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December 5, 2008
Chanukah from B.C. farms
Circle Farm Tours will inspire you to buy gifts from local artisans.
CYNTHIA RAMSAY
While December may not seem like the best time to take a self-guided farm tour, Chanukah is almost here and artisan foods and other products would make ideal gifts – not only because of their taste and/or quality, but because their purchase supports local farmers and craftspeople. The other good thing about this type of "trip to the mall" is that you get to see some beautiful country and meet some interesting people, all within a two-hour drive of downtown Vancouver.
Tour attractions vary throughout the year and places close on different days – some even being closed all of January – so you should start your planning with a visit to www.circlefarmtour.com. According to the website, "A Circle Farm Tour is basically a road map that directs you to a variety of specialty farm-gate vendors, open-air markets, charming eateries, heritage sites, fairs and other special events.... The tours are self-guided, meaning that you travel in your own car, at your own pace, when it suits you. Each community brochure/map directs you to about 12 venues. All are related in some way to agriculture and the area's farming heritage." The communities include Abbotsford, Agassiz-Harrison Mills, Chilliwack, Langley, Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows and Mission. The following Chanukah gift ideas are from the Agassiz-Harrison Mills area.
• Canadian Hazelnuts, at 6682 Lougheed (#7) Hwy., grows, processes and sells a variety of hazelnut products, including fresh, roasted, candied, chocolate bark, flour, protein powder and hazelnut oil. Guided tours are available, but note that they're closed Dec. 24 to Jan. 2. For more information, call 604-796-2136 or e-mail canadianhazelnut@telus.net.
If you can't leave town, some of their products are for sale at www.edible-britishcolumbia.com, which also has a downloadable Edible B.C. Gift Guide with the site's most popular items.
• The Back Porch, at 6116 Golf Rd., is a pottery studio and coffee-roasting house. There are antiques and collectibles around, one of which, at least, you can't take home – and that is the circa 1919 Flame Roaster in which they roast their coffee, with names like Mellow Moose, Country Coyote and Rustic Rooster. The pottery tableware, candleholders and other items are gorgeous. The Back Porch is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., but closed in January. Call 604-796-9871 or e-mail backporch@shaw.ca.
• Farm House Natural Cheeses, at 5634 McCallum Rd., offers handmade artisan cheeses produced from the fresh milk of their own dairy cows and goats. Guided tours are available and there is a really welcoming approach with an educational slant, which would be perfect for families with young children. Generally open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, 1-5 p.m., Farm House Natural Cheeses is closed Dec. 25 and 26, Jan. 1-18 and Easter Sunday. Call 604-796-8741, e-mail info@farmhousecheeses.com or visit www.farmhousecheeses.com for more information.
If you can't leave the Vancouver area, several Farm House Natural Cheeses products are available at places like Whole Foods on the North Shore, Capers on Cambie Street in Vancouver, as well as Mount Pleasant Cheese, which is also on Cambie.
• Limbert Mountain Farm, at 5493 Limbert Rd., is an organic herb farm. You can join guest chefs for a gourmet dining experience or attend a class on nutritious food preparation, herbs or organic gardening. Guided tours are available, if you call ahead to book them or lunch for your group. And there is a home and garden decor store, at which you can buy items ranging from a Pashmina, to cast-iron geckos for your garden (or bookshelf), to locally produced food.
Generally open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m., Limbert Mountain Farm is closed Dec. 25-Jan. 31. The tea room and outdoor patio are open Saturday, Sunday and holiday Mondays, noon-4 p.m. Call 604-796-2619, e-mail info@limbertmountainfarm.com or visit www.limbertmountainfarm.com.
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