Episode 81 " Hazelmere Farm with Michelle Hua

Michelle Hua of Hazelmere farms stopped into the studio today, and what a treat it was! A staple of the Comox Valley Farmers Market, Hazelmere Farms' booth has been a highlight for years. Michelle, who has just returned to the Valley with her husband, was able to give us a wonderful history of the farm and talk about where it's headed as she and her hubby take a more active role in the farms' future. We wish them all the best!Hazelmere
Farm
3222 Grant Rd, Courtenay,
BCPhone: 250-336-2608Email: huawongs@telus.net 

Episode 80 "Ben-zion Eni and The Hub"

In the studio today, Ben-zion Eni joined us to discuss his newest endeavour, the Hub Café in downtown Courtenay. Ben has stepped out of a 20 year career working with fresh produce and jumped into the service side of the food industry! We talked to him about the jump - the motivations, hesitations, and everything in between. But as we got to talking, the thing that struck us the most is his sense of community. It's obvious that it plays a significant role in his café. This great little spot has great food, a great atmosphere, a great location, and you just know it's going to succeed!   

Episode 79 "Toni Dunne and Backyard Gardening"

The beautiful Ms. Toni
Dunne sits down with Chef Jon and Darren today to talk gardening. A self-taught
garden hobbyist, Toni has developed as a semi-professional gardener over the
years as she soaked in and absorbed every bit of information she could. With
an eye on acidity and soil alchemy, Toni and friends have created lush,
abundant gardens out of little backyard dirt patches. And like a modern day
Johnny Appleseed, she plants a little every where she goes.
But taking it further than
that, she discusses how to provide a modest secondary income from her garden,
while still providing plenty for her and her family. It’s truly the new
direction backyard farming is going, so just sit back and listen to this
vanguard of modern hobby farming tell you her journey from amateur to
thriving gardener.

Episode 78 "Doug Smith of Natural Pastures Cheese"

Doug
Smith of Natural Pastures was gracious enough to join us tonight to discuss
cheese! As one of the Comox Valley’s cornerstone food producers that help put
our humble, beautiful Valley on the map, Doug is one of those key talents that
took a small business idea, and turned it into a national brand! He walks us
through the process of getting started, growing to fit your market, and
establishing yourself amongst your peers. We had a great time with Doug – who is
just a wealth of information of Valley history, business planning and above
all: Cheese!

Episode 77 " Tannadice Farm with Allen McWilliam"

Allen McWilliam of Tannadice Farms sat down with Chef Jon and Darren in the studio today. Allen treated us to the background story of how the farm has grown from its' humble beginnings to the cornerstone-of-the-valley it has become. Humble and gracious, he shared a loving history of the Valley, and was able to relate his unique view on the farming scene here and how it has evolved and grown over the years. And he brought sausages!

Episode 76 "Connie Earl and BC wines"

On this episode, the ever eloquent Connie Earl joins Chef Jonathan Frazier and Darren Howlett to talk local wine. Connie is easily one of the foremost resources for the Valley on all things wine; her knowledge extending throughout Vancouver Island, BC in general, and worldwide. She brought her expertise and a few bottles of semi-local reds to discuss the first steps in evaluating a bottles' merits, triumphs and shortcomings. What a treat!

Episode 75 "Allison MacKenzie of Dark Side Chocolates"

 Today we sat down with
the lovably quirky Allison MacKenzie of Dark Side Chocolates. Allison discussed how she sort of 'fell into' the business, the merits of good dark chocolate
over mass produced cheaper chocolate, and finding new flavour combinations. We
also touched upon the ups and downs of being a small business in the Comox Valley
and all that comes with it.Dark Side Chocolates
P.O. Box 1119, 
2722 Dunsmuir Avenue
Cumberland, B.C. V0R 1S0
Phone: 250-336-0126
Website: http://darksidechocolates.com
Facebook:
Dark Side Chocolates

Episode 74 "Carmon Wakeling of Eatmore sprouts"

 Carmen Wakeling of Eatmore Sprouts sat down at
the Edible Valley table today to talk sprouts, farming, and the beautiful
Comox Valley. Carmen took us back to the beginning, those many years ago,
where it all began. It's amazing that a small backyard venture has become a
food juggernaut, producing an incredible amount of food for the entire province.
Truly one of the forefront food growers of our area, we are thankful that
Carmen was able to come in and share her story, and hopefully inspire all of
us!
Eatmore Sprouts and Greens Ltd.2604 Grieve RdCourtenay, BC, V9J 1S7Telephone:  250-338-4860Fax:  250-334-0216Email: eatmore@shawbiz.ca
Website: http://www.eatmoresprouts.com
Facebook: Eatmore
Sprouts

Episode 73 "Hans Peter Meyer"

Tonight Chef Jonathon Frazier and Darren Howlett had the great fortune of sitting down with Hans Peter Meyer, reknown local food reviewer and Comox Valley commerce enthusiast (for lack of a better term). As of late, Hans has become better known for hisambitious efforts to get the Comox Valley on the map, so-to-speak, with his "Making Shift Happen" and #WeAreYQQ.  Both are efforts to
shine a light on small businesses and their growth within the valley howthey impact our local economy. It was very difficult to contain this episode to just a half hour so promises have been made to explore this further. Take a listen and let us know what you think - we would love to hear your ideas and comments.

Episode 72" Arzeena Hamir of Amara farm"

Arzeena Hamir of Amara Farms, Merville Organics and
many others organizations came into the Edible Valley studio today to talk
organics. Arzeena is a noted food activist from Richmond BC who relocated to
the Valley years ago to establish a farm. An authority on organics and
sustainability, she is the driving force behind Merville Organics - a group of farmers upholding high standards for collective organic farming. It was
great just to hear her take on the entire process and where organic food is
heading here in the Valley. We look forward to checking in with Arzeena on a
regular basis to see how things develop for organic farming here in the Comox
Valley. 
Amara Farm 
2631 Kirby Rd,
Courtenay, BC V0R,
Canada
Phone:
(250) 331-0543
Website: http://mervilleorganics.ca/
Email: mervilleorganics@gmail.com
Facebook: Amara Farm
                  Merville Organics