3rd Winter Okanagan Mixer a Whirlwind Day!

It was a remarkable day to gather and talk about our passion for stewarding the land, getting our hands dirty, and savouring the most nourishing, delectable food ever!

Intro Circle: Getting a sense of who is in the room, any needs and resources at the beginning of the day.

We were thrilled to have @ 125 people in attendance throughout the day, travelling from all over the South Interior, Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland to be in Kelowna. It was exciting to see that close to half of the room were new to the Young Agrarians and, based on feedback so far, there are some clear needs in terms of supporting new entrants to agro-ecology. We’re working on it!

Moss Dance, Sarah Martel and Ashton Sweetnam facilitating a discussion on the intersections of child/family/self-care, women's roles on farms, and gender biases that impact farm experiences. — Moss Dance, Sarah Martel and Ashton Sweetnam facilitating a discussion on the intersections of child/family/self-care, women’s roles on farms, and gender biases that impact farm experiences.

People commented on the good energy in the room and were impressed with the community that exists in this region. There is so much happening in the region, it will take some dedication to keep up with it all. The Young Agrarians website is a fantastic place to stay connected and to post events you might be hosting, jobs you have to offer, or land that you’re looking to share.

Nicholas Peterson discussing growing Native Plants, better understanding our relationship with the land, and why growing food is so important. — Nicholas Peterson discussing successfully growing Native Plants, better understanding our relationship with all living things, and why growing food is so important.

The diverse range of topics offered insights into starting a farm on leased land, building a business plan, running a preschool on a working farm, collective and niche marketing, permaculture and keyline design, grazing strategies, women and gender in agro-ecology, and indigenous food lands. As you can tell, it was a very full day.

What an array of amazing dishes - squash and apple soup, mushroom barley risotto, devilled eggs, lentil and roasted beet salad, homemade sourdough bread, squash gratin, roast chicken & pork, and Dutch apple pie!!! — What an array of amazing dishes – squash and apple soup, mushroom barley risotto, deviled eggs, lentil and roasted beet salad, homemade sourdough bread, squash gratin, roast chicken & pork, and Dutch apple pie!!!

Thank goodness there was exquisite food from Joy Road Catering to provide sustenance at lunch, followed by a delightful potluck to wrap up the day. Post-dinner music lined up by Gabe Cipes also provided a much needed revitalization of energy. Loads of gratitude to everyone for attending, contributing food, sharing resources and/or needs, volunteering (postering, set-up, kitchen duties, & clean-up), and providing feedback for us to move forward with. Stay tuned for our summer season of farm tours and potlucks in the Okanagan Thompson Region!

Nothing better than sharing conversation, ideas, and dreams over a meal! — Nothing better than sharing conversation, dreams, and ideas over a good meal!

This event was made possible by the Central Okanagan Foundation and with support from Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.