A pair of greenhouses and a test bed of crops is just the start of what the Tsq̓éscen̓ First Nation has in mind for Broken Rock Ranch.
Broken Rock Ranch, also known as the Old Cabbage Patch, is located just east of the Tsq̓éscen̓ community and has recently been acquired by the Spelqweqs Development Corps for the community. This spring Tsq̓éscen̓ teamed up with the Sustainable Food Security to build two new greenhouses on the property. Its goal is to provide the community with a sustainable source of fresh produce for years to come.
Kaitlyn Dixon, Tsq̓éscen̓'s communications coordinator, said they have big plans for the property. Dixon said they hope to add several more greenhouses filled with produce and convert the current hayfield back into a crop field. She explained this will benefit the community both physically and spiritually.
"It's about securing food for the community, ensuring people have enough. We're not entirely sure how the distribution is going to work if it's going to be farmer's market style or if you bring in your compost (for the garden), you get a basket of food," Dixon said.
"Traditionally helping each other out is what we have always done. Part of our culture, a long time ago, is that along with cutting your hair up to your shoulders in mourning (after the death of a family member), you weren't allowed to hunt, gather or fish (for a year.) If you were mourning someone the whole community would step up and help take care of you. With the recent deaths, I feel like that's fallen by the wayside, and that's something people need to come back to, helping each other out."
Right now Dixon said the development of Broken Rock Ranch is still in stage one. During the spring Sustainable Food Security constructed a geogome, which Dixon was impressed at how fast they were able to put it up. Its intended use is to foster seedlings for various crops during the early spring when outdoor temperatures aren't favourable for new growth.
"They're trying to test out what kind of greenhouse works best for the environment and what's the best-growing conditions for crops," Dixon remarked. "We are kind of testing out what grows best and they are also going to be planting indigenous plants, sacred plants."
This will include tobacco, which Dixon said they'll be careful about cultivating as it is invasive to this area and will spread easily if not properly managed. They'll also be growing traditional plants like sweetgrass which is used in smudging ceremonies and to make baskets.
Next to the geodome, they have also constructed a larger and more standard greenhouse and a series of test beds where they're growing different crops including zucchini, broccoli, tomatoes, sunflowers, corn, Brussel sprouts, rhubarb, strawberries and cabbages.
"I haven't heard of anything not taking, I feel like it's been fairly successful," Dixon remarked.
So far Dixon said they haven't had a chance to plant anything in the larger greenhouse due to limited staff, but plan to use it next season. Dixon noted they have three community members employed at the ranch right now, with other members of the community who want to help out welcome to come whenever they feel like.
Once they've completed this first phase of learning what grows best on the ranch, Dixon said their next phase will be to start expanding the farm to grow more food. This will include adding more greenhouses, converting the hayfield into crop fields and potentially setting aside some space for livestock like chickens and cattle. At a certain point ownership of the ranch will also transfer from Spelqwegs to the Tsq̓éscen̓ First Nation directly.
When asked for a more concrete timeframe, Dixon said Tsq̓éscen̓ is committed to taking as long as they need to bring their vision to life.
"We'll add as many phases as we have to to keep it going."
