Bowker Creek Flower Farm
This little farm is a very special place…
The concept of this wee farm brought neighbours together in pursuit of a big vision on a small urban plot. Nestled right into the centre of Victoria next to a creek and a nature preserve, it is home to owls and kids, cats and flowers. Determination, hard work and an ability to envision beauty where none was apparent has transformed an overgrown jungle into a beautiful little flower farm. The neighbourhood has been curious as we slowly unearthed the gardens and transformed an otherwise dark part of the street into something incredible, and we’re excited to start sharing what we’ve been up to.
Our intention is to connect with the neighbours through the shared love of tending to the land, which we are cultivating along with the community around it and the children within it. Sharing our passion, skills and knowledge with the people around us is also an important part of our vision, and we will soon be inviting people to the farm to learn alongside us!
We farm sustainably using organic practises such as low/no-till gardening and applying only organic fertilizers and amendments. Healthy soil is the basis for all healthy plants, and we work to preserve its natural structure as much as possible. Our gardens include many native plants and perennials, we water efficiently and use lots of mulch. We plant for pollinators and people, all of whom we want to keep healthy and safe.
Our customers are our neighbours and our friends. We say hello, we share a story or two, and we chat about gardening. It is such an honour to be part of their special occasions, of uplifting their spirits and spoiling their sweethearts. We sell blooms at our stand and at local neighbourhood grocery stores with the pure intention of connecting our story to theirs.
Our story is just beginning, and we’re so glad you’re here with us as we embark on the next chapter…
Renée Sala: Bio
As a lifetime artist, maker and entrepreneur, I keep following my path wherever it seems to lead me, which is typically somewhere unusual. I’ve always been connected to the community through my other creative ventures (even as a kid) and I’m so excited to re-connect in a different way…with flowers!
I was born in Manitoba, and spent my teens up-island in Chemainus BC scooping ice cream for tourists. I spent my 20s travelling all over the world, living and working in England, Australia and Korea and seeing amazing things. I’ve been in Victoria since 2004, when I returned from abroad to attend art school and I am firmly planted here along with my family and friends. And my child. And plants. And cats.
After graduating the Visual Arts Program from Camosun in 2006, I became a professional potter, (following in my mother’s footsteps) and sold my work at many local stores and markets.
I then started my amazing little art school called Crafty in 2009. I obtained BC Arts Council grants and facilitated over 20 large school-wide art installations around the city, offered countless community workshops & camps, plus weekly neighbourhood classes in my home studio. I’ve worked with thousands of local kids and made many life-long connections with students and their families. In 2018 I was awarded a Community Leadership Award from the Victoria Foundation for my work procuring grants and delivering art programs to schools.
Also in 2018, I became the supervisor of the pottery studio at the Arts Centre at Cedar Hill, working with many fabulous artists and instructors to bring high-quality ceramics programs to the community. I was in this position throughout Covid, helping to keep community arts programming going while so much was closed. We even managed to engage thousands of locked-down community members in an incredible collaborative art project called “Hearts Together’ which is permanently on display at the Cedar Hill Arts & Rec Centre.
Life has a way of interrupting your best laid plans, and during the past year I’ve been home with my 7 year old son, healing and digging and growing beautiful things (…and playing Minecraft & teaching my kid how to use a blow torch). It’s been peaceful and transformative. I’m a homesteader at heart and you can find me baking sourdough, listening to podcasts, growing plants, building random things in the yard, and generally just makings things more beautiful.
I appreciate you taking the time to read my story.
Now let’s get growing!
