So many people never have the opportunity to experience a farm, especially when living in the city. Yet 35 kilometres from the bustle of downtown Vancouver you can find some of the most productive soils in all of Canada.
The fertile fields of Delta support a vibrant agricultural community that has been farming since 1868 and we are fortunate to live within a landscape that supports such a community.
The public can experience Delta farming at its finest by coming to the seventh annual Day at the Farm event, presented by Delta Farmland & Wildlife Trust and Westham Island Herb Farm. It takes place this Saturday at Westham Island Herb Farm (4690 Kirkland Rd.) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission is free.
Delta Farmland & Wildlife Trust and Westham Island Herb Farm have been holding this event to raise public awareness of local agriculture and agricultural issues. This year Day at the Farm is going to showcase crops that are grown on local farms, including potatoes and other root vegetables, dairy products, blueberries and cranberries.
Local farmers will attend the event and speak to the public about how they manage their farms. They will provide answers to the questions like: What kind of crops are grown on local farms? How are those crops grown, and where do they go after they are harvested? What kind of things are local farmers doing to provide habitat for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds?
Day at the Farm is an excellent opportunity for suburbanites to come out and meet farmers.
This year's event will feature many new activities, including the B.C. Fresh Potato Dig, which will give visitors the chance to dig their own potatoes straight from the soil.
The first-ever Blueberry Pie Contest will also be held. Those wanting to enter must bring their pie to the main show stage no later than noon. Judging will commence at 12: 20 p.m.
There will be plenty of wildlife and farming exhibits to view, including the Mini-Grassland Set-aside and the Cover Crop Demo Garden. These exhibits will help visitors see how farms contribute to conserving populations of wildlife, especially migratory birds.
And this year organizers are excited to showcase live music, including Bocephus King.
Westham Island Herb Farm will have a diversity of fresh produce for sale at its farm store and White Spot's "On the Go" food truck will be serving up hot food, including French fries made from Kennebec potatoes grown in Delta.
Day at the Farm still features such events as the Hay Wagon Farm Tour, led by third generation farmer Gordon Ellis, and Ken Bates of Tecarte Farms demonstrating draft horse plowing. The B.C. Dairy Foundation Mobile Dairy Classroom will also perform live milking demonstrations throughout the day.
Visit deltafarmland.ca for more details.
