Salt Spring Shows Up For Farmers and Families

A report from Roy Clery 

The humble, resilient, vibrant farmers of Salt Spring Island were exalted in good taste and high fashion at the one & only Beaver Point Hall on Friday May 9th!

Hundreds of glasses of local water, wine and beer were raised in the air to toast both the fun-loving Salty farmer and our fellow islanders.

...It wasn't just delicious refreshments being raised that night though: no, 'twas funds too! A whopping $20,000 was raised — thanks to a buzzing silent auction, the wonderful ticket-buyers who packed the hall, and a wave of generous pledges that rolled in after a heartfelt story shared by Michael Ableman. 

Michael's tale traced the roots of the Farmers Market Nutrition Coupon Program, reminding us all why this work matters: that fresh, local, nourishing food can & should be accessible to our entire community, not just the most well-off of us.

In a truly heart-warming display of community, 39 Salt Spring businesses both big & small were there in our corner – at the silent auction table – where we all fought silently to out-bid one another on a myriad of marvellous local goodies. 

It was a good fight, in which everyone won because proceeds went to Salt Spring Island Community Services' Farmers Market Nutrition Coupon Program which enables those in our community who have limited means to afford fresh, local food from the Tuesday Farmers Market. Your support of this program is nourishing our neighbours and putting dollars in the hands of hard-working farmers. 

Speaking of fresh, local food, the banquet that Sweetgrass Food Co. pulled together was absolutely sumptuous – 107 patrons were sufficiently suffonsified with high-quality ingredients from 10 local farms. Nowadays when I go to bed at night, I dream of being back at that long-table eating Salt Spring lamb, salads and pavlova!

After the feast, as we sat back and loosened our belts. Luke Wallace graced the stage and started to strum, singing songs reminiscent of Pete Seeger:  unsettling, pointedly political & poignant.

You can feel good knowing you have made a real positive impact in the lives of your fellow islanders, putting money into the pockets our amazing local farmers.

Every $432 raised will feed a Salt Spring family household with farm fresh produce for 16 weeks : that money feeds right back into local economies. 

Cheers Salt Spring! 

Special thanks to:  Island Community Services – who started and operate the Farmers Market Nutrition Coupon Program here on Salt Spring Island Shannon Farmer – Dynamically directed the fundraiser's success Anna Pugh Law – 'Farmers Feast Sponsor' Salt Spring Exchange – Advertising Sponsor Francis Bread – Generously provided all the bread for the event

Silent Auction Donors:  Aki & Miki Kikuchi – Gaia Foods Co. – Small-batch Artisan Chili Oil Bangin’ Chai Masala – Chai Spice Lover’s Goodie Bag Country Grocer – Gourmet Gift Basket Dr. Bob Richmond – (x3) Comprehensive Chiropractic Exam & Consultation Embe Bakery – 8” Buttercream Celebration Cake Folk Stock & Trade – Stylish Tote, Travel Mug & Zipper Bag Ganges Fitness – (x2) One-Month Membership to Get Moving Island Commercial Floor Care – Cozy Game Night: 'Cascadia' Board Game Kasia Kooy – Original Woodcut Art Prints: ‘Vegetables’, ‘Tree’, ‘Hummingbird’ Kotatás Wines – Exclusive 2021 Estate Pinot Noir Love My Kitchen – Whimsical Kitchen Decor & Salt & Pepper Shaker Set Luke Wallace – Signed Vinyl Record & CD Mad Farmers Liberation Front – T-Shirts (dark green & light green) Mavericks Ice Cream – $140 Gift Card for Ice Cream Bliss Michael Ableman – Farm-Lover’s Book Bundle Mondo & Co. – Curated Gift Basket Mouats – Picnic Gift Basket for Outdoor Enjoyment Mouat’s Home Hardware – Kitchen Essentials Gift Basket Myna Lee – 3-Gallon Hydrangea for Your Garden Ometope – Bag of Freshly Roasted Ometope Coffee Osisi Boutique – Handcrafted Basket – Made in Ghana Pot-en-ciel – Artisan Salt Spring Clay Bowl Power Essentials – Handy Gift Card Rhubarb Designs – $100 Gift Card for Inspired Living Salt Spring Books – Tote, Notebook, Wallet & Candle Holders Salt Spring Island News – Giant Salad Spinner for Big Batches Salt Spring Kitchen Co. – Local Flavour Gift Basket Salt Spring Soapworks – Natural Body Care Goodie Bag Salt Spring Sweet & Savoury – Tasty Treats Gift Card SaltJar Refillery – Eco-Friendly Shopping Bags & Gift Card Spa by Lenice – Relaxation Gift Card SSI Farmland Trust – 'My Heart Hears You' T-Shirts (x2) Treasures of the heart – Ancient Orthoceras Crystal Waterfront Gallery – $50 Gift Card for Local Art Lovers