After a week of intensive grain share packing, I went to visit some friends in Nelson, BC. Across the Kootenay Lake from Nelson is Creston, where the Kootenay Grain CSA is based. That CSA was the inspiration for our grain CSA, so stopping by their operation seemed like a no-brain idea.
The way to Creston goes through alpine passes and over a wide river until you reach a broad valley of flat river bed filled with golden grain and surrounded by impressive, stoney mountains. After acres of GMO corn and Round-up laden wheat fields, we arrived at Roy and Sherri Lawrence's organic, diversified farm.
The first to greet us was a flock of turkeys and chickens. They surrounded our car as we parked, but scurried away when a young border collie came to our door. I wasn't sure if Roy and Sherri were home, so we walked around the barns while waiting for their return. To my happy surprise, their reclaimed equipment were the same ones we use!
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| John Deere 105 |
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| Clipper from 1948 |
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Grain tank
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They have a lot of storage space and their Clipper includes a grain elevator that takes it to a grain tank. Below the grain tank is a scale and bagger. At this point I figured I should call them, and it turned out they were home the whole time. They, too, live in their garage space, which they've made into a cozy space.
Roy and Sherri warmly invited us into their dining area. They asked about what my farm and CSA are like. Regarding grains, they asked what grains we grow, how we chose them, and how we grow them. In terms our market, they asked who we sell to, how we distribute grain shares, and how we expand our customer base. I posed the same questions to them, which resulted in an interesting story.
The Kootenay Grain CSA began as a concept by some people who asked Roy and Sherri to grow grains for the CSA. A few farmers contributed at first, including the people who initiated the CSA, but eventually Roy and Sherri were the only contributors. They grow on a similar scale to us, with 67 acres under cultivation. They grow spelt, hulless oats, red fife, and another wheat that I can't remember. There are 120 members of their CSA who receive either full (100lbs) or half (50lbs) shares. People can choose what they want by February, then those crops are grown and made available for pick-up at the farm once a year. They used to deliver grains across the lake to Nelson by collaborating with a passenger boat that goes back and forth every hour. Unfortunately, extensive positive media coverage attracted government regulators' attention, so they were slammed with permits and intensive scrutiny. They said that it's been difficult to find more share members because of the culture in Creston and distance to Nelson. They sell to some bakers, but most members are families who split their shares. They also don't have a mill, so that limits their customer base.
After comparing our experience, we walked around their property. We talked of weed competition, market competition, and small joys of grain farming. They seemed most interested in creating a sustainable home for their growing family of grandchildren. Roy's family has been there for three generations and I think there will be some more Lawrence generations to come to that land.
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| Spelt head |
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| Spelt berries |
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| Red Fife |
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| Roy Lawrence |
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| Oats |
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| Band of Turkeys |
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| Roy and Sherri Lawrence |
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| Roy and Sherri Lawrence |
