Huckleberry Production Gaining Attention

With huckleberries getting more mainstream attention as the next "hot" horticultural crop, the time is ripe for industry and support organizations in British Columbia to move forward on this diversification opportunity.

Dr. Dan Barney, Professor of Horticulture at the University of Idaho is set to release cultivated varieties of Pacific Northwest huckleberry / bilberry species next year. BC has potentially thousands of hectares of suitable production area, and the new crop introductions would provide a much needed economic diversification opportunity for nurseries, conventional and agroforestry producers. Culturing huckleberries to serve the growing market for natural and anti-oxidant rich fruits would have the added benefits of taking pressure off the increasingly over-exploited wild berry resources.

Land Summit Reminder

A reminder that the 2009 BC Land Summit is being held on May 20 - 22, 2009, in Whistler, BC. Six British Columbia organizations have combined to hold a joint Summit to focus on the theme of "A Better Future: Adapting to Change."

There's still time to register and receive savings off of the on-site rates until Friday May 8th 2009.

Registration Bonus - All those delegates registered between March 17th and May 8th will be entered into a draw for two three day festival passes to the World Rose Festival (in Vancouver June 19-21st).

Grain Equipment Workshop

For those interested in alley cropping and forest gardening, you might find this workshop focused on small-scale grain production helpful.

On May 5, 2009, 9 am to noon, The Garden Institute of BC (TGIBC) is hosting an opportunity for people to explore various types of equipment used to seed, weed, cut, harvest, combine, clean and thresh grain. With an understanding of the technology you can start thinking about designing 'green' equipment for 'local' food production needs.

Admission is $3 payable to the TGIBC.

Gord Taylor and Dave Hopkins from the Saanichton Historical Society will be the guides to the machinery. You can bring your lunch and visit after the machinery tour.

Saanich Historical Artifacts Society
7321 Lochside Drive
Saanichton, British Columbia
Canada V8M 1W4
Phone:(250) 652-5522

For more information about the event, contact Sharon Rempel, TGIBC (250) 298-1133, email slrempel@shaw.ca and www.tgibc.org for organization details.

Provincial Agriculture Debate, Saturday April 25

The BC Agriculture Council (BCAC) is hosting a three-party agriculture debate to be held on a Delta-area cranberry and dairy farm in advance of the upcoming provincial election. The debate is being held as follows:

Location: Eagleview Farms, 4199 - 88th St. Delta (south of Ladner Trunk Rd.)
Date: Saturday, April 25th 2009
Time: 9:30 am to 11:00 am

The debate will be moderated by Dr. John Vanderstoep, who before his retirement had been Associate Dean Academic in the University of British Columbia's Faculty Land and Food Systems. The debate participants will be:

BC NDP: Lana Popham, Candidate for Saanich South
BC Liberal Party: Hon. John van Dongen, Candidate for Abbotsford South
Green Party of BC: Murray Weisenberger, Candidate for Surrey-Panorama

"Anyone with an interest in the many issues that affect farmers and ranchers from across the province is welcome to attend the event," said BCAC chair and turkey producer Garnet Etsell. The structured debate will provide a unique opportunity to hear what the representatives of the three main political parties have to say about their respective policies regarding the BC agriculture sector.

Birch Syrup Festival, April 26

The birch sap is flowing in the Cariboo and to celebrate, Moose Meadows Farm in Quesnel is hosting a SUGARING OFF FARM FESTIVAL this coming Sunday, April 26th, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.

Included will be tours of the sugar shack & sugar bush, tours of the farm and an opportunity to visit the Antler Shed Gift Shop.

A Pancake Breakfast is also being held which Quesnel Rotary will be assisting with by cooking up the pancakes. There will be an opportunity to enjoy some fresh, crisp birch sap and taste test some pure birch syrup.

All details on the Moose Meadows website (www.moosemeadowsfarm.ca).

Canadian Pollination Initiative

The steep decline in pollinators is having dramatic impacts in Canada through the 'pollination deficit'. This is an extremely important issue that if left unchecked could undermine many aspects of agroforestry production, particularly where production returns come from fruit (e.g. huckleberries, hawthorns, saskatoons).

NSERC-CANPOLIN is a new, five-year NSERC Strategic Network that will address the growing problem of pollinator decline in agricultural and natural ecosystems in Canada. Researchers at 26 universities across the country are working with government agencies, NGO’s and industry to deliver insights and sustainable solutions to the pollination problem.

For more information on the CANPOLIN network, visit www.uoguelph.ca/canpolin/index.html

"Finding Common Ground" Reminder

A reminder of the upcoming "Finding Common Ground" field day and social on May 8 & 9, hosted by Lee Hesketh and the Silver Hills Ranch in Lumby. Lee is the 2009 recipient of the Fraser Basin Council's Doreen Wright Award for individual excellence in sustainability.

The Second Annual field day is intended to bring together industry, government and conservation interests to aid in working towards practical solutions for sustainable management options for interior livestock producers.

If you are interested in attending please register with Lee as soon as possible.

Maple Tappers Featured in IAF Newsletter

The emerging bigleaf maple tapping industry is featured in the spring edition of "Growing Tomorrow", the newsletter of the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF). Since 2003, IAF has provided funding to three bigleaf maple development support projects through the Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative.

Tapping bigleaf maple is establishing itself as a viable diversification venture in Southwest BC. With increasing public recognition of, and demand for, West Coast maple syrup and entrepreneurs now venturing into a wider range of products including maple wine and maple beer, the future growth prospects are exciting.

New NTFP Newsletter Launched

The Canadian Non-timber Forest Products Network has launched a new quarterly, national e-newsletter today. The newsletter, a collaboration between Natural Resources Canada and the Centre for Non-Timber Resources, Royal Roads University, is focused on NTFP-related news, research, projects and events from across Canada. The premier edition features articles on the Forest Artisans in Quebec, a review of "Open Your Eyes", an educational DVD that promotes forest-based opportunities in rural Canada, and an interesting article on the history of the Canadian Yew. You can also participate in contest to name this newsletter.

Read the newsletter at www.ntfpnetwork.ca

World Agroforestry Congress Registration

Registration is open for the 2^nd World Congress on Agroforestry, to be held this coming August 23 to 28 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Congress is a platform to share global knowledge and experience on the opportunities that will leverage agroforestry science and development as a sustainable land use system worldwide. The Congress will serve as a forum for researchers, educators, practitioners and policy makers to share ideas and solutions that will impact positively on rural livelihoods, food security and the global environment.

Earlybird registration by 30 April 2009 will save you $50 on the registration fee.

Agroforestry Identified to Address Climate Change

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has identified agroforestry and other sustainable agriculture practices as part of a solution mechanism for climate change with the goal of putting agriculture on the agenda of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations in Copenhagen in December 2009.

Globally "...agriculture contributes about 14 percent of annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and land-use change, including forest loss, contributes another 19 percent." Agroforestry systems provide viable options for increasing above and below ground carbon storage and a practical means to retain tree cover rather than completely clearing land for food production.

Read the full brief at the IFPRI website: www.ifpri.org/2020/focus/focus16/focus16br01.asp

Nutrient Recovery Conference

The International Conference on Nutrient Recovery Waste Water Systems will be held May 10 – 13, 2009 at the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver.

This conference will bring together various waste stream industries, regulators, researchers, process engineers and commercial managers, with the goal of developing a broad-based, intersectional understanding and joint projects for phosphorus and nitrogen recovery from waste water streams, as well as reuse. Over 90 papers from over 30 different countries will be presented, in both oral and poster presentation formats, over the three day conference. A formal proceedings will be published.

Opportunities exist for commercial marketing of recovered nutrients as "green" fertilizers and recycling of nutrients through biomass production to new outlets, such as bioenergy.

11th NA Agroforestry Conference Will Proceed

The organizers of the 11th North American Agroforestry Conference, May 31 - June 3, 2009 have passed their minimum registration hurdle, and the conference will proceed.

As such, there is no longer a deadline for registrations. If you have not already registered for the conference and are/were considering it please visit the UMCA website www.centerforagroforestry.org

Agroforestry Comes of Age: Putting Science into Practice at the Stoney Creek Inn and Conference Center located in Columbia, Missouri. The conference will be hosted by the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry (UMCA) and the Association for Temperate Agroforestry (AFTA).

The intent of the conference is to stimulate development and adoption of sustainable rural land management practices centered on the integration of trees into the landscape. The conference will provide a forum for individuals associated with or practicing agroforestry to share their experiences and discuss production, environmental and social attributes of different agroforestry practices. Upland and riparian forest buffers, windbreaks and shelterbelts, silvopasture, alley cropping and forest farming practices will be the main foci discussed during the conference. There will be concurrent sessions, a poster session, field trips, and time for discussion that focus on the successes, opportunities and constraints of agroforestry. Special emphasis will be placed on practical examples of agroforestry practices and on technology transfer to producers.

Forest Discovery Centre Hosts Bigleaf Maple Syrup Site

The BC Forest Discovery Centre have added a bigleaf maple syrup section to their website at www.discoveryforest.com

The site includes a maple syrup cookbook project, contact information for BC maple syrup producers, information on how to tap the bigleaf maple and links to relevant websites.

Hosts the annual Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festival in Duncan, the Centre is a 100-acre, open air museum with an operational railway. The Centre features forest and marsh trails with excellent bird watching opportunities. The story of BC's forest industry is shared through exhibits, heritage buildings, and logging artifacts. Special events are offered throughout the year that include family activities and workshops for adults and seniors.

The maple syrup site reflects the Centre's ongoing commitment to promoting sustainable management of timber and non-timber forest resources.

The Centre is operated by the BC Forest Museum Society, a non-profit and charitable organization.

Provincial Government Supports Bioenergy Projects

The Province has announced the first round of projects to be supported from its "Innovative Clean Energy" (ICE) fund and other funding, and the new technologies under development could help diversify the markets for agroforestry production in BC.

Premier Gordon Campbell made the announcement Friday at Lignol Innovations in Burnaby which is receiving $3.4 million in provincial funding to produce cellulosic ethanol and other products from under-utilized forest resources.

The ICE Fund is supporting 19 projects situated in rural and 'off-grid' communities across BC, covering a range of technological applications, including biomass projects. The approved projects represent over $96 million in total value and are expected to create about 750 temporary and full time jobs in over 25 B.C. communities.

In addition to Lignol Innovations, other projects of interest to agroforestry producers include:

1. A project headed by the Quesnel Community and Economic Development Corporation to use excess capacity from an existing industrial biomass energy system to produce electricity and heat for community use;

2. A project headed by the Aboriginal Cogeneration Corporation to develop a micro-gasifier to convert biomass, such as wood or dry processing residues, into electricity in Kamloops;

3. A proposal by Northwind Ethanol to construct a 500,000 gallon (US) cellulosic feedstock, fuel ethanol demonstration facility in Prince George to make ethanol and lignin from woody biomass; and,

4. Pacific Regeneration Technologies will install a high-efficiency low-emission gasifier/combustor and boiler using poplar and willow feedstock in Prince George. In addition to waste biomass, to produce heat for commercial, industrial and institutional buildings. The locally-grown woody feedstock is a valuable alternative source of biomass for the region.

Editor needed for ‘Temperate Agroforester’

Have you always aspired to be an editor for fun but not-for-profit?

Mike Demchik, editor for the Temperate Agroforester, is seeking his replacement. This is a volunteer editor position. The Temperate Agroforester is the quarterly newsletter of the Association for Temperate Agroforestry.

As editor, you would be responsible for getting two (or possibly more) people to prepare descriptions of projects that highlight successful agroforestry implementation across North America or other temperate zones. The web-publication is accomplished by an outside contractor, so the responsibility of the editor is to 1) find people willing to write articles, 2) edit the writing of the articles and/or provide a review of the content, 3) get the edit approved and completed by the author/s and 4) to send the document (and usually photos also) to the web designer who will prepare the document of posting on the web.

Interested parties are asked to contact Mike with any questions at mdemchik@uwsp.edu

Province’s ‘Silviculture Vision’ an Opportunity to Advance Agroforestry

As the Provincial Government is rethinking silviculture in BC, it provides an opportunity to broaden the discussion of what constitutes “forest” management to more fully include agroforestry and non-timber resources. The Ministry of Forests and Range has released a discussion paper outlining a new framework to guide silviculture and achieve Minister Pat Bell’s goal to “make BC a world leader in growing trees.”

In a press release Bell announced "British Columbia is already a world leader in reforestation - but there is far more to silviculture than planting trees." "Whether it's the growing market for carbon offsets or next generation forest products, there are significant opportunities that will drive a broader range of silviculture activities. We want to make sure British Columbia's silviculture framework encourages new investments to maximize the economic, social, and environmental benefits from our forest lands."

The discussion paper, Growing Opportunities: A New Vision for Silviculture in British Columbia, outlines current silviculture successes, opportunities for improvement, principles to guide how the new vision might be implemented, and some questions to stimulate discussion on the future of silviculture in British Columbia.

Currently, most silviculture activities in BC are driven by the requirement to reforest harvested areas to a "free-growing" state. The Province’s goal is to build on this success at reforestation and expand silviculture's focus and resulting benefits throughout the broader life cycle of forest stands.

This process presents a great opportunity to raise the profile of agroforestry and include the management of non-timber resources, in fully integrated agroforestry management systems on Crown lands.

The Province is accepting comments on the discussion paper until Sept. 30, 2009 and recommendations will be developed in fall 2009.

Forest Communities Conference 2009

“Trends and Opportunities”
Vancouver Island Conference Centre, Nanaimo
May 20-23, 2009

Join municipal and Aboriginal leaders, government agencies, industry partners, economic development officers, community groups and researchers to hear their success stories and help chart the course for forest-based communities for the 21st century.

The 2009 conference will prominently feature agroforestry and non-timber forest product themes. Concurrent sessions over the first two days will include presentations on environmental goods and services, biomass and bioenergy and non-timber forest resources, as well as, social and economic topics, including tenure arrangements and integrated community planning and development.

On Friday May 22, the conference organizers partner with Royal Roads University, Centre for Non-timber Resources and Natural Resources Canada, to present a one day forum to explore dynamic approaches to forest resources and shifting the focus from timber to value-added wild products. The conference will also feature a ‘Shop the Wild’ event to see and sample products from BC forests.

Field trips are planned to build on conference topics, including a tour of a Vancouver Island managed forest to learn about bigleaf maple tapping and agroforestry management.