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...a glimpse into life on Vancouver Island, needle felting, photography, food, gardening, etcetera...etcetera
"Happiness always looks small when you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and at once you learn how big and precious it is."
Maxim Gorky

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Where I work...commute...10 minutes

Mosaic by local artist Noreen Schmuck.

I used to commute 45 minutes to my job in the city as a letter carrier with Canada Post then...

Last summer I met a lady named Kate who was dreaming of opening her own eatery/ deli/ whole food market. She wanted it to be a place where like-minded people could gather not just for the shopping and eating, but to be a part of the community where we live. Sooke is a small town with it's roots in logging and fishing and times have changed and more and more diversity dwells here. There are artists, small farmers, musicians and people from all over the world who have made this small oceanside town their home. The closest large town is 1/2 hour away and the city of Victoria is 45 minutes away so most people would prefer to buy local if they can. The 2 grocery stores here are o.k but don't provide many organic or locally produced food. So Farmers Daughter to the rescue! I work here 3 days a week doing a bit of everything including baking, soup making from scratch, preparing meals, customer service and I even do dishes! Actually that's the great thing about this place is that we all do a little bit of everything...
Here's Wysteria making a few yummy salads for lunch...
mmm...roasted beets on baby spinach with goats chees and walnuts and fennel carrot stips with tangelo dressing...
Here's Ellen making the never ending kale chips...
Cream of broccoli soup with smoked cheddar cheese...
This was a fancy 5 course meal we had in the midst of winter...delicious!
...a cozy night it was.
Kate hamming it up in the kitchen with Josh and my tiny Thai sister in law, Phikun...
This woman knows how to cook!!

We've started to have open mic nights every second week...
Here's Kates partner Michael,  serenading us with some traditional ballads...
...and this woman and her son doing 'House of the rising sun' in Czech!
 Josh, brother Juda and Kate...they look pretty serious but don't let that fool you!
Shelves of home canned goods, maple syrup, olive oil and grains etc...
Gorgeous handmade cheese and sausage made on the Island...
 
 
How many workplaces have this for their view?!
So thats the tour...if you're in Sooke...come on by for some fresh juice and delicious home made food.

7 comments:

gz said...

Thanks for the tour!
I wish more communities could see it and get inspired!!

gz said...

I see you do needle felting. Have you found this blog?
http://feltingneedle.blogspot.com/
she is also on www.downsizer.net

mariel said...

What a wonderful little place! We have a lovely green grocers down the road selling fabulous local, organic and fairtrade produce, but its still in the middle of the city! Thanks for sharing, great inspiration.

farmlady said...

This reminds me of Mendocino, CA. so much. My friend use to live there and it has the same "feel" that Sooke does.
I love where you work. Always wanted a job like this. I had some good jobs but the small restaurant/store where fresh food and conversation are out front is a wonderful business..., I would only add BOOKS..., and a dog.

Anonymous said...

That's a great model to base life upon - made my day to see people getting something like this together 8-)

Anonymous said...

Hi Kerry...It looks like I have found your ancestors grave. Check it out on my blog. I hope you don't mind that I posted the pictures for all to see but it turned out to be the most wonderful of days...a real expedition through backroads...wrong turns...snow covered hilltops...I'm so happy to have found it for you and I hope you like my photos.

Unknown said...

:'(

i didnt see my junk there, lol

i did like your photo of "being hammered" lol