Why a Village?

We all live in villages, a state of mind if you will, with our family, friends and acquaintances. Some make sure that the poor are not forgotten. Some coach our children and some build our world. That's village life. Technology is my window on the world and when I look out on it I am confused why others would like to live in isolation from his fellow man.That's the world I suupose.....

My dad said "Build your own World"... I'll try dad..... I'll try....

Spinach pulled off local shelves

A recall of packaged Spinach from the US reaches our local stores.This may just be an isolated incident but is it time to seriously look into developing our local capacity to commercially grow produce? (even on a seasonal basis.)

If so, how about supporting the folks operating the Farmer's Market for next season.

What can be done??

Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative: Call for Letters of Intent

Info from the government of BC..

"The Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC is accepting Letters of Intent to submit a proposal under the Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative. The deadline for Letters of Intent is September 29,2006.Following a technical review to determine eligibility,proponents will be invited to submit a full application by October 27, 2006. A second call may be made at a later date if all program funding is not allocated in the first round.

You can find complete details about the program guidelines on submitting a Letter of Intent, and Program Manager contact info on our website:

http://www.iafbc.ca "

This could be a good one to look into for agriculture producers looking into this option...

Can Strata Title Ownership Provide Opportunities for Community Revitalization?

Strata title developments are commonplace in urban centres, providing developers with a product that allows them to build large projects which can be sold in units that are attractive to potential purchasers.In the context of villages, this technique could be used to redevelop downtown areas employing designs such as new urbanism, creating multi-use buildings.A typical village core design could incorporate retail space at street level with professional offices on the second floor and rooftop penthouses in a three storey configuration.Such projects would provide village centre living at an affordable price.I believe this type of redevelopment would have a positive effect on a community in terms of a revitalized streetscape and compact individual unit design which meets the needs of the entire community.

Kids Leaving School?

With the demand for workers in the oil patch and the high wages offerred, I am concerned that kids may be dropping out of school rationalizing that they can get a job paying over $20 / hr., so why stay in school.
Is making trade school/apprenticeships an option for grade 10 students the answer?

Is BioFuel production part of our future?

North Central British Columbia has been described as the Saudi Arabia of Biomass. As current estimates indicate that only 30% of the standing Bug wood can be harvested for sawlogs, this is a prospect some businesses are pursuing. Wood pellets do make a viable energy product and there are those working on feasibilities around producing charcoal. The jury is still out on whether you can pay the costs associated with harvesting and transportation to market for these products and still make a profit, but this may just require better procedures for sorting and grading of logs in the bush. My bet is solutions will be found.

Musings on Pine Beetle

The pine trees are red
The pine trees are dead
And we are left to wonder
What lies ahead.


Some blame Global Warming for not bringing cold winter weather. Some blame the government for not acting sooner. Hindsight is always perfect. I personally blame no one as I see that would get me nowhere.

The Cariboo Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition has stated in the 100 Mile Free Press that the communities affected will experience boom and bust cycles for the next three to four decades.
I'm not sure I agree with that assessment but the fact remains all of us that live in the infected areas will be affected in some way. Our communities have been described as being in "transition", but such objective descriptions does not describe the feelings one has when viewing the devestation. Strangely, visitors to our land barely seem to notice until its pointed out... or they may just be being polite...

So many communities are touched by the Bugs, places where people came to live with the land, places with names like 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, Quesnel, Prince George, Vanderhoof, Fort St. James, Fraser Lake, Burns Lake, Houston and Smithers. There are others big and small.

Some say its a catastrophe, others that its an opportunity. One thing is for certain the communities will have to change to survive; and change won't come cheap.
Some will leave, choosing to seek greener pastures in the oil patch or the south, but those like me will stay and do what we can to make the best of a bad situation, to reinvent the village.

I hope this will be a journal, a lasting testimony, to those who decide to stay and steward "transition" and those that join us. I hope others from around the world come in and share their knowledge and experiences about the communities they live in and how they faced their particular difficulties. My objective is for all of us to learn from each other so we may protect and preserve village life; so future generations may experience its simple pleasures.

Graham Stanley
September 17, 2006.