The Vancouver Island region is home to a veritable feast of organic farms that welcome you for tours and offer up everything from freshly picked produce to grass-fed beef and free-range eggs.
There are three main farming areas on Vancouver Island:
Cowichan Valley: The region's most prolific agricultural area. Valley farmers are gaining renown for their commitment to organic and sustainable farming practices as well as becoming one of North America's Slow Food epicurean centres. Juicy fruits, crisp vegetables, fragrant herbs, grain-fed meats and alpaca woollens are just some of the bounty you'll find here.
Saanich Peninsula: Look for road-side stands loaded with succulent berries, crisp vegetables, farm-fresh eggs and brightly hued flowers.
Salt Spring Island: The rich, rolling farmlands on this pastoral island are revered for the tender lamb, fruits and vegetables, alpaca woollens and fields of lavendar that they produce.
Saanichton Christmas Tree & Ostrich Farm
This unique farm grows 15 varieties of Christmas trees in addition to breeding ostriches.
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Take a guided tour of the incubation and hatchery facility to see adult ostriches, yearlings, baby chicks and eggs about to hatch (by appointment).
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Ostrich products for sale include eggs weighing the equivalent of 24 chicken eggs, ostrich-oil skin-care products and feather dusters.
Seaview Game Farm
Best known as the largest fallow deer farm on Vancouver Island, Seaview also produces organically raised chicken, lamb and venison..
Tours guide visitors past fields of deer and into their mini farm of goats, lambs, peacocks, turkeys, llamas and alpacas. The farm tour also includes the greenhouses and orchards.
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Family fun includes a petting zoo and playground, as well as the opportunity to stay overnight in an authentic teepee.
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Located just north of Courtenay.
Valhalla Farm Herbs 'N Things
This small, family-run farm located in the Cowichan Valley, is dedicated to producing a wide variety of organically grown herbs. Herbs are processed immediately after harvesting to preserve their fresh-picked flavour.
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Visitors are invited to wander through the lovely display garden.
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Jams and jellies in unique flavours such as Black Currant & Tarragon or Garlic & Dragon Fingers, as well as herbal vinegars, teas and soaps are for sale onsite.