes, Leola Witt McNie, Hiary Else, Ali Bertin, Grant Waldmann,Victor Vesely, Paulette Tarnawski, Rommy Verlaan, John Fowler, Pam Stiles, Sandra Beggs, Bruce Wood, Deborah Fahlmann, Matt Horn, Sarah Cosman, Ramona Froehle-Schacht, Chris Carruthers, Jim Musselwhite, Everett Dixon, Georgina Webber, Pip Woodcock, Carolyne Austin, Tracey Hanson, Tania Gardiner Walters, Ajay Appelaar, David Coulson, Jean Crowder, Simon Pidcock, Cari Burdett, Sheila Jones, Asrael, Sue McKitrick & The Lovely Georgia Nicols We welcome your story ideas & photo submissions, however Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine reserves the right to omit and/or edit all submissions for space, clarity, content and style. The opinions expressed in Valley Voice Magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, publishers or other contirbutors.

Valley Voice Magazine is distributed through 450 + select locations throughout the Cowichan Valley- Malahat, Mill Bay, Shawnigan Lake, Cherry Point, Duncan, Cowichan Bay, Crofton, Chemainus and Salt Spring Island and to Cowichan Lake, Ladysmith,Victoria, Tofino and from the Victoria International Airport Arrivals Hall.

Cover Image Homemade Blueberry Wine

Advertise regionally to over 29,000 local readers from over 450+ locations!

Contact Adrienne Richards for info about Gift Guides & Holiday Season Ad Promotions

Now Booking OCT 2012 Issue 47 AD Deadline: SEPT 18th 250 510 6596 adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com

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Our Community Cowichan Exhibition 5 September Community Calendar 6 Enterprising Women: Sandra Beggs 21 Cowichan, Cowichan, Have You Any Wool? 26 Weaving In The Cowichan Valley 27 What Would Ms. Polly Do? 28 All About Our Pets 31 An Update From West Coast Men’s Support Society 37 Horizons Program For Women 40 Rethink, Redesign, Repurpose 42 Crowder’s Corner 43 Websites, Emails and Verbal Lint 43 Cowichan Valley Feature Listings 44 Cowichan Valley Directory 46-47

Local Food and Recipes Btuce’s Kitchen Salmon & Apple Recipe 9 Cowichan Eating:Feast of Fields 10 Chef ’s Survival Challenge 11 Top 5 Reasons To Drink Local Wine 12 Local Handmade Pasta 14 Cowichan Bay Seafood Clam Linguine 15 Island Farmhouse Poultry: Wild Mushroom Chicken 17 Making Pasta at Home 18 Harvest Dinner at Birds Eye Cove 21 Farm & Garden Pages Make Like A Squirrel And Plan Ahead For Winter 16 Urban Farm: Dirt Farming 30 Should I Test My Hay? 32 Helpful Garden 33 Pruning Lavender 34 Community Farm Store Pages 38 -39 Home & Design Farms and Cost Effective Solar Solutionss 7 Designing Green: It’s Time To Bottle! 22 September Event Highlights Lake Cowichan Salmon Mushroom Festival 8 Bob’s Annual Flea Market 21 Hand Dyed Clothing Sale 27 St John’s September Festival 32 Art, Music, Theatre Time To Tango in Maple Bay 19 Chickens at The Chemainus Theatre Festival 20 CRAFT Cowichan Valley Artisans 25 Singing Connects Us 29 Talking Arts: Margit Nellemann 34 Sport, Recreation & Healthy Living Cycle Therapy: Cycling Nutrition 17 Whale Report From Cowichan Bay 24 Green Living: Gratitude 40 Body, Mind & Soul Coach in Your Corner 42 Cowichan Valley’s Best Kept Secret 36 Love Food and Help Digestion 41 September Horoscope with Georgia Nicols 45 Outnumbered by Sue McKitrick 45

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Cowichan Exhibiton

September 7,8 and 9th Exhibition Grounds 7380 Trans Canada Hwy www.cowex.ca

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Taste Of Morocco

Sunday September 9 1pm, 4pm, 7pm seatings $10/person Teafarm 8350 Richards Trail North Cowichan Limited seating. Please call to reserve. 250 748 3811 www.teafarm.ca

fter more than a century of putting on an annual show, you might think the Cowichan Exhibition would have run out of ideas. Not true! In 2012, its 144th Experience Morroccan tea year, you’ll want to be up culture with an authentic at New the grounds every day of tea service and treatFarm for the Location! Providence the three-day Fair weekend. senses. Moroccan mint tea That’s the only way you’ll consists of green gunpowder Classes – Saturday discover what’s newWednesday PLUS tea, fresh picked spearmint, see all of your favourites. The sugar and centuries of traditheme for this year is ‘Bounty tion. Witness the long skinny of The Valley – What’s in spout of the traditional handA New Willsilver Open As YOUR Basket?’Restaurant Come on by hammered Moroccan Part Of Thisteapot Program for the Milking Contest, Main offering a dramatic Stage music, Sheep to Shawl pour into trays of tall, slim competition, the West Coast glasses. Enjoy an exotic and Chainsaw Artists, MNP Grape colourful journey to North Stomp, Zucchini Races, Cock Africa. Teafarm is your local Crowing Contest, Sheep dogs destination in the Cowichan shows, hundreds of exhibits to share tea culture from in the Mellor Hall, plus barns, around the world. midway and of course the tractor pull - and so much more! Some things are old; some things are new…they’re all here for you For more information, please contact the Office at 250 748-0822.

See you at the fair!

10 Month Program Starts February 4, 2013

3 Pm – 945 Pm

Culinary Arts Certificate

Professional Cook Level 1 and Level 2 Apprenticeship Training

New LOCATION! Providence Farm Classes

Wednesday – Saturday

3 pm – 945 pm

February 4, 2013 – November 22, 2013

Foodsafe Required

Call Student Services At

250 746-3509

For Admission Requirements! www.cc.viu.ca

Eat Local, Learn Local!

Watch for opening date of the new restaurant in Spring 2013.

Thank you for choosing Valley Voice advertisers FIRST! They help keep the community informed.

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Community Calendar

September 2012 15 All Day

Great Lake Walk - 56 km walk around Lake Cowichan Starts at Youbou, ends at Town of Lake Cowichan

1 & 2 1:30 International Vulture Awareness Day! and 3:30 pm www.the-raptors.com 250-746-0372

15 10am -3pm

St. John’s Anglican September Festival - Free 250-743-3095 www.stjohnscobblehill.ca

1, 2 & 7 1pm

Noisy Mime Fall Season 2012 Open Auditions Sound Advice Pioneer Square Mall,Mill Bay 250-709-5239

15 & 16

Salt Spring Island Farmers Institute Fall Fair 351 Rainbow Road, Salt Spring Island, ssifi@shaw.ca

1 11- 4pm

Hand Crafted Clothing Sale Ali Bertin, Hilary Else Upstairs @ Alderlea Farm Cafe, Glenora

16 1- 4pm

Feast of Fields at Alderlea Farm www.feastoffields.com 3390 Glenora Rd, Duncan $85Adult /$15Kids /Undr 6 Free

1 6:30pm

Sounds of Delight Central Park, Lake Cowichan By Donation

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Adult Acting Classes Begin - All Skill Levels Welcome!

Island Savings Centre, Duncan 250 755 5768

1 - 29

Desmond Pratt And Geoff Hulme On Show at Imagine That! 251 Craig St, Duncan

16 7-8:30pm

Sacred Chant Circle @ Rivendell Yurt (by donation) for more info sdbartram@gmail.com/250-748-2089

1 - 30 Noon

Cowichan Valley Artisans on Show Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre, Cowichan Bay

16 All Day

2012 Cowichan Valley Kidney Walk Cowichan Valley Sportsplex, Duncan

1,8,15,22,29 10am -2pm

Honeymoon Bay Outdoor Market Coffee Mill Site, Honeymoon Bay 250-749-7233

17 7 -8:30 pm

Chakra Yoga Class @ Rivendell Yurt

2,9,16,23,30 10am -3pm

South Cowichan Farmers Market 4485 Trans Canada Highway at Koksilah Road

21 Opening Night

Chickens by Lucia Frangione - Rural musical comedy Chemainus Theatre Festival 1800 565 7738

3 8pm

Luke and Tess Pretty - nujazz/world/electronic journey Duncan Garage Showroom www.lukeandtesspretty.com

21 opening 7 -10pm

light CLAY+WOOD a fall equinox exhibit of the art of lighting Margit Nellemann Studio 8350 Richards Trail

3,10,17,24 11am -1pm

Community Soup’s On - FREE Youbou Community Church Building 10648 Youbou Road

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United Nations World Peace Day Chemainus Peace Pole, Info Henry: 250. 710. 7594

3,10,17,24 Doors 4:45

BINGO Loonie Pot, G-Ball, Bonanza & 50/50 Draw Chemainus Seniors Drop-in Centre Everyone Welcome!

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7 -9pm

Our Water, Our Life INSPIRE! Art Gallery Opening Shawnigan Lake Village, www.InspireShawnigan.com

5 2pm

Bonnie Schmaus Show Portals Gallery, Island Savings Centre, Duncan

22 10am -4pm

Share the Harvest: a family day of food and fun Kinsmen Park, Alderlea Street, Duncan

5 8pm

Bocephus King gravel-raw hobo-rock / jazz-noir torch Duncan Garage Showroom www.bocephusking.ca

23 1 - 6pm

INSPIRE! Festival of Arts, Culture & Heritage Shawnigan Lake Village, www.InspireShawnigan.com

6 6 -8pm

Kerry Park Skating Registration Kerry Park Recreation Centre fivefeet@shaw.ca

22 9am -2pm

Bob’s Annual Flea Market Whippletree Junction, Duncan

6 8pm

The Celtic Cross: A Victoria Fringe Play Duncan Garage Showroom www.bocephusking.ca

24 7pm

The Artist - Winner 5X 2012 Academy Awards Cowichan Theatre, James Street Duncan Benefits Hospice Society

7, 8, 9

144th Cowichan Exhibtion Exhibition Park, Trans Canada Hwy

25 10am -1pm

CGC Preserve the Harvest Workshop #5 Warmland House 2579 Lewis St, Duncan 250-748-8506

8 -16

Cowichan Wine & Culinary Festival Various Locations http://wines.cowichan.net

25 7pm

Challenges in Wildlife Photography Wally Chinn Hardwick Hall, High Street at 3rd Avenue, Ladysmith

8 7pm

Pop Culture and Fine Art of Illustration OPENING Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery, 610 Osyter Bay Dr

25 8pm

Dress Rehearsal Tuesday For The Love of Words Duncan Garage Showroom with Bill Levity $5 / $10

27 7pm

Advanced Care Planning Cowichan Valley Hospice Oceanfront Suites Resort, Cowichan Bay

28 10am - 3pm

Kaye Smillie Show Portals Gallery, Island Savings Centre, Duncan

1st - 8th

Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Chemainus Theatre Festival 1800 565 7738

9 seatings at Taste Of Morocco Experience Morroccan tea culture TeaFarm 8350 Richards Trail www.teafarm.ca 250 748 3811 1,4 & 7pm

11:45am

pre-register sdbartram@gmail.com/250-748-2089

9 8pm

Jane Siberry - PENDING CONFIRMATION $30 Adv Duncan Garage Showroom www.janesiberry.com

28 8pm

Lola Parks Trio Female Songwriter Of The Year 2012 Duncan Garage Showroom www.lolaparks.com

9 8pm

West Virginia’s John Lilly plays at The Sussmans www.shadygrove.ca or call for tix 250-929-8226

29 & 30 10 am -4pm

13th annual Lake Cowichan Salmon Mushroom Festival Centennial Hall, 309 South Shore Road $2

11 10am -1pm

CGC Preserve the Harvest Workshop #4 Warmland House 2579 Lewis St, Duncan 250-748-8506

30 5:30pm

Birds Eye Cove Harvest Dinner $85 Adults / $15 Kids 5881 Genoa Bay Road For Tickets Call 250 748 6379

12 6:30 8:30 pm

Divorce Care and Divorce Care For Kids St. Andrew’s Church, 531 Herbert St. Duncan 250-746-7413

30 VICTORIA Chef Survival Challenge and Community Feast Madrona Farm 4317 Blenkinsop Rd, Victoria 12 -5pm

14 7pm

Om Chanti Kirtan An evening of call & response chanting Harmony Yoga 201-111 Station St. Duncan

Ongoing

Cowichan Valley Artisans Studio Tour Various Locations www.cowichanvalleyartisans.com

15 10am

17th annual Parkinson SuperWalk www.parkinson.bc.ca Duncan Curling Arena 3191 Sherman Road

Fri, Sat Sun 10am - 4pm

Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre - Open Weekends Cowichan Bay waterfront N end of parking lot

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Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Struc with bone Dunc 25074

Structural Health Class with Lorene Benoit (strong bones and flexibility) Duncan White Spot $15 250743-0544

Farms are just One Example of Cost Effective Solar Solutions

Cattle Farm utilizing solar energy.

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here are two main reasons why a customer purchases a solar hot-water heating system: One is to offset their carbon footprint and the other is to offset their rising energy costs. The average client is motivated by a blend of these two factors.

Installing a solar water heating system is a one-time investment that pays for itself many times over during the course of its lifetime through the accumulated savings it generates.

A specific example taken from data collected from a farm in St. Albert, Ontario (data available upon request) demonstrates this nicely. In calculating the reduced energy expenses of their average hot-water heating costs from the heat generated per solar thermal collector, it was determined that the system will pay for itself in 8.75 years! Further, these savings will continue for many decades…

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR THE INEVITABLE? DO YOU HAVE?

• • • • •

A Will An Enduring Power of Attorney A Medical Representation Agreement An Advance Medical Directive (Living Will) An Estate Plan (that deals with jointly owned property, corporate property, trusts, registered accounts, life insurance, income tax and probate fees)

CALL US TO DISCUSS YOUR PLANS

When trying to determine how much money your solar water heating system the will Moment: save you, Chemainus Capture BIAgiven their potential Vineyards, one must consider their current consumption of hot water, are yet Photo Contest.

201 – 64 Station Street Tel: 250-748-6633 cost of energy and the amount another example of an excellent Last chance to enter!

Take a pic in of energy they use. The question Duncan BC V9L 1M4 Fax: 250-748-1496 compatible with a Chemainus and load enterlarge to win application cash prizes. then becomes, “Is your solar thermal system. If you are R. Brian McDaniel – bmcd@mcdanieltillie.com Two Lifestyle & interested Architecture. enough andcategories: consistent enough in more information to warrant tryingto to enter offset is your Deadline Aug. 15.onRegistration Julia E. Henderson – jeh@mcdanieltillie.com whether or not a solar thermal energy&costs?” system can save you money visit rules at visitchemainus.com www.mcdanieltillie.com us online at Take a dairy farm for example. www.getsolarsolutions.ca or Cows’ milk production and its contact us at 250-686-0286 to subsequent processing are year book a free estimate consultation.

JULY COOKING CLASSES round and its most common load is the cleaning of containers and July 23 SUMMER’S BOUNTY – CREATIVE WAYS WITH SolarBC accredited Jim Look for in-season milking machines. The energy SEASONAL VEGETABLES - Deborah Fahlman of Musselwhite lives happily in local produce, plants, required to heat this water, Shawnigan Lake with his wife Kilrenny Farm $45 + tax therefore, comes as an everfl owers, sewing, baking, and 2 children. He has been July 31 THE ODD BITS Don Genova $65 + tax necessary and escalating cost. a journeyman plumber for preserves, handmade over 20 years.

Honeymoon Bay Every Saturday Outdoor Market Every Saturday 10am - 2pm May - Thanksgiving

For market info call Bob at 250-749-7233 or 250-510-1113

soaps, bodycare, arts & crafts and more!

Follow the signs to the Coffee Mill Cafe in Honeymoon Bay.

Fresh Organic Artisan Pastas & Pasta Sauces Fresh organic artisan pasta locally made in Cowichan Bay. We use only organic grains in our pasta. Classic Italian pasta sauces : Bolognase, Puttanesca, Marinara & Amatriciana (all made at the farm! ) Visit our Farm Store Thurs to Sun 11 am to 6 pm Check kilrennyfarm.com for more info or call 250-743-9019

KILRENNY FARM - FRESH ORGANIC ARTISAN PASTAS & PASTA SAUCES AS WELL AS COOKING CLASSES: Apr 17

BISTRO MENU

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“It’s fresher from here”

French Style Chicken with Wild Mushroom Sauce

A french countryside inspired recipe using locally foraged wild mushrooms and a local dry white wine. A delectable combination.

Ingredients Island Farmhouse Chicken Legs with backs attached Sunflower Oil Chicken Stock (or water) Butter Onion , finely diced Wild Mushrooms, mixed Dry White Wine Double Cream Salt and Pepper

Amount 6 2Tbsp 3 Cups 1/4 Cup 1 3 Cups 1 1/4 Cups 1 Cup To Taste

Method

Lake Cowichan Salmon Mushroom Festival September 29 and 30 Centennial Hall 309 South Shore Road Town of Lake Cowichan 10 am to 4 pm $2 / children free There’s Magic at the 13th annual Lake Cowichan Salmon Mushroom Festival.

Celebrate the “wild edible” treats of the Cowichan Valley.

The whole family will enjoy wild mushroom identification, guided forest tours (Sunday only), a variety of market vendors, informational slide shows and guest Chef cooking demonstrations as well as wild smoked salmon and mushroom sales.

Delicious mushroom soups, quesidillas and baking will be for sale in the lower hall both days.

1. Separate chicken pieces at the joint to divide into thighs and drumsticks.

2. Heat oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Fry thighs skin side only, until golden brown for 8-10 mins, and fry drumsticks for about 5 mins each side and place both in ovenproof casserole dish.

3. Fully cover chicken with stock in casserole dish, add water if necessary. Bring stock to the boil and cover, leaving lid slightly ajar. Cook at medium simmer for 30-35 mins until chicken is cooked.

4. While chicken is simmering, drain oil from pan.

Heat butter and add onion to cook to translucent.

Increase temperature and add wild mushrooms. Fry for a few minutes until fragrant.

5. Add white wine and increase heat to maximum. Boil rapidly for 6-8 mins until pot is reduced by two-thirds.

Turn off the heat and let stand while waiting for chicken to cook.

6. Once chicken is done, strain stock into wild mushroom pan bringing mixture back to a boil.

Reduce again until thick and syrupy.

7. Pour in double cream, bring back to boil, season to taste, and pour sauce over chicken. Heat chicken in sauce for a few more minutes. Let dish rest for 3 minutes before serving.

Chicken available from Country Grocer, 49th Parallel, Duncan Butcher, Chemainus Foods, Crofton Foods and Thrifty Foods

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Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley 1615 Koksilah Road Cowichan Bay BC 250-746-6163 • www.farmhousepoultry.ca

Walkabout The Salt Spring Market Apples

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las this Year’s Apple Festival on Salt Spring Island is cancelled this year.

A combination of bad spring weather & a tent caterpillar infestation has rendered the apple crop marginal and Harry Burton, aka “Captain Apple” felt people would be disappointed by the smaller than usual number of apples on offer.

Salt Spring Island has an amazing variety of apples, Harry & Debbie Burton have over 200 varieties at their orchard, Apple Luscious. A remarkable thought when

Bruce Wood is chef/ owner of Bruce’s Kitchen in Ganges on beautiful Salt Spring Island. www.bruceskitchen.ca

you consider that the average grocery store has maybe 6 varieties most from New Zealand. Apples represent to me one of the ideals of the kitchen. There are so many flavours and textures.

This week we got the first transparent apples, they make great pies, and we made an apricot, apple chutney.

Bramley’s will come in the fall a great baking apple, stuffed with dates, nuts, brown sugar and spices they are a great treat with a large dollop of vanilla ice cream. Next time you are at your local store ask your grocer why they don’t have more local apple varieties, and try something different.

Apple lovers!

Chef Bruce Wood of Bruce’s Kitchen has produced a 2013 Kitchen Calendar dedicated to all things APPLE! Featuring the apple in both sweet and savoury forms, his recipes follow the seasons so that you can enjoy apples all year round!

See page 10 for more info.

Pan-Seared Wild Salmon with Warm Apple, Bacon, Grain Mustard and Parsley Vinagrette Recipe courtesy Bruce Wood, Bruce’s Kitchen

Amount

Ingredients

4 6 ounce pieces 2 Tablespoons 1 Tablespoon plus 3 tablespoons for the dressing 3 Thick Slices 1 2 tablespoons 2 tbsp.

1/2 Cup To Taste To Taste

Wild Salmon Fillets Unsalted Butter Good Quality Olive Oil Double Smoked Bacon Fat Shallot, Minced Sherry Vinegar Whole Grain Mustard Chopped Italian Parsley Coarse Sea Salt Freshly Milled Black Pepper

Method

Dice bacon into 1/4 inch cubes and reserve.

Pre heat the oven to 425 degrees. Heat a non reactive pan (stainless steel preferably) on med high until hot but not smoking.

Season the salmon fillets with the salt and pepper. Place the oil & butter in the pan and when the butter is melted add the salmon skin side up. Cook for one minute and remove the salmon to a parchment lined baking sheet still skin side up.

Place in the oven and bake for 6 minutes.

While the salmon is cooking, add the bacon to the pan and cook until just beginning to crisp. Pour off all but one tablespoon of the fat and add the olive oil. (it may seem a lot but remember you are building a vinaigrette) Add the shallots and cook for one minute, add the vinegar, mustard and parsley and stir well.

Place the fish on a plate and spoon the vinaigrette over the fish.

I like to put the greens down first with the potatoes and put the salmon and vinaigrette over all. The greens wilt slightly and it becomes a delicious warm salad.

NEW LOCATION and LIQUOR LICENSE! 3106-115 Fulford-Ganges Rd in Grace Point Square, Salt Spring Island

Hours of Operation Tues-Sat 11:30-3pm / 5:30 to close (+/-9) Sunday 11:30am-2pm / 5:30-close Monday Lunch only 11:30am - 3pm Reservations or Take Out 250 931 3399

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Much Anticipated Annually Sold Out Food Event Comes To Alderlea Farm!

15th Annual Feast of Fields

Sunday, September 16 1 - 5pm Alderlea Farm 3390 Glenora Rd, Duncan Tickets are $85 for adults, $15 for youth 7 to 12 6 and under are free Tickets available online www.feastoffields.com or at the Community Farm Store

S

ome of you may have heard of a group called FarmFolk, CityFolk. They have been representing the needs of farmers, gardeners, and people who like to eat good, local food.

One of the early brainwaves of the group was an annual fundraiser called Feast of Fields, a wandering gourmet harvest that has been hosted at different farms on Vancouver Island since 1998. Here on the island, Mara Jernigan (formerly of Fairburn Farm) was the catalyst for establishing the event and fine tuning it over many years of excellence. Today it is run by Melanie Banas who was there from the start, working alongside with Mara.

2012 marks the seventh Feast of Fields to be held in the Cowichan Valley.“I am thrilled to bring Feast of Fields back to the Cowichan Valley,” says organizer Melanie Banas. “It’s really the heart of Vancouver Island with so many great foods and wines being produced by extraordinarily passionate

people, farmers like John and Katy of Alderlea Farm.”John and Katy have proven to be amongst the hardest working farmers these past few years and have developed amazing biodynamic crops, a lovely eatery and a thriving produce business. The picturesque farm is a short hike from the vineyards tended by the Zanatta Family, producers of some of the best sparkling wine on the island.

This year, there will be about 60 local chefs, restaurants, wineries, breweries and producers at the festival, including 30 from the Cowichan Valley. Chef Brock Windsor of the Stone Soup Inn will be serving up a local creation not regularly found on their menu. The Inn recently received bronze for best Vancouver Island restaurant in Vancouver Magazine’s Restaurant Awards. The feast is set up banquet style out in the fields. Often there are hundreds of acres of productive fields folding out around the event a perfect setting for celebrating the wines, beers, ciders, food and chefs of the region.

Participants visit, taste and sample tables that wind along a path through the farm. The walking ensures lots of fresh air and time to appreciate and digest the offerings. It really is a civilized way to take a hike on Vancouver Island.

All kidding aside, the event is an important day for chefs and farmers of the region. It offers a chance to interact with the people who grow and cook your food, ask questions and participate in

Image; Girl with Young Water Buffalo courtesy Feast of Fields

the food system. Funds raised go towards local projects, like their recent joint venture with the Island Chefs Collaborative - they created a micro-loan program for start-up farmers.

Bill Jones is an author, chef and food consultant who can be found at Deerholme.com

As a special treat this year, Mike Ready with Lekker Foods Distributors will bring a sampling of fresh, local cheeses as well as a baby water buffalo on loan for the day from Fairburn Farm.

This year’s festival promises to engage the community in the celebration of local food, connecting people not only to food but the farms and animals that create it... Did I mention it was fun?

We hope to see you at the event this year. *Tickets for this event sells out fast so if you are planning to attend purchase your tickets soon!

SEPTEMBER Hours 11am - 6pm Dinner Tuesday/Friday/Saturday

Fall CSA Veggies are available now !

Biodynamic Farm, Organic Cafe and CSA. 3390 Glenora Road, Duncan, BC V9L 6S1 Tel. 250-597-3438

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Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

John Olafson and Linda Beare cheers to winning their fire-roasted rabbit with Madrona Farm hash and arugula pesto created by Anna Hunt, head chef of Paprika Bistro.

Dan Hayes (The London Chef), Garrett Schack and Mike Dunlop (Vista 18), Cosmo Meens (The Hot and Cold Cafe), Mike Williams (Country Grocer), Robin Jackson (Sooke Harbour House) , Amanda Chesley (Stages) and many more.

Entertainment will be provided by awarding winning Canadian musician Lester Quitzau and special guest Olympic Rower David Calder and Ms. Canada (Galaxy) 2011 will be in attendance.

5th Annual Chef ’s Survival Challenge Always a ‘Foodies’ Good Time!

T

he Chef’s Survival Challenge welcomes hundreds of local attendees interested in good food, food security and farmland conservation; chefs, farmers, families, foodies and more!

This annual event was created as a mechanism to raise funds for the “Protect Madrona Farm Forever” campaign. The campaign reached levels of massive community engagement, with 4500 people donating to raise $2.7 million dollars. In the past four years, this event has raised thousands of dollars for farmland conservation projects and programming.

As an attendee you’ll get to watch the hottest chefs from Victoria and across Vancouver Island participate in a ‘Culinary Arts Performance’. Witness each chef compete in a farm-style obstacle course that includes

haystack hurdles, zip lines, boat race, pipe crawl and monkey bars! The chefs then forage for ingredients around the 24- acres of Madrona Farm and prepare delectable culinary masterpieces with freshly picked organic ingredients as onlookers watch the cooking demonstrations. And the best part – the dishes come hot up for auction just as our tummies rumble!

The chef that receives the highest bid on their meal wins the Golden Broccoli Trophy, last year’s winner was Chef Stephan Drolet of Camille’s. In addition to the chefs’ meals up for auction, the whole event is catered with a delicious multi course, chef prepared organic BBQ feast for all to enjoy.

Participating Chefs scheduled for 2012 include: Chris Hammer (Royal Colwood Golf Course),

while supporting local food security come check it out on September 30th!

Big Dream Farm Fund

100% proceeds raised in the Chef Survival Challenge Events will go towards Creating ‘the big dream farm fund”. An agricultural funding stream to protect our future, food security and farmland conservation.

100% of net proceeds go to Farmland Conservation and Education. The Chef Survival Challenge event is an engaging and entertaining awareness building fundraiser dedicated apple to A new seasonal farmland conservation. If you love good, fresh and local food

5th Annual Chef’s Survival Challenge

Sunday, September 30 Noon - 5pm Madrona Farm, Victoria 4317 Blenkinsop Road Tickets are $40 for Adults recipe for every month! $100 Families

www.chefsurvivalchallenge.com

BRUCE’S KITCHEN 2013 APPLE CALENDAR Salt Spring Island’s renowned Chef Bruce Wood is offering a delectable sampling of recipes featuring the versatile apple in both sweet and savoury forms, these recipes follow the seasons so that you can enjoy apples all year round!

Watercolour illustrations by Salt Spring • Cider Brined Rack of Pork with Heritage Apple artist and Blackberry Glaze Diana Morris

• Quince and Blue Cheese Tartlets • Oatmeal Crepes with Apples, Chevre, and Lavender Infused Maple Syrup and more!

Publication Date: September 1st, 2012 Price: $20 plus shipping and handling.

To Order: Bruce’s Kitchen 250-931-3399 chefbruce@shaw.ca www.bruceskitchen.ca

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The A Great Story to Tell TheWine Buying Experience Many stories have been shared about beautiful vineyards or charasmatic owners over a bottle of local wine.

Buying from the source often offers buyers a peek behind the scenes where you can learn information about the grapes used, a particular vintage or even characteristics particular to our climate. The vineyard can also offer pairing suggestions, keeping the guesswork to a minimum. Asking questions about specific wines or grapes used in the wines enhances the overall experience to both buying, drinking and serving your wine. How many stories have you shared about that bottle you picked up at the liquor store?

The best way to learn about wine is to taste them. And the simplest way to taste them is to visit their source.

And another perk you don’t have to buy to try so right there that bottle is already of greater value.

5 p o T

Reasons

Supporting Local Vineyards Directly Supports Local Agriculture Local agriculture, be it food or wine helps the immediate environment by enriching the soil, protecting air and water quality, and minimizing energy consumption.

When buying wines from as close to home as possible we are letting these neighbouring vineyards know that we value what they grow and do and appreciate their enhancement of our community and landscape.

Naturally Grown, Pesticide Free Options With smaller yields and healthier soils and vines many of the local vineyards are growing grapes more naturally or organically. Without pesticides, the natural yeast flourishes allowing each vineyards character and flavours to enhance these artisan wines.

When we make the choice to purchase locally, we strengthen and build community relationships that in turn encourage higher quality products. Larger mainstream wine operations depend heavily on pesticices to ensure high yield. According to research done by the EWG (Environmental Working Group) grapes falls 7th, in the ‘Dirty Dozen’ list of 12 crops with the highest use of pesticides. With supporting vineyards closer to home we are able to see exactly what they are doing onsite, and you may be surprised many of them just prune and watch the grapes grow.

12

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

T

s

To Drink Local Wines Stimulates And Helps To Sustain A Healthy Local Economy Keep your dollars local! Remember every step of the wine making process involves a person - from clipping the vines, to crushing the juice, to bottling to selling. Each one of these people pay BC taxes, shop in your neighbourhood and possibly even supports a business related to you or your family’s well being.

Buying local supports and grows the local economy, increases local more specialized jobs with higher wages. Wouldn’t it be nice to think, as you sip that bottle of wine that you helped to keep a job in your community.

Eases Your Carbon Footprint Buying your bottle of wine within a 100km radius lessens our impact on the global environment. Instead of planes, trains and automobiles many of the local vineyards are easily accessible by bicycle or are just a short drive away.

Every choice we make makes all the difference.

13

Fresh Local Pastas -Made Right at Here!

M

att Horn, formerly of the Masthead Restaurant and Amuse Bistro has been passionate about local food and sustainability issues for over a decade.

Inspired by his craft and the abundance of local food surrounding him he began The Cowichan Pasta Company - quite simply outstanding artisan pasta with an impressive list of local sources from Cowichan Bay’s True Grain, Hilary’s Cheese and Cowichan Bay Seafoods, to Quist, Lockwood, Hills, Providence, Pederosa and Mitchell Farms plus Wild food companies such as Untamed Feast and Dakini... and many more. Matt uses the best in season to create delectable little gems for local food lovers.

With a conscious intent, his

pasta is made from 100% Vancouver Island ingredients.

Every single ingredient; from the wheat and eggs in the pasta to the beef, seafood or cheese in the filling comes from Vancouver Island. Even the salt comes from the local waters. “All of our pasta is made from a local wheat that is grown here on the island called a Hard Spring Wheat.

It is milled at True grain in Cowichan Bay. From this we have two product lines.

Our fresh flavoured pasta includes: Stinging Nettle Rotini, Smoked Chanterelle Spaghetti, Wakame Spaghetti and a Plain Fettuccine. The second line is our filled ravioli some of these flavours include; Cowichan Bay Spot Prawn, Dungeness Crab and Squash, Braised Quist Farms Beef, and our vegetarian offering changes with the season. You may find Squash and Hazelnut, Smoked Corn and Chanterelle, Garlic Scape, Broccoli or Smoked Boerenkass.

Our favourite way to serve his pasta is simply to heat then toss with a hint of butter and salt. They need no sauce. They are simply that good. Each package serves 2 people. What a deal!

R

uss and Deborah Fahlmann have been growing organic food in Cowichan Bay for 25 years.

During a holiday in Italy, they watched pasta makers in action which cemented their plans to produce their own line of pasta and home grown vegetable sauces.

Now 2 years later, kilrenny pasta offers an impressive array of fresh pastas that include: spaghetti, linguine, fettucine, tagliatelle, malfadine, pappardelle, conchiglie, lumaconi, rigatoni, penne, gemelli, fusilli and lasagne noodles that make the very best lasagne that is so easy because you don’t have to pre-cook the pasta. Lasagne

Kilrenny Pasta Fresh Conchiglie noodles can also be used to make your own ravioli. “All of our pastas are made with organic grains. Deborah tell us “We use an organic durum wheat semolina for most of our pastas but also make an organic whole durum wheat, spelt and kamut pasta.

Durum wheat (used in most of our pasta) is a hard wheat whereas most wheat used in bread is a soft wheat. Durum wheat is considered low on the glycemic index and semolina is more coarsely ground hence more fibre. Our spelt flour is milled at true grain bread in Cowichan Bay and the whole durum wheat and kamut are milled in the Port Alberni Valley. We are continued next page

Cowichan Pasta Company Cowichan Bay Seafood Spot Prawn Ravioli

14

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Cooking salmon on a cedar plank imbues it with a sweet smokiness that is not overpowering. This recipe combines the traditional technique with a Scandinavian approach to seasoning. It is also excellent eaten cold. When you are buying the cedar for the plank make sure it isalso untreated. sourcing other flours - not vegetable *BBQ Salmon cedar planks available at Cowichansquash Bay Seafoods. milled in the Fraser Valley for powders. Also available are our gluten-free pasta.” peppercorn, lemon herb, Kilrenny’s flavoured pasta lemon pepper, garlic/basil, are made with pureed home tomato, tomato/basil, chili grown spinach, beets and pepper, beet/dill flavours and

high protein 100% egg pasta.

The pasta is sold in 250g (2 persons) and 500g (4 persons). The pastas are vacuum sealed so they can

LIVE CRAB • FRESH FISH • LOCAL SHELL FISH AND MORE!

White Wine Clam Linguini served on Fresh Pasta Succulent local clams are harvested from the Strait of Georgia or from the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Amount

3 pounds 1/4 cup 1/4 Cup + 4 Tbls 6 Cloves 1/2 Cup 1/2 Cup 1/4 Cup 1/2 Cup 2 Cups 1 Pound

Ingredients

Fresh Manila clams, scrubbed Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Butter Local garlic, thinly sliced Fresh parsley, chopped Dry local white wine Fresh squeezed Lemon Juice Grated Parmesan Fine Bread Crumbs Fresh Linguini

stay fresh in the refrigerator for a few weeks. The pasta also freezes really well, but just remember to cook the pasta from frozen, not defrosted.

Summer Hours Open 7 Days a Week 10 am to 5:30pm

Method

1. Melt 1/4 Cup of butter over high heat. Saute breadcrumbs until golden brown and set aside.

2. Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add sliced garlic and sauté until light brown, about 1 minute. Add fresh clams and half the parsley; stir 2 minutes. Slowly add wine and simmer for 3 minutes. Add fresh lemon juice. Cover and simmer until clams open, about 6 minutes. Discard any clams that do not open.

3. Cook fresh pasta in large pot of boiling salted water according to instructions to al dente. Drain water.

4. Add butter and hot pasta to clam mixture and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to large bowl to serve. Top each serving with parsley, toasted bread crumbs and parmesan and enjoy hot.

To clean clams gently tap any clams with open shells against the counter top. Discard any clams that do not close their shells within a few minutes or that have cracked or chipped shells.

Place all the clams in a bowl and fill it with cool tap water. Let the clams sit for 20 minutes to an hour. During this time, they will spit out the sand from inside their shells.When ready to cook, lift each clam individually from the water and scrub any particles or grit from the outside surface.

Cowichan Bay Seafoods

1751 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cowichan Bay

250-748-0020 E-mail: info@cowichanbayseafood.com

Available from Cherry Point Vineyards, The Worldly Gourmet, The Community Farm Store Ingredients: Health & Apple Cafe

rosettastonekitchenware.com 250.709.0720

15

on the farm

Make Like A Squirrel And Plan Ahead For Winter

With SOL Farm

I

t’s not hard to eat locally year round when you live in the Cowichan Valley.

Aside from crops such as leeks and kale that can be left in the ground and harvested all winter, it’s relatively easy, and deeply satisfying, to put food away for use well into the winter months. Consider a few staples like garlic, onions, potatoes and squash.

Did you know that most of the garlic available in grocery stores comes from China? With a little advance planning, it’s so easy to put aside enough garlic for your family for the winter. You can purchase garlic at farmers’ markets all summer and store it in a basket in your basement or an equivalent room that’s not too cold or too warm. It needs to be kept dry, so the garage is not a good idea.

We leave ours in the heated part of the basement.

We store our onions in our cold room, a vented room in the basement that is insulated from the rest of the house. We use crates, which allow air flow, but mesh bags also work well. Make sure when you buy onions from the farmers’ market that they have been cured, that is, dried

in a well-ventilated room for two or three weeks until thoroughly dry. If not, cure them yourself by setting them up on a table in the carport or shed. Once the papers are crinkly, they are ready to store in a cool room. If you are harvesting your own onions, harvest them when most of the tops have fallen over and dried.

Potatoes should be dug and then cured (without washing) in a cool, well-ventilated dark shed. After about two weeks, rub the dirt off them and place them into a cardboard box with holes punched into the sides, bushel baskets or a burlap sack raised up on slats so air can circulate. Make sure to place newspaper on the tops of the boxes so light doesn’t turn them green. Apparently it is a good idea to store potatoes with one or two apples, which emit ethylene gas shown to inhibit sprouting. I always understood that potatoes and apples should be stored separately but I plan to try just a couple of apples in my cold room this year to see if that’s true.

Finally, winter squash. Those delectable golden treats add flavour and substance to soups and stews all winter. Again, make sure the squash you buy at the farmers’ market has been properly cured. This means clipping the squash from the vines, leaving a bit of stem on, which helps prevent the squash from decaying, and leaving it on the field for a week or so. Alternatively, set the squash on a picnic table in the sun for a few days. A shelf in a cool, dark basement is the best place to store your squash. A thick base of newspaper is ideal to protect the shelf in the event one of the vegetables begins to rot away.

With the basics stored away properly, a couple of fresh, green vegetables in the back garden, and some tomatoes put up in jars, you are set for a winter of savoury dishes. It doesn’t get much more local than that!

Ramona Froehle-Schacht of SOL Farm raise vegetables, berries and chickens with her family. www.solfarm.ca

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Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Cycling Nutrition

C

yclists ride to get fit, get faster and become more efficient.

They also ride to keep lean and stay in shape. Total body weight affects how effectively you climb hills. The more you weigh the harder it is for you to climb, as you are fighting gravity against mass (weight). In order to be strong you need a certain amount of mass, but the lighter you are, the easier it is to climb. This is the famous ‘power to weight ratio’ that cyclists are always talking about. That being said…you still need to eat!

In terms of nutrition and cycling: • Always go into your rides well fuelled, with most calories coming from carbohydrates, a small amount from protein, with little to no fat. Starting the ride well fuelled will prevent you from being too hungry when you finish, which will help keep you from overeating.

• If your rides are longer than an hour, take in some food while on the bike. Within the first 45-50 minutes, eat a small amount of food.

Do the same every 45-50 minutes after that until the end of the ride.

Eat energy bars, a banana or something that you can digest easily (100 – 120 calories minimum, up to 200 calories). This will continue to supply you with the energy you need to complete the ride, and it will prevent you from ``bonking`` during the ride or getting over hungry at the end of the ride.

• .After finishing the ride it’s important to have a recovery drink or some food within the first 15 minutes to top-up your glycogen stores (energy stored in the muscle). Again, this will prevent you from becoming over hungry, and overeating

The biggest mistake I see cyclists make is thinking that they shouldn’t eat after their ride if they want to lose weight.

Cycling burns calories. If you don’t eat a small snack right away or have a recovery shake within an hour after your ride, you’ll become too hungry and overeat.

Remember…stay fuelled, get lots of rest, and ride strong.

See you on the road.

Sandra Beggs owns and operates Cycle Therapy in Duncan. wwwcycletherapy.ca

Annual September Festival 3295 Cobble Hill Road

Books

Live Music

Clothes

Desserts

Saturday, Sept 15 10am-3pm Come and discover the treasures of the Giant Yard, Jewellery, Plant and Book Sales, renew your wardrobe at the Clothing tent, tickle your sweet tooth at the Bake table, try your luck in the Silent Auction, enjoy Hamburgers and Divine Desserts while you listen to lively music. For the children there are games galore.

For info contact the Church Office 250-743-3095

Come one, come all and enjoy the fun!

Blow-Out Sale on all 2012 bikes, clothing and accessories.

2013 models arriving daily!

17

Women’s Woodworking Workshop at the Maritime Center 2012 FALL & WINTER COURSES

Women’s Woodworking LEVEL 1

September 11- October 4th

Women’s Woodworking LEVEL II

Nov 20th - Dec 13th 7-9:30PM (Tuesday & Thursday Evenings) Students will learn how to safely use the woodworking equipment such as table saw, router, planer and jointer.

In Level 2 women will achieve more practice and new skills working on more advanced projects.

There is a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 8 students per class. The small class size offers the students one-on-one instruction from the instructor Tim Doyle.

Course Fee: $200 + HST for members $250.00 plus HST for non members

For more information or to register call (250) 746-4955 Email: cwbs@classicboats.org

Making Pasta At Home Can Be Fun!

M

aking pasta from scratch is always worth the effort, the freshness of flavour and the silky texture exceeds that of any noodle you can buy. Fancy pasta makers aren’t necessary; a basic rolling pin will do just fine.

with wheat allergies.

Unfortunately, pasta is one of those ‘gluten-y’ recipes that requires high levels of protein to give a rich texture that holds the dough together.

Gluten free flours, such as rice, quinoa, corn, garbanzo-fava

Basic Pasta Recipe 2 cups All Purpose Flour 3 Eggs ¼ tsp Salt Place the flour in a mound on your counter, making a well in the center.

Whisk together the eggs and salt in a separate bowl and pour into the center of the flour.

Use a fork to gradually incorporate the flour into the egg mixture until it forms into a soft dough.

Clean the counter, flour lightly and knead the dough for 10 minutes, working in any additional flour as required until the dough is smooth and lump free.

Once the dough has been kneaded, cover and let rest for an hour.

Pasta making is not an exact science and a basic recipe can easily be adapted to fit your tastes.

It is important that you don’t under knead the dough, otherwise it will not stretch very well and this will cause problems when you are rolling it out. Once the dough has been kneaded, cover and let rest for an hour. Roll the dough out thinly on a floured counter and cut into your preferred shapes. A pizza cutter works well for making narrow strips.

Variations: Most commercial pastas are made using semolina, it contains high levels of protein and cellulose (this helps keep the cooked pasta firm). However, semolina is a hard wheat and not suitable for folks

18

and tapioca can be substituted, but some starch (corn, tapioca or potato) is required, as is xantham or guar gums. Also, adding 2 egg yolks for every whole egg can increase the protein level in your recipe.

Here are some tips for perfecting your very own homemade pasta recipe: • For a richer taste, add more eggs • Finer flour makes better pasta -try sifting your flours • Mix vegetable puree and herbs into the eggs to add colour, texture and flavour to your pasta • The thinner the pasta is rolled, the more tender it will be.

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Pam Stiles is a Cowichan Valley lover of all grains and can be found at www. healthykitchens.com

Time To Tango W

orld travellers John and Linda Fowler have been dancing Argentine Tango for 8 years having fallen in love with the dance on their first journey to Buenos Aires. “Tango oozes out of the buildings and streets of old Buenos Aires.” shares dancer John Fowler “A dance, and more importantly a music of nostalgia and loss, the songs of the many lonely immigrants from Europe and Africa. It is a close-embrace dance; they say that when you take a new partner for the three tangos that are grouped together in a “tanda”, you have a ten-minute loveaffair, one of many during the evening as you change partners.”

The Fowlers are hosting a 6 week beginner’s Tango class in Maple Bay. “ Our plan is that you will become proficient enough in 6 weeks to have the confidence to attend a milonga (a tango dance). On their many trips to Buenos Aires, they have ventured out late to the milongas in the downtown clubs, participated in workshops and private lessons with some of the world’s best dancers. Every Saturday they travel to Victoria to dance and once a month John is the DJ spinning tunes from the Golden Era of Tango 1930’s and 1940’s. “Over the 6 weeks we will introduce you to the all important embrace, the beautiful music, the tango walk, the basic pattern leading to the la cruzada (the cross), the forward and back ochos

John & Linda Fowler in a Tango embrace .

(figure 8s), and the etiquette and culture of the REAL tango,(not what you see on TV!)

MEN are encouraged to sign up and a discount is offered to couples. There is a minimum of 10 people required to run the class and a maximum of 20 dancers. “The class will be a very relaxed atmosphere; although we hope to encourage the correct and traditional manners of Argentinian Tango. This will be a starting point for those who want to go further; there is, of course, no end to the learning process.” says John.

Maple Bay Rowing Club is a great venue, with a good wooden floor. All you need is your enthusiasm, and a pair of shoes with leather soles (so you can pivot!).

Beginners lessons

argentine Tango

Begins Wed Oct 17th 7 - 8:30pm

Maple Bay rowing Club

You will learn:

• the all important embrace • the beautiful music • the tango walk • the lead to la cruzada (the cross) • the forward and back ochos (figure 8s) • etiquette and culture of REAL Tango

6 weekly beginner’s lessons

Single MEN and WOMEN Welcome to Register! *Discount for Couples $90pp / $150 Couple For more info contact John & Linda Fowler jalf@shaw.ca / 748 2477

19

DRAFT

Fall Season 2012 Open Auditions

Sound Advice Music Studios

There is a NEW theatre company in town! If you are between 8 and 80 years old, and have a passion for acting, dancing, or singing, we want to hear from you!

For info 250-709-5239

Call us for more information or visit our website at

September 1, 2 & 7 1:00 pm

Pioneer Square Mall, Mill Bay

mpaylor@noisymime.net

www.noisymime.net

Chickens

by Lucia Frangione A Musical Comedy Runs September 21 to October 27th Chemainus Theatre Festival www.chemainustheatre.ca 1-800-565-7738

Fresh baked goods, soups, wraps, wild mushrooms and smoked salmon sales; Guest Chef cooking demonstrations, informational slide shows, guided forest tours and market vendors.

13th Annual Salmon Mushroom Festival

September 29th and 30th, 10 am to 4 pm FEATURING

Fresh Baked Goods, Soups, Quesadillas, Wild Mushrooms And Smoked Salmon Sales, Guest Chef Cooking Demonstrations, Informational Slide Shows, Market Vendors and Sunday Guided Forest Tours Centennial Hall, 309 South Shore Road, Lk Cowichan $2 Admission / Children Free / All ages Festival For more info 250 749 6291or email mayocreekgardens@shaw.ca

One of the Chemainus Theatre Festival’s most popular musical comedies is being “un-cooped” from the theatre archives this fall.

After a fifteen-plus year hiatus, the rural musical comedy, Chickens, appears for a five-week run of evening and matinee performances, September 21st to October 27th.

Chickens has special meaning for The Festival. Originally presented in 1995, the musical received enthusiastic reviews for its profound storyline and hilarious script by then artistic director, and now Vancouverbased playwright, Lucia Frangione. “Chickens brings a distinct tongue-in-cheek (or tongue-in-beak) humour to our stage as it explores how we work through our challenges in quirky and humorous way - sometimes

even projecting our hopes and dreams onto our pets” says Mark DuMez, current Artist Director at The Festival. “It’s been a tumultuous few years for a lot of people, which makes this the perfect time to both have some fun and explore - barnyard style - how we come to terms with big life decisions.”

Frangione’s musical, a collective story about four chickens and two people, suggests that life in the farmhouse or the hen house isn’t all that dissimilar.

Homesteaders Liza and Pal are desperate to save their farm, but they face a serious problem – turning a profit.

Liza struggles to keep the business afloat; however, Pal’s bad decisions and unusual fondness for his rare exotic chickens multiplies their money woes. Issuing the ultimate cluck would provide the financial freedom they desperately need, but Pal just can’t drop the axe. When Liza issues an ultimatum only the feathered few who earn singing accolades at the county fair will return to the farm – Pal is desperate to save everyone’s neck.

Live blue-grass and countrystyle music gives Chickens a folksy feel. The band features local musicians Danny Balkwill (drums), Eugene Burton (banjo and guitar), and Craig Salkeld (piano) who keep toes tapping along with the dancing on stage.Audience members age twelve and older can see the Chickens run at the Chemainus Theatre Festival.

Home of the Cowichan Valley’s “100 Mile Dawg” A locally based, socially conscious mobile food alternative FOR UPDATES

depotdawgs

@depotdawgs1

To book events call 250 732-5250 or email depotdawgs@gmail.com.

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Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Enterprising

Women

Bob’s Annual Flea Market September 22

Whippletree Junction 9am - 2pm Vendor enquiries please call 250 746 8024 Whippletree Junction has had a long history seen by antique, collectible stores, auctions, and outdoor equipment displays of having treasures of old furniture and household goods. Randy Streit, one of the original owners of the ‘Junction made some pretty amazing examples such as the “Trickletree fountain in the courtyard. It is a combination of pieces of old farm and auto parts, and the white rose panels of the base are from the White Rose gas stations that were so numerous in the 60’s in the States. Bob’s (Annual) Flea Market is in keeping with this practice of bringing old used goods and unexplainable ‘objets’ that some call junk, others call treasures. Bob, of course is Dave’s dog, also is an uncle, or son, is everyone who collects or gathers and saves things for awhile, and finds some use for a few, and others he returns to the market for others to find a use for. This is the first of such ‘flea markets to be held at Whippletree Junction.

Harvest Dinner

Sunday, September 30 Cocktails begin at 5:30pm Birds Eye Cove Farm 5881 Genoa Bay Road Tickets in Advance $85 for Adults $15 For Children 250 748 6379 www.birdseyecovefarm It has been a long standing tradition within the agricultural community to come together after the harvest; to celebrate the season and reconnect with others from the community.

This September Bird’s Eye Cove Farm will open the doors of ‘The Barn’ and welcome guests to feast alongside one another, in honour of this tradition. The service will be family style to guests seated in the gathering hall. The multi-course meal features locally raised Cowichan Valley meats and produce, prepared from scratch in the farm’s kitchen, paired with local wines and beverages.

Tickets for this event are $85 per person and only available in advance. Numbers are limited to preserve the quality of both the feast and service.

Reserve your tickets by phone or online.

Rob’s Lighthouse Eatery & Art Gallery Fresh, friendly, affordable and pet-friendly!

• Fish, Veggie and Beef Burgers • Fresh-cut Fries • Fish & Chips • Lavazza Espresso and more!

Dine In on our heated patio or Take Out!

Cowichan Bay Waterfront

Sandra Beggs moved to the Cowichan Valley with her family after spending 30 years on beautiful Haida Gwaii. Very experienced on the water she often worked seasonally on a commercial fishing vessel alongside her husband and had also raised their family onboard their sailboat for 8 years. She describes her love of cycling to have begun with two bad knees. “Several years ago two serious ACL injuries made it impossible for me to continue running so I turned to road cycling for exercise” Sandra tells us. Her husband David saw how much fun she was having on the bike and purchased a cyclocross bike with skinny tires so he could join in.

They started a cycling club called Derailleurs in the Mist, hosted a popular annual road race and time trial (that became part of the northern racing schedule) and got to know many of the cyclists living in northern BC. “Cyclists living on Haida Gwaii found it challenging to find cycling parts and accessories remotely, so David and I started up a tiny little store on our property and called it ‘Cycle Therapy’... both for the play on words and because we really do find cycling to be therapeutic.”

A desire to move closer to family prompted their move from Haida Gwaii. Interested in pursuing their passion for cycling they discovered the Cowichan Valley was an ideal option. “Duncan fit the bill in so many ways...it’s rural beauty, the vineyards, the farms, the music, the people. Sandra shares “And of course the beautiful and challenging cycling routes in the Cowichan Valley.” Readers who are looking to start riding to get fit - behold YOU DO! One option is to join Cycle Therapy on their Monday night no-drop ride that leaves from the store. “Sometimes we’ll have over 30 cyclists riding together...encouraging each other to work hard... and of course having fun.” Since their opening in April 2011 the Cowichan Valley bike community has embraced Cycle Therapy and they have already made many good friends through the store. They proudly carry a selection of quality well made bikes for cyclists of all levels and all ages, including Trek, Rocky Mountain, BMC, Brodie and Cycle Therapy local bike company Everti Titanium.

Sandra’s warm and friendly expertise 295 Trunk Road Duncan makes browsing her new bikes easy. But it’s her honest passion for 250 597-0097 cycling that will eventually inspire all www.cycletherapy.ca of us to get on bikes and explore.

Buy 3 Oil Changes Get 2 free! Save your

money for shoes!

2752 Beverly Street Duncan www.myoilcheck.ca 21

DESIGNI NG

green

IT’S TIME TO BOTTLE!

W

ell, I guess we could even ‘jar it’. The harvest is soon upon us and nothing is more fun than canning and bottling for the long winter ahead.

We like to plan good storage options and storage locations for the upcoming onslaught of food production in all our projects.

For wine of any sort, or for any canned or bottled products, cool dry basement locations are best suited. Leave an area of the basement or garage unheated. If in the basement, even consider leaving the

outside wall un-insulated to replicate the cool cellar effects so common in the chalk caves of France.

A very organized approach to wine storage is in the attached photo. Here, simple thin strips of Douglas fir were organized in a repeating pattern to allow easy access to your favourite vintage.

Or, how about recycling containers throughout the year for that ultimate harvest?

My old favourite is a set of heavy glass battery boxes I salvaged in an auto wrecking yard over 30 years ago.

Haven’t lost one yet! I made

custom cedar lids and fitted with porcelain knobs for a very organized method of bulk herb and grain storage.

These were vintage 6 volt truck batteries that have long since been stripped clean of their valuable inner components leaving a sturdy and very compartmentalized form for storage. Again, even large measuring cups can fit in for easy access to your favourite goods.

And then there are those porcelain topped beer and wine bottles with the resealable tops. I’m now on my second batch of custom dry apple cider mashed and fermented by the gang down at Duncan McBarley’s.

Stored again in my cool cellar below my front porch, the cider has stayed in perfect balance for well over two years now. The dark glass associated with many of the one quart bottles so

common these days from some micro breweries also helps to keep the fermented libation in great shape.

Don’t forget all those stackable yogurt containers for freezing tomatoes, sauces and other pureed delicacies.

And for the guys, save those clear acrylic mayonnaise jars for sorting nuts and bolts in the shop. Easy storage and safe for packing around and they stack or store the old fashioned way by screwing the lids to the ceiling.

After all, we can’t all be cooks!

Custom built bottle storage.

Image courtesy David Coulson David Coulson is a local certified Built Green design builder. He has a staff of 25 that have built throughout the island for over 20 years.

For full design/build service, give us a call

 250.746.5372 • coulsondesign@shaw.ca • www.davidcoulsondesign.com  www.rainwaterconnection.com



BOB BURGESS Tel 250.246.2155



Gulf Islands Rainwater Connection Ltd. Thetis Island, BC Email: bob@

rainwaterconnection.com

22

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

100% Natural Latex Foam Rubber is the most durable

mattress material available. It is completely renewable, sustainable,nontoxic, hypoallergenic, temperature regulating and terriďŹ c for pressure point relief.

100% Natural Latex Foam Rubber is from the milk of the rubber tree.

Rubber trees grow within 10 degrees of the equator and constitute some of the best managed forest systems in the world. Therefore, natural latex is very eco-friendly. the foam made from these trees is not subject to the body impression issues that you ďŹ nd in regular coil mattesses.

Queen Mattress with bamboo cover $1199 (matching base available)

Duncan Foam & Futons 4485 Trans Canada Hwy (in Crossroads Centre) (Serving the Valley for 20 years)

250 746-0702

23

What’s Going On In

Cowichan Bay?

G

Cowichan Valley Artisans On Show at the Maritime Centre till Sept 30th

A New Calf in J Pod

L

ast month, J Pod one of our three resident orca pods returned to our waters after a brief hiatus on the west coast of Vancouver Island. I arrived with J pod just after noon and started taking pictures as I do most days on the water. At this time I photographed J37 an 11.5-year-old female who was travelling alone as the rest of her family was spread out over 2-3 miles foraging in the area. After taking pictures of her we moved on and checked out the rest of her family. At 2:45 we again saw J37 travelling but this time along side her was a brand new calf still with fetal folds and a flopped over dorsal fin. I was blown away as this calf must have just been born.

We then got to watch the rest of J Pod meet and greet the new calf J49. On other occasions, we have seen very new calves being supported by and pushed around by other whales in the community, perhaps in some sort of “new whale baby” welcoming and bonding ritual. This is

exactly what we experienced and it seemed the whales were very happy and social.

J37 is the youngest confirmed mother that we are aware of in the Southern Resident Community at 11.5 years old.

Gestation is approximately 17 month so therefore J37 would have been impregnated in January of 2011. Orca Whale calves have a very high mortality rate in the first year of their life with only a 50% survival rate. That being said I am very optimistic about the new calf J49 as she or he comes from very strong family lines. J49 is the great great grandson or daughter of Granny J2 who is the matriarch of J Pod who turned 101 years old this year. The typical life span of a female orca is 60 to 80 years of age. Welcome little J49 may you live a long and happy life with the rest of your family!

Simon Pidcock is Owner/Operator of Ocean Ecoventures in Cowichan Bay www.OceanEcoVentures.com

Choose one of Daniel’s most famous dishes such as his “Belgium Seafood Pie”, “Steak Frites”, “Lamb Rack”, “Waterzooi” (the best bouillabaisse ever) and his home made “Rover Burger”. No Matter what your taste buds are craving, we have a great meal for you.

Now open for dinner 7 Days a week Open for lunch Thurs to Sunday

24

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

craft CVA ceramic artist Cathi Jefferson Taijin

From August 30th to September 30th 2012 the Cowichan Valley Artisans are celebrating the success of their 3rd year of the ‘ year-round studio tour’ with a group show at the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre in Cowichan Bay. This finely crafted, traditionally built museum is a wonderful venue in which to show the one-of-a-kind fine craft pieces handmade by these talented artisans.

Like the beautifully handcrafted work and the wooden boats at the centre, the museum’s wood structure is itself a work of art. It is a classic timberfame building made with wood pegs to fasten the posts and beams, creating a beautiful, architectural space. The Cowichan Valley Artisans’ fine craft requires this same commitment and attention to detail and by challenging their skills the resulting work is well worth the effort.

Brochures for the Cowichan Valley Artisans year round studio tour are easily found at the Duncan Garage Organic Cafe & Bakery at 101, 330 Duncan Street, Experience Cycling at 482 Trans Canada Highway, the Duncan Chamber of Commerce, and many locations throughout Duncan and the Cowichan Valley. Or go to CowichanValleyArtisans.com

25

Cowichan, Cowichan, Have You Any Wool?

S

heep and their wool are an important and fascinating part of the cultural heritage of British Columbia. The history of the West Coast is interwoven with the stories of rural communities, dedicated knitters and weavers, visionary pioneers---peoples and cultures whose livelihoods and cultural identities are sustained through working with wool.

First Nations people of this area have created textile products made of BC wool that have become famous around the world. For anyone working with wool on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands there exists an important and often overlooked rural asset, the Gulf Island Spinning

Mill (GISM) located on Salt Spring Island. The Mill is situated on the grounds of its primary community partner the Farmers Institute and is one of the last full-service wool processing facilities in BC. Due to the lack of infrastructure in the woolprocessing sector and the global market impact of China, cottage industry-scale wool mills are closing down, like Birkeland Bros. Wool Ltd. in Vancouver after 73 years of service (relocated with new owners in Abbotsford).

Consequently small-farm operators throughout BC must choose between the expense of shipping large quantities of wool to processing plants in Alberta or selling wool for a pittance to depots of the Canadian Wool Co-op in Ontario, which grades BC wool for export. The irony is that the availability of wool is now at a record low due to

AL U N AN FLEA

BOB’S MARKET Whippletree Junction In the Courtyard Parking Lot Saturday, September 22, 2012 From 9:00am to 2pm

Clean, local wool drying in the summer sun

natural disasters in Australia and New Zealand. The price of raw wool in the global market jumped 50% in 2011.

For over a decade the Gulf Islands Spinning Mill has provided wool-processing services for the region and guarantees special consideration for off-island customers to curb shipping and transportation costs. It is the intention of the founders and members to provide a selfsustaining asset for the benefit of regional wool producers and users. This is local economy at its best: process BC wool here

and develop BC wool products here. The mill is full service and also produces a wide range of specialty textile products in wool, alpaca and other fibres. Remember to visit us at the Salt Spring Fall Fair on September 15th. Contact us at www.gulfislandsspinningmill. com or 250 537- 4342.

Lets keep BC culture and our farmlands thriving by ensuring that our local wool mill is working for us.

Submitted by Vivienne Challandes Gulf Island Spinning Mill

This could be Bob’s Flea Market.

Vendor Information: Call 250 746-8024 Or email bearsinthecupboard@gmail.com

Sponsor: BEARS IN THE CUPBOARD

26

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Weaving Opportunities in The Cowichan Valley

Master weaver Leola Witt brings over 30 years of global teaching experience in weaving, spinning and textile art. She invites all ages and all levels of weavers to her Whippletree Junction studio for an opportunity to learn weaving, spinning, knitting, crocheting, dyeing, woven tapestry, thread painting, quilting techniques and more. “ Colour and design are the basis of all classes as it supports the ‘story’ of each student.” Leola tells us. “I mainly work with students oneon-one and there are never more than three students in a class. This individual instruction is what assists the student in developing a personal artistic journey.”

Leola believes strongly in Community Weaving and she encourages everyone to come and weave without experience. It is a skill that was once highly valued in our society and Leola would like to help promote it’s resurgence. “The Rag Rugs are very popular and many can weave one in a day. A Woven Blanket can be woven in a couple of days. Classes are individual, all ages and are ongoing every day. Dyeing is also a popular activity here, and there is usually a rich colourful dye pot on the go.” Looms are available for rental as well as studio space for your own loom.

Leola’s Studio Whippletree Junction Hand Dyed Woolens Sale

September 1st - Alderlea Farm Taking their beliefs in sustainability and micro living to the next level, local Cowichan Valley fashion designers Ali Bertin and Hilary Else not only design and sew their own lines of fabulous and creative clothing, they also hand dye the wools!

With a loyal following of seasonal buyers, Ali and Hilary often find themselves at the end of the sale - literally SOLD OUT.

•Art Classes •Weaving and Spinning •Community Loom •Artisan Textiles Learn and Experience the joy of textiles.

leolasstudio.blogspot.com “Our family and friends encouraged us to 250 597-0820 make warm and cozy woolen clothes. And we took it to the next level with our creative inspiration and love for visual stimulation.” says Hilary Else of Fooelse Clothing.

Both designers make clothing for all ages and Ali has expanded her line of children’s Merino clothing just in time for school. “There will be great fall colours and warm sweaters to prepare for the days when the leaves begin falling off the trees.” says Ali Bertin of Ancient Futures Clothing. “As a dancer I like to make/wear clothes that I can wear everyday. I am drawn to designs that are a-symmetrical, have layers and ruffles and flow gracefully with our everyday movements.”

Men, woman and children who enjoy the practicality and warmth of wool as a textile will be awed by the collection of vibrant colours and textures that Hilary and Ali have put together. This September 1st sale at Alderlea Farm promises to showcase the widest collection of garments that the women have shown collaboratively yet. * Early birds will stil need to wait for the 11am opening!

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shopping IN

Ice

CHEMAINUS

et

Willow Street Merchants

*

et

Antiques & Collectibles 9756 A Willow Street 250 246-4333 English & European Antiques

Saltspring Soapworks 9748 Willow Street 250 324-2226 Handmade Soaps, Natural Body Care

Chemainus Health Food 9738 Willow Street 250 246-9838 Natural Grocery, Vitamins, Hemp Fashions

* Toad Hall Emporium 9738 A Willow Street 250 246-4400 THE fun place to shop for all ages

Eliza Hemingway Art and Design Studio 9756C Willow Street 250-324-2212

* The Wine Den 9779 Willow Street 250 324-2215 Wine Kits, Equipment and Supplies

Etc. 9747 Willow Street 250 324-2227 Beads and Beading Classes

* Utopia Bakery A-9780 Willow Street 250 246-9992 Fresh Bread and European Pastries

See you soon!

Seasons Tickets on Sale Now!

*

We Accept Chemainus Dollars

Come to Chemainus; where the people are friendly and the parking is free! Enjoy shopping, excellent eateries, live music, professional theatre and special events.

Come for a day or make it a getaway.

www.visitchemainus.com

* British Allsorts 9776 Willow Street * Karens Uptown Bistro 250 246-9737 Sweets, Treats and Teas 9779 Willow Street 250 246-1059 Local and Seasonal

What Would Ms Polly Do? Getting Ready For School * Hansel & Gretel’s Candy Company

9748to Willow It is time beginStreet preparing for the start of school.

250 246-1059 I would not mention this aloud to the students so Assorted specialty Willow Street Café Sweets as to 9749 not spoil remaining days with the feeling Willowthe Street 250 246-2434 of sorrow at the lossSnacks, of freedom that Summer Homemade Lunch, Pizza, brings.

No,Dessert any discussion is unnecessary. I would simply and effectively prepare by slowly changing the family’s daily habits. Like the changing of the seasons slowly starting out in a new way will lay a foundation for when we are immersed in the school Food year.

Begin by being aware of the time it takes to actually leave the house. This time can be shortened by preparing the night before. Set out breakfast and Willow Street Soaps lay out clothing, pack lunches, fill back packs and 9748 Willow Street 250 246-4230 even packFine theImported auto allSoaps the previous night so that in and Luxury the morning we areBath notItems as pressed.

Next, whereever our children can help out without creating more work for us, is great. When little ones are afforded time now, in the summer, to struggle with learning how to self dress or to practice how to buckle a seat belt or to learn how to tie their shoes, we will soon have accomplished helpers.

With all the preparation and organization, we have created time to spend together in the morning.

What mood will we set for our children before we send them to school? Will we argue with each other over breakfast and worry about what we do not want? Oh no. Instead, dress well and go for a morning walk and marvel at the wonder and beauty of the new day and the new school year.

Paulette is an Educator of Parents and Children in the Waldorf Philosophy. She lives in Victoria.

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Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Mondays: Parent + Ch 9.30 - 10.30 9 classes 15

Singing Connects Us

WOODRUFF MUSIC SCHOOL offers ...

Creative Music Programs for Families Musical Beginnings ( toddlers ) Growing With Music ( preschoolers ) Adventures with Marimba ( 5 yrs & up) Family Marimba ( flexible groupings )

“One of the simplest and most direct ways of praying and meditating is through singing, and singing in community is especially powerful.You get people together in a room and get them singing, and you instantly knock down all the walls—the creeds, the gender, age and race differences, everything.You’re all one at that point, lifting your voices.” - Bobby McFerrin.. “

S

inging together gives us that sense of connection to ‘the bigger picture’ and at the same time connects us with our own unique selves.

Whether you are a novice or a pro, singing with others is powerful.

Come and celebrate the joy of music in a cottage garden setting.

Nurturing musical connections in the valley for over 17 yrs.

This same idea happens with words, like affirmations, when spoken and repeated, like a mantra or a prayer; simple words can become powerful tools for change and healing, again the effect is multiplied with more voices.

Singing connects us through Sound and singing has convibration, resonance and nected us since the beginfrequency of the sound waves which react differently ning of time, Since our birth, sounds have kept us alive depending on the actual in(asking for food or when we dividual voice, the pitch, the were in pain and needed help volume, and intention. etc). It is a survival tool and Dr. Masaro Emoto has the main source of communishown us how water is efcation for most of us here on fected by thought, prayer the planet. and sounds, the same effects travel through us with each Singing together helps us to and every sound, intention develop our listening skills and thought. We are actually as in a choir when we need changed and affected by all to find our correct pitch or to that we experience whether harmonize. These connections we can feel it or not. Sound act on our basic need to fit in, travels in a wave formation, be heard, be part of society Mondays: and you can imagine that Parent + Child Music when many voicesVoice comeLessons and belong. When someone experiences this for the first 9.30 - 10.30together am - with a similar intenwith Cari Burdett BMUS, MMUS time a great sense 9 classes 150$ per famfrom Royal Academy of Music London, UKof relief is tion that energy is multiplied experienced when they realize Folk, Musical Theatre, Classical, Improvisation exponentially. they are accepted and that

250 743 7738

www.woodruffmusic.ca

with Massimo Pintus -

Werbeck Singing, Uncovering the voice Guitar Lessons with Massimo Pintus

Folk, and Pop, Classical, Jazz, Cari Burdett breathing their voice can be heard life into music and music Flamenco,inFinger independence is welcome to be expressed into life. harmony with others. www.joythroughmusic.com

Community Music Programs & Workshops • 100 Voices for One World Community Choir •Threshold Singers • Gong Choir • Vocal Improvisation Class • Helios Song • Parent and Child Music • Intuitive Pedagogy: Movement & Musical Games

Everyone can Make Music Specializing in Voice and Guitar Lessons for children and adults.

REGISTER NOW FOR FALL CLASSES.

Visit Joythroughmusic.com Call to Register 250 701 0978

29 Offering Private and Group Music Classes

Farm and arden Pages

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Lasagne Gardening

urban farm Dirt Farming

F

or the purpose of this article I met with Jason Greenwood, local permaculturist and sustainable home builder, to ask him what he would consider the most important “how to’s” of starting an urban garden. Without a doubt, he feels that the very first step is the building of your soil. After that his advice is start small; address irrigation; grow easy things like kale, lettuces, tea herbs and spinach and “don’t be afraid to fail”. Lastly, be sure to plant something for the bees.

No bees, no pollination, no food!

IF YOU GROW IT, YOU KNOW IT: Due to increased awareness of the glyphosate* and pesticide contamination in non-organic soil and manure, safe sources of soil are few and far between. That means we have to “grow our own”. I call it Dirt Farming! It’s great fun, very satisfying and the best part is that you know exactly what’s in your soil.

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The easiest way to “grow soil” according to Jason is lasagne gardening. The good part is that you don’t have to dig or till. It’s a form of sheet mulching; a method where you add layers of organic materials directly on top of the area you wish to build the bed starting with a layer of cardboard or three layers of newspaper.

The grass or weeds will break down quickly because they will be smothered and those wonderful earthworms will be attracted to the dark, moist area. “Many worms make light work!”

The alternating layers of nitrogen (wet/green) and carbon (dry/brown) will “cook down” overtime, resulting in rich soil in which your plants will thrive. Ideally your brown layers will be two to three times as thick as your green.

The bottom layer, says Jason, is the most important. Jason likes to put something down to feed the microorganisms just before putting the first layer of cardboard. Any

organic cold manure source (rabbit, llama, sheep) is best, composted organic hot manure (goat, cow, horse or chicken) or organic alfalfa pellets (available at Top Shelf) followed by the cardboard and/or wet newspaper.

Sources of dry, carbon rich materials include dried leaves, pine needles, shredded newspaper, garden waste and peat while your nitrogen rich materials (greens) are manure, grass clippings, coffee grinds, tea leaves, compost, seaweed, comfrey leaves and any other leafy greens. If space allows, you should grow beds of plants that offer an abundance of biomass and nutrients like Jerusalem artichokes, comfrey, borage, burdock, nettle and lemon balm. If you are on an urban lot and have space restrictions, gather these materials from other gardens or encourage your neighbours to grow some for you (especially comfrey!). What you want at the end of your layering process is a two-foot tall layered bed.

The best time to build a lasagne garden is fall because of the availability of the organic materials you will need like fallen leaves and general yard waste. By building it in the fall, it has all winter to break down and by spring, it will be ready to plant in. The fall

rains and winter snow will keep your beds moist helping it to break down faster. Those choosing to build beds in the spring or summer will need to add more soil-like amendments such as peat, top soil, and finished compost – especially in the top layer. The plants will grow in this top layer while the layers below will decompose as the bed settles over the season.

Sow there! Before you grow your garden, you have to grow your dirt. Choose the location now, start gathering materials and by next spring, your beds will be ready for planting. And remember, says Jason, soil is like a bank account; you only get out of it what you put into it! And according to John Jeavons, the author of “How to Grow More Vegetables (and fruits, nuts, berries, grains and other crops), building the future of our planet starts with building soil. “Rather than growing crops for the sole purpose of consumption, the goal changes to one of giving and creating life – producing in the process, an abundance of food.”

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Nicolette Genier is the very happy co owner ot Duncan’s Community Farm Store.

Valleyview

About our Pets

Centre

So much to offer!

moving, illness, economy and many others– please remember animals have feelings, too – much like our own.

Puff

H

ope you are well and coping with your pets in our prolonged hot weather.

We are so fortunate the temperature is much cooler in the evenings. Fans are great for pets and I have separate ones going for my dog close by his bed and another for my cats in the other room – they seem to enjoy the relief.

A great book to read is Black Beauty by Anna Sewell.

There are many lessons about animals and they mean much more as we age. It reminds us of the sensitivity of our animal friends.

Sheila Jones offers holistic consultations for both people and pets. www.holisticnc.ca

Many people have many different types of pets, and they all need a few things in common: The best food affordable, fresh water, love, clean living areas, a trustedHome Home International Vulture human connection, a safe Prolink Mortgage (BC) Inc Awareness Days “forever” home, and… If you Marla Daniels September 1 & 2 aren’t able to keep your pet,250-733-2201 1:30pm and 3:30 pm please contact me and I willBest rates, Friendly The Raptors Centre help you find them a home.Free Service 1877 Herd Road Pets Duncan In my practice, I have had two 250-746-0372 clients in their mid nineties www.the-raptors.com who were no longer able to Get up close and personal cope with the responsibility withBeer vultures as you join the Spirits, & Wine of looking after their beloved folks at the Raptor Centre for cats. In both cases I was able Liquor Plus International Vulture Day. to find them excellent homes.

250-929-1999 They will be Highlighting the and spirits importance of environmental Animals suffer greatly Wine, when beer vultures to our ecosystems taken from their loved ones and this is a sensitive time for during the special flight demonstrations and you both of you. Many reasons will have the opportunity to dictate whether or not we are participate in 2 scheduled able to keep our pets safe at Vulture Meet & Greets prior home – allergies, too many to each scheduled flight people and other pets in demonstration. Come early to your home, young children, get a good seat!

1400 Cowichan Bay Rd Books Bucknuck Books 250-929-2665 Used books and Local authors Fitness Valley Health and Fitness 250-743-0511 Full service gym/classes Spa and Wellness Reiki Wellness *New Location #13 250 743-8122 Reiki, Foot Detox, Infrared, Acupuncture, Craniosacral Pets Dunkin Dogs 250 743-3935 Grooming, daycare, food/raw and more Computers Teky.ca 1-888-843-8359 Computer service & sales Websites & print design

Food Cobblecinos 250 743 8158 Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch Country Grocer 250 743-5639 Bakery, Meat & Produce Dragon Yuan 250 733-2335 Chinese Eat In/ Take Out Healthcare Cobble Hill Dental 250-743-6698 Friendly, Family Practice

We Welcome New Patients!

South Cowichan Physiotherapy & Sports Rehabilitation 250-743-3833 Physiotherapy, Acupuncture, Orthotics

31

H

ay sellers often base their asking price on the cut (first cut or second cut), colour (green or bleached), feel (fine and soft or coarse and rough) or forage composition (grass, alfalfa, grass-alfalfa) of the hay. While these subjective qualities can show if the hay is weathered, dusty or contains weeds, they can not tell us the nutrient content.

Animals use the energy, protein, minerals and vitamins contained in hay for growth, work, meat, milk and reproduction. While the amount of these nutrients can be related to the look, smell or colour of the hay, in order to know the actual levels, you need to take a sample and

send it to a feed laboratory for nutrient analysis.

Farm and arden Pages

g

Why should I test?

Nutrient levels in forages change with maturity, weather conditions at harvest and the amount of fertilizer applied.

Each year is different, so you cannot use last year’s analysis for this year’s crop.

Should I Test My Hay?

What should I test?

Most commercial feed laboratories will test for moisture, crude protein, ash, fat, fibres (acid detergent fibre [ADF] and neutral detergent fibre [NDF]). Energy content is then calculated from these values. However, if the hay was harvested under less-

than-ideal conditions, or if your animals have health concerns, then you should ask for additional tests. For example, if you have an insulin-resistant horse, test for sugars.

How do I test and where should I send it?

of the bales you plan on purchasing. Using a hay corer lets you easily test several bales. Check with your feed store to see if they have a corer you can borrow and if they will send the sample to a laboratory for analysis.

Submitted by Everett Dixon of Top Shelf Feeds.

When possible, test 20%

Made on the Island for the Island

Large or small we feed them all.

Hours of operation Sun 10 - 4pm Mon - Sat 8:30am - 6pm

2800 Roberts Rd. Duncan (250) 746-5101, Fax (250) 597-0312

32

100% Fresh

100% Locally Owned and Operated

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

s

Helpful

Garden September Seeds

O

nce again the seasons will soon turn. The showy blooms of summer are mostly over and if you’ve not deadheaded them, they will soon be producing mature seeds. People are of two minds about what to do with the seed heads.

Some cut them back and completely clean out their garden beds. Others leave them standing in place so that birds will have a feast of fresh seeds over the approaching fall. I am in the latter group.

Your garden may look a bit unkempt, but benefits are abundant. It attracts the birds to your garden, meaning fewer insect pests. Birds love seeds from echinacea, kniphofia (red-hot poker), columbine, gaillardia, delphinium, hosta and lilies.

Another benefit is selfseeding. You can increase the number of your favourite perennials easily by just letting seeds sprout and grow. Once you learn what seedlings of your perennials look like, it’s easy to edit them while weeding in the spring. If they’re in the wrong place or are too abundant, just pull them like weeds. I generally cull about 90% of volunteer seedlings from the garden.

Never let Shasta daisy go to seed, you will have literally 1000’s of these sprouting in your garden and you’ll blow a head gasket trying to eliminate them all. Not only those, but choice new varieties like ‘Snowcap’ revert to the original form.

If you want more daisies in your garden, cut them back before they go to seed. In early fall, dig these clumps up and divide them, replanting what you want and passing on the rest to friends and neighbours. You’ll increase the number of choice plants while maintaining your sanity.

Ajay Oppelaar is an experienced horticulturist and President of the Mill Bay Garden Club.

Contact him at arkengardens@gmail.com

Pruning Lavender

Summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.

~Henry James

T

his is still an excellent time to plant lavender and right up to the end of September, (see our plant sale ad). Planting now will allow them to settle in before first frost and next spring they will be ready to give you a great show!

Preparations For Cold Weather Conditions For Those Of You Who Already Have Lavender In Your Gardens A well-pruned plant is a happy, healthy plant. Plants not pruned properly will become leggy and prone to breakage in the middle. Begin now by inspecting your plants

Cut above the new grey foliage. and prune off any dead, limp or unsightly growth. Though frost is still some time away, you do need to remove all the spent flower spikes and stems from your lavender plants before the winter cold. Trim lavender plants above where you see new growth, greyish colour foliage, leaving a couple of inches of green above the woody stems.

Pruning the plant into a ball will keep the foliage tight and compact while training the plant to take this shape; it will also stimulate early spring growth. Lavender should be pruned at least once a year during their life span. We give our lavenders a slight trim after harvesting. If the plant is 3+ years old and has never been properly pruned annually, it is probably best to replace the bush.

OVERPRUNING will most likely kill the plant! Never prune out old wood unless it is completely dead.

Chris Carruthers is a lavender farmer in the Cowichan Valley www.cowichanvalleylavender.com

St. John’s Anglican Church in Cobble Hill

Annual September Festival September 15 FREE 3295 Cobble Hill Road 10.00am to 3.00pm www.stjohnscobblehill.ca 250-743-3095 This year’s Annual September Festival promises to be bigger and better than other years. Items for the Garage, Book and Clothing Sales are piling up in the church and hall basements just itching to get out and about. Come and discover the treasures of the Giant Yard, Jewellery, Plant and Book Sales, renew your wardrobe at the Clothing tent, tickle your sweet tooth at the Bake table, try your luck in the Silent Auction, enjoy Hamburgers and Divine Desserts while you listen to lively music. For the children there are games galore. Come, have fun and help us make a difference by recycling treasures that are looking for a good home.

As good neighbours we shall have an active ZeroWaste programme set up.

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Artist’s signature cityscape surface design motif.

Margit Nellemann 8330 Richards Trail North Cowichan www.margitnellemann.com Light, Clay + Wood opens September 21 7 - 10pm 250 748 3811

Y

ears ago, when I first started working with clay I was introduced to sculpture. The threedimensional malleability of clay provided a creative stimulation and introduced me to the world of handbuilt ceramics. I was living in Spain at the time and moved around a lot. This made it more challenging to pursue the world of ceramics as I wasn’t always able to access clay or kiln space. While

Margit Nellemann working in her studio.

Talking Arts • Margit Nellemann

still fascinated with my newfound pursuit, I started to build smaller. I made small sculptures, small faces, small body parts.

Anything small that would allow me to explore the world of clay.

I created many pieces that were never fired. What mattered the most was to build, learn and

perfect.

Years later I moved to Canada.

I was less itinerant and soon acquired a kiln. Functional ceramics quickly became my new fascination. Combining form and function was a challenge for me.

Teapots, for example, are often considered one of the biggest tests for ceramists. They are made of several components – body, spout, handle, lid – that must all come together to create an aesthetically pleasing functional piece.

Architectural by design, they are essentially little houses for tea.

I accepted the incitement and have spent years building teapots.

The surface design I have been adding to my work over the past many years has evolved alongside the handbuilt forms. I have fallen

in love with the cityscape. It adorns a lot of my current work.

I have discovered the ancient skyscrapers of Yemen’s Shibam, I have been reminded of the works of Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

And during my six years in Spain, I walked the streets of Gaudi’s genius. It is a great source of inspiration and a muse that has prompted me to combine sculpture, function and cityscapes.

The result is a new series of lamps and lanterns that will be on display with exquisite works by GelinasCarr furniture during an upcoming Fall Equinox exhibit dedicated to the art of lighting.

Light, clay + Wood opens September 21st with wines served

by Unsworth Vineyards and canapés prepared by Amusé on The Vineyard.

Open Wednesday - Sunday 10am - 5pm 8350 Richards Trail, North Cowichan 250 748 3811 margitnellemann.com

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Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Fall Art Classes at Sacred Mountain Studio

Move Your Body with Belly Dance

Bellydance is one of the oldest traditional dances and has adapted with modern times. Original dances come from different cultures such as Egypt, Spain and Turkey and dance music comes mostly from the Middle East but nowadays modern songs are also used.

In the Cowichan Valley bellydance instructor Debrajeen of Studio 2000 choreographs special dances for her students aimed at having fun, leraning rhythm and promoting positive body image. She offers classes for all ages but has a special beginner class for mature women over 50.

Dancer, Angelina teaches a form of Bellydance called American Tribal Style. It is an improvisational fusion of many dancing traditions.

As a beginner you will be introduced to the basic steps and gestures of the belly dance vocabulary. The main concept of this style is to lead and follow with uniform cues and gestures. This allows women to dance with any dancer that knows the dance cues and steps. Belly dancing is a fun way to connect with other women of all ages, sizes and background and a guaranteed body conditioning and celebration of the Feminine.

Festive Dishes with Nan Goodship September 9th, 16th, & 23rd 1:00pm to 6:00pm Drawing as a Way of Seeing- A Drawing Workshop with Peter Spohn September 11,13,15,18,20,22th 7:00pm - 9:30 pm and Saturday mornings Expressive Watercolour with Nan Goodship October 6th and 7th 10:00am -4:00pm Oil Painting Basics for Beginners with Peter Spohn Oct. 13th,14th 10:00 am to 4:00pm

1529 Khenipsen Rd Duncan, British Columbia

250-746-4130 To Register

www.sacredmountainstudio.ca

35

ECIAL

eating prived ur CDs $189!

Find out how Medical Qi Gong can be a part of your journey to healing, health and vitality.

Martha Lescher in her Shiatsu Stuidio.

Image Sheila Badman

Cowichan Valley’s Best Kept Secret

Experience the Healing sounds of the Lakota Flute Learn to play Workshops, and Flute Circles in lovely Lake Cowichan

Her clients describe her as the Cowichan Valley’s best-kept secret.

DIETS DON’T WORK! -Now I know why.

Medical Qi Gong CLINICALExercise HYPNOSIS Classes andDOES Having worked with wholeTreatments at Harmony Yoga, Duncan

For information contact DietsRommy: Don’t250-749-6563 Work—or rommy.v@hotmail.com or visit the Duncan Market 9am - 2pm

The Power of the Mind Does.

Hypnotherapy is the way to use your Medical Qi Gong Classes subconscious mindExercise to uncover and change patterns and habits that no longer Fridays 10:15am-11:45 am serve.

Harmony Yoga, 111 Station St., Duncan Effective for:

· Fears & Phobias · Stress Management ·Weight Release ·Smoking Cessation ·Pain Control ·Achieving Goals Lori Austein Clinical Hypnotherapist 250 743 5685 • laustein@shaw.ca

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body-whole-mind concepts as an apprentice Yoga teacher in the early 80s, Martha Lescher recognized her strength in body work. Her career change from Waldorf teacher to Zen Shiatsu practitioner over a decade ago, has culminated in her successful Cowichan-based practice Shiatsu: Heaven & Earth with a steady base of loyal clientele.

Alderlea Farm’s John Ehrlich described a visit with Martha, “My back was so bad I could not bend it to plant or lift anything.

Her treatment included the whole body, including my glandular system, and it

was very subtle, the gradual disappearance of my back pain happened in less than a week. Her office is like a mini-spa---quiet, light filled, and extremely relaxing. One time I fell asleep.”

Having explored other wellness modalities, I had always been intrigued with Shiatsu. Shiatsu Martha explained is, “hands-on bodywork based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine model of health and wellness.

TCM sees the body as a network of meridians. Each meridian, and the points along them, correspond with: natural phenomenon, emotional expression, physiological functions, and qualities of the soul and spirit.

In other words, as above, so below.”

A Shiatsu: Heaven & Earth treatment begins with a short consultation and a brief but powerful warm-up massage on a Ceragem infra-red massage bed. As you lie,

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

FREE 15 Min Phone Consultations ress Reduction, Dependencies, Relationship, Fears, Depression and Live Smoke Free packages.

jade spools roll along your back aligning the spine.

Then you move to the futon where Martha makes you comfortable with pillows and bolsters placed to insure proper postural alignment and allowing for complete relaxation. After the 90 min. treatment your served a warm cup of tea to ease you back into wakefulness.

I tell people it’s like me doing your Yoga for you,” Martha explained. “Meridians are opened with gentle stretches and joint rotations. Palm and finger pressure is applied along the meridians and acupoints to further release the tension that cause blockages in the flow of our energy, nerve impulses, and blood and fluid circulation.

Every touch is diagnosis and treatment combined. The meridians, points, muscles, and tissues are palpated and assessed and the practitioners hands respond accordingly.”

The aim of a session is to relax to the point of letting go of the outer world. Give

attention to your inner world; listen to what needs healing or balance, and what is seeking expression.

Martha works seasonally in the Cowichan Valley from April to November and spends her winters at a retreat centre in Hawaii offering Shiatsu at a wellloved destination for yoga, wellness, and Hawaiian culture. Contact Martha at 250 748 6441 or by e-mail at marthashiatsu@gmail.com to experience Zen Shiatsu and this well kept secret yourself.

Your body, mind and soul will be ever grateful.

Sheila Badman lives in Maple Bay with her lovely husband and toddler twins.

S

OU

ESCA

ESTHE

S OU L E S CAPE

ESTHETICS Est. Since 2006

An Update From West Coast Men’s Support Society

Back To School Special $119 for mom and daughter includes an extra brush head (Retails $25)

Fire & Bones – Youth Mentoring Our Truth Circles begin in local Cowichan schools in the Fall Please contact us for details.

Dads Make a Difference – Tuesdays 6 to 8pm We will continue to meet in our office Men’s Circle – Wednesdays to 9:30pm Valley.

The first and only Green Spa in the7Cowichan We meet at the Cowichan Station Hub on Koksilah Road A mile westedofOrganic Hwy 1 skincare – Offering Certifi Eminence from Hungary. Senior We specialize in skin care, foot careatand a full Men’s Drop In – Fridays ouroffer office – 12:30 to 2pm range of spa treatments.

Along with the full line of Eminence Movie, food, and chat Organic products we are launching the Age Respect & Compassion – Saturdays at our office – 8 to 10am Corrective Collection with a revolutionary A Natural better way to communicate Retinol Alternative Complex!

THE ORIGINAL HUNGARIAN ORGANIC SKINCARE LINE IN NORTH AMERICA

The first and only Green Spa in the Cowichan Valley.

#4 -5777 Trans Canada Hwy, Duncan 250.748.2056 www.soulescape.ca

Helping Men, Families and Community to create Full, Healthier Lives! www.westcoastmen.org

#4 -5777 Trans Canada Hwy, Duncan BC 250.748.2056 www.soulescape.ca

213-80 Station St, Duncan 250 597-2801

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Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

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Green Living

Gratitude

he nightly tradition around our family dinner table is to each take turns sharing our “gratefuls”.

Often the children will exclaim that they are grateful for things like, sunshine or the playdate they had that day and I will try to take the opportunity to make it a teachable moment and share something from a global or environmental perspective.

Interestingly we never have a hard time coming up with things we are grateful for and usually someone will mention something that reminds someone else of something they forgot to mention and the circle keeps going around and

around growing into a major lovefest! I’ve often sat in observation of the children as they feed off each other, each triggering more and more gratefuls and thought it was a perfect model for creating peace in the greater community.

Recently my boys and I were involved in a major car accident, gratefully, we all walked away from it with nothing more than minor injuries. The perspective gained from an experience like that really brings up deep feelings of gratitude on many levels. My wish is to share some of these “gratefuls” with hopes of propelling your own feelings of gratitude that you will pass along to the people in your lives, and so on…

Tracey Hanson local mompreneur and owner/operator Clean Choice Eco-Friendly Cleaning Services www.cleanchoicecleaners. com

Some of the things that I am grateful for:

• the resilience of children • girlfriends who are more like sisters • generous strangers • my beloved Toyota Rav4 • family that just do without asking • new perspectives • friends who give love and support limitlessly • opportunities to give back • feeling connected to something greater than me • breakthroughs in communication • a supportive community • my beautiful children Thank you for the opportunity to share, your turn!

Horizons Program For Women HORIZONS: A Personal Journey Of Reconnecting To One’s Self, Strengths And Aspirations. A Program Helping Women to Create Meaningful Relationships And Success In The Community and Workplace.

T

he Cowichan Valley is extremely fortunate to have the Horizons Program available to women in our community. It has served hundreds of women in our community from age 19 to 70 for over 15 years.

Horizons is a unique program for women who have experienced abuse and or trauma in their childhood or adult lives. Women are offered a safe place to reflect on how this has affected them personally, in relationships, in fulfilling their dreams, as well as in the workplace. Women are also given the opportunity to explore ways to boost their self confidence, develop effective communication skills, set boundaries, recognize their personal skills, and their creative abilities.

A sequence of workshops offered in the program cover topics such as self esteem building, communications skills, recognizing the impacts of abuse and trauma, as well as recognizing personal strengths and aspirations. Workshops also focus on creating job search skills, success in the workplace, and keeping

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your job. All the workshops focus on creating healthy and meaningful relationships as well as becoming active and successful members in the community and the workplace.

Women will participate in a group setting learning through experiential exercises, creative projects, handouts, and field trips as well as from each other. Women also receive individual personal support from Horizons staff.

The program is free for women on Income assistance, Disability, or Employment Insurance. The workshops are ongoing and women can start anytime.

Women who would like more information on how to become a participant in the Horizons program are encouraged to call 250-748-7000 ext. 232.

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Rommy is a Master level Medical Qi Gong therapist and Lakota Flute Maker who enjoys sharing all she can with the Cowichan Valley.

Love Your Food and help digestion

W

e are blessed in the Valley to have a bountiful supply of organic, locally grown food at this time of year. Whether you grow your own food, or buy it, the abundance of the harvest is at its peak, and there is no greater enjoyment than eating healthy, delicious, fresh food.

Proper digestion is a key to good health. Most of us know how important the foods we put into our body are, but there is more to digestion than just what we eat. In Ayurveda how we consume our meals plays an important part in the entire digestive process. How many of us eat on the run, rushing through our lunch, or our dinner without even paying attention to what it is we are eating. Just as energy goes into food as it’s grown, and harvested, there is energy that we receive from it as we ingest it. Its really very simple. If we take the time to

be with our food while we eat it, our bodies can fully absorb all of the nutrients that it is offering us.

We can start by taking a moment to honor the food in front of us, before we start to enjoy it. And enjoying it is a key aspect for strong digestion, allowing yourself to taste the food, to give it your full attention (this means shutting the tv and computer off, laying down your book, and letting go of whatever else is taking up space in your mind). Allow your meals to be a special time, sit down, be with your family, yourself, and the food in front of you; try not to rush, and fully experience all that the meal has to offer you. This simple action will have a powerful effect on your digestion, and your entire being.

Get back to school with a clean home and workplace.

Giving you back the luxury of time and a naturally clean home to enjoy it in!

Providing professional, eco friendly cleaning services.

250 929 8381 www.cleanchoicecleaners.com Licensed - Insured - Bonded

Home Cleaning Gift Certificates available for Family & Friends!

Asrael is an Ayurvedic Practitioner & Yoga Teacher in the Cowichan Valley. www. anandaayurveda. wordpress.com

AhZenya the newest salon and spa in the Cowichan Valley

Join us for a relaxing ZEN EXPERIENCE

• Full Hair and Esthetics Services • Joico hair color and products • Natural Sugaring Hair Removal • Onsite Gel Nail Artist

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Re-think, Re-Design, Re-Purpose

“What if every single act of design and construction made the world a better place?”

This is the question posed by the Living Building Challenge, and Cowichan Green Community (CGC) has taken it to heart in their latest project.

Many remember the pool at Kinsmen Neighborhood Community Park, and since it was removed in 2010 the building that housed the filters, bathrooms, and lifeguard room has sat empty. CGC willingly accepted the challenge to convert the building into a dynamic space.

Insightful Focus Where are you choosing to focus? Where you put your attention is where you will create results. When we shift our attention, putting focus on what we want and the way we want to produce results, we become more inspired.

If you were to scale your level of focus for today, with 1 just beginning to be focused and 10 being fully and completely focused, where are you on the scale? What needs to shift or change to move you up the scale?

An insightful tip to support moving up the scale is to have a values conversation. Values inform the movement we make in the world and are the core of our being. When you connect to what matters and you have a ‘solutions’ focus you amp up your commitment, momentum and inspiration. The quality of your engagement shifts.

“The vision of this project is to create an indoor/outdoor classroom - utilizing natural building techniques, green alternatives, raw, salvaged and recycled materials,” explains the Project Manager, Raelynn Gibson with CGC. Work parties and workshops are scheduled into the fall and CGC is asking for volunteers who would like to participate.

Whether you’re a carpenter (or plumber or electrician) willing to lend your tools or expertise, an amateur wanting to learn more about green,

natural, or alternative building, an artist wanting to help to beautify the building, there is something for everyone.

Fall work parties include installing driftwood posts and beams, raising a bicyclerim awning, cob and plaster, painting the exterior, and retrofitting the interior.

Workshops for youth, held at Bikeworks, include vertical gardening, pop bottle greenhouses and mason bees. For more information or to get involved phone 250-748-8506 or email raelynn@cowichangreencommunity.org.

There will be an ‘Open House’ of the project on September 22nd at CGC’s ‘Share the Harvest Festival’ – a family day of food and fun - that will take place in the (Kinsmen) park and include pie contests, a corn roast, volleyball tournaments, scarecrow building contests, food vendors and more! We look forward to seeing you there!

I invite you to ask yourself each morning for the next month, “where am I choosing to focus?” Imagine, what might happen if you took action on that focus? What would you be doing? What impact would that have on your family? What results would you generate in business and life? The choice is yours on where you want to focus to leverage the results you truly want to create.

Tania Walter Gardiner - Live Your Definition of Success

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Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Raelynn is a food security coordinator, recently turned general contractor, at CGC.

Jean Crowder has been the NDP Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Cowichan since 2004. Crowder.J@parl.gc.ca 1-866-609-9998

Crowder’s Corner

After promising not to cut your Old Age Security, the Conservatives did exactly that.

Old Age Security (OAS) is a universal pension for all Canadians over 65 — averaging $6,000 per year.

The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) provides up to $8,800 more to low-income seniors over 65.

In the 2012 budget, Conservatives announced that the eligibility age for OAS and GIS will gradually increase from 65 to 67—starting in 2023.

The average Canadian will lose more than $12,000 between the ages of 65 and 67. The poorest seniors will lose $30,000 each. While seniors born before 1962 are exempt, today’s young people will bear the full burden.

Increasing the age for eligibility also means that provinces – with their already stretched budgets for health care and education - will have to spend money to help seniors bridge those two years of benefits.

The Conservatives have failed to show that OAS and GIS are “unsustainable.” While costs will grow as baby boomers retire, Canada’s economy will grow as well. As a share of the economy, the projected cost increase is small, temporary and affordable. The Parliamentary Budget Officer says the OAS/GIS is sustainable now.

New Democrats will continue to fight for a fair retirement for all Canadians.

WEBSITES, EMAILS AND VERBAL LINT GUYPOWER: Formerly known as Cowichan Men’s Resource Centre, the organization has recently acquired a new name (West Coast Men’s Support Society) and a new location (#213- 80 Station Street in downtown Duncan) and, according to executive director GRANT WALDMAN, it is full speed ahead for Fall 2012: “We have our Dads Make a Difference program Tuesdays from 6 - 8pm in our office … Men’s Circle Wednesdays (7pm - 9:30 pm) at Cowichan Station Hub - East Annex … Seniors Drop In on Fridays from 12:30- 2pm in our office (watch a movie, have some soup, chat) …

Saturdays we have our Respect & Compassion group from 8 am to 10am (interview required first).” The society has also initiated “Fire & Bones youth mentoring circles” at Mt Prevost, Frances Kelsey, Alternative Education, and George Bonner schools. For more info on these programs log onto http://www.cowichanmen.org GIRLPOWER: Look out Taylor Swift! Here comes LYNNEA ROSE BRUCE. The 15 year old performer wowed ‘em at SunFest 2012 and The 39 Days of Summer, a series of concerts sponsored by DuncanCowichan Festival Society last month. If you haven’t seen her in action and/or you just want to see her again Lynnea tells us “our next big gig that we’ve booked is on the 7th of September at the Cowichan Exhibition”, sometime between 7 pm and 9:30pm. In the meantime you can see her on YouTube. She has her own Facebook page too.

POWERING UP … After a summer of suspense CICV-FM in Lake Cowichan has received approval from the CRTC (Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission) in Ottawa to boost its power and shift its frequency (to 97.5 FM, effective this month.) The new licence is good until Aug. 31 2019.

For a complete look at the CRTC decision log onto the station’s home page at cicv.ca. (The station has its own Facebook page as well.)

By Rick Dennis

WINGS III Opportunity Store You’ll always find a treasure!

Donations Gratefully Accepted

Bring your quality womens and childrens clothing, natural fibres, household gadgets, jewelry, nick nacks and small furniture.

250 746 9906 Open Mon - Sat 10am - 5pm 193 Station St at Jubilee, Downtown Duncan

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COWICHAN FEATURE LISTINGS Memory foam yoga mat PVC Free. Ideal for pre/postnatal yoga, pilates and those who need more support.

Suitable for all types of yoga including, Vinyasa Flow, Power, Bikram, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Gentle and Kundalini.

Our mission is to inspire, motivate and most of all... to have fun! We offer encouraging, experienced tap dance instruction for beginners to advanced of all ages.

www.vvitayoga.ca Richard 250 746 9319 Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands Distributor

Lynda Allen 250-748-0934 lyndaallentapstudio@shaw.ca

LOCAL WEB HOSTING

Want to learn how to make your own jewellery?

Contact us for domain searches, web registration, and LOCAL hosting. Small business blogsites, web templates and other small business web based services.

Etc! offers a wide range of classes from introductory classes in Beading, Kumihimo and Bead Weaving to more advanced techniques and workshops.

We have a fantastic range of beads and supplies as well as unique gifts.

Websites

make

250-746-9319

great

–

gifts!

Duncan

Richard Badman rbadman@gearth.com High quality handwoven traditional rugs and carpets made by Tibetan refugees from Nepal.

Call for prices and dates 250 324 2227 New Hours Monday - Saturday 9-5 and Sunday 10 - 4

9747c Willow St, Chemainus 250 324 2227

Metal Artist Brad Allen

With a torch,welder and array of metal Decor and Design finishing tools, Brad creates joyful, nurturing and thought-provoking pieces. at historic -- Metal Wall hangings Free Standing Sculptures Whippletree Junction

Small World Imports Tibetan Rugs and Carpets www.smallworldimports.ca 250-748-6570

Hand-knotted and made of 100% Tibetan wool in a family run venture that houses workers and educates children to alleviate poverty.

WHIPPLETREE

JUNCTION 4705 Trans Canada Hwy

Furniture,Crafts and Specialty Bears!

Studio located in Duncan by appointment Brad Allen 250 748 0934 www.meddleart.com

Bob’s Annual Flea Market

Sept 22•9am to 2pm Courtyard parking lot

Sponsored by

Bears in the Cupboard

BC’s Largest selection of indoor and outdoor rattan furniture! thewickertree.com

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- Classes - Shared Studio

- Community Loom - Gift Certificates - Locally made textiles

yarns, wools, needles, books and notions.

250 746 5250

Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Fall hours 10am to 5pm

bearsinthecupboard@gmail.com.

Spe beauti Cana Dining R Living Hom Ec Sof

25 www

- Weaving and Spinning

The Loom

The Wickertree

Leola’s Studio In The Courtyard

The hom

Learn and Experience the joy of textiles. leolasstudio.blogspot.com

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Georgia Nicols M.A. is Canada’s most popular astrologer. A Buddhist, this Vancouver-based astrologer is featured in regional papers across Canada, the United States, and New Zealand. www.georgianicols.com

Aries (March 21-April 19)

You’re thinking about how to get healthier. Naturally, we all feel an increased focus on dietary needs and eating habits in the month ahead because this Virgo Sun this month loves organizational systems. “I always keep my keys/ passport/Scotch tape/scissors/ favourite lubricant/(fill in the blank) in the same place.”

Therefore, physical efficiency and health will be your focus plus you’ll refine your approach to work because you want results!

Yesterday! (Typically Aries.)

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Even though millions have partied their faces off in the past six weeks, you’re just gearing up for a month of pleasure, flirtation, parties, romance, vacations and fun with children and sports.

The bottom line is you want to be free to do your own thing.

Great! How timely, because the stars will now make you feel lighter, happier and more funloving. (Can you click your heels like Gene Kelly?) Actually, not only will you have more fun just being yourself, you’ll encounter opportunities to become more aware of who you really are.

The home of fine furnishings

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Specialising in class reunions Family reunions, and increased beautiful woods time andspent with relativesfurniture. and family members is Canadian on the menu for Geminis this Dining Room • Bedroom month. This is an excellent time some self-evaluation.

Livingfor Room • Tables Yes, we are a product of our backgrounds, Home but Accesories no, we don’t have to keep playing those tapes. Too often Eco friendly Sofas & Chairs

as adults we keep responding to others like we did when we were kids. Naturally, some of these behaviour patterns are no longer appropriate. (Don’t take your soother to the office.)

Cancer ( June 21-July 22)

Not only will your schedule be busier this month, your mind will be racing as well. Many will read and study more than usual, plus take short trips, run errands and talk to many people. It’s true we all have only 24 hours in each day. (In that respect, we’re all created equal, whether you’re a street person or Bill Gates.) But trust me -- you will jam more activity into your 24 hours than ever before. Travel for pleasure and enjoy your world!

September Horoscopes Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

This month the Sun is hiding in your chart, which means this is a good time for you to hide as well. And while you’re hiding or working behind the scenes, it’s the perfect time to plan what you want your new personal year (birthday to birthday) to be all about. If you’re specific about your goals, including deadlines, the chances of achieving those goals are much higher than if you don’t make any goals and instead live willy-nilly with management-by-crisis.

Leo ( July 23-Aug. 22)

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Sagittarius(Nov.22-Dec.21)

This month you’re focused on cash flow, earnings and figuring out where your money goes.

Ka-ching! First you have to know just how much is coming in.

(Information is power.) When you see clearly how much is coming in and where it’s going out, you’ll get a better picture of your situation. Although you can be a generous spendthrift, you can also save big amounts of money in a short time when you’re motivated to do so. Leos rock!

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) The Sun is back in your sign boosting your energy plus attracting people and favourable situations to you. Since this only happens once a year, make the most of it. You’re a strong communicator now, which benefits those of you who sell, market, teach, write or promote anything for a living. It’s also a strong time for those of you who drive for a living. Meanwhile, fair Venus continues to attract creative, artistic people to you. Go do that voodoo that you do so well.

Your popularity is rising. Groups, clubs and friendships make demands on your time. Fortunately, Mars in your sign boosts your energy and helps you keep up this mad social pace. Travel for pleasure beckons and new, blossoming romance with someone from a different culture is possible. This is the perfect time to define your dreams for the future. After all, the future is unchartered territory so you need a map to get where you want to go. Right?

The Sun is now at top of your chart acting like a spotlight on you for the next six weeks. And hey, because this lighting is flattering, bosses notice you more and offers will come your way.

Accept them because you’ll easily pull off whatever others expect from you. (Piece of cake!) Discussions with parents and bosses will be significant. Romance will be passionate and affectionate.

In fact, gifts, goodies and favours from others will come your way, so keep your pockets open.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

It’s time to get outta Dodge.

You want to get away from it all. Travel somewhere or book a vacation for the future to feel happier and have something to look forward to. You’re eager to learn something new because you want more out of life. People from other cultures and different countries will intrigue you.

Romantic relationships are warm; in addition to which, group activities are abundantly physical!

Hmmm, looks like team sports and gym classes for many of you.

Aquarius ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

This month you feel passionate! Intimacy will be hot. (You devil.) But your passion will also extend beyond the bedroom.

You’ll feel passionate talking to everyone about anything! Mars is high in your chart now arousing your ambition and Mercury is opposite your sign encouraging intense conversations with others.

You’ve got big plans and big ideas that you want to bounce off others to get their feedback. Where do you want to be in five years?

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

This month the Sun is opposite your sign, which is as far away from you as it gets all year.

Because the Sun is your source of energy, this means you’ll need more sleep. This “opposite” Sun also focuses your mind on partnerships and close friendships, which is this is the perfect time to form working units with others. It’s also a good time to analyze your style in relationships. You have to be as good for your partner as he or she is for you and vice versa.

www.georgianicols.com

250 737 1773 www.sassywood.ca

Interested in contributing to the Valley Voice? E-mail us at editor@cowichanvalleyvoice.com

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DIRECTORY

Valley Voice Magazine now offers readers a new directory to discover local services and businesses. 2 sizes of ad space are available to suit every business message and budget. Affordable, stylish and straight to the point. Contact Adrienne Richards for more info 250 510 0596 or adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com Deadline September 16 for October 2012 Issue 47.

Accommodations

T w

Business Services

Shawnigan Lake House

Year round waterfront vacation rental with dock. Great for a family holiday or a getaway with friends. www.shawniganlakevacationrentals.ca kpemberton@shaw.ca or call (250) 743-5941

I 1 w

Beauty and Hair Salon Services Barb’s Mobile Hair Salon

Nika’s Natural Hair & Relaxation Salon

Hairdressing In Your Home

haircuts for the whole family color & hi-lites (featuring eco-colors) hair and scalp treatments Matraea Centre all natural products 170 Craig Street Duncan 250 710-7339

Services offered include: haircuts, styling, colouring and perms for Ladies, Men and Children!

1- 250 483 5043 / Cell 250 715 6568

Birthing, Prenatal and Maternity

Child Care

Moved! Now offering private Hypno-Baby Birthing sessions in Chemainus! Group sessions at Matraea Centre, start again in the fall.

Danette Noble, RCH, CCHt

Need childcare?

Taking care of children?

Call the Cowichan Valley Child Care Resource & Referral 250-746-4135 local 231

250 709-7380

www.birthwithhypnosis.vpweb.ca

Farms and Food

Counselling Individual and couple counselling services.

More than a Meat Shop

Sophie Barbant - Hayward, M.A. Registered 331 St. Julian Street Professional Counsellor Duncan, BC Bilingual French and English 250- 510 - 0182

The Duncan Butcher 430 Trans Canada Hwy 250 748 -6377

Gluten Free/Organic Pasta’s, Organic Meat, Homemade Sausage, International Foods.

The Valley’s 1st Certified Organic /Biodynamic Community

September Dinner hours, open until 6 pm. Tues, Fri, Sat

Come eat at our Organic Farm Cafe - Child, Celiac and Vegan friendly!

Alderlea Farm and Cafe Open Tues, Fri, Sat, 11am-6pm 3390 Glenora Road, Duncan, 250 715-0799 Special seating for family meals!

Health and Healing Moved! Now offering Hypnosis, Reiki & Hypnotherapy private sessions and training in Chemainus!

Danette Noble, RCH, CCHt 250 709-7380 www.cowichanvalleyhypno.com

Downtown Ladysmith

www.wildflowernaturalhealth.ca

Vitamin And Herbal Supplements Organic Bulk Foods & Herbs Health & Beauty Aids Herbal Medicine & Food For 4-180 Central Duncan Dogs And Cats (Located Beside Sears in Village Sports Nutrition & Weight Loss Snack Bar Green Mall) 250 748-4421

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Marilyn Swallow RMT RA Gillian Leverkus PhD RHP 50 Years combined experience (250) 245 9269 / 714 5044

SENIORS!

15% Discount Every Day! on Supplements *Unless Already Reduced Last Tuesday of Every Month Seniors receive 15% off most food items as well as supplements.

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Health and Healing (continued) Reflexology and Chi Wellness by Terri

Indian Head Massage, Foot Reflexology, Reiki, Spiritual Healing & Therapeutic Touch * RELEASE DISEASE CAUSING STRESS * STIMULATE IMMUNE FUNCTIONS Terri 250 709-2388 balancedbody@shaw.ca 3-1 hour relaxation sessions of your choice for $159.00 www.terriswellness.com • 1453 Algonkin Rd, Duncan

IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN 141 Craig Street, Duncan 250 748-9632 www.mercias.ca

•A Large Variety Of Supplements, Flower Remedies •Homeopathics, Tinctures •Aura-Soma Colour Therapy, Bath and Body Products •Hair Care Products, Specialty Creams, Bulk Soap and More!

•Duncan’s Largest Selection Of Bulk Medicinal Herbs Amazing Lines Of Professional Natural Cosmetics including: Zuii Organics Make Up and ZUZU Luxe: luxury color cosmetics line - spa inspired - VEGAN!

SHIATSU: HEAVEN & EARTH Special Introductory Offer $10 off your first visit ! 90 min / $70 To book an appointment Shiatsu facilitates deep relaxation using hand and finger pressure along 250 748 - 6441 with stretches and joint rotations to RELIEVE PAIN, IMPROVE JOINT marthashiatsu@gmail.com MOBILITY, and EASE PHYSICAL & EMOTIONAL STRESS

!

Home Maintenance

Exquisite Designs Painting WCB covered & Fully insured Seniors discounts & affordable rates

Contact Saldana today for your FREE QUOTE

(250) 7017197 or exquisite_dezigns@yahoo.com

Music Lessons Allan Cameron B.Sc., Diploma in Music (Jazz Studies) Drum Set and Percussion Lessons Specializing in Rock, Funk, Latin and Jazz Drumset And Afro-Cuban percussion.

250-737-1757 atlasfunk@gmail.com

Pedicures Specializing in Foot and Nail Care for the Mature Client.

Pedicures starting at $35 (Approx. 1 hr.)

Receive Pedicure Rewards.

Dale Krikke

#103 – 44 Queens Road, Duncan

By Appointment: Call/Text: (250) 732-8218

Vehicle For Sale 1993 Mitsubishi Pajero Turbo Diesel

4X4, RHD, Automatic, 5 doors, 7 passengers, leather, sunroof, great off road tires; capable of being converted to vegetable oil Low Hwy -115k kms. Call for Test Drive! $9750 OBO Grant @ 748-2766 or 597-2801 gwaldman@shaw.ca

For more information on how to be part of the

VALUE 2012 Valley Voice Directory Call Adrienne Richards 250 510 6596 or e-mail adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com Pet Health and Care

Holistic Care For Pets and People Specializing in Holistic Nutritional Education, Acid/Alkaline Balance, Food Buddy Shopping Services, Alternative Healing, Home Care SHEILA JONES chp Holistic Practitioner MOBILE SERVICES www.holisticnc.ca 250-597-3212

Professional Framing and Local Art 139 Station St. 250-748-3311 ssgfs@telus.net Professional Framing •Local Art •Unique Gifts

Yoga Classes, Studios and Instruction Sadie Bartram - Inspiration Yoga

Chakra Yoga and Sacred Chant Circle at Rivendell Yurt Prenatal Yoga and Mom and Babe Yoga at Matrea Centre, 170 Craig St Duncan sdbartram@gmail.com/250-748-2089

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Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley