This was a super ideal for the Apple Festival live planting of an apple orchard.

A fundraiser for the Salt Spring Abattoir.

Did you know that between 2004 and 2008 meat production on Salt Spring Island declined by half? Recent changes in government regulations have meant that producers had to transport all livestock off-island for processing if they wish to sell the meat, adding expense and causing stress to livestock.

Salt Springers get busy! A committee of 12 dedicated locals, representing meat and poultry producers and the organic sector, have been working hard as a task force of the Agricultural Alliance to raise funds, develop the plans and find a location for our own abattoir. This is a community-instigated project and many hundreds of volunteer hours have gone into its development. The total budget required is $350,000 – and less than $30,000 is now needed!

How can you support? Well, how would you like an awesome hand-crafted Chicken Tractor for just $10? We’re having a draw by donation at the Fall Fair – to raise funds for your local abattoir and tickets are just $10!

Look for the Salt Spring Abattoir Tent (near the museum and main entry point) with the “Chicken Palace”, a mobile coop or tractor designed and built by local Poultry Club membeMichael Hogan. This is a chicken’s dream home. Beautifully constructed from cedar (naturally bug repellent), measuring 6 by 5 ft and 5 ft high, this 2 level A frame can hold 3 or 4 full size hens or 6-8 bantams. The estimated cash value of this chicken tractor is $850 and comes with a metal feeder and poultry food donated by Foxglove Farm and Garden Supply.

There will also be many other awesome local items available at the fair through a silent auction. Donated items include:

• A personal dinner prepared in your home by Bruce Wood
• Jewellery by Carol Wagner and Neacol Miller of Bling Squared
• A Pizza Party for 8 people from Rollie Cook
• A Spanish Rose wine kit – 30 bottles from The Wine Cellar
• A Christmas turkey from Ruckle Farm
• Gift Baskets from Salt Spring Soapworks and Mount Maxwell Coffee
• Irises from the acclaimed Ted Baker
• Chocolates by Chocolate Beach
• A cord of firewood donated by Colin & Natascha Byron
• Relaxing treatments from Flo Day Spa and Kelly Johnson RMT
• A custom house sign by Ron Ateah
• An insect sculpture from Sean Goddard of Farmhouse Gallery
• A Monsoon Coast Spice Rub Box Set
• A one night stay at beautiful Monivea Bed and Breakfast

Please drop by our tent at The Fall Fair and make a bid for these or the many other exciting local goods and services donated by abattoir supporters.

The Abattoir is part of the SSI Agriculture Infrastructure Project:

• The project is a community initiative to develop THREE facilities identified by the Salt Spring Island Area Farm Plan as key elements for the revitalization of agriculture and local food production on the island.
• These are 1) the mobile abattoir; 2) a produce processing, storage and distribution centre; and 3) a central community composting facility.

About the Abattoir:

NON-PROFIT FOR THE COMMUNITY: The Salt Spring Abbattoir will be a community owned, not-for-profit facility also providing local jobs.
MOBILE? The abattoir is a movable facility – but will mostly stay in one place (it will NOT be moving from farm to farm)
WHAT WILL IT CONSIST OF? Local farmers, a veterinary student and community groups worked together to create a very simple facility with a holding area, a mobile unit for slaughter, refrigerated storage and cut and wrap space. It will meet the government regulations and provide the capacity for island farmers to serve island customers with safe, tasty and local meat.
WHERE? We have a Temporary Use Permit for a location tucked in behind Starbarks on the Fulford-Ganges Road.

Current status:

• This project is moving into high gear. The abattoir design has been through its first stage of approval – and if all goes according to schedule the abattoir will start operating early in 2012.
• Less than $30,000 is now needed – the community has been amazingly supportive and generous and fundraising continues apace.
• A local designer and project manager has been appointed as the construction manager for the abattoir using funds from VanCity’s Envirofund grant. Please note that all publicly donated funds will go towards the cost of the abattoir buildings and site preparation. Work at the Fulford Ganges Rd site is expected to be underway by mid-October.

For details of how to donate or for more information about this project see the Current Projects section on the Agricultural Alliance website at www.plantofarm.org or come and see us at the Fall Fair, September 17 & 18.

Further details are available from Margaret Thomson, chair of the Salt Spring Livestock Producers group, at 250 537-4669 or windrush@telus.net

This brilliant looking bug has been hanging out around one of our out buildings for the last few days. We’ve haven’t seen anything like it before. The colour contrasts are remarkable. Does anyone know what this is?