President Alan Brown welcomed 50 Glacier PROBUS Club members and our guest speaker to our meeting.
Alan noted that our club is a popular group in the valley with 42 people on the waitlist. In September there is usually only a 10% turnover, so with that in mind, the waitlist will be cut off at 40.
Past President John McGinn reminded members that we have two openings on the Board and asked members to give it some serious thought. Special Events Coordinator Michele Morton is a font of information and he suggested members talk with her. John stated that the current Vice President, Lorne Meyer, would be serving his three year commitment of vice-president, president, and past president.
Vice President Lorne Meyer introduced our guest speaker, Willem Semmelink, the patriarch of Lentelus Farms. Willem grew up in Cape Town, South Africa and studied environmentalism and social activism in three continents.
Behind the mountains in northern SA where the indigenous Khoisan lived and the hills were covered in endemic cedar and the rivers flowed, there were many abandoned farmsteads.
In 1947, Martin Versfeld, Dave’s grandfather, bought a farm in Bo Kouga, SA with the name of “Depths of Despair” and changed the name to Lentelus, which means, “Joy For Spring”. This farm became a refuge from the security police, and a place of rest. And this is where Dave, Willem’s son, grew to love his grandparents' farm. There was an orchard, pigs, sheep, and bees.
Willem grew up in the 60’s in the United States. Willem avoided the draft by studying at University where he was drawn to agriculture and environmental concerns. He was interested in sustainable, organic agriculture and growing food in a more sensible way.
Dave, started Lentelus Farms in the Comox Valley, in 2015 after deciding to try his hand at farming rather than travelling to plant trees forever. Dave has leased 40 acres from Ducks Unlimited and another block also from Ducks Unlimited off the Dyke Road. Regenerative farming is the underlying philosophy of Lentelus Farms and the belief that the soil, plants, and animals work with our gut microbiome. They question: “What did your food eat?” The animals at Lentelus Farms are allowed to roam and graze freely. They are 100% free of antibiotics, hormones, or steroids, and GMOs. Willem is the baker in the family and you can ask Steve Ray about the yummy bread from Lentelus Farms.
Check out their roadside Farm Stand at 1300 Comox Road, north of the 17th Street Bridge. Winter hours are: Thursday 1:00 to 4:00 and Saturdays 10:00 to 3:00.
Website: lentelusfarms.com
Questions:
Lorne Meyer asked about the Lentelus Farm affiliation with North Island College. Willem stated that he and Dave have been working on the curriculum for a farming certificate for the past four years. North Island College hosted 8-12 students introducing them to farming, market gardening, livestock, and orchard development at Lentelus Farms.
Alan Brown noted the large number of geese and trumpeter swans on the open land. Willem reported that Ducks Unlimited has liens on the land and that no posts or perimeter fencing are allowed so that the wildfowl can graze freely. Cover crops must be planted at all times according to regenerative farming policy. There is duck hunting in November to December on the land.
Monica McKinley noted that last September there was an open house for North Island College. Willem stated that due to insurance costs no other visitors are allowed on the farm. There is hope that the Kus-kus-sum Project Watershed may provide a walkway through the farm and wetlands in the future.
Jill Almond asked about their work in Kelowna. Willem stated that they have purchased a land butchery and abattoir.
Monica McKinley, who lives behind the farm pasture, also noted that she had not seen the pigs outside recently. Willem stated it is too wet for them to be outside in the winter so they are either inside or at the abattoir (Gunther’s).
Lorne thanked Willem for telling us about Lentelus Farms.
The winners of the Hot Chocolates gift certificates were: Dawn Moore, Dave Adshead, Stuart Lane, and Teresa Cosco.
Photos of our guest speaker, Willem Semmelink and Vice President Lorne Meyer and President Alan Brown and GC winners taken by Ian Thompson.
Alan noted that our club is a popular group in the valley with 42 people on the waitlist. In September there is usually only a 10% turnover, so with that in mind, the waitlist will be cut off at 40.
Past President John McGinn reminded members that we have two openings on the Board and asked members to give it some serious thought. Special Events Coordinator Michele Morton is a font of information and he suggested members talk with her. John stated that the current Vice President, Lorne Meyer, would be serving his three year commitment of vice-president, president, and past president.
Vice President Lorne Meyer introduced our guest speaker, Willem Semmelink, the patriarch of Lentelus Farms. Willem grew up in Cape Town, South Africa and studied environmentalism and social activism in three continents.
Behind the mountains in northern SA where the indigenous Khoisan lived and the hills were covered in endemic cedar and the rivers flowed, there were many abandoned farmsteads.
In 1947, Martin Versfeld, Dave’s grandfather, bought a farm in Bo Kouga, SA with the name of “Depths of Despair” and changed the name to Lentelus, which means, “Joy For Spring”. This farm became a refuge from the security police, and a place of rest. And this is where Dave, Willem’s son, grew to love his grandparents' farm. There was an orchard, pigs, sheep, and bees.
Willem grew up in the 60’s in the United States. Willem avoided the draft by studying at University where he was drawn to agriculture and environmental concerns. He was interested in sustainable, organic agriculture and growing food in a more sensible way.
Dave, started Lentelus Farms in the Comox Valley, in 2015 after deciding to try his hand at farming rather than travelling to plant trees forever. Dave has leased 40 acres from Ducks Unlimited and another block also from Ducks Unlimited off the Dyke Road. Regenerative farming is the underlying philosophy of Lentelus Farms and the belief that the soil, plants, and animals work with our gut microbiome. They question: “What did your food eat?” The animals at Lentelus Farms are allowed to roam and graze freely. They are 100% free of antibiotics, hormones, or steroids, and GMOs. Willem is the baker in the family and you can ask Steve Ray about the yummy bread from Lentelus Farms.
Check out their roadside Farm Stand at 1300 Comox Road, north of the 17th Street Bridge. Winter hours are: Thursday 1:00 to 4:00 and Saturdays 10:00 to 3:00.
Website: lentelusfarms.com
Questions:
Lorne Meyer asked about the Lentelus Farm affiliation with North Island College. Willem stated that he and Dave have been working on the curriculum for a farming certificate for the past four years. North Island College hosted 8-12 students introducing them to farming, market gardening, livestock, and orchard development at Lentelus Farms.
Alan Brown noted the large number of geese and trumpeter swans on the open land. Willem reported that Ducks Unlimited has liens on the land and that no posts or perimeter fencing are allowed so that the wildfowl can graze freely. Cover crops must be planted at all times according to regenerative farming policy. There is duck hunting in November to December on the land.
Monica McKinley noted that last September there was an open house for North Island College. Willem stated that due to insurance costs no other visitors are allowed on the farm. There is hope that the Kus-kus-sum Project Watershed may provide a walkway through the farm and wetlands in the future.
Jill Almond asked about their work in Kelowna. Willem stated that they have purchased a land butchery and abattoir.
Monica McKinley, who lives behind the farm pasture, also noted that she had not seen the pigs outside recently. Willem stated it is too wet for them to be outside in the winter so they are either inside or at the abattoir (Gunther’s).
Lorne thanked Willem for telling us about Lentelus Farms.
The winners of the Hot Chocolates gift certificates were: Dawn Moore, Dave Adshead, Stuart Lane, and Teresa Cosco.
Photos of our guest speaker, Willem Semmelink and Vice President Lorne Meyer and President Alan Brown and GC winners taken by Ian Thompson.
