Hans Peter Meyer

Special to the Record

The Birds and the Beans farm launched in the spring of 2013. This fall and winter you鈥檒l see farmers Foster Richardson, Kelsey Knoll, Natasha Tymo, and Jay Baker-French selling winter crops: kale, cabbages, rutabagas, winter squash, celeriac, lots of squash, potatoes, and dried beans. 鈥淕rain crops and dried beans are a big hole in our local food system,鈥� says Richardson. 鈥淥ur goal is to rebuild that capacity locally.鈥�

Vegetable crops are demanding on the soil. 鈥淲e grow organically,鈥� Richardson explains. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 have the option of using chemical fertilizers.鈥� As well as improving local food security, growing beans has the benefit of improving the soil.

Access to affordable land is an issue for most new farmers. The opportunity to lease land at Beaver Meadows Farms is what brought the four Ag school grads to the Comox Valley.

Their first year saw many trials 鈥� testing different varieties and launching a new farm venture. Year two has seen more crop trials (nine varieties of dried beans). They鈥檝e developed a strong customer base at the Comox Valley Farmers鈥� Market, they sell through Sunshine Organics, and they鈥檝e launched a box program (the fall program has just started).

The springboard for success has been the Comox Valley Farmers鈥� Market. Richardson says they needed to get the name 鈥渙ut there, to meet people.鈥�

For more information about The Birds and the Beans, meet the crew at the Comox Valley Farmers鈥� Market on Saturdays all year 鈥榬ound. Or visit their website at thebirdsandthebeans.blogspot.ca or the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thebirdsandthebeansfarm.