Even if every single person on Salt Spring Island doesn’t attend the annual Fall Fair, few residents haven’t had some reason to spend time on the grounds of the Farmers’ Institute.
So many community events besides the fair take place on the 10-acre site, from family celebrations and Gulf Islands Secondary School dry-grad parties to the annual motorcyclists’ Toy Run and Seedy Saturday weekends. It has been used for two camping-centred Pride festivals, the yearly visiting Cycle of Life Tour fundraiser and Salt Spring Literacy’s Books & Bling fundraiser each fall. It is also the site of the Bittancourt House Museum, which is open for the season on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Oct. 10 this year.
Like all bits of aging infrastructure on the island, it takes constant work and effort to keep institute amenities in proper shape for such heavy public use. But as the land and buildings are owned by a non-profit entity and don’t fall under government purview, it relies heavily on volunteers to do the work required. Tuesday morning is the time slot for the regular maintenance crew, which has been augmented in recent years by the Friends of the Farmers’ Institute (FOFI), whose efforts are featured in our story this week. FOFI volunteers have taken the term “sprucing up” to heart with paintbrushes in hand and repainted the interior of the huge institute hall. Their dedication is impressive and everyone will no doubt be thrilled with the results.
But FOFI’s work is not done, and they could use some help with the next leg of their project: painting the wooden fencing on the property. An old-fashioned work bee has been set for Sunday, June 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s a classic case of many hands making light work, and people of all ages are encouraged to participate. They will be warmly welcomed, fed and hydrated, and will get to enjoy authentic community building at the same time.
If providing physical labour is not possible, support can also be offered by becoming a Salt Spring Island Farmers’ Institute member for $25 (or $40 for families), which includes admission to the Fall Fair, donating Country Grocer tapes to box #57 or making a donation to the organization.