Farm seeks to connect the Slocan Valley through pollinators
A Vallican-based not-for-profit farm society hopes to connect pollinators in the Slocan Valley via a pollinator highway.
Elk Root Conservation Farm Society (ERC) has received $18,000 from the Regional District of Central Kootenay’s Local Conservation Fund for phase one of its pollinator highway. The project will support pollinator habitat connectivity, which is integral to conservation and agricultural production.
“We have this mass of pollinators now that are living and breathing in this garden, and we’re creating connectivity,” said Kate Mizenka, founder of ERC, and Director of Farm, Orchard, and Apiary.
ERC has spent almost eight years stewarding the 15.3-acre property nestled next to the Little Slocan and Slocan Rivers, on traditional unceded Sinixt territory.
“We spent a year on the property before doing anything,” Mizenka said. “Where the demonstration gardens are was all invasive thistles when we got here.”
ERC then spent two years restoring the 1.5 acres of land that became the demonstration pollinator garden, orchard, and apiary. The result is a garden teeming with life, with a whole ecosystem of native bees, plants, and other critters.
Though Mizenka is an apiarist, ERC focused first on protecting native and wild pollinators before bringing in honey bees. By planting a smorgasbord of over 200 pollinator favourites, the garden now has more than enough to support both wild and ‘livestock’ pollinators.
ERC hopes to continue enhancing bee habitat in this way through the pollinator highway, especially since native pollinators play a big role in agricultural production.
In one area of the gardens, Mizenka has planted local ecotype native plants that like hot sun and dry conditions. Planted within are also eight varieties of red-fleshed apples.
“We want to show people that you can have an orchard, but use native plants for your pollination attractants,” she said.
Doing so promotes pollinators to not just pass through an orchard, but choose to stay and live there. ERC will be testing the concept in the next year on a blueberry farm.
Open house
The farm was still pretty sleepy at the beginning of April, but an exciting Mother’s Day weekend open house is planned for May 11 and 12, from 10 am to 3 pm.
Mizenka and her team will offer guided tours by donation. Visitors can explore the educational gardens and see what’s buzzing in the Bee Barn, an innovative bee hive design and apiary model created by Mizenka. Candles, honey, plants, and seeds will be available, along with a sneak peek at ERC’s brand-new field guide.
“The Elk Root Conservation Native Plant Educational Field Guide is launching this month,” she said. “It’s gorgeous and huge.”
The guide is full of colour photos, and general and scientific information about the local ecotype plants that ERC grows. The binder format allows for easy referencing while in the garden.
The new Regenerative Educational Community Food Gardens will also be on display. These gardens are designed to nourish vulnerable community members with organic food, and provide an inclusive educational space. Through the regenerative garden, ERC will work with Circle of Indigenous Nations (COINS) to provide nutritious food and educational garden plots for local Indigenous community, as well as community groups that provide social services to vulnerable people.
Hummingbird Farm just down the road will have its third annual Tulip Festival that weekend too. Stop by before or after visiting ERC for some flowers and tasty food truck treats.
Rachael Lesosky, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Valley Voice
