Saturday, November 23, 2024
November 23, 2024

Historic Beaver Point Hall bean supper returns this Saturday

By JOANNE WILL

SPECIAL TO THE DRIFTWOOD

Come to a fundraiser for Beaver Point Hall. The historic bean supper returns this year on Saturday, May 25, for the first time since 2013. Bring your family, join the community, take part in history.

There are two sittings, at 4:15 pm and 6:15 pm. Don’t worry, it’s not just beans! Meat and vegan options are available, along with tunes from DJ Kreuger, and live music from The Selkies of Salt Spring.

Tickets are available at Salt Spring Books, and at the door. $35 for adults, $20 for children, including baked beans, optional meat, salads, buns, beverages and dessert.

Helen Ruckle, who grew up on Ruckle Farm, spoke to me in 2009 about the 1953 origin of the bean supper. “They came in droves,” she said. I also had the privilege of meeting her sister-in-law Lotus Ruckle when she was 98, and, as it turned out, in the final year of her life. Her stories of community history and local food production were a joy and an inspiration.

When the first supper took place, all the beans served were Ruckle beans, and grown by the community members. This year, there are packets of Ruckle bean seeds for attendees to take home and plant. There’s also plenty of love, commitment and community spirit amongst the folks planning and reviving this community event. As veteran bean supper cook Michelle Sheehan has said at many organizing meetings, “The bean supper is all about connection.”

Come and walk in the footsteps of Helen, Lotus, and generations of Salt Springers, and help keep this piece of our history alive.

Baked Ruckle beans in a bowl. (Rob Gilbert photo)
Ruckle beans as grown by Joanne Will last year. (Andrew Hoffman photo)
Lotus Ruckle holding a lamb. Ruckle family members were instrumental in the early Beaver Point bean suppers.

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