Feeling like you’re alone in the field? Want to talk farm plans with other farmers? Start your farming season with a young farmer social. We’re bringing together as many young(ish) farmers as we can for two days of skills sharing, workshops and networking.
The Young Agrarians have been making appearances on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands for the past two years with young farmer potlucks and workshops. Now we have a regional coordinator on the ground and modest funding to start supporting local young farmers and the farm-curious. The Mixer will be a chance to plant the seeds for meaningful projects and gatherings for 2014 and beyond.
Or visit our Facebook Event page
CHECK OUT THE PROGRAM: YAVancouverIslandSpringMixerProgram
TASTY TASTY FOOD DONATIONS & DOOR PRIZES FROM OUR AMAZING LOCAL PARTNERS!
WORKSHOPS & SKILL SHARES
Hands-On Skill Shares
Seed starting 101 – with Robin Sturley, Edible Earth Seeds
Seed cleaning session – Robin Sturley
Self Care For Farmers: herbs, massage, and acupressure for soft tissue injuries – Janette Cormier
Farmtastic Sharing & Inspiration
Soil Science 101 and Soil Re-mineralization – Kira Kotilla & Ryan Nassichuk
Permaculture Principles on the Small-Scale Farm – Lynn Whytenbroek, plus Solara Goldwynn from Hatchet & Seed
Livestock Innovations – TBA
Biodynamic Planting – Jordan Y
Business & Marketing
Harvesting the Numbers with Sasha Kubicek from Sea Bluff Farm
Attracting Customers – Marketing for Farmers with Valorie Logan from Vancity
SWAP & SHARE
Tool Show & Tell
Bring your favourite portable tool and tell us why you love it, and where we can get one!
Seed Swap
Whether you’re saving your own or just trying to make sure it gets used up, bring your seeds to swap and share at our seed demo area. You can also bring seed that needs cleaning – we are hoping to have a winnower set up for use all weekend.
Library
Bring your favourite farm book(s) to show and tell!
Potluck
Bring a dish to share for Saturday night.
SCHEDULE
Your input will help to shape our time together. Participants will receive an info package with details by email before the Mixer.
VENUE & ACCOMMODATIONS
We’ll be gathering in Nanoose Bay (just north of Nanaimo) at Seven Springs Camp & Retreat Centre.
FAMILIES
Families with children are welcome! Please let us know if you are bringing your wee ones so we can work together to make sure your family can be comfortable.
FOOD
Please let us know if you have farm products to donate or for sale – we want our meals to reflect and nourish our identities as farmers. You’ll have a chance to let us know if you have farm food for sale or donation on our registration form and you can also drop us a line here on the event page.
POTLUCK DINNER & FARMTASTIC FUN ON SATURDAY NIGHT – Please bring a dish to share… and invite friends! Farmers, foodies and farm enthusiasts are all welcome. Got music or other talents to share for our evening of farm fresh entertainment? Let us know!
TRAVEL
We recommend using our Facebook Event page to find rides, offer rides and plan your travels!
We want you with us! A very limited number of travel subsidies are available. If you will not be able to join us without this support, please contact westcoast@youngagrarians.org.
EVENT FEES BY DONATION
The event is being held by donation. We are asking each adult to donate between $35 and $75. Smaller contributions for participating children would be very much appreciated. Monies raised will be directed into future Young Agrarians activities that will benefit us here on Vancouver Island.
Too steep? We need some volunteers – contact westcoast@youngagrians.org for work trade opportunities!
SPONSORS
Big thanks to Vancity and the many other sponsors who will come on board to make this event possible!
If you would like to contribute, please contact westcoast@youngagrarians.org.
