Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine, Issue 30, May 2011
By Rick Juliusson
Quick: name a farm that works with developmentally disabled adults AND is biodynamic.
If you guessed Providence or Alderlea Farms, you're half right. If you said Glenora Farm, then you already know this gem just 5 minutes west of Duncan. One of 100 Camphill Communities worldwide, Glenora Farm is a residential community where people with developmental disabilities live, learn, and work together with caregivers, sharing in a culturally rich and productive environment.
How do I love thee, Glenora Farm? Let me count the ways:
1. It's a biodynamic farm, one of just a few on the island. Not only do they follow organic methods, but they treat the farm as a living entity. The soil is not just a medium to generate food, but an integral part of the self-nourishing system involving plants, animals, and soil. The focus is on the dynamic process rather than the methods. Caring for the land is a natural part of a relationship, not a means to an end.
2. It's a social enterprise. When you visit their stand at the Farmers' Market (third from the corner on Ingram Street, in the shade of Pharmasave), you're supporting the therapeutic programs and positive living environment they provide. The same as when you purchase their candles, beautiful weaving, and even gas and food at the Glenora Corners café, which they own.
3. It's therapeutic. The developmentally disabled adults (called Companions) are fully involved in the operations of the farm. They have a sense of pride and self-worth, and it deepens their connection to the caregivers and community. As with any hand work, farming also assists with coordination, physical health, concentration, and rhythm. When you bite into a juicy Glenora Farm carrot, you're entering into a relationship with their land, community, special needs partners, and therapeutic programs. That, my friends, is a happy meal, Cowichan style.
Rick Juliusson supports non-profits with sustainable fundraising and organizational development. FreeRangeConsulting.ca