Hey farmers and foodies, get your dancing shoes on! We’re teaming up with Bullock Lake Farm and the Merry McKentys to host a contra dance in the barn!
WHEN: Friday, August 17, 2018
Noon-8PM: Bullock Lake Farm Stand & Pizza are open all afternoon and into the evening
7:30-10:30M Contra Dance with the Merry McKentys
WHERE: Bullock Lake Farm, 360 Upper Ganges Rd, Salt Spring Island, BC
TICKETS: $15 on Brown Paper Tickets or at the door (ticket price includes dance admission, pizza sold separately.) Space is limited, so we recommend getting your tickets in advance! Questions? Email Moss at westcoast@youngagrarians.org.
WHAT IS A CONTRA DANCE?
Contra dancing is a fun, energetic form of traditional dancing that has been around for a few centuries at least. It is usually done in lines (and sometimes in circles), and is often likened to square dancing without the squares. There is no fancy footwork required, and a complete newcomer can be dancing along in a matter of minutes with the help of the dance caller, who gives instructions as the dance goes along. You can read more about it and even see a video of one here!
ABOUT BULLOCK LAKE FARM
Bullock Lake Farm is a small, first-generation family farm specializing in organic produce, flowers, and pastured meats.
They produce a wide variety of mixed vegetables and specialty flowers, as well as pastured pork, poultry, and lamb. They sell products through the Salt Spring Saturday Market and through our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.
Bullock Lake Farm spans 24 acres of rolling pastures, wetland, historic orchard and forest. Established in the late 1800s, the farm is one of the oldest agricultural properties on Salt Spring Island. The farm originally produced grains, vegetables, fruit and livestock and was home to the island’s first creamery.
Zach and Molly at Bullock Lake Farm find inspiration in the diversity and productivity of the original Bullock homestead, and strive to continue some of those traditions today. They follow strict organic standards and aim for the most sustainable land use practices possible in the hopes that the farm will continue to feed the community for many generations to come.
Find out more about Bullock Lake Farm:
ABOUT THE MERRY MCKENTYS
Once upon a time on a steep snowy mountainside in the backwoods of British Columbia, there was a small cabin. In the cabin were two parents, many children of various sizes, a wood stove, a small battery-powered stereo system that sometimes worked, a mandolin, and several fiddles. Enthusiastic musical squeaks filled the air.
Eventually the cabin and the backwoods both started seeming a bit cramped and the family moved west (nope, no covered wagons) and took up residence on Cortes Island. The squeaks evolved into fiddle tunes, the children became variously sized adults, a guitar, accordion, and keyboard arrived on the scene, and pretty soon The Merry McKentys were playing for local dances and busking on the streets of nearby towns.
Since then they have toured up and down the Salish Sea on a large wooden sailboat and traveled to Europe, bringing their unique and joyful brand of traditional music and contra dancing to enthusiastic audiences in France, Italy, Germany and the UK.
Find out more about the Merry McKentys:
WOOD FIRED PIZZA & FARM STAND!
The Bullock Lake Farm Stand and Pizza Oven will be open all day on Friday, August 17 for Pizza and farm-fresh fare. Come on down before the dance to hang out and enjoy delicious pizza!
TICKETS
To guarantee your spot on the dance floor, please get your tickets here! Admission is limited due to space—tickets will be available at the door if we have any left after online sales. Contact westcoast@youngagrarians.org if you have questions.
Hope to see you there!
Looking for more Vancouver Island & Gulf Island Farm events?
Check out our Amara Farm Movie Night & Harvest Potluck on September 29 in Courtenay, BC!