The Kambo family and friends stand in front of their newly restored pond.
This column has frequently featured farmers who work with stewardship organizations. Environmental stewardship refers to protection of the environment through conservation and sustainable practices. Many orchards, vineyards and farms have natural areas within their properties such as gullies or small wetland ponds and seepage area. Lakes or rivers can form part of the property boundaries which contain stretches of natural vegetation. If you are wondering how to manage these non-crop area areas many regions of the province have non-profit stewardship organizations that provide free advice on managing natural spaces.
Stewardship organizations can provide information on native plants, wildlife conflicts, and management of invasive weeds, as well as how to do native plant restoration, protect sensitive areas, and put up boxes to attract owls or bats. The first step in the process is a site visit to walk your land, assess the natural areas, and discuss your goals. If interested, land owners can enter into a voluntary stewardship agreement--a written document describing natural areas on the property and your intent to steward them for local wildlife. These are short-term agreements that do not affect the land title and are not enforceable against future landowners.
Stewardship organizations receive funding for their work from agencies such as Environment Canada and the BC Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation. In many cases they can provide planning assistance, labour and help with the costs of habitat restoration. In return for your stewardship effort, if you wish, you will receive media recognition and a stewardship sign to post on your property. Information that is shared with the stewardship organization about property features, your management, and any wildlife that may occur is strictly confidential.
Kenn and Sandra Oldfield of Tinhorn Creek Vineyards in Oliver, regularly improve their vineyard practices with the latest in conservation research and sustainable methods. In addition to fencing to protect snake habitat and habitat restoration, Kenn and Sandra worked closely with Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship and a local biologist to have a minimal impact on native Antelope-brush slopes when building their restaurant. “As farmers we are stewards of the land, “ states Kenn, “This means the natural areas around our farms, as well as the vineyards that give us the wine.”
Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship (OSS) works with forty landowners and the majority of them own farm businesses. Ken and Mellhina Thibault operate Casa del Mell Orchard and own one of Osoyoos’s oldest roadside fruit stands. Ken and Mellhina worked with OSS staff to restore a local wetland and riparian habitat on their property. The improved habitat is a much needed refuge for amphibians such as tiger salamanders and spadefoot. Visitors to the fruit stand can check out a bat condo and walk along a short nature trail. The Kambo family, of Kambo Farms and Ciliegia Villa also restored a wetland on their property that had accumulated all kinds of industrial waste. Each spring, the family and villa guests are treated to a full chorus of frogs enjoying the pond. The pond also provides critical habitat for many other plants and animals, including insects which pollinate surrounding farms and provide food for wildlife. ■
If you would like to find out more about local stewardship organizations contact:
Alyson Skinner, Executive Director, Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship at 250-809-1980 or okanaganstewardship@gmail.com. Tamsin Baker is Coordinator at South Coast Landowner Stewardship Program and can be reached at tamsin@sccp.ca.
Margaret Holm works for the Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance. Contact her at outreach@osca.org.
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