From lush dairy farms to sprawling vineyards and picturesque fruit orchards, Vancouver Island farms offer a bounty of local food and farm experiences for visitors to enjoy! If you’re curious about what this Canadian island’s farmers have to offer, want to learn more about sustainability, the farm to table movement on Vancouver Island and what kind of fresh, local food you can find on this incredible island, you’re in the right place!
Continue readingThere are lots of ways to squeeze every last drop of summer before the weather changes but one of the best ways is to visit a local farm and load up on some late summer harvest! If you’re a DIYer at heart, the kind of person that likes to get in there and get your hands dirty, an afternoon, wandering around a beautiful farm and picking your own produce is going to be right up your alley! Find out what’s in season here and call or check the farm’s website to make sure they have what you’re looking for before you go and don’t forget to bring your own containers!
These farms are perfect for anyone staying at one of the many gorgeous EMR properties right in Victoria and for anyone staying on the Peninsula near Sidney.
Since 1988, Rosemeade Farms in Saanich has been a popular u-pick destination for Victorians looking for that farm experience. In the summer, this beautiful farm with peaceful pathways and a lovely man-made lake is an ideal place to come to enjoy some summer sun and pick your favourite fruits and veggies. Here, you’ll find raspberries, cascade, tay, honey, marion and loganberries. Thornless blackberries abound and little jewel strawberries cover the ground. At the end of the summer and into the fall, you can find varieties of apples, pears and plums. At Christmas, Rosemeade has some of the best boughs and holly branches to decorate your home with. This little farm has something for everyone, all year ‘round!
Using only organic farming practices, no pesticides and organic soil, the produce at Marsh Farms is something you can feel good about. With incredibly helpful, knowledgeable staff and gorgeous fruits, veggies and flowers this beautiful farm is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon. Find strawberries, raspberries, marionberries, blackberries and tons of delicious veggies to pick and take with you – plus if you’re lucky you’ll see some of the sweet little quail that call Marsh Farm home!
At this stunning farm you can experience idyllic farm life as you wander through the property on a self-guided tour. See and walk through acres of pollinator-friendly wildflowers and bunches of purple lavender, meet all the farm animals and then grab a treat at the café to enjoy in the sun. While you’re here don’t forget to grab some of the amazing products from jars of fresh honey, luxurious face and body products, candles, clothing and bags and so much more!
For guests staying in the Cowichan Valley, these farms are ones you won’t want to miss!
On this lovely farm in the beautiful Cowichan Valley, you’ll find an ever-changing roster of organic, pesticide-free produce for you to come explore and pick! Here, you can find over 30 varieties of apples, friendly ducks and chickens, and so much more! With lots of fruit, veggies, herbs and flowers to choose from, it’s easy to walk away from this lovely little family-run farm with your arms full!
One of the best things you can do for the environment is to buy local, sustainably raised meat and at Cowichan Valley Farms, you can find organic, pasture raised beef and free-range chicken as well as incredible, pesticide-free honey! At the farm store, you can find an assortment of flavours of honey as well as rustic designed honey gift packs, perfect souvenirs for family and friends! If you want to try their meat, check the website and pre-order your farm-fresh beef and chicken – making sustainable choices never tasted so good!
If you’re staying in Nanaimo or Parksville these farms are your best bet for local, fresh, quality products.
For almost 25 years, this incredible, organic farm has been growing a variety of incredible produce that you can access through their farm market and local agriculture box, local restaurants and resorts! The Ebells are dedicated to making sure everyone in the area has access to top quality, fresh, organic produce.
Tucked away along the shores of Quennell Lake, south of Nanaimo, is the lovely little family-run farm shop, Friedrich’s Honey. Passionate about following the best bee-keeping practices, Friedrich’s produces top-quality products that go far beyond honey. They have candles, skin care, teas, soaps, and bee pollen! With friendly staff and shelves filled with incredible, high-quality products, a visit here is a must!
