Spring is in full swing and one of my favourite things about this season is the fresh, local produce that is available here in Ladner.
I am so excited to announce that Alongside You will be collaborating with Danielle and Alicia from Backroads Family Farm Market for some exciting things this summer.
To kick this off, I asked Danielle and Alicia some questions. So here is a little snapshot of the market itself and the ladies behind this beautiful place.
1. What variety of crops do you grow?
We farm on the one acre behind our store and we grow multiple colours of cauliflower, green and purple Brussel sprouts, corn, kale, rainbow swiss chard, field cucumber, yellow and green zucchini, artichokes, multiple varieties of pumpkins, gourds, ornamental corn, sunflowers, dahlias, gladiolas, peonies, eucalyptus, farm fresh eggs from our own chickens, basil, cilantro, rosemary, sage, mint, thyme, chives, beets, and garlic…. I think that covers it!
2. What variety of crops do you get from other farmers?
We source many fresh berries, tree fruit (Okanagan), and assortments of other local vegetables that we do not grow. (It’s really a lot to list out!)
3. How do you source for the crops from other farmers?
We have built long-standing relationships with local farmers since we were teenagers. We call directly to farmers as there is no need for a ‘middle man’ when these relationships have been formed. That sets us apart from grocery stores.
4. What’s one thing you love most about farming?
Coming from a 5th generation farming family, we are deeply rooted here in Delta and passionate about our farming community. We love watching the process from planting to harvest and that every day is different. We love connecting the community to fresh local produce and educating people the best we can about why supporting local is so important and what is really grown in Delta’s backyard. We get to be creative in our business and really choose what we directly support and what we get to promote. We also love that it is a family effort.
5. What are you both most excited about this coming season?
We are excited about planting more of our own crops in the field behind the store! We also always look forward to our new employees. We love hiring all local students!
6. What’s one thing you both want people to know about Backroads Family Farm Market?
When you shop at Backroads, you are getting quality produce that is locally grown. If not by us, it is sourced locally from other local farmers. We are proud of local farmers who advocate for women in agriculture and the future of farming in our community. We love our connection to our community and enjoy working with many different businesses.
Officially Open For The Season
Backroads Family Farm Market is officially open now so you can your hands on fresh produce daily. For the produce, you can expect this upcoming season,check out their handy list here. Stay tuned here for more exciting news about this collaboration!
If you’re looking for new ways to turn these vegetables into simple, real meals, I can help! Contact our office for more information.
I remember when I found music. It was on an old church piano sometime before the age of 6. I grew up around music, both listening to it, and also as a part of my culture. There’s an old joke that Mennonite folk are born signing four-part harmony. The funny part is that it’s not so far from the truth. I remember how it felt to hear notes, and how it felt to play them. I remember how there was so much going on inside of me that I couldn’t figure out how to get out of my head and out of my heart – except through those old piano keys.
Recently, American Idol crowned its newest winner, Laine Hardy. While Laine is certainly a talented guy, I’ve been fascinated by one of the other contestants throughout the entire season this year. He is a meek, quiet guy, who is an immensely talented musician. He hasn’t said much about his history, but you can tell he’s been through some stuff. He has said that he hasn’t had much support in his life, and that’s part of what has made the support of fans so overwhelming for him – and you can tell that it is overwhelming when you watch him on the screen.
The contestant’s name is Alejandro Aranda, or as many know him, simply “Homie.” He said something during one of the videos they played on the final episode that stuck with me. He said, and I paraphrase, that kids need to be encouraged to find themselves in music and express their emotions. It got me thinking about how my life may have turned out if I hadn’t found music. From the little I know about this contestant’s life, I can’t imagine where he would be without music. It’s clear that a key to his resilience, and certainly mine, has been music.
What Is Resilience?
The answer to this question could be multiple posts long, but for our purposes, I want to define resilience this way:
Resilience isn’t finding the perfect balance and constantly withstanding what life throws at you; resilience is finding a way to thrive in the midst of challenges, knowing that your thriving will sometimes be messy. It is finding your way in life, using the unique gifts you’ve been given, to forge a path and a way forward despite the difficulties.
For me this has been using music to be mindful, to prove that I can challenge myself, to express emotions that defy the words that I can produce through the English language, and to find a way to use my own challenges to make something that encourages others and brings us closer together.
What Is Celebrating Resilience?
Celebrating Resilience is a partnership between our good friend Radina of Radina Photography and our own social venture, Alongside You. Celebrating Resilience is a gallery showing to highlight the resilience in our local community and encourage others who may be struggling. The exhibit will showcase 9 portraits and stories of recovery and resilience in the areas of mental health, chronic illness, abusive relationships, and more. You can read more of Radina’s story and how she came up with the exhibit idea here. What is so great about this project is it gives a platform for people to have a voice in their resilience, to tell their story, and to do good in the community at the same time.
We are using the show to raise funds for our Step Forward Program here at Alongside You that subsidizes our services for people who need financial assistance. We’re hoping to raise $15,000 toward services for the community.
Join Us For Celebrating Resilience
We would love for you to join us on June 1, 2019, from 6:30pm-9:30pm at Stir Coffee House to see the images and stories of resilience in our community. Come, and be encouraged by those who have gone through it. Find common ground in the community, and perhaps find the courage to share your own journey.
After the opening, the images and stories will remain at Stir Coffee House for some time; after this, they will be distributed in the community through local businesses and organizations for a second showing.
Click here to let us know you’re coming on our Facebook event, and share with your friends!
Our Thank You To Our Supporters
This project, and show could not take place without support. We have brought on corporate sponsors, and we are looking for private sponsors to continue the project, and to continue the work we do through the Step Forward Program. If you’d like to sponsor as an individual, please click here where you can submit a sponsorship through our website – please put “Celebrating Resilience” in the dedication box. If you’re a business and want to sponsor, please contact Andrew through email by clicking here.
Our sponsors are incredible. Without their generosity, this project would not happen. Please see below for our corporate partners, and we look forward to seeing you on June 1st!
Today is a great day. To say that we are excited about The Step Forward Program would be an understatement. Since our inception, our goal has been to make integrated health care services accessible to as many people as possible. The Step Forward Program is another way we’re trying to make this a reality. We’ve always believed that our community is the backbone of support systems for us all, and South Delta is such a supportive, close knit community we have no doubt this program will be a success, so we thank you in advance for your involvement. Now, you probably are still wondering what this program is all about so let us share that with you!
What is the Step Forward Program?
The Step Forward Program at Alongside You offers financial assistance to clients who may need some additional help subsidizing our services. Alongside You operates using a sliding scale for fees in an effort to keep our services accessible to as many people as possible. Our hope is that this program will enable even more people to be able to receive care.
In addition to receiving donations, Alongside You will be holding events to benefit this program starting in January 2016. Individual community members, local businesses, organizations, and Alongside You clients are given the opportunity to donate to this program to help provide access to our services for those who may not otherwise be able to afford it. All funds are held in a separate account, audited by our accounting firm and will be dispensed based on need at the discretion of our Directors.
This is an initiative for South Delta because we are fortunate to live and work in the community we do, and because we believe this program can make a difference in many lives. Donations can be made through our online store via credit card, or in person at our clinic using cash, cheque, or credit card payment.
100% of donations will go straight to the Step Forward Program. Alongside You will absorb all banking and/or credit card processing fees incurred in the administration of this program.
Please note: We are not a non-profit agency and unfortunately, are unable to provide tax receipts for donations.
How Can South Delta Help?
By now we hope you’re excited about this new program! You may be wondering, “How can I help?” We’re glad you asked! Here’s a few ideas of how you can help, and if you have other ideas, we’d love to hear them! You can help by:
Donating through our online store, or in person at our clinic
Come to our events that benefit the Step Forward Program
Hold an event and take donations to benefit the program
Corporate sponsorship opportunities (details to come, let us know if you’re interested!)
Spread the word about who we are, and what we’re trying to do. Word of mouth in South Delta is key
If you have any questions or concerns about this program, or if you would like to get involved, please contact the Directors, Andrew and Meg Neufeld at 604-283-7827.
Start helping the Step Forward Program today!
Only a few spots remain, but we’d love to have you at our Friday Night Knitting Club Event tomorrow night! All donations received go straight to the Foot Forward Program!
We have always wanted our services to be as accessible to everyone as possible, but we know that our lowest sliding scale rate is sometimes out of reach for many. As a business, we are only able to lower our rates so far and still keep the lights on and the doors open. We actively look for ways to make our services as affordable as possible, and we’ve just created one more option: Masters degree internships.
Counselling Intern now available at Alongside You
We’re please to announce that Kelly Williams, a Masters student from Adler University has started her internship and is available for individuals and couples needing counselling. As a Masters student, she will be under the supervision of Andrew Neufeld, or Executive Director. She will be with us through August 2016 and we couldn’t be happier.
What does this mean for affordability?
Clinical Internships benefit the student and the community in many ways, but one of financial benefits is that counselling is available at much lower rates that would be otherwise feasible. We are able to offer counselling with our interns at the following rates:
$30+GST/hour for individuals and couples
$20+GST/hour for individuals and couples on Persons With Disability benefits or Income Assistance
Our interns are supervised very closely and clients benefit not only from the experience and knowledge of the intern, but also the supervisor. It’s a wonderful arrangement that allows the student to gain the required hours for their program as well as providing a much needed service for the community.
How do I make an appointment to see the intern?
If you would like to see Kelly, please contact her supervisor, Andrew Neufeld through the contact form on the website or by phone at 604-283-7827.
Hey everyone – we’ve got some holiday hours starting today. In an effort to allow our staff to spend time with their friends and families, here’s what’s happening:
Dec 21 – 9am-9pm Dec 22 – 9am-4pm Dec 23 – 9am-4pm Dec 24-Jan 3 – CLOSED Jan 4 – We’re back!
If you have arranged appointments outside of these hours with a practitioner, then your appointment is still happening. These are just our main office hours.
We hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season, and if we don’t see you this week, we’ll see you in the New Year!
We had an amazing time at the Christmas Party and Silent Auction yesterday afternoon. 100% of funds raised go straight to Reach Child and Youth Development Society to benefit their TEENSS Respite Program.
Did I mention we raised $1110.00?
You guys rock! It is only because we are situated in such a supportive community that a small clinic like ours could get a result like this. We’re blown away. We want to thank everyone from South Delta who came out to support this cause, and we want to thank all of our generous donors who made this possible. When Meg and I started Alongside You, this is exactly what we’d hoped for – a clinic that we know can help people through our services, and can work with the community to support others in need. To get this kind of a response from the community after only being open for a few short months is overwhelming to say the least; all we can say is thank you. Thank you for supporting us, and for supporting Reach Child and Youth Development. Their services are so integral to our community, and we look forward to hearing how your generosity is reaching the families in South Delta.
We want to thank all of our amazing donors, so please take a minute to check them all out. They gave so generously, and without hesitating – we are truly lucky to live and work in an area with such supportive small businesses. Please consider shopping with our donors this holiday season – they do so much for our community and we really do need to support them if we want that to continue.
Without further ado, our donors were (in no particular order):
Again, thank you to everyone that came, donated, supplied auction items, spread the word, and we hope everyone had a great time with family and friends. We sure did!
Until next year!
Andrew and Meg Neufeld, and the staff at Alongside You.
