Community Food from the Roots Up
By Barbra Fairclough
Farmers work on irrigating and preparing the field for planting at the Sorrento Centre Farm (photo courtesy of Sorrento Centre)
Local farms and producers are busy and looking forward to a productive summer. Sorrento Centre farmer Angelo Fiaschetti says careful observation and nurturing the soil are setting the stage for a new season. Denise Griffiths, manager of the Sorrento Farmers Market is excited for this year as well.
Denise Griffiths says in this second year as manager she is looking forward to a 23rd summer for the Sorrento Farmers Market.
A couple of founding members have been with the market since it began. Sue Moore of Sudoa Farm is a founding member at 23 yrs and Larissa & Bill Stagg of Sweetacres Apiaries have been there 21 yrs.
Saturday mornings at Sorrento Shoppers Plaza 1240 Trans Canada Hwy you will find a cornucopia of food, and hand crafts from local farmers, growers, and artisans. There is plenty of free parking and leashed dogs are welcome.
Food vendors can have an alternate week option. This option offers more flexibility for vendors who are unable to come every week and it increases variety for visitors. Many of the vendors practice farm to table methods.
Your favorite community groups come out as well. Girl Guides, Shuswap Climate Action Group, FireSmart, WildsafeBC, South Shuswap ORL Branch, Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society, Sorrento Lions Club, among others.
The Farmers Market Nutrition Program is a healthy eating initiative. The Sorrento Health Centre administers the coupons in conjunction with the Sorrento Food Bank. This program benefits low-income families’ seniors and pregnant women. Recipients of the program spend them at the market on fresh (unprocessed) food items. The program runs through the summer.
Angelo Fiaschetti is the Farmer at the Sorrento Centre Farm and is all knowing, having worked from field to market for ten years. Experience on farms in the Okanagan and Lower Mainland and cultivating a variety of mixed organic vegetables among others brings him to the Sorrento Centre Farm.
Originally from Toronto, he recognizes the potential of the farm at the Sorrento Centre. Fallow during the pandemic, Angelo is observing the land and responding to the soil and the needs for future crops.
Of the four-acre farm this year, approximately 1.5 acres are currently under cultivation. After testing to find the soil has a neutral PH, Angelo got to work prepping the soil and planting.
This year Angelo will harvest a variety of vegetables. Root crops such as turnips, carrots, beets, and potatoes. As well as a selection of greens such as cabbage, kale, collards, broccolini, Brussel sprouts spinach, peas, butter lettuce and romaine and includes celery, basil, zucchinis, cukes, tomatoes, peppers beans and melons, pumpkin and squash.
Farmer Angelo rototilling in preparation for planting (Photo courtesy Sorrento Centre )
The Sorrento Centre utilizes the food grown on the farm to feed the many visitors to the Centre but also to create nutritious meals for people who are hungry. The Sorrento Centre has been cooking meals for people who are hungry since prior to the pandemic.
Angelo is looking forward to implementing more Permaculture techniques, which includes trying different growing methods and utilizing a no till method.
Striving for the best ways to keep soil healthy and productive, Angelo says “I moved to BC doing mixed organic vegetable farming, something I enjoy doing. Its hard work but I am fortunate to be here.”
