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Why “Where is Here” matters to business in the Comox Valley

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On July 20-22, 2016 the Comox Valley Art Gallery, with Vancouver Island University, hosts the Where Is Here Symposium in downtown Courtenay. What’s it about? That’s what I asked Sharon Karsten of the Comox Valley Art Gallery (CVAG).

Sponsoring innovative thinking

The #WeAreYQQ LIFT Project is on board as a social media sponsor for the event. Why? Because we’re focused on leading, inspiring, and fueling talent in the Comox Valley.

Why are we interested in a symposium on “cultural mapping?” Because we’re interested in “talent.” Our premise is that our economic future isn’t going to be imported. Like other startup communities that are growing themselves out of economic dead ends, we think the Comox Valley is going to grow a “talent-driven” economic future. That means talent – entrepreneurs in business, the arts, food, etc – who live here, people who are already connected to the values of our community, are going to be the ones who’ll be creating the businesses, careers, and jobs that make the difference.

Every business needs to do things like taking an inventory of supplies, assets, etc before it starts. Cultural mapping is one way to start figuring out what kinds of talent assets we’ve got. It’s a step towards figuring out how we can bring them together to really make shift happen. That’s why we’re in.

What’s the economic future of the Comox Valley?

As I’ve already said, my bet is our economic future is being built by local talent. If you’re interested in how this might be accelerated, you’ll be interested in what Sharon and her crew have put together for July 20-22. Tickets available online here.

By the way, this isn’t new stuff. The Village of Qualicum Beach did a cultural inventory project several years ago. That’s led to a few things. Including an emerging tech sector community, an entrepreneur co-working hub, and a determination to attract more talent to grow their knowledge industry. Where is Here is cut from the same cloth. I’m personally thrilled that Sharon and her crew are doing this. It’s time we took our cultural assets seriously.

Supporting the project on social

You’ll start to see posts with the event tag – #whereishereCV – on social media channels like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Flickr, and more. Even if you can’t attend the event on July 20-22, you can help raise the profile of our emerging Comox Valley talent-driven economy by commenting on, liking, and reposting. You are part of the solution. Lend a hand – or a like or a retweet – us as we’re making shift happen!

hpm
for Team #WeAreYQQ and the LIFT Project
@WeAreYQQ on Twitter

LIFT Comox Valley: Leading, Inspiring, and Fueling Talent in business, the arts, and more!
We’re building an entrepreneurial culture in the Comox Valley. Join us. Be a #WeAreYQQ Champion for local business and community economic development – and get perks that’ll grow your business too!  Sign up here

Island Bison Farm: Food entrepreneurs at the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market

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In the 1890s there were less than 1000 Woods and Plains bison left of the millions that had shaped the land and the culture of North America for millennia. Today a herd of 170 in Black Creek is giving farmer Marc Vance reason to pinch himself every morning.

“I grew up wanting to be a rancher,” he says. Several years ago his Vancouver-based closet organizer business took him on a detour down a country road in Black Creek. A year later he, his wife and four children, as well as his mother and father in law made the move. “My wife calls it my mid-life crisis. I needed a new challenge.”

Today Marc and his extended family own and operate one of the largest meat producers in the Comox Valley. As well as the bison, the Vance’s also have 70 water buffalo. They purchase the bull calves from two Island dairies, including McLintocks here in the Comox Valley. They’ve also recently added Highland and Black Angus cattle, as well as heritage pigs, and chickens.

The animals are principally raised for meat, but the farm produces additional products. Bison tallow is used to create hand creams and soaps. Bison, water buffalo, beef, and pork are used in sausages, dried meat sticks, and jerkies. The farm also sells bison hides and skulls. These are also donated to some First nations’ groups for drum making and ceremonial purposes.

What role does the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market play?

With the exception of hides and skulls, all of the farm’s products are available at the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market. And while the Market is not a large part of the Farm’s sales, it is very important to the Farm’s business model.

“The Market is the root of Island Bison Farm,” Marc says. “It’s thanks to the Market that so many people have tried our product. Retail stores are now approaching us, and we’ve started a wholesale business as well.”

The expansion into chickens, pork, and beef last year was facilitated by the Market. Most producers only have one table, but Island Bison needed two to show and sell their new products.

“Our goal is to help farmers grow their business,” says Market CEO Vickey Brown. “When Island Bison needed more room, we were happy to help make that happen. It’s a good thing for them, for Market shoppers – and for our local food economy.”

MarcVance_IslandBison

Challenges and charges

Like other farmers at the Market, last year’s drought was tough on Island Bison. Marc says the weather is the single largest challenge they face. “It’s the big unknown. Last summers’ drought was very tough on pastures and winter feed production.” The current dry spell suggests things won’t be any easier this year.

Nevertheless, Marc relishes every day on the ranch. It’s the realization of a childhood dream. And, he says, “It’s also a wonderful way for the family to be together.”

For more information

This is part of the series of Comox Valley Farmers’ Market producer profiles. Buying local food and supporting local farmers is one of the best and most direct ways to grow our Comox Valley economy.

Grow your business with a #WeAreYQQ / LIFT Project subscription

Does your business need more exposure?

Do you want to make your marketing easier?

If you’ve got a story about entrepreneurship or innovation in the Comox Valley we’ve got a business development and marketing service package to get you exposure in print media, on our blog, and via our social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and more. Subscribe and you’ll get significant discounts as a #WeAreYQQ Champion or Ambassador – and you’ll be listed in our updates to our extensive mailing list.

It’s all part of our service packages to help grow business in the Comox Valley! Come on board ⛵

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for Team #WeAreYQQ and the LIFT Project in the Comox Valley
@WeAreYQQ on Twitter

LIFT: Leading, Inspiring, and Fueling Talent in business, the arts, and more – in the Comox Valley! 

We’re building an entrepreneurial culture in the Comox Valley. Join us this summer and win! You’ll get perks that’ll grow your business. Sign up here

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@hanspetermeyer on Twitter and Instagram

(cc) May 2015

Merville Organics at the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market: Part of the #WeAreYQQ local food economy

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Robin Sturley is part of the new face of farming in our region. She started farming because she wanted to build her “hands-on skill set.” As a member of Merville Organics, she’s finding plenty of opportunities to build this skill set.

“I’ve always loved food and cooking. I’ve always appreciated “artisan food,” food crafted by people who care about what they’re growing, what they’re preparing. I wanted to experience this.”

Robin arrived in the Comox Valley in 2015. She says it was Merville Organics that brought her here. “I saw an opportunity, and I took it. I love to work with the other members of the cooperative. I had no idea how this opportunity would blossom!”

What is Merville Organics?

Merville Organics is a farmer-owned and run marketing cooperative that includes five Comox Valley farms. As Robin explains, “Farming is hard work. Working as a cooperative really makes our lives better.”

Working as a cooperative also allows the farmers to collaborate more effectively. “That’s important, because four of us are new farmers. We learn from each other, and we support each other.” Arzeena Hamir, another member of Merville Organics, also stresses that each farm has its soil strengths and personal passions. Some members are good at growing potatoes, while others are less interested, or have pest issues, like wireworm.

One of the persistent issues in our local food economy is that of scale. How can small producers generate enough produce to meet the demands of larger buyers – restaurants, grocery stores, institutions. Working as a cooperative helps.

“That was a big part of deciding to work together,” Robin says. On our own we couldn’t service larger clients, or reach larger markets. Working together allows us to achieve economies of scale and service larger and more distant markets.” For example, Merville Organics currently services restaurants in Tofino and Ucluelet, and they’re interested in working with restaurants and grocers in Victoria and Nanaimo.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Another important part of the Merville Organics business model is their CSA program. Customers buy a share at the beginning of the season, providing cash flow for farmers when they need it  in the Spring, when they’re purchasing seed, planting, and setting up. The Merville Organics Summer CSA provides customers with 15 weeks of vegetable boxes. They’ve seen 50% growth over 2015, with 90 shares already sold out and a growing wait list. In 2015 they also did a pilot Fall crop CSA. Robin explains that “CSA customers get first pick, the best of what’s on our farms. People really like it, and so do we. We’ll be looking for ways to expand this.”

How important is the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market?

Even with sales to the burgeoning restaurant scene on the West coast and a thriving CSA program Robin says the Market remains “a big portion of our yearly sales.” But the Market is more than sales. “It’s a very social place. We get to talk to our customers face to face, to meet new customers. They’re touching and feeling our fresh, organic produce. They’re excited. Overall, the Market is a rewarding experience for all of us.”

As well as growing a wide range of field and greenhouse crops, Merville Organics produces vegetable starts. This year they’re part of Jeremy Kirouac’s The Good Food Project, an innovative service that delivers starts to home gardeners on a  monthly basis. But there are more than enough starts to go around. “We’ll be bringing them to market in the early spring,” Robin says, “and on Mother’s Day we hold our annual Spring plant sale.”

Farmers and the #WeAreYQQ Project

Merville Organics was one of the businesses that went “on deck” with the #WeAreYQQ BizOnDeck workshop series last Fall. Their ask, for the entrepreneurs in the room to help them grow their business bigger. Robin says the experience was very positive. “We’re farmers. Farming is a business. We’re also ‘food entrepreneurs.’ It’s very valuable for us to meet and learn from other entrepreneurs.”

The #WeAreYQQ BizOnDeck model focuses on collaboration and sharing of expertise, to help grow our Comox Valley / YQQ economy. For the team at Merville Organics this is a good fit. “You can’t know everything. And working with Team #WeAreYQQ has been a totally positive experience,” Robin says. “It’s about collaboration. We’re a cooperative. Collaboration is what Merville Organics is all about.”

Farmers are an important part of the Comox Valley entrepreneur ecosystem. In the Fall of 2015 the #WeAreYQQ Project applied to Startup Canada to create a Startup Comox Valley chapter. The Comox Valley Farmers’ Market was one of the first regional economic development organizations to sign on as a member. The Comox Valley Farmers’ Market is in the business of incubating food entrepreneurs. Startup Comox Valley and the We Are Comox Valley Project will help create a stronger, more collaborative entrepreneurial ecosystem in our region.

FMI about Merville Organics

Website: mervilleorganics.ca
Email: mervilleorganics (at) gmail (dot) com
Instagram: @mervilleorganics
Twitter: @MervilleOrgCoop

 

This is part of a series of Comox Valley Farmers’ Market producer profiles sponsored in part by The Comox Valley Project (aka #WeAreYQQ). Buying local food and supporting local farmers is one of the best and most direct ways to grow our Comox Valley economy.

Supporting local food entrepreneurs is one of the best ways to make economic shift happen in our region. That’s what the The Comox Valley Project / #WeAreYQQ is all about: inspiring and supporting Comox Valley (YQQ) entrepreneurs to think and grow BIGger!

by hanspetermeyer
@hanspetermeyer on Twitter

 

PLEASE SHARE THIS CONTENT
I create content about local food (and wine!) on Vancouver Island. Telling the story of local food is one of the ways to support the men and women and organizations that are making our Island a “good food, local food” region.
If you use our materials, PLEASE tell me how you use them at http://bit.ly/hpm-useME

If your business is interested in how content marketing can help increase sales, please be in touch via hanspetermeyer.com.

(cc) hanspetermeyer.com / Comox Valley Farmers’ Market / 2016

 

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Willovic Bakery at the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market: Part of the #WeAreYQQ local food economy

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One of the important aspects of the #WeAreYQQ Project is celebrating the creatives and entrepreneurs who are at the hear of the Comox Valley’s entrepreneurial culture. The monthly series of profiles of Comox Valley Farmers’ Market farmers and vendors is a good example of how we’re doing that. In this March 2016 Market profile the focus is on Will Bruce and Willovic Farm Bakery.

 

Laura, biting into a WilloVic Bakery #CinnamonBun at the Comox Valley Farmers' Market .. #localfood #ComoxValley

Quite possibly the best cinnamon buns in the world

There are a number of good reasons to get to the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market early. Fresh produce is one of them. The best cinnamon buns in the world is another. They’re made by Will Bruce at Willovic Bakery. And they’re only avaialble at the Saturday Market.

But there’s a lot more to Willovic than cinammon buns. Owned by Will and Vickey Bruce, the bakery produces a variety of what Will calls “healthy, earthy, chewy” breads.

There are authentic Montreal-style boiled bagles. There’s a 100% sour dough rye bread made in the European style. There are whole wheat loaves. And recently baker Will’s been producing a lovely spelt bread.

As for the cinammon buns, the original recipe comes from the Denman Island Cafe. “My former wife and I leased the Cafe in the early 1980s for 1 year,” Will explains. “I’ve changed a couple things, but it’s basically the Cafés house recipe.” It’s a good one. And the dozens and dozens of cinammon buns that Will produces often sell out well before closing time at the Market.

A passion denied

Will says he always wanted to bake. But his mother wouldn’t let him bake at home. He’s not sure why.

He does know that as soon as he left home he taught himself to bake. After that, “I started baking, people kept eating what I baked, and I never stopped.”

A series of happy events moved him to take it from casual hobby to commercial success. through a series of happy events. First, he and Vickey came to understand that the Market is a “wonderful place to be” via a Market-based coffee business they’d run for several years. Then, a German mason built him a wood-fired brick oven on his farm. “The stars aligned, and I got to follow my passion!”

How important is the market?

“The Market is essential to our business,” Will states. “If the Market wasn’t here I wouldn’t be selling; I’d still be baking for fun.” He says that, with the Market supplying half his income, “it’s our bread and butter.”

The Willovic Farm Bakery isn’t unique. As Vickey Brown, Executive Director of the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market, puts it, the Market is a local food business incubator. At any one time there are up to 80 businesses in various stages of development at the Market. Most are small, but some are thinking BIGer. And all are contributing to the economic development of the Comox Valley region.

For more information about the Market and to sign up for the regular newsletter, please go to www.cvfm.ca.

by hanspetermeyer
@hanspetermeyer on Twitter

Innovations in campfire cookery: the Fireside Fork

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Who knew that hot dog sticks needed improving? Innovations are often very simple solutions to problems we didn’t know we had.

Randy Brouwer wanted to improve a simple camping experience. His product will become a staple in every camper’s kit. The experience: roasting food over an open fire. The innovation: the Fireside Fork.

What is it?

The design is simple. Three aluminum rods that screw together easily. A fixed wooden handle at one end. An innovative sliding wooden handle in the middle. Your choice of wide or narrow fork at the other end.

The Fireside Fork sells separately, or as a package of two in a zippered case (it’ll fit in your glove box). Additional attachments – a roasting basket for meat, seafood and vegetables, and a popcorn maker – are coming on stream later in 2016. Another add-on turns the Fireside Fork into a portable rotisserie.

Inspiration

The Fireside Fork was born in late 2013 as Brouwer tinkered with a gift idea. Success with friends and family inspired him to get serious about design and production. Since then, “it’s taken off widely!” A Kickstarter campaign (launching March 15) will get Fireside Forks into the hands of campers and picnickers lovers all over North America. Several large retail outlets are planning to carry the Fireside Forks by mid-2016.

Where to buy?

Fireside Forks are available in a number of Comox Valley retail outlets. They’re also available directly from the Imagine Camping website: imaginecamping.com.

Challenges

The work of bringing a product like the Fireside Forks to market is daunting. “There’s a lot to learn!” He says the #WeAreYQQ business development workshops have been instrumental in helping him overcome some of the hurdles facing his business.

Is a camping innovation important? It could be. The economic future of our community depends on people like Randy Brouwer. People who have the gumption to take small ideas and grow them BIGger.

Imagine Camping online

Website: imaginecamping.com
Instagram: instagram.com/imaginecamping
Twitter: @imaginecamping
Tag: #firesidefork

Businesses helping businesses, growing an entrepreneurial community

 

The #WeAreYQQ Project is all about inspiring and supporting entrepreneurs like Randy. The #WeAreYQQ Project is a for profit, grassroots initiative. Why “for profit?” Because we don’t rely on government (taxpayer) dollars, and we don’t need foundation support. And, staying “for profit” means we can be entrepreneurial – lean, agile, responsive to what we see as the needs of our entrepreneur community.

While we don’t need taxpayer or charitable support, we do need the support of businesses. Specifically, businesses that are interested in making shift happen in our regional economy. Thanks to Solution Sponsors like the Comox Valley Record, Finneron Hyundai, hanspetermeyer.ca, Mastermynde Strategy, and Sure Copy Courtenay, Community Partners like Atlas Cafe, Hansen & Hansen Painting, Island Word, My Tech Guys, Ron Pogue Photography, and McKinnon Photography, as well as a host of individual Champions and Ambassadors.

Got a business idea you want to grow?

Apply now to put it on deck with the #WeAreYQQ Project! FMI see https://liftstartup.wpengine.com/networkingonsteroids/

hpm
March 16, 2016
@hanspetermeyer on Twitter

 

Rob Kelly’s #WeAreYQQ Report on Tech & Media: Spring 2016

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This is my first report on the Comox Valley’s tech and media sector for the #WeAreYQQ Project. Three to four times a year I will be reporting on how local tech and media individuals and companies are succeeding and winning. Reports will be posted to this blog, and to local print publications whenever possible. If you’ve got news, please Tweet me @robkelly63.

Congratulations to Brent Craven at Craven Studios. Brent is a video creative who recently worked as director of photography and editor on Our Voices, Our Stories documentary, about the former St. Michael’s Residential School in Alert Bay. The film recently won best short form documentary at the American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco.

 

Brent is now editing Wine Guys, a six-part TV series coming out in 2016. You can see Brent’s video on former Comox Valley Record columnist Ralph Shaw at

 

Sarah Clark’s Future Perfect is a short form animated film company focusing on commercial clients. She recently completed a project for tech start-up Appreciado, the first project she’s done that almost exclusively uses hand drawn animation. Follow Sarah on Twitter @futureperfectTV.

Here’s what Future Perfect did for Vancouver advertising and design firm, St. Bernadine Mission: 

 

Audio Xcellence is a DJ service that’s recently added a 20-foot indoors/outdoors screen to the existing 1,600 watt sound system, giving Audio Xcellence the ability to deliver “big picture, big sound”. Owner Russell Ball says that their special Halloween screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Courtenay Legion raised funds for the Care-A-Van homeless project.

Leif Jason at Mastermynde Strategy provides a wide range of professional expertise in marketing, eCommerce, web strategy, and more. He has recently developed an online calendar of Comox Valley events that’s crowd-sourced, and community-curated. A of the key to the success of this community calendar are curators, people with a passion for specific event sectors (e.g. food, sports, music, business, etc). If you’re interested in being a calendar curator please contact Leif directly via mastermynde.com or Tweet him @mastermynde A draft is posted at weareyqqcommunitycalendar.ca (see the dropdown menu at “Categories” for all listings). One of Leif’s passions is seeing community organizations using online resources effectively. For example, he’s been working with the Rotary Club of Comox to help merge multiple websites and use social media more consistently.

As for yours truly, Rob Kelly at Modern Rocket Media in Comox, I’m a corporate video writer, producer, and director. I’ve recently produced a fundraising video for the Richmond Hospital Foundation, telling the story of a long-time doctor in the community and the changes he’s seen in health needs over the years. I’ve also produced a short-form historical documentary for the Labour Heritage Centre of BC about the tragic history of asbestos and its impact on BC workers. Here’s a short I made for WorkSafeBC:

I’m currently working on a video series about dairy farm safety for new and young workers, shooting some of the footage locally – at Viewfield Farm in Courtenay.

Got tech or media news? Let’s get it in front of people. Send me a Tweet @robkelly63. Or email me at rob <at> modern-rocket <dot> com.

by Rob Kelly
on Twitter @robkelly63