By Andrea Peacock/News staff
Step into the country life this weekend with the annual Saanich Peninsula Flavour Trails.
“The purpose is to celebrate our farmers and farming in North Saanich [and on the Peninsula],” said Alice Finall, mayor of North Saanich.
“I’m very excited because I think we’re getting into broader aspects of farming and how important it is for our community.”
Finall added the success of last year’s Flavour Trails gave organizers something to build on this year.
“We have more participation from every community on the Peninsula including Saanich,” she said.
The Saanich Peninsula Flavour Trails event kicks off with a barbecue at Muse Winery on Friday at 6 p.m. (tickets for the event are $29).
Flavour Trails coordinator Robert Thompson said he advises booking tickets ahead of time, (call the Muse Winery at 250-656-2552 to reserve.)
On Sunday, there will be a 25km Flavour Cycle tour.
Participants will cycle from the Roost Farm Centre in North Saanich at 9:30 a.m. along the country roads of the Saanich Peninsula and visit the Flavour Trail events and locations along the way.
The ride will end back at the Roost Farm Centre at around 4:30 p.m. said Thompson.
The cost is $65, which includes an escorted ride, lunch and taxes.
Cyclists are asked to register for the ride by calling 250-999-2997.
Thompson said the Flavour Trails events are a good chance to create awareness of what is going on in the large Saanich Peninsula agricultural community.
“It’s designed to get people out to farms and other venues to learn about the process of growing food in that area and ultimately to create some economic stimulus for people who are producing food,” said Thompson.
Thompson said one of the events he is most looking forward to is the West Coast Canine Academy Sheep Herding, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday at Epicure Selections fields (10555 West Saanich Rd.)
There will be one demonstration per day from noon to 1 p.m.
On Sunday, there will also be guided tours of White House Stables between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
People will get the chance to see various animals from chickens to thoroughbred race horses, to jersey cows and spotted pigs.
“That’s a great family site,” said Thompson of the stables.
For a complete list of the 16 Saanich Peninsula Flavour Trails activities and locations, visit flavourtrails.com and download the full brochure or use the pullout on the previous two pages.