The post Statement in Solidarity with Palestine appeared first on LUSH.

It’s our birthday, and we’re celebrating with a mission! Let’s come together to raise $25,000 by June 30, in honour of 25 amazing years of nourishing our community!

Thanks to the generosity of local entrepreneur Grant Powers of Coastwood Private Wealth, your donation will be DOUBLED this May and June, up to $5,000! Donate now to increase the power of your dollar.

Donate today!

Since 2000, LUSH Valley has grown from a small grassroots group of community volunteers to a 20+ person team, touching the lives of nearly 5,000 people in the community each month. But we couldn’t do it without you!

As we celebrate 25 incredible years of Sharing the Harvest, consider giving us a gift that keeps on giving: a monthly donation. If we can reach a total of $2,500 in recurring donations a month, we can put more energy towards distributing nourishing, local food in the Comox Valley.

The need for our programs is greater than ever, with rising costs and a decrease in available grant funding creating a squeeze. A commitment of just $25 a month is enough to provide regular, nourishing meals to a senior in need. Every donation makes a difference!

4 ways to support us without donating

1. 1. 1. Spearhead a community-led fundraising event such as a market, concert, trivia night or fun run
      2. Rally your coworkers to raise funds as a team
      3. Tell your friends about the amazing work we do, or join our volunteer Outreach team
      4. Like, comment and share our posts on Facebook and Instagram

The post Celebrating 25 years of Sharing the Harvest! appeared first on LUSH.

We’re also delighted to share that Executive Director, Maurita Prato, will continue to be a guiding force at LUSH! Maurita’s vision and dedication has shaped LUSH Valley into the impactful organization it is today. With Arzeena on board, we are embracing a unique co-leadership model that adds capacity to our organization and allows us to be more responsive, collaborative, and innovative in addressing the complex issues around food justice and access in the Comox Valley.

“We have chosen Arzeena for this position for her proven leadership in sustainable agriculture, her deep roots in the Comox Valley, and her strong alignment with our mission to build resilient, equitable food systems. It is a very exciting addition to our team that will help LUSH Valley continue to grow and adapt to meet the needs in our community, and work towards our vision of local food at the heart of community well-being” says Maurita.

Arzeena has worked with LUSH for many years, as a produce supplier and workshop facilitator, and supported the launch of the Comox Valley Food Policy Council. Her extensive experience and deep commitment to sustainable food security will support and strengthen our mission of nurturing food systems and strengthening community connections.

“I’m thrilled and honoured to be joining the LUSH Valley team,” says Hamir. “This is an organization I’ve held in such high regard and have worked with since 2012 when I first arrived in the Comox Valley. LUSH is an incredible asset to our community and I am so pleased to support the organization moving forward.”

Arzeena has an extensive background in sustainable food systems, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Crop Science from the University of Guelph and a Master’s degree in Sustainable Agriculture from Wye College, University of England. She was a CUSO volunteer in Thailand for two years (and still speaks rudimentary Thai) and completed her Master’s research in Gujarat, India studying indigenous agricultural knowledge.

Upon returning to Canada, Arzeena was the Staff Agrologist for West Coast Seeds from 1997-99 and then worked with the Richmond Sharing Farm, a non-profit group that grows food for the Richmond Food Bank. She was heavily involved in food security programs in her home community of Richmond, establishing the Richmond Food Security Society serving as the first ED from 2008-2012. Her role entailed managing the City’s 200 community garden plots, teaching organic gardening classes, developing community kitchens and holding food preservation classes.

In 2012, Arzeena moved her family to the Comox Valley to start Amara Farm, a 26-acre certified organic farm. She also volunteered with CV Seed Savers and helped to establish the Mid Island Farmer’s Institute. Along with a number of local parents, Arzeena started the community’s first Salad Bar program at Huband Park Elementary and supported other schools like Lake Trail, Robb Road and Isfeld to start similar programs.

Arzeena also comes with experience in the political realm, having been elected as Area B Director and Vice Chair at the Comox Valley Regional District from 2018-2022 and having run for the BC Green Party in 2024. Charitable organizations are, by definition, non-partisan. As a registered charity, LUSH Valley’s work has and will continue to include non-partisan advocacy, centered in our organizational values and vision, serving the entire community and working collaboratively with people of all political beliefs.

Together, with Maurita and Arzeena at the helm, we are looking forward to strengthening and growing our programs to continue to increase community access to healthy local food and support local farmers. Welcome to the team, Arzeena!

The post Food Security Champion Arzeena Hamir Joins LUSH Valley Leadership Team appeared first on LUSH.

LUSH Valley envisions a region where healthy local food is at the heart of community wellbeing. We support the Comox Valley community to gain food-systems tools, engage in just and resilient local food systems, and receive equitable access to nourishing food through programs such as the Good Food Box Program, Hot Meal Program, Healthy Student Meal Program, Urban Agriculture and educational Healthy Food Programs such as Community Kitchens and Young Cooks. 

Community support has been a cornerstone of LUSH Valley’s work since we registered as a non-profit society nearly 25 years ago. The work that we do would not be possible without organizations and community members such as yourselves.

There are many ways to support LUSH Valley’s work: Make a one-time donation, bring your staff together for a fundraising drive, place a LUSH Valley donation box at your till, or become a 2025 Business Sponsor and be recognized as a food security champion throughout the year!

Email admin@lushvalley.org for more information or to register your organization today!

Just $6 provides one hot meal to a senior or housing-insecure person. $25 provides nourishing meals to a senior for a month, $100 provides healthy meals to a student throughout the school year and $400 provides a Good Food Box to a food-insecure family for a year. 

To donate today, visit lushvalley.org/donate

By choosing to support LUSH Valley, you are strengthening the local food system, supporting our local food economy, contributing to community growth and improving access to healthy, local food for those in our community who need it most.

The post Show Your Support for Local Food Security on Giving Tuesday appeared first on LUSH.

The post Join us for a LUSH Open House appeared first on LUSH.

Every donation of $1,000 made towards purchasing the upper suite will be reflected as an apple on the tree in honour of the donor. Volunteers who have given more than 100 hours of service within the last year will also be recognized.

Janet Fairbanks, longtime LUSH Valley volunteer, donated and dedicated her apple to the late Wayne Bradley. “I’m happy to support LUSH Valley in their expansion of programs providing healthy food to thousands of people in our communities,” says Fairbanks. “If you are able to donate, please help this amazing organization to continue their incredible work!”

“We see the acquisition of this space as vital in ensuring we are able to continue to meet the growing need for high-quality food services in our community” says Maurita Prato, Executive Director. “We are inviting you or your business to make a contribution to our Raise the Roof campaign, and become a permanent part of the story with your name inscribed on an apple growing from the tree at our building’s main entrance”.

So far, we have raised nearly $20,000 of our $50,000 goal! We are taking on an additional term loan to purchase the property, and will need to temporarily rent out the space in order to service the debt. Every dollar fundraised will help move LUSH operations upstairs a little bit sooner.

We hope to acquire the remaining $30,000 of our fundraising goal by the end of July, 2024. Donations of any size can be made at lushvalley.org/donate. To inquire about larger or legacy gifts, please phone 250-331-0152 or email admin@lushvalley.org.

The post Apples Commemorate Contributions to LUSH Expansion appeared first on LUSH.

Since purchasing our forever home in 2021, LUSH Valley has been rooted in Tin Town, expanding food programs across the Comox Valley and beyond. Now, instead of growing outwards, we are growing upwards!

On April 16th, LUSH obtained an approved offer to purchase 2342A Rosewall Crescent, the residential suite above the existing ground-floor unit.

Over the last 2.5 years, we have transformed our building into a community food hub with a large walk-in cooler and commercial kitchen. Though we have become experts at leveraging resources and improving systems, we are rapidly running out of office, parking, storage and food-processing space on site.

LUSH currently has a permit variance application into the City of Courtenay with plans in place to expand food processing operations on the main floor, and eventually move offices and program equipment upstairs.

In order to take possession in June, LUSH needs to secure $146,000. We are looking to the community to help raise $50,000 by June 17th, 2024.

“We have a unique opportunity to own the entire building in Tin Town, but we have to act fast,” says Executive Director, Maurita Prato. “We know the June deadline creates a tight timeline, but we also know how supportive our community has been and continues to be. Expanding operations would position us to better meet the growing needs for the high-quality food services and food-related education we’re providing locally.”

LUSH Valley works with more than two dozen Comox Valley Farms, 30 community organizations and 20 Comox Valley schools. Additional space will allow us to aggregate, process and distribute more healthy food to community members in need.

To make a contribution to the acquisition of the neighbouring unit, or to help us ‘raise the roof’, please visit lushvalley.org/donate.

The post LUSH Valley is Raising the Roof appeared first on LUSH.

“Our trees would not be in the wonderful shape they are now if not for the Prune-Along program,” says homeowner Mary Bogue. “We are so happy to share our lovely pears with neighbours and friends, as well as LUSH Valley’s gleaning program. We look forward to seeing their volunteer crew come to pick our fruit every year.”

Prune-Along pairs tree experts with participating tree stewards to pass on the fundamentals of fruit tree care and pruning. Each Prune-Along session takes place in the homeowner’s yard and is tailored to meet their unique needs, with the aim to improve tree health and produce higher quality fruit.

Prune-Along sessions are available weekly from January through April 7, 2024.

Each session focuses on the essentials of tree care: creating an ideal shape for ease and safety of harvest, optimizing sun penetration and air flow to improve fruit quality, and pruning to promote good health and vigour.

“I look forward to having the Prune-Along program session every year because I always learn something new.” says tree steward Jen Mac. “The consistency of the informative team assists in monitoring and promoting both the health and growth of my fruit trees, shrubs and vines. These folks are highly knowledgeable and friendly; it’s always a pleasure to venture out in the yard and swap gardening stories, ideas and goals as we prune along together.”

When the trees yield abundant fruit in harvest season, LUSH Valley encourages tree stewards to join the ever-growing list of homeowners who allow their trees to be picked by the organization’s keen volunteers.

“2024 will be the fifth year that we have offered Prune-Along, and the twenty-fifth year of the Fruit Tree Program,” says Griffin Wright, Food Access Coordinator. “These programs really complement one another, with regular pruning promoting higher-quality harvests, and well-maintained trees being so much safer and easier for our volunteers to pick. We see both of these efforts as ways to help keep our ‘Community Orchard’ resilient and abundant for years to come.”

Each two-hour Prune-Along session costs $180 and aims to leave homeowners equipped with the skills and knowledge required to care for their trees and yield abundant fruit for years to come. All equipment and ladders are supplied and transported by LUSH Valley.

For more information or to register, visit lushvalley.org/events

The post Prune-Along with LUSH appeared first on LUSH.

From Union Bay to Black Creek, 140 properties were visited, and a diverse selection of apples, pears, plums, figs, grapes, cherries and peaches were gleaned.

In spite of a host of environmental challenges, the high quality and sheer abundance of fruit this season was exceptional! A large percentage of what we harvested was large and unblemished fruit, great for distribution through our Good Food Boxes and community programs such as Comox Valley Family Services’s Healthy Families group and the Bread of Life Food Bank in Black Creek.

LUSH Valley would like to express our gratitude to the many tree stewards and volunteers who collectively dedicated over 570 hours of their time this season, as it was with their generosity and hard work that we were able to pick, transport, sort and donate all of the fruit that we did.

This was the 24th year of the Fruit Tree program. The program was created formally in 2000 to share the yield of backyard fruit trees with community members in need. In 2023, the program:

• Increases access to local food
• Decreases food waste
• Removes pest attractants
• Engages hundreds of volunteers
• Utilizes less-than-perfect fruit in the Hot Meal kitchen, at catering events and the juice press

The in-cider information? LUSH Valley Apple Juice is now available for sale!

Juice contains 100% locally-grown fruit from trees and orchards across the Comox Valley. All proceeds from juice sales are reintegrated into our food access programs, working to further nourish and empower our community. How do you like them apples?

5L boxes of pasteurized juice are $20 each. Purchase is available at the LUSH Valley warehouse while supplies last. Please visit us at 2342 Rosewall Crescent in Courtenay at one of the following times:

• Tuesdays: 10:00 – 4:00
• Wednesdays: 10:00 – 4:00
• Thursdays: 10:00 – 6:00

When you purchase a box of LUSH Valley Apple Juice, you’ll be supporting community food security and unlocking a new core memory—yes, it’s that good.

Please note that we will be closed for the holidays from December 18th to January 1st, and will resume juice sales on January 2nd, 2024.

The post Grade-A Season for the Fruit Tree Program appeared first on LUSH.

Fall in love with the flavours of our valley—the fond, the familiar and the farmers’ favourites.

LUSH Valley’s third annual fundraising event at Amara Farm will take place in two seatings. Both lunch and dinner will start off with a farm tour and canapés, followed by a family-style service for tables of eight. The meals will be primarily plant-forward, highlighting the late-summer abundance of our Valley.

The Farm to Table menu will feature local ingredients playing with global street food influence. Guests will enjoy the rich, abundant flavours of the Comox Valley through a series of dishes prepared by LUSH Valley in partnership with the Farmer’s Kitchen Food Truck. 

We will be serving handcrafted cocktails and mocktails incorporating seasonal influences, along with beer from Cumberland Brewing Company and cider from Raven’s Moon.

Also available throughout the evening will be our 50/50 raffle and silent auction.

Take in the serenity of Amara Farm, celebrate local food, drink and music while supporting food security programs and advocacy in the Comox Valley. Join us for our 2023 Farm to Table Fundraiser!

To purchase your tickets, click here.

ABOUT THE PARTNERS

The Farmer’s Kitchen Food Truck draws inspiration from a variety of global street vendors and puts a vibrant twist on dishes by highlighting local, in-season ingredients. For over two years, the Farmer’s Kitchen has been collaborating with LUSH Valley on fundraising events, catering and the Hot Meal program.

Amara Farm was established in 2012 by Arzeena Hamir and Neil Turner who shared a dream to grow healthy food for their community. The Farm received its certified organic status in 2015 and has since earned awards such as the Land of Plenty Award (2018) and the Comox Valley Record’s Best Market Vendor (2019).

ABOUT THE MUSICIANS

Kosma Busheikin started taking guitar lessons at the age of 16 with singer-songwriter Kevin Mitchell when his passion for performance was born. After graduating from Vancouver Island University with degree in Jazz Performance as encouraged by Marc Atkinson, Kosma is now based out of Nanaimo. Kosma has played at Hermann’s Jazz Club, Frankie’s Jazz Club, The Port Theater, Tofino Jazz Festival and the Hornby Island Music Festival, among other venues. He currently plays in the John Lee Trio, Graham Villette’s “Organized Crime”, Tasha Adam’s Quartet and the NMA big band. He always brings his love of blues and swing to the bandstand.

Nick Peck is an award winning composer, pianist and organist from London, UK. After graduating from London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Nick was increasingly active as a sideman, gaining valuable hands-on experience accompanying UK Jazz heros including Peter King, Derek Nash and Paul Booth in and around London and the South of England. After moving to Canada, he established a new presence on the west coast, appearing in clubs and festivals across the country. Nick has performed with Peter Bernstein, Joe Magnarelli, Nick Hempton, Terell Stafford, Oliver Gannon, John Lee and Cory Weeds, among others, and has also recorded for the Cellar Live Label.

Please note: There are a maximum of 64 tickets available per seating. Tickets must be purchased at least one day prior to the event.

This event menu includes options for guests who are gluten-intolerant, vegan, and/or dairy-free. Meal modifications are respectfully declined; please notify us of any severe allergies before purchasing a ticket.

The post Third Annual Farm to Table Fundraiser appeared first on LUSH.