Okanagan Farmers

I went on a trip through the Okanagan valley to do some portraits for a magazine article on the knowledge of organic farmers and the importance of preserving our diversified family farms.

The concept for this shoot was to take subjects traditionally considered "old-fashioned" and frame them in a light that reflects the pioneering role they are playing in saving our planet by creating a sustainable food supply.  (No black and white photos of farmers with pitch-forks!)  More photos after the jump.

Linda Edwards, BSc (Agriculture), MSc (Entomology) has faught to keep genetically modified fruit trees out of the Okanagan Valley. She and her husband Brian own and operate Mennell Farms, one of the largest organic apple orchards in BC.

Rebecca Kneen and her husband Brian MacIsaac own and operate Crannog Ales, Canada's first certified organic farmhouse microbrewery.  Rebecca and Brian grow their own hops and use all of their spent grains on the farm to feed their animals or for compost. The water they use to make the beer comes from a well on their property and they also treat and re-use their wastewater, creating a zero-emissions system. "Our market garden feeds our family, and the surplus goes to support the farm." (check out the Crannog Ales wesbsite!).  We sampled a variety of their beers, including the delicious Backhand of God Stout.  Click here to see where you can get their beer.

Next door to Crannog Ales, Patrick Steiner and his partner Colleen O'brien operate Stellar Seeds. They sell certified organic seeds grown on their farm and seeds grown by other organic farmers working in the region. Patrick has spent the last several years speaking out on seed security issues in Canada and abroad, raising awareness about the importance of cultivating seed diversity.  A board member of USC Canada, Patrick recently published a handbook for farmers called Small Scale Organic Seed Production, practical advice on why and how to incorporate vegetable seed production into existing farming systems.

John and Joanne Vivian have restored the shoreline of the Salmon River which runs through their farm into Shuswap Lake.  Logging, farming and ranching degraded the salmon stream; their work has enhanced fish habitat and spawning beds and they have inspired other ranchers and farmers to think of themselves as stewards of the river and the land surrounding the Salmon River watershed.  They are recipients of the Countryside Canada Stewardship Recognition Award which recognizes individuals and organizations for outstanding stewardship and conservation efforts on Canada's agricultural land.

A girl playing in a vineyard by the side of the road. I think I may have lost my lens somewhere around here... (if you saw one lying in the ditch, call me!).

A road closure between Summerland and Penticton led us through the winding backroads from Salmon Arm to Naramata where just past sunset we found Tim in his garden on Sweet Pit Farms.  Tim grows over sixty varieties of heirloom tomatoes and heritage squash.  He exchanges seeds with seed preservation groups and shares his fruit with local art galleries.

Tim's garden is hidden on a farm perched on the bluffs behind this orchard.

Ronnie is 96 years old and has been growing apples in Salmon Arm his entire life.  "It's in my blood... just like photography is for you" he said to me.  Ronnie gave us this box of apples as we were leaving.  The only thing he'd accept in return was our promise that we'd mail him a print.

Comments

[Sassan Filsoof]

beautiful shots, and very inspiring stories. We ourselves are new aspiring organic farmers recently moved to Kelowna.

[Nicolas]

Superbes photos.