Linnaea Farm’s First Plant and Skill Share was on Saturday, April 18. It may be the first on Cortes Island.
Tamara McPhail, who has been at Linnaea farm the past quarter century explained, ”I don’t know if there’s ever been a plant share before on Cortes.”
Continue reading Possibly Cortes Island’s First Plant and Skill Share
Michael Manson started clearing the land for what is now Linnaea Farm in 1887. The Hansen family lived there during the early 1900s, and in 1997 the farm became a charitable land trust. In this morning’s interview, Adam Schick and his daughter, Nola McPhail, talk about their experiences and the next generation of Linnaea Farm.
Adam Schick: “One of the biggest challenges of the last few years is having people live here long term. Farming offers more of a lifestyle opportunity, but as our population ages, often the only thing left you have is to sell your property to ensure you can retire successfully. That’s a real problem. Because this farm is a trust, we don’t get to sell the property. We simply have the honour of looking after it. While I feel it is an honour, more and more, it seems that people see it as a burden; they want a job, or something that’s paying you money.”
Continue reading The next generation of Linnaea Farm
This started out as a story about the incredible blueberry harvest in the midst of this year’s drought.
One of the seniors picking at Sunnybrae Farm gave Cortes Currents the tip, which Mike Manson subsequently confirmed.
“We are seeing what we think might be the biggest crop ever. In terms of pounds per bush, and the fruit is ripening differently. It’s ripening in a more condensed manner, which is good for picking. The big crop is probably due to favourable conditions for pollination in the spring. Whether or not that had anything to do with dry weather, I’m not sure. Maybe the bees were glad it wasn’t raining and cold and wet, but certainly pollination was key, without that you don’t get a crop. For whatever reason, conditions were favourable for bees to be flying and doing their job,” he said.
“We’ve never seen a dry year start so early. This year, the dryness started mid May. I remember May 13th was 30 degrees Celsius. I think the early heat this year has affected the way the fruit has ripened. I haven’t seen it ripen in this fashion before.”
However, there are three blueberry farms on Cortes island and, as I was soon to learn, they are in different micro-climates.
Continue reading This year’s blueberry harvest on Cortes Island
Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Tamara McPhail’s morning chore never changes, but the infinite variety of sounds and seasons makes milking cows every day unique.
On this spring morning, Zinnia and her new calf Equinox are restless and nagging — bellowing, bleating and raring to get outside into the fields.
Other mornings, they greet McPhail with gentle grunts and low moos as she enters the barn as if relishing the connection they’ll have with her.
“I’m really attached to the livestock system,” says McPhail, who along with her partner Adam Schick, has been part of a team stewarding the land at Linnaea Farm on Cortes Island, B.C., closing on 25 years.
Continue reading Farming for the climate future
Tamara McPhail was wearing her paramedic’s uniform, when she met with Cortes Currents over ZOOM. She was on call and the phone could ring at any moment.
Continue reading Spring update from Linnaea Farm
