Embrace an Organic Life
at the Community Farm Store in Duncan
By Judy Stafford
Biting
into the fresh, firm, ripe tomato, I ignore the juice dribbling down my chin as
the rich, aromatic flavour dances in my mouth. I savour this gift of the earth.
Memories of hours spent tending and nurturing my organic farm garden come
flooding back—well those and thoughts of backbreaking weeding and all those
pesky slugs that were well sustained on my broccoli.
Organic
gardening certainly can come with its own surprises to accompany the great
flavours; a dinner party had one of my guests jumping up and running to the
sink trying to divest their plate of the extra protein wiggling around in their
salad. Those moments aside—that I can laugh about now—there is nothing to compare
with food harvested from your own garden only hours before: fresh, delicious,
and chemical free.
Growing
food naturally is nothing ‘new.’ As David Suzuki says, “It might seem like a
hip new trend, but various forms of organic agriculture have been around for
some 6,000 years. Organic farming has taken off recently as consumers and
farmers have both discovered the benefits of a more holistic approach to
agriculture… this is one trend that's likely here to stay.” 
It’s
staying and it’s booming according to Nicolette Genier, co-owner of The Community Farm Store, located in the
beautifully restored Duncan Garage building in Duncan. For folks like me, who
don’t have the space to plant huge gardens anymore, buying from her organic
grocery store is the next best thing. But organic for Nicolette means much more
than just selling chemical-free food: being organic has become a whole way of
life.
“The workplace has become as organic as the food we sell. We put people first, sales second. We always allow time for family commitments, conversations, and laughter. Talking with customers, and each other, is part of our job description. It’s how we all stay connected, and it’s what gives us that feeling that work is not just work—it feels as much like home as home does. Many of us have our children working here and sometimes we have to miss work to attend family commitments, which are always accommodated. If your motto is “people first” then you have to take these needs into consideration. It’s a bit of a nightmare to schedule, but somehow it works out.”
Nicolette
has been running the store for five years since it moved to this location from
Glenora. Her partner, Susan Minette, takes charge of the Corfield Café located
in the same building, bringing an incredible array of organic snacks, treats,
meals, and beverages to all her dedicated customers. Together they have grown
from 10 staff to 40 and serve over 500 customers a day. 
“Our
growth has all been done in a very unconventional way, rather unordinary,”
Nicolette explains. “We probably break a lot of rules on how to operate a
retail store. We make up the rules as we go and everyone has a say in how we
run this place. It’s complete teamwork. Due to space limitations, we have to be
creative with our displays, and yet we have minimal wastage. Our customers find
everything no matter where we put it. Even though we’re small, we’re told we
have more product selection and better prices than big health food
stores. I hope we never get so big that we don’t know all our customers by
name. It’s tempting to “go big” but small has so much more to offer.”
She
lives the adage: one person can make a difference. Her passion for wanting to
make a difference—to create an ideal shopping experience for all her customers,
and a workplace that’s an extension of family for her staff, and to not harm
the planet in the process—has manifested.
“I think
you can make a huge difference. Everything we do here ties into the
environment. We’re always trying to better ourselves. I think you should
examine every item you buy and ask yourself, what is the long-term impact of
each purchase? Set an example, then you can start to feel really good about
yourself and turn things around so that the planet benefits. Maybe you won’t
save money but you will feel happier. When you’re doing your bit, you are a
happier person.”
I know I
feel happy, sitting back sipping my organic fruit smoothie, people watching.
The corridor filled with small square tables is busy. The laughter seems
contagious between the customers and the staff. And there is a sense that this
place is different, perhaps because it’s so small. And small is the new big according to Nicolette, and her small store is
half the secret to their success.
“You’ll
have at least one interesting interaction with someone. If only because you’ll
bump into them; when the aisle is only three feet wide, chances are you are
going to,” Nicolette laughs. “And during the night things don’t magically
appear; elves aren’t here stocking the shelves. You witness everything during working
hours: the farmers coming in, deliveries, and pallets being loaded and
unloaded. Almost everything comes in the front door so you see what’s going
on.”
Organics
have come a long way from the wilted broccoli in a back, obscure corner of the
supermarket. The bins of brilliantly fresh and colourful array of organic
fruits and vegetables here look delicious. Larger supermarket chains are also
answering the call from concerned customers and offering more options. If
you’re not seeing enough organics in your local shop—ask, or switch stores.
It’s important.
According
to Health Canada, “…
we receive 80 to 95% of our total daily intake of dangerous chemicals [...]
through our food. Children are especially vulnerable." But our food isn’t
the only part of organics that we can embrace; it has spread way beyond just
veggies. Incorporating organics into the way you live and the way you work are
integrating and sustaining acts that benefit yourself and your community.
Luckily
it’s getting easier all the time to ‘organicize’ your entire home, wardrobe,
and fridge. Places like Reflections
Holistic Studio and Boutique in Duncan make it indulgent too, offering
eco-friendly clothing, organic body-care products, and even organic spa
treatments.
You
don’t have to look far to find organic bamboo flooring, t-shirts, and even bed
sheets. There are organic hemp products to fill your tummy and your closets.
You can start your day with chemical-free shampoo, eat organic food and treats,
feed your pets organically, and relax at the end of the day with some organic
wine. Sounds perfect.
And now is the perfect time to add more organics to your life as September is Organic Harvest Month. The Farmers’ Markets are in full swing and on September 28th Saltspring Island, the Organic Gardening Capital of Canada, is hosting its 10th annual Organic Apple Festival. And don’t miss The Community Farm Store’s 5th anniversary at the Duncan City Square on September 6th. There will be entertainment, prizes, and dancing right into the night!
So even
with risking the unexpected surprises on your dinner plate, knowing the bugs
are chemical-free is still worth making the switch to organics. And like my mom
always whispered, “Don’t tell or everyone will all want one.”
