Farmers in the Comox Valley have had to adjust to a great number of events this season. Epic snow storms, a very wet and long-lasting spring, and record-breaking heat and drought in the summer. Luckily, growers are resilient and with the right information, are able to make decisions that allow their farms to adapt. The Mid Island Farmers Institute will be hosting its first meeting of the fall/winter season on Sept. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Merville Hall with two talks that farmers and growers will not want to miss.

At 6:30, president of the Certified Organic Association of BC, Carmen Wakeling, and executive director of operations, Jen Gamble, will be discussing the new provincial regulations around the use of the word 鈥渙rganic鈥� in relation to food and beverage sales - including farm gate sales, farmers鈥� markets and retail stores.

In this workshop, the presenters will explore the new regulation and its impact on producers, both certified and non-certified, as well as dive into the steps to becoming certified and the support available to producers who plan to transition. This workshop will be essential for everyone from farmers currently using organic practices to bakeries labeling products as organic.

After a short coffee and snack break, the next speaker, Dr. Thierry Vrain, will discuss the impact of Round-up and its main ingredient glyphosate on the ecology of our farms. Glyphosate, was once thought to be so safe, you could drink it. New evidence is revealing that not only is it a powerful antibiotic that impacts both soil and gut flora, it could also be stripping our soils of important minerals.

The Merville Hall is located at 1245 Fenwick Road, just north of the Merville Store. The event is free for members and $5 for non-members. For more information, please contact Mid Island Farmers Institute President Arzeena Hamir, at (250) 702-5657 or at midislandfarmersinstitute@gmail.com