Fostering West Coast Food Sustainability
The Tofino Community Food Initiative (TCFI) is a non-profit community group that dedicates their time to educating the community on food security on the West Coast. For over a decade, the group has collaborated with key community groups to put on gardening workshops, work with community gardens and run food literacy programs.
The group began because of a desire to dispel the myth that growing food on the West Coast is nearly impossible. The TCFI seeks to arm locals with the appropriate knowledge and skills of how to garden in rainforest environment, and their Grow Local workshops and events cover topics relevant to growing on the West Coast: from wildlife-proof compost bins to winterizing your garden to keeping pests away. And it’s not just talk—their annual Edible Garden Tours take place over two days in the summer, showcasing local gardeners and their successful gardens in Tofino and Ucluelet. It’s sure to inspire even the most doubtful that it is possible to grow abundant gardens on the coast.
TCFI Programs
In fact, should that inspiration turn into your own fruitful garden, you may find yourself with more fresh produce than you can handle at one time. That’s the perfect time to turn to their Food Preservation Program, which will teach you how to safely preserve your hard-earned fruits and vegetables so you can enjoy them year-round.
You don’t need your own vast plot of land to start gardening on the coast, either. The Tofino Botanical Gardens have donated a garden plot for the community. Membership for the community garden includes access to gardening tools as well as compost and a rainwater catchment.
There’s also the great option of purchasing fresh produce from other local growers. From May to October, The Tofino Local Food Booth at the Saturday Public Market provides a place for local growers to sell their fresh eggs, produce and preserves. They also feature new farmers and offer inspiration for community members who are wanting to start their own garden.
West Coast Farm and Garden
The TCFI runs all these programs and more. But if you can only make time for one event, open your calendar to March 6–8th and pencil in their West Coast Farm and Garden event. With over a dozen workshops, informational sessions and demonstrations, this event is a crash course in everything you could need to know about West Coast gardening and more. From food preservation to composting to growing year-round; from beekeeping to making produce bags; and from sessions on gardening with kids to the relationship of agriculture and tourism, this is a must-attend event for anyone interested in gardening on the West Coast (or anywhere on Vancouver Island!).
Admission to the West Coast Farm and Garden event at the Tofino Botanical Gardens is just $2 (and children under 12 are free, so bring the whole family). Workshops are $10 each (or $25 for the day/$40 for the weekend), and you’re sure to leave inspired and educated. It’s a great opportunity to connect with other individuals, farmers and businesses who are also concerned with fostering food security and sustainability on the coast.
