VV March 2015 Issue 76 web

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2015 MARCH ISSUE 76 LOCAL FOOD I MUSIC I EVENTS I COMMUNITY I GARDENING I NATURE

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OPENING

MARCH

4, 2015

The restaurant is located at Providence Farm, 1843 Tzouhalem Road, Duncan Days of service: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 5:30pm - 9:00pm

March Events

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RING OF FIRE: PROJECT JOHNNY CASH A Jukebox Musical Chemainus Theatre Festival 1 800 565 7738 Tickets Starting from $25 Runs to Apr 11 DINNER & A MOVIE Free Open to All Vancouver Island Families Living w/ Autism Reservations Required marco@ canucksautism.ca Caprice Theatre 404 Duncan St 4pm STUDENTWORKS 2015 CVAC’s Annual Youth Outreach Program’s Student Show CVAC Centre of Arts Culture & Heritage 2687 James St Runs to Mar 6 FREE FAMILY CHANT CIRCLE @ Rivendell Yurt Children & Adults of All Ages Welcome to Chant Together sdbartram@gmail.com 3-4pm

By Donation HOMZY’S NOLA NIGHTHAWKS Trad Jazz Crofton Pub 1534 Joan Ave 250 324 2245 2pm $10

LIVE EDGE MIRRORS & STAINED GLASS Todd McAneeley & Joyce Leroux Imagine 2 That! 251 Craig St, Duncan Runs To Mar 28 10 ELEMENTS OF GARDEN DESIGN Instructor Barb Kohlman Register @VIU Cowichan Campus 250 746 3519 6:30-9pm BUTTERFLIES OF VANCOUVER ISLAND w/ Derrick Marven Cowichan Valley Naturalists Freshwater Ecocentre 1080 Wharncliffe Rd, Duncan 9:30-11am FREE

Station St Upstairs 8pm $20 Door $18 Adv BLITHE SPIRIT OPENS Ladysmith Little Theatre ladysmiththeatre.ca 4985 Christie Rd March 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 8pm Show March 15, 22 2pm Show Thur-Sat Tickets $20 4985 Christie Rd, Ladysmith www.ladysmiththeatre.com

SPRING BREAK CREATIVE DANCE Classes For Children 5-6 Lila Music 10 Centre 3228A Gibbins Rd, Duncan

paulinakee@gmail.com Runs Mar 10-20 TueFri 10-10:50am Drop in $15,4 Sessions $50 8 Sessions $90

ONE BILLION RISING A Call to Action 11 Based on Statistics That 1 in 3 Women 6 Will be Beaten or Raped in Her Lifetime Join us as we Dance Speak Out & Listen w/ Open Hearts Duncan City Square 12pm DUNCAN INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY Celebration Potluck Eagle’s Hall Entertainment Family Friendly All Are Welcome To Volunteer 748 2133 5pm I AM WOMAN HEAR ME LAFF 4 Female Comedians Annual Fundraiser for CWAV Cowichan Performing Arts Centre 2687 James St 7:30pm Tickets $27 Seniors & Students $23 WAKE UP SINGING WITH JOY Songs in the Yurt w/ Cari Burdett Everyone Welcome Lila Music Centre 3228A Gibbins Rd, Duncan joythroughmusic.com 9-10:30am $15 Sgstd Donation Nobody Turned Away Mar 27

SOOKIE’S AUTHENTIC LENTIL DAHL & ROTI Learn How To Make Indian Comfort Food Scoops Natural Foods, Whippletree Junction 778-422-3310 $30 THREATS TO HEALTH CARE Town Hall Meeting 2 BCNU Speakers United Church Hall, Duncan For Info Kelly Woywitka on Facebook 7-9pm FREE Donations Welcome TASTE OF SPAIN Worldly Gourmet Cooking Class w/ Chef Gary Faessler 522 1st Ave Ladysmith 250 245-7307 7-9:30pm $65

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JOLLY DRAGON’S DRAGON BOAT AGM Anyone Interested in Joining Our Mostly Over 50 Team is Welcome to Attend mlames@telus.net Thrifty Foods Meeting Room Duncan 7pm SPIRIT DRUMMERS Drum Circle 5856 Clements Street, Duncan aff@cowichan.net Runs Mar 19 & 26 6:15-8:30pm

5 RHYTHMS FREE MOVEMENT PRACTICE Harmony Yoga Center Tuesdays 6:30-8:15 $10-$15

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COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE w/ Frauke McCashin RAc 103-44 Queens Rd, Duncan 250 710 3581 Wednesdays 5-8pm

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SPIRIT DRUMMERS Drum Circle Makola Seniors Assisted Living Centre 5755 Allenby Rd, Duncan aff@cowichan.net 6:158:30pm MATUTO Roots Music Brazilian Styles matutomusic.com Duncan Showroom 133

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BLUE HERON Paverpol Garden Sculpture Kathryn Fudge studiogart.com $235

AN EVENING OF MUSIC w/ Grieg & Sibelius & The Cowichan Consort Orchestra perfectpitch@shaw.ca 930 Trunk Rd, Duncan 7:30pm Tickets $15 Students $10

TINY HOMES & SUSTAINABILITY Small Footprint Living Info Night Tiny Home Village Co-op Guest Presenters joye@telus.net CGC Meeting Room 360 Duncan St 7-9pm By Donation

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Shawnigan-Mill Bay 7 & 9pm $5 18+

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MEAT DRAW Royal Canadian Legion 25 Kenneth St, Duncan Saturdays 3pm

MARCH OF THE PENGUINS Film Night DUNCAN SEEDY SUNDAY Your Source @ Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre 3 For Local Seeds Cowichan Tribes Gym SYMBIOPSYCHOTAXIPLASM TAKE 8 cowichanestuary.ca 7pm $5 Donation Si’em Lelum 5574 River Rd, Duncan 10-2pm 13ONE & SLACKER Art Film Night @ Sylvan artfilmnightatsylvan@gmail.com 985 COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE w/ Frauke McCashin RAc 103-44 Queens Rd, Duncan 250 710 3581 Tuesdays 12-3pm

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SACRED CHANT CIRCLE @ Rivendell Yurt Come Together in Community to Experience the Healing Power of Sound sdbartram@ gmail.com 7-8:30 By Donation

5RHYTHMS MOVEMENT WORKSHOP No Experience Necessary Harmony Yoga Center shaunadevlin1@gmail.com 12:30-3:30pm $20 Pre $25 Door MAGICAL CREATURES Explore Imagination Through Clay Ages 4-7 9 Register at theclayhubcollective@gmail.com 2375 Koksilah Rd 11-2pm Bring Lunch $45 BIG LITTLE LIONS New School Folk & Dance Rhythm Duncan Showroom 133 Station St Upstairs biglittlelions.com 8pm $15 Door $12 Adv

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COBBLE HILL SEEDY SATURDAY 3550 Watson Ave, Cobble Hill Village 14 250-743-7305 10-3pm FREE

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ST PATRICK’S DAY DINNER Whisky Jack’s Returns Three Course Dinner at Merridale 1230 Merridale Rd, Cobble Hill 250 743 4293 5-10pm $30

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FIDDLE WORKSHOP w/ Anne Lindsay 1 1/2 Hour Workshop in Different Styles of Fiddle Playing Duncan Showroom 133 Station St Upstairs 2pm $20

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ANNE LINDSAY Violinist with Blue Rodeo Duncan Showroom 133 Station St Upstairs 8pm $22 Door $20 Adv

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

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ALTERED BOOKS Hands On Cowichan Library 2687 James St, Duncan 250 746 7661 1-4pm FREE EUGENE SMITH Presented By Cowichan Folk Guild Coffeehouse 14 Duncan United Church 246 Ingram St, Duncan 7pm $10 CFG Members $5

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BEER BURGER & SILENT AUCTION Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre Fundraiser The Cow Bay Pub Featuring Celtic Music cowichanestuary.ca 5-8pm Tickets $25 EDIE DAPONTE w/ Joey Smith on Guitar & Tom Vickery on Piano Latin Crofton Pub 1534 Joan Ave 250 324 2245 2pm $10

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ALDERLEA FARM TOUR & HAY RIDE Alderlea Farm & Café 3390 Glenora Rd, Duncan alderleafarm.com 10:3011:30am A PEOPLE UNCOUNTED The Untold Story of the Roma Documentary Night Cowichan library 2687 James St, Duncan 250 746 7661 6-8pm FREE

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EASTER SUPRISES Dive Into the Clay World of Easter Age 7-12 theclyhubcollective@gmail.com 11-2pm Bring a Lunch $45 AVIAN CARPENTERS An Insight Into the World of Woodpeckers Presented by John Neville beehaven@shaw.ca Freshwater Ecocentre 1080 Wharncliffe Rd, Duncan 7:30-9pm FREE SHAMROCKIN’ Luck of the Irish Fun & Feast Alderlea Farm Café 3390 Glenora Rd, Duncan Reservations Required alderleafarm. com 5-10pm GREEN PARTY OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN LAUNCH w/ Elizabeth May & Fran HuntJinnouchi Quw’utsun’ Cultural Centre 200 Cowichan Way, Duncan 5:30pm

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KEEPING A SMALL FLOCK Koksilah Farmers Institute New Members Welcome The Hub klcode@shaw.ca 7pm FREE GALS WHO WRITE SONGS Beverley Mckeen 4 Women on the Panel Duncan Showroom 133 Station St, Upstairs 8pm

MAGNOLIA DRAMATIC GYPSY CABARET CD Release Sylvan United 20 Church 985 Shawnigan-Mill Bay Rd

Cariburdett.com 7:30pm $20Adv $25 Door STEAK NIGHT Jam Music Session Musicians & Singers Welcome Royal Canadian Legion 25 Kenneth St, Duncan 5-7pm $9 SECOND HANGER CLOTHING GRAND RE-OPENING 1st 10 customers receive a door prize! Refreshments 20% off all new arrivals. 3541 Cobble Hill Rd

FREE DIGITAL EDITION AVAILABLE NOW

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GROWING EDIBLE NATIVE PLANTS WORKSHOP Learn to Propagate Wild Plants Cowichan Lake Arena Curling Lounge Room 311 South Shore Rd 10-11am FREE A DAY OF MEDITATION & MINDFULNESS VIRetreats.com SPRING EQUINOX DINNER Deerholme Farm deerholme.com 4830 Stelfox Rd, Duncan 5-9pm $90

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PERSIAN SPRING Chemainus Classical St Michael’s Church, Chemainus 2pm $15 Adv $20 Door

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MY OLD LADY Reel Alternatives Starring Maggie Smith Cowichan Theatre 2687 James St 7pm Adults $12 Students $5 Benefits Cowichan Valley Hospice

TINY HOME COMMUNITIES Cohousing Cooperative Info Night joye@telus.net Meeting Room CGC 360 Duncan St 7-9pm COWICHAN THERAPEUTIC RIDING ASSOCIATION AGM Providence Farm 1843 Tzouhalem Rd info@ctra.ca 6:30pm BEVERLEY MCKEEN w/ RAY HARVEY & ANDY OKELL The Lion Rampant 27 Scottish Pub 6777 Beaumont Ave, Maple Bay 8pm

VANCOUVER ISLAND HEATHER SOCIETY SPRING SALE Unusual 28 Varieties & Grasses Society Members & Master Gardeners on Hand Cobble Hill Farmer’s Institute Hall 3550 Watson Ave 10-12pm SCRAP METAL DRIVE In honour of Cowichan Land Trust’s 20th Anniversary cowichanlandtrust.ca 10-2pm

NEUFELD ALPHA CHILDREN COURSE 4 Week Course Matraea Centre Pre-register heartmatters@shaw.ca 7-9pm

FREE YIN YOGA w/ Nadia Harmony Yoga Centre Open to all Levels HarmonyYogaDuncan.com 6-7:30pm

CONTAINERS FOR SPRING & SUMMER Instructor Barb Kohlman Register @ VIU Campus 250 746 3519 6:30-9pm

EARTH HOUR Join Millions of People Turn Off Your Lights For an Hour to Demand Action on Climate Change earthhour.org 8:30-9:30pm

BIRTHING FROM WITHIN PRENATAL CLASS 6 Week Wed Course to April 25 29th Matraea Centre robinlgale@gmail.com EVERYTHING BEANS Learn Basic Bean Cooking Methods Sprouting & Grinding Into Flour Scoops Natural Foods Whippletree Junction 778-422-3310 $25 TASTE OF MOROCCO Worldly Gourmet Cooking Class w/ Chef Gary Faessler 250 245 7307 7-9:30pm $65 YIN YOGA Kerry Park Rec alicia@wildpeace. ca 5:45-7:00pm 8 sessions $90 GROW FOOD WITH JOY 3 Part Organic Gardening Course The 26 Hub 2375 Koksilah Rd, Cowichan Station

growfoodnetwork.com 6:30-8:30pm $60/ 3

SOMENOS MARSH WALK Young Naturalists Club Nature Based Program for Children 3-12 ync.ca Somenos Marsh Duncan 1012pm FREE WEAVE YOUR OWN BASKET Using Natural Materials Cowichan Green 29 Communities Meeting Room 360 Duncan St Pre Registration Req’d mariacurtis@shaw.ca $75 Includes Materials 9:30-4:30pm

MINDFUL YIN YOGA WORKSHOP Feeding the Fire w/ Carly Forest Harmony Yoga Centre Early Registration $40 HarmonyYogaCenter. com 12:30-3:30pm THE CODY JAZZ QUINTET Swing Crofton Pub 1534 Joan Ave 250 324 2245 2pm $10

BUYING OR SELLING REAL ESTATE?

sutton group • west coast realty

250.748.5000 2610 Beverly Street Duncan, BC

toni@tonib.ca

www.ToniB.ca

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www.cabinetbed.ca

107 INGRAM STREET, DUNCAN TEL: 250 746 5527 WWW.MERITDUNCAN.CA INFO@MERITDUNCAN.CA

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

Issue 76 March 2015 Published by Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine Editors Sheila & Richard Badman Contact us at: editor@cowichanvalleyvoice.com 250 746 9319 - 6514 Wicks Rd, Duncan BC V9L 5V2 Visit us online at www.cowichanvalleyvoice.com Proofreader Distribution Event Calendar Diana Pink Linda Dirksengale Angela Komljenovic Advertising Enquiries Please Call Adrienne Richards 250 510 6596 e-mail adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com Or In The South Cowichan Area Please Call Teressa Kathleen 780 880 8308 / email tk@cowichanvalleyvoice.com Next Ad Deadline Mar15 for Apr ISSUE *Non Profit Community Ad Rates available please enquire.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR LISTINGS ARE FREE! Please use this format Event Date, Event Title, Location/Address Contact for Tickets OR Website (not both) Time, Cost DEADLINE March 15 for April 2015 Issue 77 E-mail Date, Time, Location, Event Title and Cost to: events@cowichanvalleyvoice.com Please list event title in subject with the word “EVENT” Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine reserves the right to omit and/or edit submitted listings due to space limitations SPECIAL THANKS TO FOLLOWING VALLEY VOICES Bill Jones, Shannon VanHemert, Sarah Cosman, Ga Ching Kong, Kacia Sholz, Tracey Hanson, Allen McCulloch, Sophy Roberge, Aaron Vallaincourt, Ken Lavigne, Bobbie Blue, Robin Gale, Diana Sharpe, Jennifer Barnes van Elk, Elaine Scott, Todd Gesshe, Nora Arajs, West Coast Seeds, Heather Stannard, Rachel Allen, Joanne Sales, Heather Ferguson, Debbie Wood, Swarn Leung, Joyce Leroux, Maria Curtis, Julia Allen, Patrick Amos, Ali Bertin, Brenda Laine, Hilary Else, Chantell Foss, Rick Dennis, David Suzuki, Nicolette Genier and The Wonderful Staff at The Community Farm Store and 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 contributors. Please send a query e-mail with your suggested topic prior to sending your article as space is limited and may not always be available.

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 Parksville.

2015 Ad Rate Cards Now Available April AD Deadline: March 18 Over 25,000 LOCAL readers pick up the Valley Voice monthly. For a 2015 Rate Card please contact us!

Contact Adrienne at 250 510 6596 adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com

South Cowichan businesses please call

TK at 780 356 3388 TK@cowichanvalleyvoice.com

OUR COMMUNITY March Events 4-5 Families with Autism Free Dinner & Movie 10 One Billion Rising 17 Creative Ideas For Spring Break Fun 24 Experience Downtown Duncan 30-33 Cowichan Land Trust Scrap Metal Drive 34 Digital Self Publishing 35 Eye On Shawnigan 36 Community Farm Store Pages 45-48 Websites Emails and Verbal Lint 50 Georgia Nicols March Horoscopes 53 Directory 54-55 LOCAL FOOD & DRINK How To Feed A Family 8 Morel and Stinging Nettle Soup 8 Foraging the Cowichan 9 When Local Doesn’t Mean Local 11 The Pinot Family 12-13 Cowichan Bay Seafood Halibut Pizza 14 Island Farmhouse Poultry Kacia Sholz 15 FARM & GARDEN Hobby Farmer? Beware the $30 000 Chickens 19 Seedy Sunday Duncan 25 Seedy Saturday Cobble Hill 25 Happy Heathers 26 March Seeds To Plant 27 Love The Tree Feed The Bee 28 2015 International Year Of Soils 29 HOME & LIVING Spring Cleaning 16 Tips For Fixing Drywall 18 Recycling Electronics 18 La Petite Auction House Presents 34 Broom Busting in March 37 High Efficiency Open Fire Cooking 49 LOCAL ARTS Cari Burdett CD Release Magnolia 20 March Music 21 Words To Savour 25 Talking Arts Rachel Cruse and Tammie Hunter 38 Arts Events 39 Joyce Leroux Stained Glass Artist 40 Basket Weaving with Maria Curtis 41 Local Merino Wool Designers 42-43 BODY, MIND & SOUL Prenatal Classes with Robin Gale 22 Occupational Therapist Diana Sharpe 23 Yoga For Wellness with Swarn Leung 39 My Healing Journey With Cancer 44 Moving Through the Waves of Life 50 Ga Ching Kong & Kind Tiger Clinic 52 PETS, RECREATION & NATURE Lucky Dogs Skin Has Two Sides 37 Bring Back The Bluebirds 52

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Morel and Stinging Nettle Soup Recipe Courtesy Chef Bill Jones, Deerholme Farm Stinging nettles are a symbol of spring harvests in many parts of the world. The plant is used as a medicinal tonic and is reputed to boost the immune system and purge the body of toxins accumulated after a long winter of relative inactivity. This soup is perfect with morels but any cultivated mushroom will work nicely. Serves 4

Amount Ingredients:

Michelle Rose Community Supported Fiishery

M

How To Feed A Family!

ichelle Rose Community Supported Fishery is getting ready for their 5th season!

This Community Supported Fishery is a chance for you to buy part of the seasons catch directly from me and my family.

Much like a farmer’s CSF, pre-season you buy a portion of the upcoming seasons catch (instead of crop). We troll for salmon and trap for prawns and octopus, all low impact fishing methods. When we get back from a fishing trip we contact members a week before we arrive and set up a pick-up day down at the Cowichan Bay Fishermen’s wharf and another day at the Sidney Fishermen’s

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wharf at Tsehum harbor.

Something new we are doing this year is to have a Pink only share or the How to feed a Family Share! Pink salmon are highly nutritious same as Sockeye and Coho. They have a milder taste then their high class brethren, for children sometimes that is just the thing to introduce them to salmon. They also are ½ the cost of Sockeye and coho , a $200 whole pink share has over 70lbs of salmon about 25-29 fish. They are great barbequed,or baked with butter and tarragon. They smoke fine, are perfect for making salmon cakes and ideal for canning Biologically, Pinks are a real success story, yet they are barely harvested by the small boat fleet

2 Oz (60 G)

4 Cups (1 L)

4 Cups (1L)

1/2 Cups (125 Ml)

2 Tbsp (30 Ml)

1 Cup (250 Ml)

½

1 Tbsp (15 Ml)

sea salt and pepper to taste

Dried Morels Fresh Stinging Nettle Tips Chicken Or Vegetable Stock Whipping Cream (Optional) Garlic, chopped Sour Cream (Or Yoghurt) Lemon, Juice Fresh Chives, chopped

Method:

Soak the morels in warm water for 1 hour. Remove morels, squeeze out the moisture and slice into rounds.

Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the nettles. Cook for 5 minutes and then strain. Allow to cool and squeeze out all moisture. Chop coarsely.

In a small stock pot over medium high heat, add the stock and bring to a boil. Add the stinging nettles and bring back to a boil.

Using an immersion blender, puree the greens until smooth.

Alternatively, process in batches in a blender or food processor until the fine puree is obtained. Add the cream and stir to mix.

Season with salt and pepper.

In a small bowl, mix the sour cream, cream and lemon juice.

Mix and chill until needed.

In a sauté pan over medium high heat, add the butter and heat until sizzling. Add the morels and garlic. Saute for 2-3 minutes or morels begin to brown. To serve, bring nettle soup back to a boil, transfer to serving bowl, top with a spoon of sour cream and a spoonful of morels.

due to the low prices paid by the fish companies and the high cost of fuel. At Michelle Rose CSF we see this as an opportunity to get more people eating salmon and give young and larger families a great way to enjoy some great seafood.

Take a look at our new website to learn more about the CSF and all the different shares available. www.michellerosecsf.com

Submitted by Guy Johnston

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

Morels Image Courtesy Bill Jones

Foraging the Cowichan

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ne thing that gives me hope for the future of this planet is seeing how resilient it is after we inflict damage on the landscape.

Looking at the valley over many years we see how logged forests can regrow, disturbed soil can regenerate and plants can reclaim the soil they were uprooted from.

Each spring we see a new cycle of wild plants emerge, many of the plants are edible.

Some of these edible plants have been introduced from many parts of the world and have naturalized themselves in our midst. Plants like dandelion and pepper cress are some of the first to spring from the warming soils. In fact in mild winters, like we just experienced, they never really stopped growing.

One of the first really good edible plants to sprout in the spring is one of my all-time favourites - Miners Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata). Look for the small diamond shaped young leaves (turning round when matured) under Douglas Fir trees on the sides of paths and in areas with a good

supply of moisture. The greens are mild and delicate and make an outstanding base for a wild salad. Young dandelion leaves make a nice addition adding bitterness and lots of phyto-nutrients.

Pepper cress adds a subtle bite of mustard-like flavor and blend well with the other two greens.

This year looks like it is almost a month ahead of recent springs. We are already seeing stinging nettles coming up at the back end of the valley where we live. Near the water, like the Cowichan delta area is even further ahead on the growing scale.

We should also start to see morel mushrooms springing up in the valley sooner than later. Typically we see morels start to fruit around the last week of March, this year we may see some near the first of the month. Look for southern exposure slopes near a good source of water.

One of my favourite areas is an abandoned farm with old cherry and apple trees. The local morels seem to really

like these trees. As an added bonus, you also see lots of stinging nettles mixed into the morel patches. It is one stop shopping for the soup pot.

We will be holding a wild foods workshops on the farm Saturday March 14th and 28th. The 28-29th is our

Morel weekend with the wild food forage on Saturday and a Morel cooking class on Sunday. Details can be found at www.deerholme.com Bill Jones is an author, chef and food consultant who can be found at Deerholme.com

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Families Living With Autism To Gather For A Free Dinner And Movie In Duncan

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Look what’s NEW!

WEEKEND BRUNCH Every Saturday & Sunday 9:30 am to 3:30 pm Wine & Dine for $69 Every Thursday after 5pm Steak & Lobster for 2 with a bottle of Wine Call and book your Reservation 778-356-3568 740 Handy Road, Mill Bay

www.bridgemans.ca

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n an effort to bring families living with autism together, on Sunday, March 1st, the Canucks Autism Network (CAN) will host families living with autism at the Caprice Theatres in Duncan, for a complimentary dinner and a movie. This free family event, open to any families living with autism on Vancouver Island, will take place from 4:00p.m to 9:00 p.m. with the movie starting at roughly 7:00 p.m.

If there is enough interest, two different movies will be shown and families will have the option of Annie or Sponge Bob, Sponge out of Water.

Families do not need to be CAN members to attend but they are asked to RSVP to marco@canucksautism.ca.

“We are thrilled to be hosting this first-time event for families living with autism in the Duncan area,” says Katy Harandi, CEO, Canucks Autism Network.

“Our goal is to bring families together and to connect with the community as a means to bring awareness to the

Canucks Autism Network programs offered on the Island. The hope is that this event will act as a catalyst for providing more CAN programs in the region.

Canucks Autism Network offers programs at no cost to families living with autism thanks to the generosity of our donors and sponsors.”

Funds raised at the Sip, Savour & Support event and Savour Cowichan Festival have enabled the Canucks Autism Network to develop new programs on the Island, including this family event. The Canucks Autism Network currently provides the following programs on Vancouver Island: Skate, Swim, Soccer, Physical Literacy, Camp and numerous family events.

For more information on Canucks Autism Network programs or to learn how you can join, volunteer or donate, please visit canucksautism.ca.

When “Local” Doesn’t Mean Local

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bout a year ago, we small farmers here in the Cowichan valley heard some disturbing news. The CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) had instituted an interim policy stating that stores could legally label a food “local” as long the product originates anywhere within the province or 50 kilometers outside its border.

Now, think about that.

These regulations mean that here on the island, a product labeled ‘local’ or ‘locally grown’ can come from Alberta or even Washington state. Consumers might buy from stores feeling that they are helping their local island farmers, when in reality, those food dollars are going off island, or even out of the province.

So what’s a concerned eater to do? Or a person who wants in some way to ensure that their agrarian neighbours can remain viable businesses?

Here’s the answer: If you want to ensure that you are eating local, consider partnering with a farmer in your neighbourhood. Yes, it takes a bit of extra effort on your part. But the rewards are so tangible! If you know your farmer, if you can talk to him or her, that face-to-face contact goes a long way to assure yourself that the produce is spray-free, well-cared for, and truly local.

Here are some ideas to make contact:

• Check www.localharvest.org. Input your location and click CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). CSAs will put you on a regularly scheduled box of seasonal produce so you don’t have to think about going to the grocery store for fresh items.

• Look at the farm members on www.cowichanfarmers. org/casmembers/ . These are local folks who produce a variety of products.

• Look at the CGC’s (Cowichan Green Community) farm list at http://www.cowichangreencommunity.org/findyour-food/buy-local-buy-fresh/farm-list/ • Attend a farmer’s market. Duncan’s is the largest in British Columbia, and the entrants are carefully screened for quality.

There are many ways to ensure your food is local.

Just reach out and touch a farmer!

Shannon VanHemert’s IslandShire. com FarmShare guarantees shareholders eggs all winter long.

Eat, Drink and Support Local

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The Pinot Family

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TASTINGS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY FOR JANUARY & FEBRUARY

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he Pinot family of vines has formed the backbone of many of the world’s most well known regions and they have certainly contributed significantly to the identity of Coastal British Columbia.

There is currently more Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris planted than any other variety on Vancouver Island and there is even a smattering here and there of Auxerrois – a Pinot Noir cross.

commanding high prices.

Pinot Noir has been a source of much romanticism and mystery, not to mention frustration in the winery and vineyard. However, there is more to Pinot Noir than you may have imagined.

It turns out that it is the parent vine to many of our favourites; Aligote, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Auxerrois, Melon, Gamay Noir, and Chardonnay are all Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc crosses.

The most famous of the Pinot family is arguably Pinot Noir, which remains one of the most sought after wines of the world demanding attention and

Where are Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris you ask? These are not Pinot crosses, but mutations, and are virtually indistinguishable from Pinot Noir (despite the fact that

Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc are white, not red). Quite surprisingly, Pinot Noir is also distantly related to Syrah and Viognier, and rumoured to be related to Tempranillo. Genetic instability has also led Pinot to produce many other variations more subtle than Gris and Blanc. These are referred to as clones and Pinot Noir has more than any other variety.

The 2014 vintage was an amazing year on Vancouver Island. The vines budded out and flowered early, and the growing season was long, hot and dry. With the exception of some rather heavy and early rains in October this is exactly what Pinots need to produce exceptional grapes in order to

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

Winemaker Daniel Cosman

make exceptional wine. On the Unsworth Vineyards crush pad Winemaker Daniel Cosman and the Unsworth team harvested and fermented three pinot family members. From those three varieties, either in single variety form or in blended form, a Pinot Noir, a Pinot Gris, a Rose, a traditional method and tank method sparkling wine were made.

The first of three Wine Education Dinners, held Wednesday, March 11th at Unsworth Vineyards, explores the variations and unique possibilities that the Pinot family has to offer.

Unsworth’s winemaker, Daniel Cosman, along with Unsworth Restaurant Chef, Steve Elskins,

will showcase the Pinot family complemented by an exceptional dinner menu crafted from local fare. On the list of Vancouver Island and International Pinots to try, the not yet bottled 2014 Unsworth Pinot Noir Rose and Pinot Gris will make an appearance.

Limited seating will be offered at the Unsworth Wine Education Dinners, you can reserve early by calling 250.929.2292 ex 1.

• WINERY TOURS

Submitted by Sarah Cosman General Manager Unsworth Vineyards

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got people for that!’ With a call ahead to schedule, guests can be picked up by local shuttle at a central location or at individual residences and be returned there safe and sound at the end of a fun relaxing day.

What to do with your friends or guests?

Did you know there are 50 labyrinths on Vancouver Island? Many tucked away right here in Cowichan. There’s a worldwide movement seeking peaceful awareness by walking labyrinths to rejuvenate mind, body and spirit. Or gather friends to take in a seasonal foraging workshop or a gourmet five course evening meal with Chef Bill Jones at Deerholme Farm.

Rick Pipes, Merridale Cider

Behind The Cellar Doors Spring Touring For Locals

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ith the loonie swooping low, our enchanting spot of Vancouver Island should expect lots of visitors in 2015.

You may find yourself hosting long lost relatives!

This Spring, before your guests or the tourist season arrives, gather a group of friends and enjoy the bounty of our valley. No need to decide who will do the driving. ‘You’ve

Consider starting the day earlier and visit a vineyard or two before lunch or dinner at any local restaurant. Plan your own custom day or join a scheduled tour. A typical winery tour begins at 11 with a behind the scenes/ winemaker’s tour and tasting,followed by a break for lunch (picnic or a stop at a local restaurant) Enjoy the compay of your friends while our driver and guide offer amusing tidbits and local stories.

LIVE CRAB • FRESH FISH • LOCAL SPOT PRAWNS AND MORE!

Halibut Pizza with White Sauce, Potatoes & Bacon

Amount

Ingredients

1 pound ¼ 2-4 1/2 2 Tablespoons 1 Cup ½ Cup To Taste 1 Tablespoon 4 Strips 1

Fresh Halibut, cubed in chunks Red onion New Potatoes, cooked Lemon, to squeeze Olive Oil Mozzarella, grated Monterey Jack Cheese, grated Salt and Pepper Chopped Parsley Cooked Bacon, sliced (optional) Pizza Crust

3 Tablespoons 2 Tablespoons 2 2 Cups 1/4 Teaspoon 1/2 Cup 3/4 Cup

Sweet Butter Olive Oil Garlic Cloves, minced Cream White Pepper Parmesan Cheese, grated Mozzarella Cheese

Alfredo Pizza Sauce

Cowichan Bay Seafoods

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Tasting Room, Unsworth Vineyards

Cheers offers half or full day options visiting all local destinations.Pickups can be scheduled at area residences, marinas, hotels, visitor centres. Also available are shuttles for private events, stagettes, For more info 250-710-7391 cheerscowichan.com

Spring Hours Open Tuesday - Sunday 10 am to 6pm

Method

For the Sauce: Melt butter in medium saucepan with olive oil over medium/low heat. Add the garlic, cream, white pepper and bring mixture to a simmer, stirring often.

Add grated Parmesan cheese and simmer for 8-10 minutes until is smooth. When thickened, add Mozzarella cheese and stir continuously until well blended. Set aside.

For the Pizza: Sprinkle halibut with salt and pepper and saute over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Do not overcook. Drain excess liquid and set aside. Toss potatoes in fresh squeezed lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper and chopped rosemary. Once coated slice potatoes finely. Spread Alfredo Sauce over pizza crust. Add mozzarella cheese and top with sliced potatoes, cooked Halibut, red onion, and sliced cooked bacon. Sprinkle Monterey Jack cheese on top and bake in hot oven at 425 until cheeses have melted and base is crisp and golden about 10 minutes. Sprinkle parsley garnish and serve hot. Served on its own or with a green salad.

1751 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cowichan Bay 250-748-0020 Victoria Public Market, 1701 Douglas St, 778-433-4385 E-mail: info@cowichanbayseafood.com

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

“It’s fresher from here”

Grilled, Brined Chicken Breast with Mustard Beurre Blanc

Recipe Courtesy Chef Kacia Scholz, Oceanfront Suites Brine 4

Island Farmhouse Poultry Chicken Breasts 2 Cups Water 1 Tbls Sugar 2 Tbls Kosher Salt 1 Bay Leaf 1/4 Cup Diced Onion 1 Garlic Clove, Bruised 1 Tsp Black Peppercorn, Crushed 2 Tsp Thyme, Picked From Stem 1 Tsp Basil, Chopped

Marinade 1/4 Cup 2 Tbls 1 Tbls 1 Tsp 1 Tbls 1 Tbls 2 Tsp

Olive Oil White Wine Garlic, Minced Black Pepper, Crushed Basil, Chopped Thyme, Chopped Worcestershire

Mustard Beurre Blanc 2 Tbls 1 Tsp 2 Sprigs 1 Tsp 1 1/2 Cup 1/4 Cup 10 Tbls 2 Tbls To Taste

Shallots, Minced Garlic, Minced Thyme, Fresh Black Peppercorns Bay Leaf White Wine Heavy Cream Butter, Cut Into 1 Tablespoon Pieces Whole Grain Mustard Salt & White Pepper

Method

For Brine - Mix all ingredients together, add chicken, refrigerate for 2-4 hours. Remove Chicken from brine and rinse under cold water. Pat dry and place chicken in marinade.

For Marinade - Mix all ingredients together, add chicken, refrigerate for 30 minutes - 1 hour. Remove chicken from marinade, season with salt. Grill chicken on medium high grill, (or sauté in medium high sauté pan) until chicken is done and juices run clear (about 4 minutes on each side).

Mustard Beurre Blanc - In medium non-reactive pan, combine shallots, garlic, thyme, peppercorns, bay leaf and white wine. Bring to boil, reduce until only 2 tablespoons of liquid remains. Add heavy cream, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer 5-7 minutes, until reduced by half.

Remove from heat and whisk in 2 tablespoons butter at a time, stirring constantly until butter is completely melted before adding more. Strain sauce through fine mesh strainer.

Season with salt and pepper, then fold in mustard. Keep in warm area until ready to use.

1615 Koksilah Road Cowichan Bay BC 250-746-6163 • www.farmhousepoultry.ca Chicken available from Country Grocer, 49th Parallel, Duncan Butcher, Chemainus Foods, Crofton Foods and Thrifty Foods

www.makecheese.ca

15

All Botanica Greens™ contain no

fillers, and are free of:• Gluten • Soy • Dairy • GMOs • Sugar Botanica greens are designed to please the whole family, even the most pickiest children. Each complete super food blend contains nutrient dense land and sea greens, such as spiralina, wheatgrass, and barley grass, plus a concentrated organic antioxidant blend that includes blueberry and acai.

Our greens are made from Canadian cold weather grass tips, fresh harvested and dehydrated for maximum potency.

4 DELICIOUS BLENDS for the whole family!

CHOCOLATE GREENS • ORGANIC BERRY GREENS •ORGANIC GREENS • SUPERFRUIT GREENS

Benefits of Botanica Greens:

• Alkalinize and oxygenate • Support healthy weight management • Support a healthy immune system • Help relieve pain and inflammation Come on in and see us at Lynn’s Vitamin Gallery and our knowable staff would be happy to assist you.

Lynn’s

VITAMIN GALLERY

HEALTH FOOD STORE Village Green Mall, 4-180 Central Avenue, Duncan

250 748 4421 www.lynnsvitamingallery.com

16

Green Living

“WHO NEEDS GREENS?” THE WHOLE FAMILY! Your family’s busy schedules can make it difficult to get enough fruit and vegetables in everyone’s diet!

Modern farming practices can also limit the nutritional content in your food, impeding the body’s ability to get adequate nutrition.

Spring Clean Checklist

W

hat a beautiful time of year Spring is!

Everything is fresh and new. It’s an excellent opportunity to renew things indoors as well. I am often asked what tasks should be conquered in a deep, annual clean so here are some suggestions.

Equipment needed will be vacuum, microfiber cloths and mop, squeegee, concentrated citrus cleaner, bucket for water and a step ladder.

1. First and foremost clean the windows, inside and out.

What an amazing difference it makes with the season’s bright sunshine beaming in through crystal clear glass. It is really worth doing the outsides as well so if you have windows out of reach, hire professionals.

Be sure to remove screens and gently spray clean with a garden hose. Take this time to also clean out the window tracks, vacuum first then spray with citrus cleaner and wipe clean. If you have any mold or mildew built up from the damp winter months, use a diluted teatree spray (1tbs/500ml) to kill the spores.

2. Dust everything in all rooms. Most surfaces, vacuum first then wipe clean with a damp cloth. This includes hard to reach places, books and other items on shelves, ceiling fans, light fixtures and lamp shades, tops of cabinetry, window and door casings and remove cobwebs as you go.

3. Pull all furniture and appliances out away from the walls and thoroughly clean under and behind them. Clean the floor and baseboards back there as well as the backs of the furniture pieces, which may

not look dirty but will have been collecting and holding dust, pet dander, pollens etc.

Gently beat cushions and throw pillows outside as well.

4. Roll up area rugs to clean under them. Small rugs can be shaken/beaten outside and vacuumed, larger ones need to be steam cleaned along with the wall to wall carpets.

5. Fabric draperies hold dust and odors, some can be vacuumed with the upholstery attachment on your vacuum, or taken down and washed in your washer, others need to be professionally cleaned.

Check labels if you’re washing them yourself that they are pre-shrunk before tossing them in your dryer. Blinds can be dusted or damp wiped, slat by slat on both sides. If they are metal or plastic and are very dirty the citrus cleaner will help remove the “greasy” dust that tends to accumulate on these.

6. Flip and rotate your mattresses, launder pillows, duvets and blankets then swap them out for summer weight bedding.

Have a plan for your deep cleaning projects and work in logical sequence so as not to undo all your hard work. Compete all your dusting before having carpets cleaned for example and clean blinds before doing your windows. Whether you take on the job yourself or hire help, completing a deep Spring clean will be rewarded with a fresh, healthy home.

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

Tracey Hanson local mompreneur and owner/operator Clean Choice EcoFriendly Cleaning Services cleanchoicecleaners. com

The Cowichan Valley Joins Global Campaigns “International Women’s Day & One Billion Rising” to Stop Violence Against Women and Girls.

S

tarting at noon on Friday March 6th at Duncan City Square in solidarity with 200 countries around the world the Cowichan Valley will rise to say NO TO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS. One Billion Rising is a call to action based on staggering statistics that 1 in 3 women will be beaten or raped in her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than one billion women and girls

violated – one billion daughters, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, lovers and friends. This year’s OBR theme is “Revolution” and we envision the revolutionary global movement of men as allies to have a growing presence in the Cowichan Valley. We invite all men of our community – partners, fathers, uncles, brothers, sons to come out and dance with us, speak out and listen with an open heart.

Join the event on Facebook Cowichan One Billion Rising https://www.facebook.com/ OneBillionRisingCowichan One Billion Rising t-shirts $20.

Contact Cowichan Intercultural Society 250-748-3112 cis@ cis-iwc.org Our social action will continue into the evening at 6pm for

International Women’s Day, a global day of recognition and celebration. Women’s organizations and governments around the world observe IWD annually in March by holding events that honour women’s Botanical Bliss is advancement while honoured to be a Black diligently reminding of the continued Tie Award Nominee vigilance and action Come see what the required to ensure that women’s equality is fuss is about at the gained and maintained Duncan Market this in all aspects of Saturday - 10 - 2 pm! life. IWD Planning Committee invites you to the Duncan IWD annual celebration, Fri. Mar. 6th Eagle’s Hall – doors open at 5:00, bring your favourite potluck dish to share at 6:00, great entertainment at 7:00, family friendly all are welcome! For more information or to volunteer: 250 748-2133 or 250 748-8722.

r

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Ask Allen

Allen McCulloch is a BCIT graduate, professsional renovating contractor with over 40 years experience. Ask Allen for professional tips and tricks for repairs around the home and office.

Tips For Fixing Drywall At Home Art asked if he could help me remove two closets ajoining two rooms which are part of a bearing wall and post and beam the opening to make a larger room.

Of course we can I said but this is in the basement of a two storey house I want an engineers recommendation on size of the beam we will need for the span and thickness for the weight of the upper house.. If there’s any problems then it is guaranteed by his expertise and liability. The engineer said we needed three 2x12 glued and laminated beams, 18 feet long that can be put up piece by piece and screwed together. Now to make sure nothing falls down during removal of closets we built two temporary walls two feet on either side of the closets with a top and bottom plate not screwed to the floor or ceiling. We opened the ceiling a bit to see the joist pattern and put the support studs of the two walls under joists. We screwed the studs into the plates so they wouldn’t kick out. The closets came apart easily and we had to open the drywall at the ceiling where the beam will be going. At the ends of the span we added two 2x4s for addtional support for the beam. One by one we put the beams up and rested them on the end posts. We cut wedges and drove them on top of the end studs under the beams to drive it tight to the ceiling joists. We then screwed the beams together. If there were any spaces at the joists we added smaller wedges so there was no void. Now the moment of truth! We carefully removed the two temporary walls and nothing moved. HOORAY! The next item to fulfil the job was to repair the drywall ceiling and case the end posts and beam. We used wood to case the beam and drywall to finish the post ends. Job done and now theres one large play room or band practice room or studio for art.

Do you have a question for Allen? Contact him at 250 216 5976 or by email at allen_2004@consultant.com

18

Recycling Electronics

W

e all know that toilet paper rolls can be recycled... or reused in any number of children’s crafts (as parents know). And most of us know that empty plastic shampoo and soap containers can be recycled at curbside (even if we don’t always do it!) But, to help you save even more waste from ending up in the landfills, here is a list of 10 additional bathroom items that you can recycle for free. You may just be surprised at what’s on here!

with natural curls if we didn’t accept hair straighteners too!

Electronic Scale: Get back at it for all those mean things it said about you.

Beard Trimmer: Big beards are in right now...let it grow!

Lights: Bulbs, tubes, and fixtures; we take them all.

Electronic Air Fresheners: Either plug-in or battery powered.

Don’t you think it’s time for a “fresh” start?

Electric Toothbrush: that’s right, even the case and extensions

Aerosol Cans: These can be included in curbside recycling in most municipalities (like North Cowichan). Check with your municipality to make sure.

Containers must be empty with lids removed. Examples: air fresheners, hair spray, shaving cream, etc.

Books: You know that tired old stack of books that you’ve read way too many times? When you decide to finally get rid of them, bring them to Island Return It (on Norcross) and by the Duncan Curling Club (Sherman Rd). The bins are outside for easy drop offs.

Curling Iron: Are your curls losing their bounce? Or your hair Dryer is not drying so much anymore? Bring them on Norcross Rd. Hair Straightener: Now it just wouldn’t be fair to those of you

Towels: As long as they are clean and still in good conditions, you can drop them off at any homeless shelters, animal rescue association or even the Diabetes Society bins around town.

Well there you have it! You’ll be looking at your bathroom in a whole new light now.

All these items mentioned can be recycled at no charge. Visit our website : islandreturnit.com for more information.

Also, visit the CVRD recycling website www. zerowastecowichan.ca/ recyclopedia

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

Sophy Roberge is the Marketing Manager for Island Return It Recycling Centres.

;

Aaron Vaillancourt, . is a senior Mortgage Planner in the Cowichan Valley with Mortgage Architects. mortgagearchitects.ca

T

here’s an old joke mortgage brokers like to tell: Q - Whats the difference between owning a big garden and a small farm?

A - About 5%.

While that number might be high in today’s low rate environment, the punchline still rings true - lenders view (and price) agricultural and residential properties very differently. This is particularly problematic for homes that fall somewhere in-between each category. The CVRD is home to 685 farms, yet at an average size of 15.8 acres, the majority of these would be sub-classified as ‘hobby’ properties.

When buying a property or applying for refinancing, terms like “livestock”, “agricultural”, “hobby-farm”, “income-producing”, and even “rural” might sound like very desirable traits, but they often can mean trouble when it comes to financing.

Many lenders simply won’t touch hobby farms. Others will demand a significant rate premium to account for what

they feel is higher risk in a property.

Complicating matters is most hobby-farmers desire to have their property qualify for property tax breaks via BC Assessment’s ‘farm class’ and in doing so must record a minimal production income ($10,000 on land less than 2 acres, $2,500 between 2 and 10 acres). But the size and scope of this farming income may actually cost these owners several percent when it comes to their mortgage.

I recently had a client inquire about refinancing their hobby-farm on which they were paying 4.89% - about 2% higher than market rates for similar ‘residential’ properties. Essentially, this informal ‘agricultural’ designation was costing them over $6,000 a year (or, a mindblowing ~$30,000 over 5 years). They were told that the property’s livestock (chicken and a few sheep) made its use primarily ‘agricultural’ and it made their ~$300,000 mortgage ineligible for normal ‘residential’ rates.

Honesty is extremely important when arranging a mortgage, and both lender and borrower should expect to receive and provide it. Yet ask any lender to define a ‘farm’ (believe me, I have)

Hobby-Farmer?

Beware The $30,000 Chickens and you’ll end up with as many questions as answers.

Lenders underwrite based on the primary use of a property, and for a hobbyfarm this can be nuanced.

If growing/hobby income is negligible to the applicant’s overall income, the lender is much more likely to consider it ‘residential’.

Every descriptor and picture an underwriter sees on an application will ultimately help form their decision. It is essential that residential properties with hobby-use be presented in the right way. All of this may seem like splitting hairs, but when thousands of dollars of interest are on the line, knowing a little may save a lot.

Happy gardening!

A FEW TIPS: • Where possible, avoid livestock being written into a purchase agreement of a hobby farm.

• If putting a hobby farm up for sale, avoid pictures of livestock and commercial farm equipment on the MLS listing.

The buyer will thank you.

• If you’re told that your property is primarily ‘agricultural’ and you disagree, seek the opinion of another lender.

• Credit unions are often much more accepting/understanding of unique properties or situations and will price their rates accordingly. Contact one directly or go through a broker who has access to several.

19

Zak Stolk Violin Maker

25 Years Experience of Lutherie in the Italian Tradition.

Making, repair and restoration of Violins, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp, and all manner of Stringed ALSO offering Instruments. instrument making classes.

Mandolin & Violin.

250-749-6563 zakviolins@shaw.ca www.zakviolins.com

Cari Burdett CD Release

hoodies I skirts I tops I dresses accessories I childrens & more

FIND us LOCALLY at Spinning Ninny 306 Duncan St, Duncan

F COWICHAN FEATURE LISTINGS Lynda Allen 250-748-0934

lyndaallentapstudio@shaw.ca 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!

Metal Artist Brad Allen MEDDLEART.com • Metal Wall Hangings • Free Standing Sculptures • Garden Art & Custom Works Studio located in Duncan by appointment Brad Allen 250 748 0934

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abulous musical performances abound in Cari Burdett’s debut album entitled Magnolia. The Cowichan Vally chanteuse has steadily garnered acclaim for her vocal performances over the past 20 years from Montreal to Sweden to Vancouver island. From the slow evolving opening chords of the first track, a sultry re-imagining of Joni Mitchell’s Both sides now, it can be said that one is immediately transported to an alluring, seductive cabaret club that inspires the musical selections on this album. Produced and recorded by Joby Baker in Victoria, and supported by a stellar line up of musicians the album is a beautifully realized collection dramatic classics of cabaret. With songs performed in five languages that point to Burdett’s gypsy roots, the album takes listeners on a beguiling journey across many musical genres.

Burdett’s orchestrations never take the standard approach but still allow her

buttery rich dramatic mezzo voice to embody to the melancholic heroine that we associate with this genre. I recommend taking this album aside and like a good bottle of wine let it’s music envelope you for an entire evening.

Cari Burdett CD Release Event Cowichan Valley Magnolia Dramatic Gypsy Cabaret Friday, March 20th 7:30pm, doors open 7pm, Sylvan United Church, 985 Shawnigan-Mill Bay Road, Mill Bay Cariburdett.com, cari.burdett@shaw. ca $20/ advance, $25/door For more tour dates around the Island visit www.

CariBurdett.com

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

Ken Lavigne is is a highly acclaimed Canadian tenor who recently performed at NYC’s Carnegie Hall.

march music

All Jazz Shows $10 unless stated

Sunday, March 1 • 2-5 pm Andrew Homzy’s N.O.L.A. NightHawks New Orleans Style Sunday, March 8 • 2-5 pm

Eugene Smith

Burton Cummings Burton Cummings and his band will be embarking on a mini-BC tour which will play a series of intimate venues for the most loyal fans. Opening for the “In Your Backyard Tour” will be Vancouver based musician, Wil. The tour will consist of 8 smaller cities for a string of rare appearances.

This is a tour about legends coming to your neck of the woods instead of the fans having to drive to the big cities. In 1975, after 10 years, Cummings left The Guess Who to become a solo artist and the group disbanded.

Cummings charted outside Canada with “Stand Tall” and “You Saved My Soul.” His Dream of A Child album released in 1978 was the biggest Canadian album in history at that time. Burton helped the sales of this album through extensive autograph signing.

Monday, March 9 Cowichan Theatre, 2687 James St, Duncan, Doors 6:30pm – Show 7:30pm Tickets: $99.50-$115.50 + service charges. Box Office 250 748-7529.

Cowichan Folk Guild Coffeehouse Eugene is well known in the Cowichan Valley. His vocal talents are supported by solid rhythms from his 4-string guitar and he performs in a unique, humourous and entertaining style. Eugene has been making music for over fifty years and toured with Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks way back in the 1960’s as a singer. Saturday March 14th, Duncan United Church 246 Ingram St. Duncan BC Doors 7pm. Open Stage starts at 7:30 pm $10 or $5 for CFG members. www. eugenesmith.ca

Ralph Barrat, Marty Steele, James McRae, Andrew Janusson

Sunday, March 15 • 2-5 pm Vocalist Edie DaPonte, Joey Smith and Tom Vickery Soulful Latin & Bossa Nova

Sunday, March 22 • 2-5 pm Wes Carroll Guitarist/Vocalist Pat Courtin (keys) and Cyril Lojda (drums) Sunday, March 29 • 2-5 pm The Codi Jazz Quintet Swing, Latin, Bop & Blues

1534 Joan Avenue Crofton

Edie DaPonte

Jazz vocalist Edie DaPonte, accompanied

by Joey Smith on guitar and Tom Vickery on piano plan to deliver an exquisite set of soulful Latin, Bossa Nova and jazz standards that will delight the audience! Performing a versatile collection of well-loved songs, Edie sings in English, Portuguese, Spanish and French. Sunday Jazz Series March 15 2pm, 1534 Joan Ave. Crofton $10 www.edie.ca

Specializing in young children’s movement, ballet and hip hop

JOIN US FOR

Artistic Director Leah Burley

40 Ingram Street

warmlanddance@gmail.com http://warmlanddance.wix.com/cowichan

LUNCH + DINNER

OPEN

7 DAYS A WEEK

look for our daily specials on Downtown Duncan

(250) 597-3473

theoldfirehouse.ca

21

The Perfect Pre Natal Class You Have Been Looking For

P

re natal classes offer expectant families informative and transformative guidance to help prepare your heart and mind for birth and parenthood. Facilitated by highly sought after educator Robin Gale, her experience has supported families as a birth doula, postpartum doula and as a mothering circle facilitator. Her path to birth work started out many years ago as a participant in a Birthing from Within prenatal class when pregnant with her first child. Inspired by the birth process, she has dedicated her life to supporting mothers and feels infinitely privileged that she is able to be a part of each family’s journey to parenthood.

Island Mother prenatal classes, are held at the Matraea Centre in downtown Duncan. They offer a unique blend of practical information and emotional preparation, supporting you with plenty of resources, tips & tricks so you can navigate the unknown with confidence.

These specialized classes offer families the resources & tools to birth with confidence through a blend of practical information & personal exploration. Classes cover; The stages of labour & birth and creating a supportive birth space. Learn & practice

Robin Gale

pain-coping approaches.

Affirming partner’s role and needs. Drugs, epidurals, and Cesarean Birth. Informed consent. Your first week with baby. and a special PDF Resource Guide.

“While you will find all the same core information in our workshops as you’ll find in any community class, most families who choose Island Mother are seeking something different - recognizing that true preparation for birth & parenthood isn’t just about the facts.” smiles Robin “We offer you a blend of both practical information and personal exploration to help you prepare your heart, body & mind for the changes to come.”

In Duncan - Next One Day Intensive Sunday, March 1st 12:30pm - 5:30pm. Cowichan Valley 6 Week series Wednesdays March 25 - April 29 7pm -9:15pm. Unable to attend? Private Pre Natal Classes also available. For more information www.islandmother.com

.com Jennifer Shelley 22

•

250 710 5674

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

in the Okanagan. Are your children frustrated or not well regulated?

Diana’s applied work and experience enables her to help determine specific strategies that caregivers and educators can use to support the child through their day. She has also completed intensive training with the Neufeld Institute to be able to better understand and help her clients. “From my training with Gordon Neufeld I begin by forming a relationship with the child, coming alongside them wherever they are, and putting the child and caregiver at ease.” smiles Diana “There are 5 main “F”s that have been my specialty: Fun, Function, Fitness, Food, and Frustration. I respect that caregiving is the most important job in the world and thus I follow the parents’ priorities and aim to improve the child’s connection to them, grandparents, educators, and other adults in their lives. My mantra is “Anything that is, can be talked about and understood” and thus by working with me, adults become better positioned to support the child to mature to their full potential in the years to come.” In her practice Diana offers 1:1 play based sessions (1 hour each) from birth to 18 yrs in a clinic in Cowichan Station as well as 1:1 or small group work or consultation for organizations and independent schools, homeschooling families.

“In my clinic I can discuss and work with parents while at the same time having their child play, explore and move about in my bright, colourful, open and inviting therapy gym complete with climbing wall, ball pit and trapeze and more.

Services include developmental evaluations of motor skills and sensory processing abilities as compared to same age peers.

For more information please contact Diana at 250 710 4624 dianasharpeot@gmail.com

My mantra is “Anything that is can be talked about and understood”

Diane Sharpe

Child Development Specialist Diana Sharpe To The Rescue

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ccupational Therapist Diana Sharpe began her career as a kinesiologist. “I was drawn to be part of holistic health care where I could look at the whole person including their physical body as well as their ways of thinking, feeling, being and becoming.” shares Diana. She felt motivated to pursue a deeper study as she began to observe all the pieces of a child’s development, making sense in a bigger picture way, rather than zooming in close where one might miss the forest for the trees. “ I became intrigued at how big body and finer hand movement are connected to how we pay attention to our world and use sensory information from our hands, eyes, ears, mouths, and muscles.”

Now 10 years later, she has worked in the field, following each individual child for several years, with over 50 families and their children with autism and related disorders through a child development centre

ISLAND MOTHER PRE NATAL CLASSES • Next 6 week series March 25 - April 29 Wednesdays 7pm - 9:15pm

• Next 1 DAY INTENSIVE March 1st Sunday, 12:30pm - 5:30pm

Robin Gale 250 732 5859

cowichankidsoccupationaltherapy.com

“Standing, sitting, walking, being silent, in meditation, insight arises, awakening within” Namaste Nichiren Buddha Society

A Day of Meditation & Mindfulness, Saturday 21st March Retreat Info: www.VIRetreats.com / 2015 Retreats 250. 710 7594

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Creative Dance for Spring Break Fun

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here is something special happening in the yurt at Lila Music Centre during Spring Break: Creative Dance Classes are being offered to 5 to 6 year olds almost every day for two weeks.

These classes provide an opportunity for children to have fun developing their self expression and personal responses through dance. In a supportive and welcoming environment they will explore ideas, stories, and characters that spark creativity and stimulate imagination. We will spend time with dragons, fairies, and animals, and take their ponies for a jaunt through an enchanted forest.

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We will grow, shrink, freeze and melt all while getting exercise, developing motor skills and deepening their self-awareness. Experiences like this enrich a child’s creativity; and nurturing that creativity--through any art form--helps them to accept their individuality and also respect this in others. Visit www.joythoughmusic.com for more information on classes for children at Lila Music Centre.

“I love the fun and subtle approach Paulina has towards physical awareness and the role of breath in movement... she guides in the role of respect of people’s space... she inspires imagination.

My daughter loves Paulina’s class!” Hilary - parent For more info on Spring Break Creative Dance Classes with Paulina Kee contact paulinakee@gmail.com

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

S

s

Seedy Sunday DUNCAN

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aking place on Sunday, March 8th, the Duncan Seedy Sunday is a time for our community to ring in the gardening season. This event features local seed vendors, live plant and garden vendors, a seed exchange, kids’ activities, community information booths, and a series of seed saving and garden workshops hosted by local experts. Workshop presenters include Carolyn Herriot, Jason Greenwood, and Joy Story. Sunday, March 8, 10am - 2pm, Cowichan Tribes Gymnasium Si’em Lelum, 5574 River Rd Under 13 Free, Admission by donation (suggested $2).

Seedy Saturday COBBLE HILL

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he 15th annual Cobble Hill Seedy Saturday invites you to help us celebrate our ‘100 Mile Spring’ with everything a gardener could need - or want! Over 30 vendors will offer a full range of organic and heritage seeds, plant starts, flower and fruit shrubs and bulbs - and mason bees to fertilize them - native grasses and ferns, and even organic salves and mineral soaks for sore gardeners’ bods! The most obscure and esoteric plant questions can always be answered by our knowledgeable Master Gardeners, while the

permaculture people have all kinds of ideas about how you can make your garden more sustainable and interesting.

Everyone is always itching to share their plant lore, and Mums and Dads can unleash the kids on the the childrens’ activities while they visit with friends, bring their own seeds to swap at the seed exchange table (or buy a pack for a mere quarter!), and load up those cloth bags with wee envelopes of summer’s garden joy. We are open until 3.00, so you can enjoy a delicious light lunch or snack, care of our own Womens’ Institute, and soak up enough inspiration to propel you into the garden.

Saturday, March 14, 10am 3pm, Cobble Hill Hall, 3550 Watson Ave, Cobble Hill Village 250-743-7305, Free

•Release trapped emotions and find health and happiness •Take down your heart - wall and welcome in your hopes and dreams •Achieve self-confidencePioneering reflex inhibition and integration work

Call or Email

First appointment free!

David Yaeger

Certified Emotion Code Practitioner 250-597-3686 davidyaeger650@gmail.com

Two Years It is the way the distance yawns – a chasm if only a crack.

It is the particular folds in a bed made up of ghosts.

These are my crosses to bear.

These weighted valleys – my heart and house of spirits.

This is the tyranny of my love.

This is my hope and terror carved in gold, and twined around my finger.

You are me most brave.

You are me most weak.

We pace the circle sevenhundredthirty times, We see eight changes of the wind.

Time ebbs and bobs all around us, beneath us.

We are two souls afloat in a modest craft.

Amidst all that churns, batters, drags downward, coughs forth.

I pray for the knowledge of birds, The long-view from above, the smell of coming storms.

Jennifer Barnes van Elk is a Jill-of-many-trades who lives in Cobble Hill, with her husband and menagerie of animals.

GOLDA’S LITERACY NUGGETS “Learning to read after so long is like walking into light from darkness.” A young woman of Jahan Shah, Afghanistan

info@gopesto.com I www.gopesto.com

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hope that you are enjoying all of those beautiful heathers that are putting on a terrific display at the moment either through the wonderful show of flowers that the bees are busy visiting or by the lovely coloured foliage.

Here are some tips on how to make sure that your heathers stay healthy and happy.

Pruning - The upright growing summer blooming varieties (Calluna vulgaris) will become leggy and out of control if they are not pruned.

They should be pruned back below the blooms in late February or early March before the new growth starts.

Even better, prune them in the fall and you will enhance the display of the lovely tip colours that appear on some of the varieties. Be careful not to go back into the old woody parts. One other type of heather that requires pruning is Daboecia cantabrica (otherwise known as Irish heath). These can go into the winter looking untidy and if this bothers you just cut off the spent flower stems in late fall.

Leave your serious pruning until the spring. These plants can tolerate severe pruning. As far as your winter blooming varieties are concerned, pruning keeps plants bushy and well shaped and improves flowering. However, it is not always necessary on a regular schedule. If you feel that your winter flowering heathers could do with a bit of a prune, the best time to prune them is after they have

Cobble Hill

Happy Heathers

Helictotrichon sempervirens. To its left is Calluna ‘Emerald Jock’ in full bloom. Behind that, E. cinerea ‘Knap Hill Pink’ is also in full bloom. To it’s right is Calluna ‘Annemarie’, in bud, with to its right ‘Crinkly Tuft’ and ‘Glendoick Silver’. E. carnea plants are in front of ‘Annemarie’ and ‘Crinkly Tuft’. Behind ‘Annemarie’ is E. arborea ‘Estrella Gold.

finished flowering.

Fertilizing – Heathers do not need fertilizing as this may make them grow too quickly resulting in plants that are quite woody in the middle. As heathers prefer lime-free and well-cultivated soil, amend the soil with peat moss, leaf mould or garden compost to attain a light workable acid soil.

Watering – It is important to remember that these are not drought-tolerant plants. They should be watered deeply at least once a week during hot weather. Heathers cannot tolerate boggy areas but should never be allowed to dry out during the summer.

Sun – Heathers need at least half a day of sun to enable them to flower to their potential.

March 15th

free admission

Cobble Hill Hall, 3550 Watson Ave

10 am - 3 pm

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Celebrate our ‘100 Mile Spring’ with everything your garden and its gardeners need - or want!

For Info 250-743-7305 or 250-743-8036 cobblehillseedysaturday@gmail.com

Landscaping – In order to show your heathers to their best potential, one tip is to use companion planting which will add height to your garden as well a variety of colours. Many grasses will provide you with wonderful interest and two that I would particularly recommend are Carex morrowii ‘Ice Dance’ which, although a slow spreader, looks good all year around and provides great ground cover for a partly shady moist area. Another suggestions is Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’ which also keeps it colour all year and will tolerate a dry sunny position.

ensure that we have unusual varieties on hand, experienced buyers will tell you that it is essential to get to the hall prior to the doors opening in order to get the best selection.

Starter kits consisting of 10 plants and a planning diagram as well as a wide selection of individual plants (including tree heaths) will be on sale.

Society members will be on hand to assist you.

Where to buy heathers – Many of our local nurseries keep a good supply of heathers on hand. As well, the Vancouver Island Heather Society spring sale will be held on Saturday March 28, at the Farmer’s Institute Hall in Cobble Hill from 10am to Noon or until sold out. As we

Please visit our web site www.bcheathersociety. org for a list of many of the plants available as well as an indication of their prices.

An added feature at the sale this year will be the availability of a variety of wonderful grasses at very reasonable prices. These will really help you to add extra interest to your garden.

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

Elaine Scott.

Vancouver Island Heather Society

Restore Your Health with

Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture & Diet Therapy

Dr. Fei Yang 250-733-2917 www.drfeiyang.ca

Saturday March 28, 2015

VANCOUVER ISLAND HEATHER SOCIETY SPRING HEATHER SALE INCLUDING COMPANION GRASSES

Cobble Hill Farmers’ Institute

3550 Watson Avenue, Cobble Hill, B.C. 10:00 am – 12 noon (or until sold out)

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Unusual varieties and a variety of grasses will be available. Society members and Master Gardeners will be on hand to help to make you and your Heathers Happy CASH OR CHECK ONLY

Seeds To Start in March

he last average frost date for south coastal British Columbia is March 28. This is a handy reference point for all your garden planning.

Basically, this is the month gardeners must use to get ready to take full advantage of the growing season ahead.

Here is a list of seeds to start in March. By starting your seeds in March, they will be ready for transplanting into the garden by the time the nighttime temperatures have warmed up in May. Other seeds actually benefit

www.bcheathersociety.org

from cool weather and the risk of frost, and they are shown below FOR DIRECT SOWING IN MARCH: Agastache Alyssum Asclepias Ammi Arugula Broad Beans Calendula California Poppies Celosia Corn Salad Cornflowers Cosmos Gypsophila Kale & Collards Lavatera

Lavender Lunaria Lupins Marigolds Mustard Greens Pac Choi Peas Poppies Radishes Scabiosa Spinach Sweet Peas Wallflowers Wildflower Mixes

FOR STARTING INDOORS:

Gaillardia Oregano Gaura Peppers Hollyhocks Physalis Iberis Rosemary Leeks Alyssum Rudbeckia Lettuce Asparagus Sage Lobelia Bergamot Thyme Lovage Broccoli Tithonia Marigolds Cabbage Tomatoes (March Marjoram Catnip 15th is ideal, Mint Cauliflower transplant end of Celery & Celeriac Morning Glory May/early June) Nemophila Chives Verbena Chrysanthemum Nicotiana Viola Onions Columbine Yarrow Coreopsis Infomation courtesy West Coast Seeds Cynoglossum Free Seed Catalogue and planting guide Delphinium available at Dinter Nursery, Duncan.

Echinacea www.westcoastseeds.com

For full design/build service, give us a call

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

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he trees are in heat. The scent of nectar is on the breeze and the bees stir in their dens, awakening to fulfill their erotic vocation.

Trees cannot make love as we mobile beings do; the bees are their exclusive sexual brokers.

Every decadent bite of apple, plum, cherry, pear, citrus, and pretty much everything else that tastes good is owed to the tireless flight of the bee.

Though the hive-dwelling, European honey bee has become the poster-child of the tragic decline in bee numbers, we now need to look beyond our sweet-tooth and recognize that there over 450 species of bees native to BC and they are in serious peril also.

What is causing the decline of bees? Simple: we are.

Scientists, experts and journalists have spent decades discussing, theorizing, and postulating, only to arrive at the same smoking gun: human impact through disturbance and toxicity. It’s a sad realization, but one that must stir us to action. What can you do? Simple: create and support bee habitat.

The best place to start?

Anywhere! Most likely at our own homes and community green-spaces.

A key thing to understand here is that 70% of our native

bee species nest in the ground.

This means that disturbance by tilling, mowing, string trimming and other destructive management practices should be avoided in bee-friendly areas. Small patches of bare ground can be created by hand and will develop naturally between plants. Let’s replace the abrasive drone of mowers with the bright beauty of flowers and the warm hum of bees.

Define large areas of 5 square meters or preferably more and plant with a mix of species that flower and provide nectar and pollen from spring through fall. A few tree and shrub species I recommend are: apple, plum, and pear trees, flowering red currant, california lilac, honeysuckles, spring and winter heathers, rosemary, forsythia, cotoneaster and mock-orange. Just a few of the many perennial and annual flowers you could plant may include: goldenrod, camas, columbine, echinacea, alliums, yarrow, monarda, lavender and borage.

Love The Tree, Feed The Bee

There are many excellent native plants that we can and should use to support bees; however, we do not need to rely on them exclusively.

Despite the well-intentioned efforts of ecological purists seeking to restore our world to a virginal state, this author can’t help but feel that in some cases the proverbial ship has sailed on that one.

We are not hunter/gatherers anymore. The world has changed. A lot. In highly modified urban areas, the In addition to ground-nesting landscape and soils have been bees, some species prefer to altered so dramatically that nest in wood cavities, so a few they may not even be suitable inconspicuously placed logs or for native plants anymore. branches can offer sanctuary and a place to reproduce. To further welcome bees, build or purchase a few nesting boxes Unique Garden Design for bees and watch them shack up.

Consulting Arborist

The bottom line is that we are in a situation here, and we should use the best available tools that we have to adapt and support pollinator diversity.

If we can create areas where bees can nest and forage for what they need, not only will their populations be able to rebound, they will also be available to do us the kind service of continuing to pollinate the foods we most love.

Todd Gesshe is a consulting arborist and garden designer www. cascaradesigns.ca

Pruning Specialists Ecological Restoration Garden-Care

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www.cascaradesigns.ca 250-710-7461

www.dinternursery.ca Catalogues Now Available

Nora Arajs manages Ceres Edible Landscaping for the Cowichan Green Community, a permaculture-based social enterprise.

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id you know there are more organisms in a tablespoon of soil than there are people on earth?

Even though you can’t see most of it, a complex soil food web lives in your garden; it’s teaming with earthworms, mites, bacteria, fungi, and all kinds of mostly microscopic, interdependent organisms that release mineral nutrients and create the loose soil structure crops need to thrive. This mixture of minerals, water, and organic matter, is the one natural medium we have to grow food in across the planet.

declared 2015 the International Year of Soils for the very reason that without soil we cannot live and grow food.

Soil is host to at least one quarter of the world’s biodiversity, and development, deforestation, unsustainable land use, pollution, overgrazing, and climate change, all contribute to the demise of our soil. Current predictions state that in 60 years we will have no more topsoil left on the planet if we carry on with the current industrial agricultural practices which destroy the topsoil from over-tilling.

Healthy soil is not only key for food production, soils also store and filter water, improving our resilience to floods and droughts.

What can you do? Build soil!

Building fertile soil means learning how to feed the soil to feed the plants.

Minimize plowing, tilling and digging.

Use compost, grass clippings, leaves and other organic mulches on a regular basis to promote and sustain the soil food web.

Always keep the soil covered with live crops or, at minimum, an organic mulch (maple leaves are great To bring attention to one of for this!) Whenever you are not growing a food our most valuable natural crop, sow a cover crop. resources, the United Nations If you follow only these three • Full Hair and Esthetics Services suggestions you’ll • Natural Sugaring Hair Removal help to build • Onsite Gel Nail Artist and protect your soil. Soil is a GIFT CERTIFICATES non-renewable Featuring So Pure natural hair resource; its care line with organic preservation is essential oils essential for food security and our Try the ANCIENT SUGARING METHOD sustainable future. with A $10 EYEBROW SHAPING

MARCH SEMINARS

Saturday March 7 10am BASIC FRUIT TREE PRUNING

Demonstration of basic pruning of fruit trees and small fruits.

Saturday March 7 10-3pm

MASTER GARDENER CLINIC Bring your garden questions for a detailed explanation.

Saturday March 21 10am

POND INSTALLATION & CARE with Scott Stevenson, Van Isle Water Services

Saturday March 21 10am

GROW FOOD WITH JOY w/Joy Story Grow Food Network

Saturday March 21

PERENNIAL EXCHANGE Set up by 9:20 STARTS 9:30 SHARP Exchange perennial roots with other gardeners. Get free plants in trade.

Saturday March 28 10am NATURAL LAWN CARE with Lush Eco Lawns

Serving local gardeners since 1973

250 748 2023

5km South of Duncan on Hwy 1

for the month of March

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What about the Teens?

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ell it’s Spring Break time again and yes, there are lots of programs and activities around for primary and elementary aged school children, but what about the teens?

You know, those beings that live under your roof and roll out of bed at noon (or later!) then head for the nearest fridge? Those creatures roaming around with ubiquitous phone in hand (or pocket) looking for something to do on their own (that means without you mom!), something to do during their two weeks off that is close to home and they enjoy doing. What to do with them? Studies show that shopping ranks very high on teen lists of favourite pastimes – so send them Downtown!

A recent article in Money Magazine (published by Time.Inc) stated how important individualism and having their own style is to today’s teen.

Bottom line is that teens no longer want to look like store mannequins (or each other).

Admittedly we may be a little biased, but if it’s the “anti-mall” that today’s teens want, then Downtown Duncan is it.

Nary a franchise in sight – only one-of-a-kind shops catering to a variety of fashion styles, ages, and price points.

Here’s a few downtown shops your kid(s) should definitely check out: Area 51 (Station St.) – Canada’s largest online

Skateshop has hundreds & hundreds of items on their website (20 brands of skate shoes alone!) and they have all that and even more in the store. And it’s not just skate stuff; from cool t-shirts to bikinis to purses, their selection is excellent.

Eclectic Avenue (Station St.) This funky vintage boutique is the mecca for non-conformists. It’s the perfect place for your teen to put together a one-of-akind outfit to reflect their personality.

The Garment District (Craig St.) - Owners Lana & Lisa are always bringing in new, fun, and

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very affordable up-to-theminute fashions including lots of great party dresses for all the grad celebrations and banquets looming on the spring horizon.

Lots of awesome jeans to choose from too.

Martin’s (Station St.) Behind an unassuming façade, Martin’s is a hotbed of coolness (oxymoron alert). Speaking from personal experience, Martin’s has long been the perfect destination for those parents responsible for clothing a…shall I say…reluctant shopper of the male persuasion that wants to get it all done in one place. And as for those upcoming graduations –

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they are the local go-to for tux rentals and yes, they have lots of great clothes and accessories for girls as well.

There are lots of other great Downtown shops – Archer & Arrow on Craig, Wall St. on Craig and don’t forget Body Wrapsody on Canada Ave. for their great selection of stylish dance and fitness wear.

What else does Downtown Duncan have to appeal to teens? How about over 60 free wi-fi hot spots, lots of options for inexpensive snacks & drinks, awesome book shops, a movie theatre, and best of all, the unique stores to help your teen stand out from the crowd.

Cool stores + free wifi = happy teens. Now go get them out of bed…

Soups • Stews • Croissants • Crepes & more!

Everything we do is focused on helping you enjoy the best freshest local & sustainable ingredients.

BREAKFAST - LUNCH - COFFEE 171 Jubilee St., Duncan 250 715 1020

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Hungry? Stop In at Power Lunch!

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ower Lunch Coffee Café & Catering is a fabulous eatery located at 921 Canada Ave. and if you haven’t been there in awhile, it’s definitely time to stop by. Serving breakfast, snacks, coffee and lunch, they are open from 7am – 4:30 Monday to Friday and Saturday from 9:30am –

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4pm.

Power lunch specializes in in-house baking, soups, and lunches. They serve locally roasted Peaks Coffee, feature produce from the Old Farm Market, serve ham and beef oven-roasted and sliced by the Duncan Butcher Shop, and bake with eggs from Farmer Ben’s – how’s that for

community minded? Some of the most popular items on their menu are the Quiche, their famous chicken wraps, and they are renowned for their amazing Power Lunch salads!

Power Lunch was founded 10 years ago, and the current owner Robin Duke has been at the helm for almost 4 years

now. Their business (which has grown over 30%) is based on good, healthy food, fabulous baking by Robin and Lana, and exceptional service.

Smiles are handed out on a regular basis along with the occasional hug!

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sizes.

The sweaters are purchased from Valley thrift stores or donated to Spinning Ninny. The sweaters are then meticulously deconstructed and expertly reassembled.

“Each sweater is very different” says Tanya.

“I discovered that you need to spend some time with each sweater and get to know it a little so that you can understand what Girls in Swants available at Spinning Ninny will be the best design for it’s finished form.

We feel that they ara Brunschot knows a are the perfect product to great idea when she sees represent the perspective of one. And with Swants it was the Cowichan Valley. Each love at first sight. pair is original, locally made, environmentally responsible, “I knew as soon as I saw them practical, and versatile. that Swants were a perfect They are just ridiculously product for my store” says comfortable when you find Lara, owner of Spinning the right fit. Your taste in Ninny boutique in Downtown Swants is truly an expression Duncan. “I was determined to of who you are”. make Swants happen in the Cowichan valley, and I knew Styles range from a semijust the right person to help.” sheer legging to heavy wool outerwear, in an endless “She certainly was variety of designs and determined” recalls local colours, from neutral to seamstress Tanya Ablonczy, outrageous. “My favourites “I have absolute faith in her are the thick cotton swants, creative vision, but when but wool are the most I looked at designs on the popular” says Lara. “Both Internet, I was not very men and woman are falling enthusiastic. However, Lara in love with the practicality, is just one of those people style and lounge appeal. New that is a driving force of pairs are arriving daily and achievement and as soon as it’s always exciting because we drafted our own design, you never really know how Swants were magic for us.” they will look, fit and feel.”

Swants - Go Get Some!

Celebrate spring with a nutritious GREEN smoothie to boost your body!

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Swants are pants made from upcycled sweaters. Stylish and comfortable, every pair is unique, fitting men, women and children of all shapes and

Looking for work? gvsjobs.com | 250-748-9880

Original Swants, the Canadian pants. Only at Spinning Ninny Boutique.

What could be better than legs in a sweater?

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uctioneer Dawn Geddie has been running auctions in Haida Gwaii for over a decade.

On a trip with her partner Morgan to the Cowichan they fell in love with the charm of Chemainus; the small town feel and the great welcoming people. “It has a uniqueness to it. We were looking for a change and we found it!” When they arrived they opened Bound to Be Different, a successful eclectic shop filled with things that you want to take home. But soon the thrill of the auction caught up with them again and they began hosting Sunday Auction events for the community. “We feature a unique 2 hour auction held every second Sunday of the month. It’s a non smoking, fun filled all woman crew with the exception of Morgan” Dawn smiles “ If we can get a laugh out of the crowd we are happy.”

Besides the laughs, the female auctioneers and the coolest items they can find, La Petite Auction House also gives back to the community. “Every auction includes a mystery box with the proceeds going to a local charity.”

How does it work? If you are downsizing, moving, tired of hanging onto Aunt Becky’s brass horse that no longer fits in your life come by and bring your items in for consideration. “All consigners are confidential so Aunt Becky will never know!

The consigner gets 70% and the auction house takes 30% the consignee gets paid within 3 days of the auction.” Dawn explains “ Auctions are a great way for people to recycle and repurpose goods to buy or sell.

Collectors come to find unusual stuff and people often come to find reasonably priced furniture and home decor.” And… there are the Bidders. Those who love the competition of the bidding process and there are many of them out there.

La Petite Auction House takes quality consignments that include modern home furnishings as well as vintage. Solid wood furniture, cool oddities, gently used or new carpets and more. “My favourite items to auction off are things we can tease the crowd about.

Lola was a good example. She was a 6 foot Amazon mannequin in a rather provocative outfit!”

Dawn laughs. “You name it we have probably auctioned it

Ooh La La! What’s On Auction?

Dawn and Morgan with a great auction find

off. People go home with all sorts of treasures from canoes to jewellery. I love doing the auctions because of the great people I get to meet and the excitement of the new goods that come in on a daily basis for that 2 week period. It is never boring and it culminates into a fun filled 2 hour auction.”

Interested in consigning some goods for La Petite Auction House? Call Dawn at 250-7012902 to set a time a day for drop off. She is usually at the auction

house on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 am till 3 pm receiving goods and letting customers in for a sneak preview.

A guideline handout is available of what they take and don’t take but Dawn and Morgan are always open to things they haven’t tried yet. For everyone else - Official Viewing for the auction is on the Auction Sunday from 10 am till the auction starts at 1pm.

Upcoming auctions March 8 & 22, 9686 Chemainus Rd. Viewing from 10am. Auction begins at 1pm.

It’s Not Every Day That You Receive An Island On Your 20th Birthday!

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he Cowichan Land Trust is turning 20 and with a bang, the year has started off with the generous donation of Rainbow Island in Quamichan Lake.

The Land Trust is encouraging birthday gifts all year, but they probably don’t need more islands. To start off, gifts of scrap metal can be donated on March 28th from 10am to 2pm.

Metal of all kinds from washing machines and barbeques to nails and plumbing will be accepted.

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The most valuable metals for the drive are the non-ferrous ones such as aluminum frying pans, barbeques, brass and copper.

Metal can be donated in three ways: • Drop it off on March 28th between 10am and 2pm at our bin. Check website for location.

Arrange for us to pick it up on March 28th.

• Drop it off anytime at Schnitzer Steel on Boys Road and ask that it be put on the Cowichan Land • Trust account. Remember to sort your ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

Twenty years ago, the Cowichan Valley Naturalists’ Society saw the need to permanently protect special places and the ecological integrity of our region.

With this goal, the Cowichan Community Land Trust Society was incorporated. Since then the Cowichan Land Trust has been a key player in acquiring many properties for protection.

It continues to provide the community with ongoing with education in stream and wetland

stewardship, eelgrass restoration, and have been operating the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre since 2012.

To learn more about the Cowichan Land Trust, volunteer, join, or give an anniversary gift, visit www.cowichanlandtrust.ca or phone 250-746-0227.

La Petite Auction House

Auction Sunday March 8 and 22 Early viewings Wed - Fri 11am- 4pm.

Plus same day viewing from 11am -1pm.

To consign call or email dawngeddie@gmail.com

Auction begins at 1pm

9686 Chemainus Rd, 250-701-2902

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speculation, storage of books until sold, and managing inventory, sales, and mailing. Print on demand services are available at quite a price range so be careful to read all fine print. Lulu, Bookpod, Create Space, McNally Robinson, Blurb, Smashwords, Xibris, Friesen Press, are just some of the sources for self-publishing print on demand books.

Digital SELF Publishing

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o you have a story, a photo essay, or a “How To” that you are ready to share with others? In today¹s digital world, selfpublishing is more affordable and accessible and almost easy if you have some basic computer skills and the tenacity to undertake the marketing challenges after the book is created. If you can type your story into Microsoft Word and organize your photos or graphics into a file, you are well on your way to self-publishing. To publish your book,+ you first have to ask yourself what format you want your book to be available in for readers.

Are you looking solely for an eDigital publication or an eBook? Or, do you want a traditional print book? Your answer to this question will indicate whether you are seeking an ePrint on demand publishing experiencing or the flexibility of a digital publishing experience.

Print on demand means that as books are ordered, they are printed to fill the customer¹s order. Print on demand saves costs on printing on

Digital books, or eBooks, can also be created through the providers listed above or through others such as Kobo¹s Writing Life. Providers such as Smashwords can convert your eBooks into the different file formats required by the variety of eReaders available today. Smashwords also provides an aggregator service which means they can arrange for your book to be available through many of the popular eBook outlets such as iBooks, Amazon, and OverDrive. Costs for many of the eBook services are charged only when books are sold and therefore upfront costs in ePublishing can be less.

The biggest challenge facing any author is finding your market. While self-publishing options today have made it easier to self-publish for lower costs, the challenge of reaching your intended market remain significant. Using social media to your advantage to blog, tweet, and post about your book in a variety of venues is helpful. Time, the right connection, and dollars well invested are also vital ingredients.

You supply content. We’ll set it up.

You do the rest!

site set up services GET YOUR IDEAS ON THE INTERNET IN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS!

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Come into the Village for some snacks and refreshements before your Spring Break walk along the Historic Kinsol Trestle just north of Shawnigan Lake.

EYE ON Shawnigan

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Tellington TTouch Practitioner Animal Communicator and Reiki Practitioner Rachel Allen. with Maximus.

Beings In Balance With Rachel Allen

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dog out of balance can look like many things. Imagine a Pitbull, very forward on muscular front legs, pulling his human behind. Or picture a rescue Chihuahua, cowering back on a tucked hind end with a tail tight against her belly.

A Jack Russell Terrier, chronically jumping up, will be over-developing his hind end while his front legs and shoulders get limited use. In all of these situations, the habitual body posture Reiki Practitioner Animal Communicator is out of balance or, out of alignment, for a significant portion of these dog’s lives.

Balance can be thought of as a homeostasis, a natural place of being that embodies neutrality, self2750 Shawnigan Lake Road TAKE OUT - (250) 743-1669 www.shawnigansushi.blogspot.ca

Rachel Allen 250 882 4198

awareness and control.

If we view our dogs holistically, we learn that the physical, emotional, behavioural and spiritual aspects are intrinsically connected. Certain body postures actually create an associated emotion, such as a tucked hind end creating fear. Balance of the body brings balance of the mind. When you are faced with a dog out of balance in any way, try rebalancing the body toward neutrality. To calm an over-excited puppy, gently hold a frantically wagging tail still. Move reactive dogs from their forward, upright posture to a more neutral, sitting or lying down position until the trigger passes.

Encourage timid dogs who are” back and down” to shift forward, distributing their weight equally on all 4 legs to increase confidence. Lift a tightly tucked tail up and over the dog’s back several times to reduce fear. Try wagging (with your hand) a chronically low and down tail to create happiness and joy. For reactive dogs with high, rigid tails, move and hold the tail down and alongside their legs for a few moments to reduce reactivity. To help bring dogs back to balance, develop an awareness of patterns of imbalance, and make use of simple physical shifts.

Rachel Allen brings dogs back to balance throughout the Cowichan Valley, with workshops and client sessions. 250 882 4198

Shawnigan Lake Museum 1775 Shawnigan-Mill Bay Road

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250-743-8675 Valley Voice Magazine - Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

i r f d s d b p t t

N f y t t d

A u a e b s n o

W s y d a a b a c a

Lucky Dogs...

SKIN HAS TWO SIDES

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he most common reason for a visit to the vet is skin issues and they are not easy to resolve. The fastest results come from giving pharmaceutical drugs that suppress the immune system so the symptoms disappear. The drugs make the body stop responding to the problem that is causing the skin to react, but the drugs don’t cure the problem.

Now this may be good enough for you and it feels better for your dog, but the side effects of the drugs and not dealing with the initial problem will only defer the real issue.

A dog’s skin may be acting up because of fleas, hot spots, allergies to grasses and molds, or even a response to his new foam bed. But a dog’s skin has two sides and the itchy stinky dog needs to viewed from the inside out.

We are all surrounded by the same external things; bacteria, yeasts, parasites. Why do some dogs respond so horrifically and some have no ill effects at all? Well, it’s complicated, but generally it’s about an accumulation of things that cause stress. I’m talking about all stresses. Emotional and

Lucky Dog

also physical; chemicals in our environment, improper diet, lack of fresh air and exercise. These things cause stress on our dog’s bodies making it harder for the immune system to do its job. If the immune system is working full time at trying to clean toxins out without a stocked toolbox, it gets fatigued. Some jobs just get left undone. As far as your dog’s immune system is concerned, survival comes before glowing skin and a shiny coat.

The skin is also an eliminative organ and releases toxins just as the kidneys and lungs do. If your dog is constantly stinky it means that something is trying to get out of his body, something that isn’t supposed to be there. Bad food is the most common reason for this stinky, greasy dog and it’s the easiest to fix. But please remember that switching to a better food often makes things look worse before they get better.

The “healing crisis” is not pretty and you may want some help getting through it. I can help you both through this when you’re ready to make the switch.

There was no one thing that caused your dog’s reactive skin and there is no one thing that can fix it, but there is plenty in our control to help make things much better. Every dog is different and each needs his own evaluation.

Debbie Wood is currently studying animal naturopathic health and is certified through the American Council of Animal Naturopathy www.luckydogubath.ca

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

OpenED Daily 8am-6pm Heated patio or take out

*Award Winning Chowder* Grilled Seasoned Fish & Chicken Great Burgers, Fries, Wraps & More!

Dine In on our heated patio or Take Out! Cowichan Bay

1059 CANADA AVE

Just past Power Lunch DUNCAN

DROP IN 250 597-7DOG OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

www.luckydogubath.ca

U-BATH

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$10

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toe nail trim!

NO appointment needed!

Le a v e T h e M e s s Wi t h U s !

Helping animals and people find balance.

Rachel Allen Tellington TTouch

250 882 4198

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Reiki Practitioner Animal Communicator

BeingsInBalance@gmail.com

March Broombusting Tips

pring is here. Soon bright yellow Scotch broom flowers will be visible everywhere!

Broom spreads like wildfire – and burns like wildfire. This aggressive alien invasive plant invades farms, parks and trails, strangles native plants, and even prevents forests re-growth. Now is the time of year to plan what you will do to protect native plants and tomorrow’s forests!

Community groups from here to Campbell River are making this year’s plans. If cut at ground level while in bloom – from April to June - broom will die. No need to pull or dig. In 2014, groups in Chemainus and Maple Ridge did their first broombusting! Join them or adopt a highway, green space,

park or beach near you. Start at the advancing edge, so that you can limit the spread. Draw the line. Say, “The broom stops here!”

Cutting broom is fun, easy enough, and almost anyone can take part. Contacts: www. broombusters.org; Jenny in Chemainus: Jennygodfrey49@ hotmail.com; Wendy in Maple Bay: macpherson15@yahoo.ca.

March Steps to Take Talk with friends & neighbors Look for partnerships Adopt a piece of road, park or green space.

Contact Broombusters for tips on cut broom disposal.

Learn techniques & gather tools.

Cut Broom in Bloom! It works

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Talking Arts Rachel Cruse and Tammie Hunter

Chesterman Beach On Fire Rachel Cruse

Natural Inclinations Rachel Cruse and Tammie Hunter Cowichan Performing Arts Centre Theatre Gallery March 1st - 31st

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f you are looking to take in some art this month then you might be interested to see what local artists Rachel Cruse and Tammie Hunter have showing throughout the month of March in the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre Gallery located at 2687 James Street, Duncan.

Natural Inclinations - is a collection of original paintings celebrating time spent immersed in nature.

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The gallery is open for public viewing one hour prior to theatre showtimes. Private viewing can be arranged by contacting the artists directly.

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achel Cruse My sources of inspiration feel almost limitless and overwhelming.

As a lover of skies and shorelines I am particularly inspired by natural beauty and by the play of light. I am often entranced with how subtle changes in light can completely alter my perceptions of reality.

I believe that beauty is essential. I believe that we are all connected to everything else, that there is rhythm, music, love and purpose at

the heart of existence. And that the natural world is constantly communicating the answers to all possible questions. I believe we are here to discover our gifts and give them back to the world.

I have felt a breathtaking intimacy between my heart and all the stars in the sky.

Sleeping out under that canopy has taught me this: There is no such thing as too much beauty, or too much gratitude. To learn more and to view my art visit www. rachelcruse.com

celebrated in these paintings.

Trees and forests play a large part as well in this work, often choosing a single tree or a forest path deep in the woods to create works that invoke a feeling of peace and wonder.

Flowers and the beauty that unfolds with each bud are often a theme that pops up in this series, roadside daisies and foxgloves or a more formal arrangement as found in my garden. To learn more and to view my art visit www.whitecapart.com

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ammie Hunter I grew up on Vancouver Island and now live, and paint in the beautiful Cowichan Valley. In this ongoing series of paintings a love of nature and the outdoors inspires me to show a fascination and appreciation of the beauty of BC. Wide-open vistas and constantly changing weather patterns are an integral part of the environment

Tammie Hunter

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arts events

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Word and Vision Part One 30 literary art pieces will be displayed in PORTALS, the CVAC Centre of Arts, Culture and Heritage, 2687 James Street, beside the public library. Opening Reception Tuesday March 10th between 6:30 - 8:30pm. Visual and performance artists are invited to view the written pieces and select one that speaks to them. Working in collaboration with the

yoga for wellness

Maggie Smith in My Old Lady

Performing Arts Centre, Duncan, BC, Tickets $12/Students with card $5Rows A-C writers, the artists will then create a piece to be displayed along side the writing, in a future PORTALS showing. Monday thru Friday 10 - 5pm and Saturdays 10 - 1pm.

Viewing is free. For more info call 250-7461633 Runs March 10 - March 31st

My Old Lady Maggie Smith plays a feisty woman occupying a coveted Paris apartment just inherited by someone else. He has the will. She’s in the way. My Old Lady, Monday, March 23, 7pm Cowichan

Ladysmith Theatre It concerns Charles Condomine, a re-married but haunted man (literally) by the ghost of his late first wife, the clever and insistent Elvira who is called up by a visiting “happy medium”, Madame Arcati.

The problem is: only Charles can see and hear Elvira which leads to misunderstandings with his current wife, Ruth. A bigger problem is that Madame Arcarti can’t seem to undo whatever she did that brought Elivra back in the first place. Blithe Spirit.Various showtimes. 250-924-0658 info@ladysmiththeatre. com Non M $20/Members $18 /10 or more $18 Runs to March 22. www.ladysmiththeatre.com.

another?

Mountain Pose is a great way to practice being present to another person, place, or thing.

Pick a place you love. Plant your feet. Feel the connection to the ground beneath you.

Let the energy of the huge planet we are on to rise up through your feet and into your whole body. Let it centre and align you. Bend your knees a little.

Feel your heart from the inside. Allow love and Mountain Pose With gratitude to extend outwards, Swarn Leung opening your arms to the sides, palms open.

Swarn Leung is a member of the Forest Yogini e live in Soften your eyes and Collective, and a Registered Clinical Counsellor a web of gaze at the person, creek, in private practice at Matraea Centre in relationships. We Duncan. www.innerlighthealingarts.com tree, mirror, or imagined have a relationship Beloved before you. land. What does it mean to be with the people in in relationship to another? our lives, a relationship with Place your attention on your Can we remain connected to ourselves, and relationships inner landscape and notice to the animals, sky, water, and ourselves as we connect to any sensations in your body.

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Where do you feel solid, strong, and grounded?

Now shift your attention to the being you are in relationship with.

What happens inside when you come into relation with the other?

What changes do you notice in your body when you include the other being in your awareness?

Come back to your feet. Ask yourself, “What am I willing to take a stand for?” Maybe you care about a piece of land that is being threatened by industry. Perhaps you love an endangered animal. Maybe there are children in our community you want to help.

Allow yourself to feel your empathy throughout your body as you are supported by the earth.

Journal your reflections and share with a friend.

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S OU L E S CAPE

ESTHETICS Est. Since 2006

Joyce Leroux, Stained Glass Artist

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#4 -5777 Trans Canada Hwy, Duncan 250.748.2056 www.soulescape.ca The first and only Green Spa in the Cowichan Valley.

Ongoing Knitting and Weaving Workshops. Drop In and See!

Leola’s Studio 250-597-0820 Whippletree Junction www.leolasstudio.blogspot.com

y name is Joyce Leroux.

I was born in Chemainus and grew up in Duncan. I moved away in the late 70’s after high school and came back to the valley nine years ago.

I’ve always enjoyed crafts. I started out with sewing, knitting, crocheting and embroidery. I remember taking an evening course in stained glass at the high school here in Duncan when I was a teenager. My parents proudly hung the lamp I made in their foyer. Later on I did folk art painting and quilting. For many years I didn’t do many crafts at all as I was busy raising a family.

About four years ago I took another stained glass course at the community center. I really enjoyed it. I enjoy the whole process from choosing a

pattern or making one myself to choosing which glass I’m going to use and then putting the whole project together. The end product is always a surprise.

There’s always a new piece of glass to be found that inspires you to create something new. The options are endless.

Stained glass has been around for hundreds of years and I think it will be for hundreds more. Please visit Imagine That! and enjoy the pieces I’ve created.

A selection of Joyce’s stained glass works will be on display in the front window of Imagine That!, 251 Craig St in downtown from March 2 to 28.

“ i m T f b i t o d v O s h c o t n i a a h c a T b

Image; Full Moon, stained glass hanging by Joyce Leroux

Doug Marsh Custom Carpentry 250 737-1852 doug_marsh@icloud.com

Gates, Fences, Sheds, Garden Beds, Tables, Shelving, Arbours, Pergolas, Chicken Coops, Greenhouses and more!

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I d y t a n

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e

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Basket Weaving With Maria Curtis “Rib baskets are indigenous to many countries.

They are different from other types of baskets that are built incrementally, in that the basic framework or skeleton is determined at the very beginning.

Once the general shape and structure has been built, it doesn’t change. The nomenclature of rib baskets is as varied as the baskets themselves. Some names pertain to function, as in egg, hen, potato, fish, key, and pigeon; others to shape, as melon, gizzard, fanny, and hip; while others relate to construction, as in hoop rib, and frame.”

Taken from Nature’s Bounty

by Elizabeth Jensen

Images shown are from a day long workshop. As you can see in these photos, the baskets are as varied as the basket maker. The number of hoops, shape, size

and materials all vary and culminate in a wonderfully unique and functional basket.

Learn to make your own basket in a small group environment. You will be guided in creating a rib frame on which you will weave together reeds, rushes, twigs and bark to make your own unique basket. All levels of experience are welcome.

Facilitator Maria Curtis has been making baskets for 19 years. She has learned to gather, care for and work with all natural materials. Her love of the art has inspired her to learn many traditional forms. She delights in sharing this knowledge with others

he Second Hanger Consignment Store has moved to the the corner of Cobble Hill Rd and Fisher Rd (formerly Cobble Hill Fine Furnishing). “The energy of Cobble Hill is amazing.

We have Cobble Hill Mountain right across the street.

There’s a liquor store, a vet and a pub and other businesses within walking distance and we are enjoying Celebrate Second Hanger meeting all the new consignors and Grand Re Opening Cobble Hill customers in the Brighton Bag in stock. We area.” smiles Susan Dumas are still looking for small and Ryan owner of medium sized dresses, fashion Second Hanger. tops and capris. Almost “Our grand opening will new as always. There are a happen on Saturday March few changes in store! We 21st with a little party! We are working on a shoe area love our customers so much expansion where all shoes and that the first ten of you boots will live. No longer will into the store on that day you have to search throughout will receive a gift. We will the store for footwear. Dresses have refreshments and 20% all hang together on a lovely everything in the store” she adds. “We are receiving some long wall rack which is simply amazing.The new space is great spring items already. At bright, cheery and lovely! We time of writing we have three look forward to your visit to Coach Bags in and a lovely our new fresh faced space!

The Second Hanger Consignment Store 3541 Cobble Hill Rd, 250-743-7802 thesecondhanger@ shaw.ca

Sunday, March 29, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm, Cowichan Green Community Meeting Room, Duncan.$80, includes all materials pre-registration mariacurtis@shaw.ca 250-748-7468.

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We Love Merino Wool! The Designers

Ali Bertin • ancientFUTURES

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f you live in the Cowichan Valley a familiar phrase heard between 2 friends admiring each other’s garments is “ Is that one of Ali’s?” Local designer Ali Bertin has a following of woollen tribes who happily adorn themselves with her unique forest inspired creations. Creating fashions for the entire family her pieces range from newborn to grandparents. “ The benefits of wool are incredible.” smiles Ali “ We source our wool from sustainable, ethical places.

Wool does not take on body odour, it stays warm when it gets wet, which is excellent for our West Coast climate. Wool is wrinkle resistant, mildew resistant and self regulates the body temperature. I work primarily with merino wool, a lot of my wool is

hand dyed. The fibres vary from jerseys, boiled wool, pointelles, crepes, felted wools and super wash wools.

THE SECOND HANGER BOUTIQUE CONSIGNMENT

GRAND RE-OPENING ON SATURDAY MARCH 21ST. First 10 customers receive a door prize!

Refreshments will be served.

3541 COBBLE HILL ROAD, In the heart of Cobble Hill

250 743-7802 thesecondhanger@shaw.ca

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Her best seller this season has been the Khalessi Cowl sweater. Sewn with unique detailed seams on the serger from a variety of vibrantly coloured felted crepe merino wool. It dawns a luscious cowl neck that drapes off the shoulder. When asked to describe her fashions in 5 words. “Creative, Elegant, Comfortable, Unique and Playful.” just like the designer herself. You can find ancientFutures at The

Community Farmstore in Duncan and at a variety of different fleece and fiber fairs and crafts shows all over Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the Mainland. “I am so grateful for the support of my community that purchases ancientFUTURES clothing, so I may continue to give my gift to the world and provide for my family while doing what I love.” www.ancientfutures.ca

Brenda Laine Designs

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ow based out of Cowichan Station, talented designer Brenda Laine has been dressing women all over the world in stylish merino wool pieces for over 2 decades.

Her garments, sold through exclusive upper scale boutiques, sell out each season and her timeless designs can be worn throughout the seasons, especially in our coastal climate. “I strive to create the most flattering fit for women of all ages.” says Brenda. Her fabulous merino wool pieces are made of 100% Merino

20% off all new arrivals!

Wool Jersey Knit and are uniquely washable in warm water. She designs with women of all shapes and sizes in mind who want to feel and look elegant. With folds and flair tucked into all the right places, her inspiration to work with wool comes from “its softness and warmth, and its

Come to Chemainus and see what we have!

9738 Willow St, Chemainus 250-246-9838 Hours Mon-Sat 930-530 • Sun 12-4 Closed Stat holidays

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s

That Help Keep Us Warm and Stylish strength and pliability allowing me to combine structure with flow.” Brenda’s best seller is a princess-line wrap with fitted back and sides and a full front panel that drapes generously over the shoulder. The Princess Wrap is a wonderful and versatile piece that can be worn casually with jeans to keep you stylish, yet cozy and warm, or it can be worn over formal attire as an elegant showpiece. When asked to describe her style in 5 words or less she replied.

“Tailored Fit with Flair” Brenda Laine’s designs can be found locally at Fentiman Avenue in Cowichan Bay Village and at Fabrications in Downtown Duncan. www.brendalaine.com

Hilary Else • Elsewear Merino Clothing

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ecognized for her vibrant colours and minimal style, designer Hilary Else clothing is well sought after and admired by all.

Based in Cowichan Station, Hilary pursues an admirable sustainable lifestyle and this sensibility trickles right into her merino fashions.

“Wool is the perfect fibre to wear in our climate. It is also perfect to wear for an active body. It is a low maintenance fabric that is comfortable and beautiful.” smiles Hilary “All fabric is hand-dyed and clothing is made with love by me.” Hilary’s specialty is merino wool garments tailored to an all season line with pieces composed of

different weights, knits and weaves. Her product line fits the whole family, with an emphasis on women. Her best seller, her signature wrap is so verstatile and stylish most

Elsewear followers have at least 2 in their closets in different colours or weights. “The wrap design I have done in so many different fabrics from a lightweight vest to a longsleeve shirt and boiled wool jacket.

People really like the cozy feeling of the wrap and it is beautiful to see.” Her colours range from bright oranges and scarlet reds to deep forest greens and browns. Various hues of blues are also available and she also carries sophisticated merino garments in a rich black for both men and women. If you are lucky you will also find some merino home decor and other fashion accessories as well.

When asked to describe her fashions in 5 words or less

she replied. “Vibrant colour meets ultimate comfort.”

Find her garments at The Community Farm Store as well as specialized sales events. www.Elsewear.ca

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Julia Allen MA

Masters Counselling Psychology Registered Clinical Counsellor

Holistic approach to psychotherapyMind, Body and Spirit Weekly blog for insights and personal transformation

250-709-9673 www.longboatcounselling.com info@longboatcounselling.com

Denise McLean

CERTIFIED LIFELINE™ PRACTITIONER Activate the subconscious mind and have a direct impact on genetic expressions affecting the health of your body and the relationships in your life.

Infinite Love & Gratitude

250-732-0247

azstarplays@yahoo.ca

By Appointment in Cobble Hill

Alpha Awry: Parenting Upside Down

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hen I was a new parent, I was eager to do ‘the right thing.’ I read books by parenting gurus who advocated giving lots of choices. In my zealot fashion, I took this to the extreme and gave my daughter choices about everything. Should we go home for lunch or stay at the beach? Do you want yogourt for breakfast or cereal? With your cereal, would you prefer rice milk, soy milk, almond milk, or cow’s milk? You get the idea. Whose decisions should these really be?

All this choice did awaken my daughter’s preferences, so that even when I didn’t ask her, she was sure to let me know what she did, and what she didn’t want.

All of this ‘wanting’ can make for a very demanding child and a harried parent.

Many parents today are consulting their child’s preferences, and many children are telling their parents what to do, whether they’re asked

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for their opinion or not. We are raising a generation of alpha children, who are bossy, controlling, prescriptive and demanding. These kids are very difficult to parent and to teach.

Raising an alpha child can be a very exhausting endeavor.

And while the child seems to be in charge, they are often very anxious, very frustrated, sometimes aggressive, and highly resistant to direction and guidance. Thankfully, when we regain our rightful position as the warm, caring provider they need, often the alpha instincts melt and we can once again have a child who will follow our lead and rest in our care.

Dr. Neufeld’s course, Alpha Children: Reclaiming our Right Place is being offered at the Matrea Centre starting on March 23. For more information, visit www.heatherfergusonconsulting. com.

My Healing Journey With Cancer

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ne of the most profound experiences of my life and the greatest motivation for me to become a holistic counsellor. First a caveat- I am not recommending any particular course of treatment. I am simply telling my own journey from illness into health.

I received a diagnosis of cancer years ago when I was a young single mother struggling with full time work and raising a defiant son.

The standard procedure was surgery, but I asked my doctor for some time to think about my next step, he agreed to give me six months.

The only really bright place in my life was a spiritual teacher whom I saw about once a month. She has since stopped teaching and has asked not to be identified. I questioned her about my illness and she immediately answered that my cancer was caused by unresolved anger. ME? ANGRY! I was a very kind, gentle person. Everyone said what a nice person I was!

However, I respected my teacher enough to try her counsel. She suggested that I take time for a retreat and practise Following Back (see my blog for details) This technique identifies unassimilated experience and with wisdom and compassion, integrates these aspects back into wholeness. I also made nutritional and life style changes.

I gradually realised that I did have enormous blocks in my body. I finally broke through to all the anger I felt towards others for betrayal

and abandonment. I cried for hours, went for long walks, listened to calming music, journaled and gradually I began to feel differently.

Something was healing, replacing my anger with a new awareness. It was spring, I started to have moments of unparalleled ecstasy in appreciation of the small details of my life.

After the three months, I returned to my doctor who took cell samples which came back much to his surprise, completely healthy. He repeated the tests two more times, with the same results.

The cancer has not returned since.

That is a brief account of my experience with holistic healing of cancer. My experience had lead me to believe that healing from cancer using integrative therapies is possible. I have since used the same techniques with my clientsFollowing Back, to the home place of un-integrated experiences and then applying compassion and love to heal. This is one of the very powerful techniques that I utilize which has led to profound healing in my clients.

Julia Allen focuses on addictions, relationships, depression and anxiety .

She uses World Metaphoric Transformation to bring well being back into client’s lives. Charge $60- per hour.

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nt’s our.

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High Efficiency Open Fire Cooking Try This At Home Over Spring Break high turbulence air inlet ports under the fire’s core.

Place tinder and then kindling leaning up one side:

air inlets, a vertical stack/ chimney effect of the sidewalls (ala rocket stove heat risers), and slight inward draft through the cracks between bricks… ensures superb combustion.

For cooking you can set an

I love white rabbits Then build back towards the middle:

Patrick Amos, M.A. is a natural builder and designer .

Shiinzen Clayworks 250 748 2089

old cookie tray across half the barrel. And keep the other half going if you like.

For more radiant heat to your lower limbs, the set up can be lowered a foot or so into the ground.

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f you enjoy gathering and cooking round an outdoor fire, but would rather not breathe smoke (wasted fuel) or send it into the atmosphere… here is a simple way to ensure Place the next row of 6 bricks on top the mesh as follows: high combustion efficiency.

Gather up 24 equal sized bricks. If they are shorter than 9” make that 28 bricks.

Clear away the organic layer of ground and set the first 6 (or 7 shorter ones) like so:

And then the next 2 rows on edge:

In very little time the fire will be roaring, with most all of the gasses (smoke) being guided into the flame path.

The combination of bottom

For smoke free burning of yard and garden bio mass, add 2 or 3 extra rows of bricks to the side walls to enhance the stack effect, get it hot and feed the wet stuff gradually. For larger volume yard burning, this system can be up scaled up considerably.

Just make sure the height of the side-walls is at least 75% of the inner diameter.

Then place a layer of metal mesh on top. 1/2” galvianized works well; the thicker the gauge the better.

The one sideways brick in the bottom row creates two

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5Rhythms® Moving Meditation: Dancing Through The Waves Of Life

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lowing, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical, Stillness. In 5Rhythms® (a moving meditation that looks like people dancing freely) we call this pattern a Wave.

The 5Rhythms don’t really need an introduction. If I could lead you into a Wave right now, you’d recognize the Rhythms in the music and your body’s responses.

We know these Rhythms in our bones, our histories, and our daily experience, because every process we’ve lived through moves

in these natural phases: something arises, takes form, grows strong, comes to a new resolution, and fades away. Things come and go. Dancing 5Rhythms is a powerful way to commune with this fact: to meet it halfway, on a dance floor.

Wherever 5Rhythms happens - Berlin to New York, Australia to Duncan - we simply dance through this Wave. We get used to allowing the shapes, speeds, and repetitions that come out.

We pay attention. If we get a

Valleyview

Centre

So much to offer!

1400 Cowichan Bay Rd Books

Food

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 250 743-8122 Reiki, Foot Detox, Infrared, Acupuncture, Reflexology Monet Spa 250-743-6114 Professional Spa services for parties, groups or individuals.

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Country Grocer 250 743-5639 Bakery, Meat & Produce Healthcare Cobble Hill Dental 250-743-6698 Friendly, Family Practice

We Welcome New Patients!

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

little lost, we breathe down into our feet and let them move.

and let the creative fuel that arises feed the fires of our awareness.

There are many ways to meditate: to become a creative force, to awaken to this moment and our aliveness. In 5Rhythms we let the body artfully lead: we move, free-form, just faster than we can think. We put ourselves into motion

You need no dance experience to join and there are no steps to learn. My invitation is permanent: come dance your own waves, your own way. To learn more, see chantellfoss. com or email your questions to mcfoss@telus.net.

WEBSITES, EMAILS AND VERBAL LINT By Rick Dennis JUST CALL HIM WATERMELON: Duncan resident Brent Hutchinson is a bit of a musical entrepreneur. He has been artistic co-ordinator of Cowichan Folk Guild (which meant he booked all the acts for the annual Islands Folk Fest); an airtime salesman for the late CKAY-AM (he recommended me for a job); organized monthly blues cabarets at Cowichan Community Center (now Island Saving Centre) and played sax and sang with any local bands that needed a sideman.

He is also a member of two Victoria-based bands, Out of the Blue and Uncle Wiggly’s Hot Shoes Band.

The latter group recently represented the province at the International Blues Festival in Memphis, Tennessee. (Yes, the one Chuck Berry sang about.)

The band is still burnin` it up (to borrow the title from their recent album) and to see further proof all you hafta do is check out the band`s Facebook page to see the guys tear into their vintage hit `Watermelon`as if it was recorded last month.

After all these years the band still has most of its original members: vocalist Hank (Uncle Wiggly) Leonhardt; Mark Comerford on guitar, Norm Piercy on bass and, of course, Brent on saxophone. The band, formed in 1978, has been around long enough now that Norm`s son, drummer Tyler Piercy, now plays with the group.

Okay, the guys didn`t win but just travelling to Memphis and competing in the International Blues Challenge was, in the words of the band, àn awesome experience.

You can see the group in action March 7 at Saltspring Legion March 7th.

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

Pacific Rim Whale Festival

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he Pacific Rim Whale Festival’s motto is to INSPIRE, EDUCATE, and ENTERTAIN and we have had a wonderful time planning an exciting roster of activities to do exactly that. This guide contains everything you need to plan your Whale Festival experience, including a calendar and detailed event information.

The festival officially begins on March 14, however, the festival will ‘unofficially’ kick-off on March 7 with a Great Gatsby Casino fundraiser at the Canadian Princess Resort’s 1930s steamship located in Ucluelet’s Boat Basin.

Another exciting pre-festival event is the Wickaninnish Gala held at the stunning Wickaninnish Inn on March 12. For many years, the good people at the Wickaninnish Inn have generously supported the Whale Festival by hosting the Gala, which is the festival’s largest fundraiser.

Join us in Tofino on March 14 for the Parade of Whales and Wonders, followed by an opening ceremony and salmon BBQ. The next

nine days will be filled with exceptional education events, presentations, whale watching, the Rubber Duck Race, two Kids Days, The Barnacle Blues, the Dark Sea Spectacle and so much more.

Of course, none of these activities would be possible without our event partners, hosts, educators, scientists, performers, presenters, chefs and volunteers. The festival thanks them for their support, enthusiasm and expertise.

And just who is the Pacific Rim Whale Festival, you ask? It’s a dedicated group of volunteers who make up the Board of Directors and our wonderful co-ordinator Sue Payne. Early in October 2014 we began work on designing a festival to celebrate the diverse marine life right at our doorstep and we can’t wait to share it with you.

The Pacific Rim Whale Festival Society is a registered non-profit society, and can be reached at info@pacificrimwhalefestival. com.

Want more information?

Visit us online at www.pacificrimwhalefestival. com

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Ga Ching Kong and Kind Tiger Clinic

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cupuncturist Ga Ching, opened Kind Tiger Clinic a year and a half ago in Duncan “Besides acupuncture, I also help people align with the core essence of who they are. This means that diet, plant medicine, movement, as well as, mental, spiritual and emotional healing are addressed within our sessions.” She was inspired to become an acupuncturist after spending a number of years working with at-risk youth, residential school survivors, and people living on the streets struggling with addictions.”After so many years working alongside folks struggling under the weightiness of globalization, colonization, and just plain old oppression, I realized that talking alone wasn’t helping, food banks alone weren’t helping, harm reduction alone wasn’t helping,

and we all needed something more… more healing!” Ga Ching smiles.

A tenacious survivor, Ga Ching suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from an incident while working in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, “Very difficult events opened me up to the spirit world and brought me to yoga, meditation, acupuncture and the world of plant medicine.

My dream life became extremely vivid, and it was through a dream that I knew I had to practice my own cultural medicine – Chinese medicine, acupuncture, plants, the whole thing.” During that time, she began dreaming of specific plants for people’s healing and her journey has brought her here to the Valley working with all kinds of people.

“I am also blessed to be working across cultures, bringing Chinese

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says project coordinator Jemma Green.

o the surprise and delight of local birders, it appears that some of the Western Bluebirds from a reintroduced population in the Cowichan Valley have opted to spend the entire winter on Vancouver Island rather than migrate to wintering grounds on the Washington and Oregon mainland, as expected by the local conservation groups that are working to re-establish the species on Vancouver Island.

“After receiving confirmed reports of a few Western Bluebirds in Duncan, there could be no mistaking that they are overwintering here when a flock of as many as 14 Western Bluebirds were spotted at Mount Tzouhalem Ecological Reserve near Duncan in mid-winter,”

This most recent sighting was reported by Terry Wiley, who was hiking past the entrance to the ecological reserve and spotted the small flock. “It was so wonderful to see them...We didn’t really believe it at first that there would be Bluebirds here this winter. It was such a thrill.”

Each bluebird released or hatched through the Bring Back the Bluebirds project wears a unique combination of coloured leg bands, which signifies that the birds belong to the reintroduced population and allows project conservationists to identify the individuals. The unseasonably warm winter is

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medicine into Coast Salish communities in a traveling clinic at three different reserves.”

of love. How can we – myself, the client, the community – open up to more love in our lives.”

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

“A long time ago, healers in China were called Wu, which means, women at the centre of the village. The Chinese character shows a dancing figure holding three pots over a fire.

She was your village medicine person, keeping folks balanced with the earth, the seasons, the plants, their families and their community.

At Kind Tiger Clinic acupuncture is financially accessible, with a sliding scale fee of $30 – $50.

Accessibility also means making the treatment process safer for all kinds of folks who may feel vulnerable in the treatment process – people of colour, First Nations, women, LQBTQ, those with long term illness, who may have lived with addiction, trauma and abuse. Community acupuncture means everyone is welcome.

I practice community acupuncture in this same way, as a woman helping bring back the balance to one’s life. There are no magic fixes, we have to work to uncover the fears, traumas, frustrations that keep us from eating well and living well with the earth and each other. At the end of the day, it’s just a journey

Kind Tiger Clinic offers acupuncture Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 5pm. for $30 to 50. For an appointment call (250) 8150863 or email kind.tiger.clinic@ gmail.com. For more info www. kindtiger.tumblr.com.

A male Western Bluebird. His leg bands identify him as a juvenile that fledged from a nest near Lakes Road in Duncan.

Image Terry Wiley.

Bring Back the Bluebirds likely the cause of this altered behaviour, as project partners in Washington report that some of the bluebirds from a large population south of Tacoma are also sticking out the winter rather than migrating further south.

What is less clear is how this will impact the recovery effort this year and in years to come, if the trend continues. “Provided the bluebirds can find enough to eat, they may have a better chance of surviving until spring to breed as they are spared the energy expenditures of migration,” states Green. She adds that this is a great reason for Vancouver Island

residents to garden with native fruit-bearing shrubs, which, in addition to a variety of other ecological benefits, provide much-needed food for bluebirds through the winter.

A warden of the ecological reserve, Genevieve Singleton encourages southern Vancouver Island and Gulf Island residents to “keep their eyes open” and report any additional sightings to bluebird@goert.ca or 250-3833427. Identification tips and how to support the project can be found on the project website at www.goert.ca/bluebird.

Z

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) Your birthday is a month away, which means your personal year is ending. This means this is the perfect month to think about what you want in the coming year.

Take time to define goals to guide you this year. When you give yourself a specific goal, you increase the odds of achieving that goal. It beats going through life willy-nilly, management by crisis. Meanwhile, Mars now energizes you, making you proactive and decisive, while Venus makes you charming, diplomatic and magically skilled at choosing wardrobe goodies.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Your popularity will grow this month. Perhaps you will join a class or a group or become more involved with a friend? Whatever happens, you will become more aware of the value of friendships in your life, and how important they are to you. You will also be aware of the benefit of cooperating with others. You will see that others help you get what you want. Therefore, focus on team efforts. Form working units. Accept invitations from others.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) This month the Sun is at the top of your chart. This is the only time all year this happens. This is a powerful phenomenon. It acts like a flattering spotlight on you, which is why everyone thinks you are fabulous and capable. This is why you will be approached to take on increased responsibilities.

Just say yes, because you will dazzle everyone without doing anything special. This is the time to examine your life as a whole, to see if youíre going in the direction you want. ìSecond star to the right and straight on till

morning.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) This is an exciting time because the Sun is urging you to broaden your horizons through new experiences, study or travel.

You want to break free from your everyday routine and expand your experience of life. Embrace anything that stimulates your mind.

Legal matters might be important. You might also have an increased interest in religious, spiritual and metaphysical areas.

Meanwhile, Venus and Mars, at the top of your chart will arouse your ambition and enhance relationships with authority figures. In fact, this enhancement might even lead to a romance with your boss.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Travel for pleasure will delight you now. You might surprise yourself by how keen you are to put energy into creative, intellectual study or anything that improves your mind. You want to explore beliefs, politics, religion and metaphysics. You want to know more. You will enjoy debating new ideas. Because your appreciation of beauty is heightened, you will focus more on art, beautiful things and places. You might strike up a new relationship with someone from a different background. You want to be a new, improved Leo! Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Heads-up! The Sun is your source of energy, and this week it moves 180 degrees opposite from your sign.

Since this is as far away from you as it gets all ñ your energy will flag. You will need more sleep. Itís important to acknowledge this and accept it, instead of ignoring it. Take naps. This polarized position of the Sun can create problems dealing with others, especially authority figures. You have your ideas and they have theirs. Certain issues might come to a head now, which

gives you clarity. Meanwhile, your sex drive is strong!

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) You suddenly want to turn over a new leaf and pull your life together. You will make To Do lists so that you feel you are on top of your scene and being as productive and efficient as possible.

Not only will you focus on accomplishing tasks, you will also focus on improving your health. (Since youíre on this kick why not go for the whole enchilada?) However, fiery Mars will be opposite your sign, and this might create tension with friends and partners. You might even encounter an enemy. Sheesh!

Fortunately, Venus will soften things.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) A playful, creative time awaits you because this month is one of the most fun months of the year for you.

Get out and have a good time! Accept invitations to party and attend sports events. You want a chance to express yourself and be free to be who you really are.

Relations with children will be important. This is also a strong highlight on romance and love affairs. Some of you might have a work-related love affair. Meanwhile, all is not just fun and games because you will work hard at your job due to the fact that you take pride in what youíre doing right now.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) This month is a busy swirl of fun events with family members and playful times with children plus romantic dates, sports events, social occasions and even vacations. Yet, with all this focus on fun and creative times, your strongest focus will be on home, family and your personal life. Some might be involved with a parent. One thing is certain, you will give yourself a personal report card about the way you live your life, and the choices you make.

Examine how your past choices create your future.

That’s the secret.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) This month is jampacked with short trips, conversations with everyone, busy, daily errands, as well as increased reading, writing and study. Oy! You are ambitious about what you want to accomplish in your external world, your daily world, and even at home. In the midst of this busy pace, you might also redecorate or renovate where you live.

Family conflicts, as well as loving family get-togethers, are both in the picture. It was ever thus. George Burns was right. Happiness is a large, loving, close-knit family in another city.î Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Although you are focused on earnings, money, cash flow, assets and possessions, now more than any other time in the year, is the time to ask yourself if the things you own serve your needs.

In other words, do you own your stuff or does it own you? Are you a slave to your possessions? What you need to do now is gain a better control over your life through what you own.

Meanwhile, Mars makes you direct and forthright, while Venus, softens all your communications and helps you earn money. Ka-ching!

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) The Sun has returned to your sign for the first time in 11 months giving you an opportunity to recharge your batteries for the coming year. It attracts favourable circumstances and important people to you. Because the Sun is your source of energy, you will project yourself more forcefully than usual, and make a great impression on others. It also makes you want to talk to others and get your ideas out. Meanwhile, you’re working hard to earn money, and spend it! www.georgianicols.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 6596 or adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com

Deadline March 12 for April Issue 77.

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Decks, fences, bathrooms and kitchens. Windows and gutters cleaned. Insured. References. kellyskrukwa@shaw.ca 250-932-3340 Domains and Web Hosting

Doula Services and Pre Natal Classes

PRE NATAL CLASSES:

Web. Domains & Hosting Services WEB HOST Richard Badman rbadman@gearth.com 250.746.9319 Duncan, BC

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CHEESE MAKING CLASSES Host a party or Attend a class

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Real farm to Fork Experience

Serving Local Beer & Wine • Wood Fired Oven Pizza Night • Rotisserie Organic Chicken Night

Alderlea Farm and Cafe

3390 Glenora Road, Duncan, 250 597 3438

Open Friday - Monday for lunch & dinner Reservations Recommended

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Health and Healing Feeling the emotional, physical or mental strain?

Acute or Chronic conditions • Substance dependency • Facial Rejuvenation • MSP & Extended Health coverage if applicable Wu Wei Acupuncture & Acupressure Clinic Frauke McCashin, R.Ac., Dipl.TCM 1 - (250) 710 – 3581 Mill Bay & ‘NEW’ Duncan location

Be Happy. Acupuncture helps.

Affordable, Community Acupuncture with GaChing Kong. $30-50.

Thursday, Friday & Saturday 10 to 5.

(250) 815-0863 Duncan kind.tiger.clinic@gmail.com

Customizable Organic Mattresses, Pillows, Linens and More 126 Station St. 250-597-REST (7378) www.resthouse.ca

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