Recent Saanich Farm Finds

Friday's foray into the Saanich farmlands was and is always reassuring. Just knowing that our Island's pioneer farmers have not thrown in the towel but have found new energy and inspiration to continue to grow wonderful food, has me excited for the produce to come.

Michell Farms, set on 400 acres, and which I have spoken about before, still has winter onions, squash, cabbage, potatoes, apples and sweet, sweet carrots, and their surrounding fields are being prepared for planting.

The real score on Friday was a 4-lb. bag of locally grown and milled flour. Grown by the nearby Doehnel family, I had purchased the wheat in berry form last year, and it made wonderful wild mushroom "risotto." The flour is sold in whole wheat or white form, and I tried the white flour in a no-knead bread, the kind that Mark Bittman made famous a few years back.

The resulting bread had a golden colour and sweeter almost malty aroma and flavour, with a denser crumb than what I achieved with my usual standby, Rogers unbleached flour. The protein count in the Snowbird flour is 11.9 percent - if that means anything to you, or if it means anything to the overall product. I'm a neophyte with protein/gluten analysis.

I will make the bread again, using half Snowbird and half Rogers to see if there is any difference. Regardless, buying local wheat is just another feather in our local and sustainable cap.

The latest on-farm market to open to the public is Vantreight Farms, a long time farming family (since 1884).

For the last three years, they have been developing programs on their farm and with other organizations to address environmental and local food security issues.
The backdrop of the small stand are acres of almost-open tulips that will be offered on a u-pick basis. I can hardly wait!

According to a print-out given to fans, Vantreight has expanded their food crops and acreage from five varieties on 50-60 acres which were sold primarily to wholesalers, to over 60 varieties of fruits and vegetables grown in both greenhouses and fields, totaling over 100 acres of food production! Further expansion is planned for 2011. (They own over 400 acres).

Endive and mizuna.

Collard greens, exotic carrots and baby bok choy, with Babe's Honey to round out that local feeling.

It's going to be a healthy 2010.

I'm sure they'll have to expand that little farm stand soon. Other plans for the farm include organic certification for 6.5 acres with more in the future. And an incredible initiative to create heat and energy through anaerobic digestion of organic matter. The bio digesters will allow Vantreight to grow food year-round in their greenhouses as well as provide the community with 'green energy.' (Think nearby Saanich Peninsula Hospital). This is nothing short of awesome.

Vantreight Farms have come a long way from being known for their daffodils. But still, who can resist a couple of freshly picked bunches of the yellow flowers. A sure sign spring is here.