Tag Archives: Linnaea Farm

Tamara McPhail Talks About Small Farming & Linnaea Farm

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Every May, long-time farmer Tamara McPhail’s day begins and ends with frog song. Followed closely by the chatter of birds.

McPhail, her partner and their two kids live off-grid in a fortified yurt with a dugout basement, which means even inside the walls of their home, the family maintains a close connection to nature.

“We’re essentially living in a glorified tent, so in the mornings I awaken to the dawn chorus right now,” said McPhail.

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The Linnaea Farm Food Security Guild

Linnaea Farm’s just launched a new initiative – the Linnaea Farm Food Security Guild. The guild offers farm produce, as well as seasonal products such as beef, pesto, and apple juice. It will also host farming and preserving workshops. Members pay a $40 membership fee, and can then top-up their account according to their budget. 

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YouTube Recording of The April 15th SRD Board Meeting

A YouTube recording of the April 15th SRD Meeting is now available. Several Cortes and Quadra Island items were discussed at this meeting, which took place 23 days ago. In addition to grant applications from Linnaea Farm, Sierra Quadra, the Quadra Children’s Centre and two major projects from Quadra, there are questions of Board transparency and accountability. 

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Developing Cortes Island Food Security

Representatives from two of the island’s better known organizations were asked to speak at the May 5, 2020, Cortes Island Virtual Community Meeting. Loni Taylor is one of the Directors of the Cortes Community Economic Development Association (CCEDA); Tamara McPhail is the Executive Director of Linnaea Farm. Director Anderson asked how their organizations are developing Cortes Island food security.

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What More Would Linnaea Offer?

April 16 update to the article that follows: the SRD first denied a motion to defer their decision for six months and then denied Linnaea’s application.

On April 15th the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board denied Linnaea Farm’s application for provincial gas tax funding to purchase a new heat pump. While this charity does not fit the description of a typical recipient of this grant, there are numerous reasons why it should be an exception. No one questions the fact this educational resource centre offers a great deal to Cortes Island. At a recent SRD committee meeting, Chief Administrative Officer David Leitch asked what more would Linnaea offer if it received a new heat pump? 

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