JULY 2017 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC


Urban growing, libations and


greenhouses Abbotsford tour demonstrates how innovation takes many forms


by RONDA PAYNE ABBOTSFORD – The annual


Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce agriculture bus tour in mid-June saw two buses of agricultural advocates hit the ‘city in the country’ to learn more about local agriculture and related endeavours. The first two stops focused on alcohol production; the Garden Project illustrated how agriculture can make a positive difference in a troubled places; BW Global Structures is developing the greenhouse of the future; and Gary Fehr of the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) shared how technology can keep agriculture growing.


Ripples in water and wine


Ripples Winery was a pig farm when owners Caroline and Paul Mostertman bought the 20-acre property in 1981. When the bottom dropped out of the pork industry in 2000, Caroline started a nursery and planted 15 acres of Liberty, Reka and Draper blueberries. The plan was to make juice, but that soon turned into a far more ambitious strategy – to start a fruit winery. The nursery focuses on pond plants and business has been good as a result. Anything for a pond can be found at the site and customers tend to be loyal, knowing they can chat about their needs and have them met.


That same philosophy


supports the winery, which officially opened for tastings in May. “It was very successful,”


Caroline Mostertman says of the opening. “Fruit wines and cideries are coming into their own. I think when you try our wines, you’ll realize why.” Ripples makes four wines


on site, two of which are ports, and there have already been awards for the brand. Caroline and Paul spent time building up their supply before opening. Visitors will see Ripples as


more than a farm-gate shop. Wine tastings are provided, but a large tented structure also makes special events possible. “We erected a tent over


the greenhouse, then took the greenhouse down,”


Mostertman explains. She adds, “People can buy a bottle of wine and enjoy it in the picnic area.” The picnic area is next to a pond with bright fish and flowing water. The ambiance is part of the mystique of Ripples, but it doesn’t take precedence. Quality holds that distinction. “When we started selling our berries about 10 years ago, we opted to go into the Canada GAP program,” Mostertman says. “We are one of the very few wineries that has that.”


Facing challenges The challenges the


Mostertmans faced converting their pig farm into a winery paradise are small compared to the challenges facing Marina Gibson, garden manager at the Garden Project, a partnership between Abbotsford Community Services and Day 1 Urban Farm. The 1,200-square-foot patch of land in Abbotsford’s old downtown used to be a hangout for the homeless and is covered in gravel. With help and vision, Gibson has managed to develop a thriving garden that’s now in its second season. “We’ve already increased our income by 40%. This year, we are now selling directly to three restaurants in Abbotsford,” she says of the growing operation. “We also have flash sales on site as well.”


These sales techniques come in addition to bi-weekly attendance at farmers’ markets. The obvious question is


how does someone grow that much food on an abandoned piece of land? Gibson says it’s a lot of trial and error. “Last year, we had very humble beginnings,” she says. “There’s a tap on the building across the street and I had a wheelbarrow and buckets.” Now water systems are


greatly improved with a tap on site, rain water harvesting, an irrigation system and lots of ideas. One idea came from the City of Abbotsford water co-ordinator. It’s called an olla. “You take a terracotta pot,


seal over the hole in the bottom, put another pot over top,” she explains.


33


Marina Gibson explains how to make an affordable water reservoir known as an olla. RONDA PAYNE PHOTO


By putting water-tight seals at the bottom of the first pot and between the rims of the two pots, it creates a reservoir that will allow water to seep into the soil. Gibson plants the ollas in the tomato beds. “My hope is that this will


be exceedingly efficient,” she says.


There is also a gazebo on


site, built with funds from the federal government’s Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program. It will be the site of five July workshops on planting. Each participant’s section will be planted on the green roof. Across town at Old Abbey


Ales, Nicolas Mielty takes care of operations while Steve Black is the brewmaster. They look for sources of local ingredients where possible. “We source raspberries


from Krause Berry Farms,” Mielty says of ingredients for his sour raspberry ale. “Things like goji berries and currents interest us. We’re making relationships with local farms.”


While the operation


sources hops from Washington’s Yakima Valley, Black is in discussions with BC Hops and Chilliwack Hops. The small team also includes food items in their offerings like beer batter waffles on a stick and a beer berry sausage made by Abbotsford’s Davis Meats.


New tech greenhouses At the west end of town,


Timothy Kendrick, president and chief designer at BW Global, spoke about what drives the greenhouse builder to seek out solutions for growing food and providing water to a changing world. “Our context is actually being driven by external


TRACTORS


FORD 545A 2WD W/LOADER, 2550 HOURS (U31132) ............... SOLD! JD 5225 2006, 5100 HRS, CAB, LDR, ON TURF TIRES, COMING IN 24,500 NH TS6.125 4WD, CAB, 1740 HRS (U31425) ........................... SOLD! NH 54D 4WD, CAB, LDR, 40 HRS, LIKE NEW, SOME WARRANTY (U31396) ................................................. 49,500 NH TT50A 980 HRS (CNS639) ................................................ 14,500 NH BOOMER 20 W/LDR, 60” MID MT MOWER, 200 HRS (U31247) 19,400 NH WORKMASTER 55 4WD, NO LDR, 155 HRS, LIKE NEW .........23,500 QUALITY USED EQUIPMENT


L220 SKIDSTEER .................................................................. COMING! NH 1432 DISCBINE MOWER CONDITION, C/W FLAIL TINES, VERY GOOD CONDITION (U31463) ......................................... 15,900 NH FP 230 HARVESTER W/27P GRASSHEAD; VERY GOOD CONDITION (U31471)............................................ SOLD! NH 1412 DISC MOWER, FLAIL CONDITIONER (U31336) ........... 16,900 NH 185 MANURE SPREADER (U31441) ..................................... SOLD! NEW LEADER L5000 FERT SPREADER (CNS638) ......................... 4,500 NH 326 SQUARE BALER, SHED STORED (U31410) .................... SOLD! FP 230 2001 METALERT NO HEADS - U31374........................... 6,900 LOEWEN MIXER (HORIZONTAL) ................................................. 8,500 MASSEY 520 DOUBLE DISC ...................................................... 4,000 HESSTON 4570 SQ BALER, 1/4 TURN CHUTE, GOOD CONDITION; U31291 ................................................................................ SOLD! NH 278 BALER, 1975, FIELD READY ......................................... 6,500 KUHN/KNIGHT 5127 MIXER WAGON;


SINGLE VERTICAL SCREW – U31246 .................................... 17,900 JD 3970 FORAGE HARVESTER – U31194................................... SOLD! JD 3950 FORAGE HARVESTER – U31195................................... 4,000 QUICKE ALO 980 LDR – CNS602 – 3 FUNCTION-SOFT RIDE ......... 5,900 FELLA TS 456T ROTARY RAKE (U31222) .................................... 8,600


factors,” Kendrick says. “Any crop, anywhere in the world, any time of year. This is our essence.”


Kendrick gave examples of


issues around the world that are impacting farmers and thus, populations.


See WATER on next page o


CHILLIWACK • 1.800.242.9737 | 44725 Yale Road West • 604.792.1301 LANGLEY • 1.800.665.9060 | 21869 - 56th Avenue • 604.533.0048


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