Family Farms Day 2026
September 20 2026
11AM - 3PM
No Cost
Family Farms Day is officially on the way, and we are busy behind the scenes organizing this year's event to bring you an incredible lineup featuring a unique mix of working farms, urban sites, local social enterprises, and even our very own Dry Creek Community Garden! Our official event brochure is being finalized and will be released very soon, so be sure to keep checking our Facebook page or scroll below to participate in our Close-Up Photo Challenge .
Close-Up Photo Challenge
To introduce you to our amazing Family Farms Day hosts, we will be sharing a super close-up photo of a farm product, item, or creature from each one of our participating locations every few days to see if you can identify it. Take a close look at each mystery image, and then click on the 'answer' tab to reveal the photo subject, which is featured at each farm site.
Site 1
Shelter Farm
725 Franklin River Road
Shelter Farm is a truly inspiring 172-acre property located just off Franklin River Road, where agriculture, community, and healing seamlessly blend. The site proudly houses the Therapeutic Recovery Community, a long-term residential program where women overcoming addiction find empowerment and build vital food skills through daily farm work. Alongside this meaningful mission, Shelter Farm operates a thriving Social Enterprise Market Garden. During Family Farms Day, visitors are invited to tour the greenhouses and explore fields filled with fresh produce, herbs, and flowers. A variety of items will be available for purchase, so guests are encouraged to bring cash and a cooler to take home a fresh taste of the harvest!
Site 2
The House on Montrose
4541 Montrose Street
Curious about what life looks like without a traditional lawn? The House on Montrose offers a fascinating look at sustainable urban landscaping. The front yard has been completely replaced with a vibrant selection of shrubs, flowers, and drought-tolerant herbs that thrive entirely without artificial watering. In the backyard, the property features inherited raised beds bursting with tayberries, blueberries, and artichokes, alongside newly expanded food-producing areas, a greenhouse, and a Mediterranean garden. The owners have also worked hard to remove invasive plants beneath their towering Douglas fir, replacing them with a beautiful mix of native species. Visitors are welcome to come, explore, and get inspired by this water-wise urban oasis.
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Site 3
Soil & Whimsy In the City
2837 4th Avenue
Soil & Whimsy in the City bloomed from a personal commitment to utilize available urban space to its absolute fullest potential. While the grower originally dreamed of owning vast rural acreage to increase sustainability, they instead learned to make do with what they had—proving that you can live the farming dream right in the city. This urban plot highlights a deep passion for edible flowers and features experimental plots testing different varieties to find the absolute best flavor profiles. Visitors will love exploring the unique selection of less commonly grown vegetables, greens, and vibrant blooms packed into this creative space.
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Site 4
THe Quackyard
4703 Angus Street
The Quackyard is a bustling 5,300-square-foot lot in Uptown Port Alberni dedicated to maximizing urban food production. Functioning as a charming urban homestead, the property is complete with five egg-laying ducks and two fiber-producing rabbits. The grow-plan focuses heavily on items that store well for the winter season, including drying beans, root crops, and tomatoes destined for canning. The growers also have a fondness for cultivating unique chili peppers and experimenting with exotic and tropical food plants. Bordered by a lovely native plant garden, this beautifully ramshackle property is sure to inspire anyone looking to dabble in backyard food production.
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Site 5
Dry Creek Community Garden
3491 4th Avenue
We are incredibly excited to open the gates of the Dry Creek Community Garden as Site 5 on this year’s Family Farms Day tour! Originally created in 2014 by the Young Professionals of the Alberni Valley, this space provides local residents with garden plots in a supportive community setting. The garden was officially transferred to us at the Alberni Valley Food Security Society (AVFSS) in 2022, and we are currently hard at work on its revitalization. The property features a blend of individual rental beds, communal shared areas, and educational beds designed to support our ongoing AVFSS projects. We cannot wait to welcome you into our garden space to share our progress and growth!
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Coleman Meadows Farm
Site 6
6670 Coleman Road
Coleman Meadows Farm on Coleman Road is a truly unique agricultural destination. This impressive property brings together two distinct operations: Coleman Meadows Farm (a water buffalo dairy) and Dyson Dairy (a Jersey cow dairy). Both farms share a deep dedication to balancing highly productive agriculture with environmental stewardship and top-tier animal care. Visitors can browse the farm shop for delicious water buffalo cheeses, meats, and other local treats. Owners Russell, Jennifer, Edward, and Melanie Dyson welcome the community to meet their friendly animals, stroll through the beautiful garden, and celebrate local farming. Guests are kindly asked to use the provided footwash station upon arrival to keep the animals and visitors healthy.
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Site 7
Collins Arrowvale Farm
5955 Hector Road
A true family favourite and community jewel, Arrowvale Campground and Collins Farm is opening its gates as Site 7 for self-guided tours during our 14th annual Family Farms Day. Owners Ann and Bob Collins have been farming this beautiful 73-acre property along the Somass River since 1980. Blessed with fertile soil and ample water, they have grown all of their crops without pesticides or herbicides for more than 20 years. The farm is home to a colourful herd of Belted Galloway beef cattle, registered Canadian horses, and a variety of friendly small livestock in the Campground Petting Farm. Visitors can take a 20-minute hayride around the property (maximum 20 people per ride; children must be accompanied by an adult) and purchase grass-fed beef, fresh pies, salves, and homemade preserves at the farm store.
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Site 8
Half-Acre Farm
5955 Hector Road
The Half-Acre Garden offers a unique look at small-scale market gardening tucked inside a much larger family operation. For the past seven years, local growers have been lovingly cultivating food and flowers on this vibrant plot located right on the Arrowvale farm property. Visitors to this site get the best of both worlds: an intimate look at intensive flower and food production, while being steps away from Arrowvale’s broader family-friendly attractions, including the campground, cozy cafe, beef farm, and the U-Pick pumpkin patch.
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Site 9
Hupaçasath Community Farm
4890 Beaver Creek Road
The Hupaçasath Community Farm is a vibrant, market-style garden dedicated to growing fresh, healthy produce for the Hupaçasath First Nation. What began as a vital vision for community food security has expanded into a flourishing farm site featuring rows of seasonal vegetables, two highly productive greenhouses, and a small community farm system that proudly provides weekly produce boxes for Hupaçasath elders and families. The farm serves as a cornerstone for sustainable living and cultural resilience, bringing people together to grow, share, and learn. Exciting future expansion plans include introducing animal husbandry and creating larger common spaces for community education, collaboration, and celebration.
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Site 10
Solstice Farm
8335 Beaver Creek Road
Nestled beautifully at the base of the Beaufort Mountains in Beaver Creek, Solstice Farm is a welcoming, family-run operation. The property is home to a growing apple orchard, vibrant cut flower gardens, seasonal produce, and a variety of friendly farm animals. The owners love creating a peaceful environment where families can slow down, connect with nature, and experience life on a working farm. During the event, visitors are invited to take a relaxing stroll through the gardens and orchard, take in the stunning mountain views, and meet the animals. Throughout the regular season, Solstice Farm also hosts family-friendly markets, workshops, and wellness experiences that celebrate community and the changing seasons.
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Site 11
MorningStar Woollens
9010 Bryson Road
MorningStar Woollens is a captivating farm where creativity, sustainability, and natural beauty come together. Farmer, educator, and designer Star tends a beautiful flock of Bluefaced Leicester sheep, known for their lustrous wool that is expertly transformed into high-quality fibers for textile art and design. Alongside the sheep, Star cultivates regenerative flowers that brighten the landscape and provide raw materials for natural dyeing and special occasions. Guided by the philosophy “from soil to stitch to stem,” the farm beautifully embodies the balance of biodiversity, intentional beauty, and sustainable agriculture. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to see this harmony of sheep and flowers thriving together, explore the gardens, and learn about wool production, floral design, and the creative connection to natural cycles.