Who Are We And Where Are We Located?
Island Natural Growers (ING) is the Gulf Islands chapter of COG. The Gulf Islands comprise Galiano, Mayne, North and South Pender, Salt Spring, Saturna, and other islands between the British Columbia mainland and Vancouver Island. The majority of our 50+ members are on Salt Spring Island.
Goals Of The Island Natural Growers
Formed in 1992, ING promotes organic farming as one of the primary building blocks in
establishing a sustainable community. ING goals are:
- To operate as a mutual self-help society that takes in the interests of farmers,
gardeners, and the entire rural community. - To work in harmony with the natural processes of plant and animal growth, as the
best way to maximize the production of pollution-free food for local consumption. - To exchange knowledge and expertise with each other, and undertake to inform
the public about organic methods of growing. - To support the development of bioregionally-based food systems, to strengthen
and stabilize local economies and to minimize transport of farm inputs and
produce.
Activities And Projects Of The Island Natural Growers
Grower meet-up events are held periodically during the year. Members volunteer to host a discussion topic, potluck supper, farm tour or a business meeting to plan projects and activities. The structure of the group is informal and works through consensus.
Seedy Saturday, the largest public event organized by ING, takes place on the third Saturday in February every year. It features a community seed exchange, seed saving and growing workshops, and the opportunity to purchase seeds from local seed companies.
ING is a member of the Salt Spring Island Agricultural Alliance and works collaboratively on projects with other Alliance members such as the Salt Spring Island Abattoir and the SSI Farmland Trust.
A neighbourhood farm operates within a specific geographic area on Salt Spring Island to provide the surrounding neighbours with food. In recognition that interested farmers may lack access to land, experience or neighbourhood connections, the Neighbourhood Farm Program combines professional farmer training and mentorship, matching farmers with suitable land, and financial support from neighbours. Training starts in April 2026.
The Produce Project, March-Nov 2005, estimated the amount of fruit and vegetables being grown on Salt Spring and the potential for expansion. One of the study’s major findings was that farmers were only growing about 233,000 pounds of produce per year–just 4% of the produce sold on Salt Spring.
How To Become Involved In The Island Natural Growers
Gardening and farming include many diverse activities and concerns, and this is reflected in the broad range of interests of the ING membership. Anyone who supports the goals of COG and ING is welcome to join. If you live in the Gulf Islands you will automatically become a member of Island Natural Growers when you join COG.