On April 5th, Max Thaysen, Sara Stewart, and Filipe Figueira joined host Manda Aufochs Gillespie for a FolkU Friday group discussion on food security and food systems. They chat about successes and challenges in food systems, both locally and globally, from the perspective of farmers, food thinkers, and one of the main coordinators of the Cortes Food Bank.
Continue reading Folk U: Food Security from the Perspective of Farmers, Food Thinkers, and the Cortes Food Bank Coordinator
One of Cortes Island’s best loved businesses is a U-Brew tucked away in an old seafood plant, off the beaten track on Hansen Road. Founder and sole proprietor Doug Brown started the business 25 years ago after moving to Cortes from the Fraser Valley.
Currents interviewed Doug in mid-March 2024. Our extensive interview covers many topics including: how Doug got started in wine-making, what inspired him to start a U-Brew on Cortes, how wine is made, why wine is now a more practical product for him to offer than beer, what challenges he has met along the way, what he loves about his work, his feelings about community and customer service, and his thoughts about the future of this iconic Cortes Island business.
Continue reading Island Alchemy: Twenty-Five Years of Good Libations
The Cortes Island Food Bank has met the rapidly expanding need for its services, but says it is time the local, provincial and federal governments stepped up to the plate. Only 110 food hampers were given out in 2022, but since August they have seen at least a threefold increase of demand every month. There were 86 clients in January and 70 in February. Prior to this, the highs for both months was 12.
“We really knew that the numbers that we were seeing in previous years were not reflecting the level of poverty that exists here. So we were doing some strategic things to try to increase people’s awareness of the food bank. That was a major reason why our numbers went up so significantly. People felt that they could come to us. They knew it was a safe place to come for support. I think our clients are already dealing with so many challenges in their lives. I encourage anybody listening, if you could use some help, just come to us and we’ll get you some food,” explained Beatrix Baxter, one of the Food Bank’s Directors.
Continue reading The Cortes Food Bank at a Critical CrossroadLinnaea Farm’s Homegrown Series kicks off at 10:00 AM this Saturday. This is a monthly series, which will be offered on March 23rd, April 20th, May 11th and June 8th, 2024.
“I want to teach. I’ve had a lot of seasons under my belt now. 1995 was my first growing season, I was in Pemberton. Then I did a garden program at Linnaea Farm in 1998. I just really like sharing what I have spent a lifetime doing. I can share all these secrets. I’ve run a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) garden. I’ve done pure market gardening. I’ve done contract growing. I’ve grown food for sale in all the ways one can do it. So I can share this with anyone,” explained to Adam Schick, a resident steward at Linnaea farm on Cortes Island.
Continue reading A lifetime of experience in four classes: Linnaea’s Homegrown Series
By Louis Belcourt, CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca
The Cortes Food Bank has released their annual report for 2023 over the weekend, which shows that it was a very successful year for the Cortes Island Food Bank, but also a highly challenging one.
Continue reading Cortes Food Bank releases annual report, shows sharp increase in need for food
