After a two-month delay, cyclists can again get excited about the Creston Valley Tour de Farm, a 34-kilometre round trip visiting four farms and a winery.
Put on by the Kootenay Young Agrarians (YA), the bicycle tour was scheduled for July, but postponed due to extreme heat, and is now slated for Sept. 13. Although the decision to postpone was a tough one, the early fall is a perfect time for the event.
“Part of what makes our valley so special is that there is farm magic to witness year-round,” said Laura Hannant, who co-ordinate YA with Nigel Francis. “Mid-September is especially abundant. There will bounty everywhere we go from late summer and early farm vegetables to grains being harvested.”
Cyclists will start at the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce and pedal to Cartwheel Farm (organic market garden), Full Circle Farm (grain), Kootenay Meadows (milk and cheese), Just-A-Mere Organic Farm (fruit and vegetables) and Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery.
This Tour de Farm follows up on last year’s inaugural tour, which attracted people of all ages and abilities — some cycling for the first time in years, others towing kids in trailers — who quickly became passionate about what the experience.
“Last year, people who came out for the ride loved how celebratory the day felt,” said Hannant. “Everyone who came out believes in the possibility of a future where we know where all our food comes from, and where that food isn’t just fresh and healthy, but delicious! Seeing so many different types of farm in one community in one day makes that future feel less far off. And there’s something pretty special about sitting down to a delicious glass of local wine with new friends at the end of a long bike ride.”
It’s important, she added, for consumers to have that close contact with producers — and meeting them via bicycle is a unique way to do tht.
“Whether most of us see it or not, there are farmers all across our valley working day in and day out to feed us and to care for our land,” said Hannant. “I think there is value in remembering that and getting a peek at what it looks like. I think there is also deep value is recognizing how much more farming could be happening here. Biking from farm to farm and seeing the landscape roll past, our valley’s untapped agricultural potential is obvious and inspiring.”
Tour de Farm tickets are $20, available in advance at the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce. Anyone interested in volunteering that day can email Laura Hannant or Nigel Francis at kootenays@youngagrarians.org.