Category: Farming
Stories and insights from the field. Follow our grazing plans, soil-building work, animal care, pasture management, and regenerative practices across the Okanagan, Shuswap, Thompson, and Kootenay regions. This category shares the why and how behind the way we farm.
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Gallagher eShepherd Virtual fencing arrives at Fresh Valley Farms
This week brought one of the biggest pasture management changes we have made in a long time. We put grazing collars for a virtual fencing system on our first group of cattle. These collars are from Gallagher Animal Management’s eShepherd Virtual Fencing System. They use virtual fencing. The basic idea is a bit like the […]
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North Okanagan’s new Butcher Hub opens in Spallumcheen
The North Okanagan Butcher Hub is now open in Spallumcheen, and this is a big moment for small-scale farming in our region. For years, small-scale meat producers across the Okanagan have faced the same challenge. Raising livestock is one part of the work. Getting animals processed in a timely, legal, and affordable way is another. […]
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Upcoming BC outstanding young farmer event in January 2026
January is shaping up to be a meaningful month for us. On January 21 and 22, 2026, we will be heading to Abbotsford to take part in the British Columbia and Yukon Outstanding Young Farmer regional event. The event will be held in Abbotsford and brings together farmers from across the BC and Yukon region […]
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Organic Farmer Annelise Grube-Cavers is Nominated for BC Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year
We have some big news to share. Annelise Grube-Cavers has been nominated for BC Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year, and we could not be more proud. This nomination recognizes farmers who lead with care, skill, and long-term thinking. It celebrates people who are building strong farms while also contributing to their communities and the […]
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Fresh Valley Farms featured by BC Ministry of Agriculture & Food
Soil health sits at the heart of everything we do at Fresh Valley Farms. It guides how we raise animals. It shapes how we manage our land. It even shapes the future we want for our kids. The BC Ministry of Agriculture recently featured our farm in a soil health case study, and we are […]
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New electric delivery van (powered by our solar panels)
We just added something new to the Fresh Valley Farms fleet = our new all-electric delivery van is officially on the road. This van will be used to deliver customer orders to pickup locations across the Okanagan, Shuswap, Thompson, and Kootenay regions. It replaces a fossil-fuel delivery vehicle and marks a meaningful step forward in […]
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How we use electric fencing on our farm (and how we can help you set up your own)
Good fencing makes grazing easier, safer, and more flexible. After more than ten years of rotational grazing on our farm, we have learned how much a good electric fencing system can change your daily work. It keeps animals safe. It protects pasture. It saves time. It also makes it possible to move animals often without […]
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New Passive Solar + Geothermal Greenhouse Being Installed
Our new passive solar geothermal greenhouse is being installed on the farm! It is already changing how we think about growing, seasonality, and resilience. Winters here are long. Frost comes early, and spring warmth can be unpredictable. That reality shapes how food is grown in the North Okanagan. The greenhouse gives us a way to […]
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Bill Gallagher, the Inventor of the Electric Fence
Bill Gallagher (Alfred William Gallagher, 1911–1990) was a New Zealand inventor and farmer who helped make electric fencing practical for everyday farms. In the 1930s, he solved a simple problem with a safe electric pulse and then turned that idea into early fence energizers that made livestock control cheaper and more flexible than traditional fencing. […]
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Fall 2024 Workshop: Pastured Pig and Poultry Production on the Small-Scale Farm
Fresh Valley Farms will host Pastured Pig and Poultry Production on the Small-Scale Farm, a full day of hands-on learning this September, and we are excited to share the details. On September 8, 2024, the Small-Scale Meat Producers Association (SSMPA) will join us in Armstrong, BC for a workshop focused on raising pigs and poultry […]
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Moving the farm toward renewable energy
Farming depends on energy. We believe it should depend less on fossil fuels. At Fresh Valley Farms, we are steadily moving our operation toward renewable energy wherever it makes practical sense. This is not about perfection. It is about making thoughtful, long-term choices that reduce emissions, protect our land, and support a healthier food system. […]
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Lots of eggs on the farm right now
If you have been looking for eggs, this is a good moment. The hens at Fresh Valley Farms are laying steadily, and we are producing lots of organic eggs right now. Long days make a difference. Early summer brings more daylight, warm temperatures, and abundant forage. That combination supports consistent laying and strong shell quality. […]