With a brand new litter of squealing piglets, Lily, a black heritage pig, is busier than usual lately.
She gave birth last week at Stony Mountain Farm, a small three-acre farm located a 20-minute drive northwest of Squamish.
The tiny piglets are joined by their father, Frank, and their rambunctious siblings, Dora and Stitch, who meander through the woodland farm every day.
鈥淭he first litter was born under a tree at the back of the property,鈥� said Tracey Robertson, who opened the farm in 2008 with a flock of 50 hens to lay free-range eggs for family and friends.
聽鈥淚鈥檝e had some people comment, 鈥榃ow, I can鈥檛 believe you鈥檙e raising them in the woods,鈥� but they love it and it works great.鈥�
Robertson is one of an increasing number of women who are opening new businesses and running successful companies in Squamish.
With the goal of raising animals with respect in a natural setting, she expanded her farm to include turkeys, chicken, saanen goats and large black heritage pigs, a breed that is known for their docile personality and superb meat quality. The animals are raised outdoors, rain or shine, with ample space to explore the rugged property.
鈥淲e are a very hands-on farm, doing everything the 鈥榦ld-fashioned鈥� way 鈥� by hand,鈥� said Roberston.
鈥淲e want to give the animals the best lives they can have. I鈥檓 always saying that this environment creates the best meat you will ever try.鈥�
Health-related businesses
Interest in products from Stony Mountain Farm is part of an overall shift in eating local, nutritious food.
Megan Lussier, a business analyst with Community Futures Howe Sound, said she is seeing a trend of new health-related businesses opening in Squamish.
鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing more health food businesses open, like smoothie and juice businesses,鈥� said Lussier.
As farmers鈥� markets become more popular, she has noticed more people buying local food because it鈥檚 easy to obtain from local producers. 鈥淚t used to be that we would see more jewelry, necklaces and beads for sale, but now it鈥檚 more about healthy living,鈥� she said.
Green Thumb Technology, a Squamish-based company that makes 鈥渧eggie walls鈥� to grow food inside at home, is taking advantage of the spike in interest in organic and GMO-free eating.
A computer inside the veggie wall controls the LED grow lights and watering system, delivering the same nutrients the plant roots would absorb from soil. Vegetables and herbs, such as swish chard, tomatoes, stevia, dill and rosemary, grow year-round and can be picked and replanted at any time.
Jen McGuinness, owner of the start-up, said the unit is good for the environment because there is no food waste and no pesticides used, and heirloom varieties of food can be grown that aren鈥檛 available at grocery stores.
The idea came about after McGuinness noticed her porch was so covered in pots growing all kinds of vegetables that there was nowhere to sit.
鈥淧eople who live near 麻豆社国产have the right mentality to support us. They are environmentally conscious and health-minded,鈥� said McGuinness, who received funding from the National Research Council of Canada for the design.
So far, she has sold a limited number of veggie walls locally, but the company plans to expand after its Kickstarter campaign launches at the end of April.
The good and the bad
As many business owners in 麻豆社国产find out, being further away from Vancouver鈥檚 large population has both benefits and drawbacks.
Nestled in the Upper 麻豆社国产Valley, it鈥檚 difficult to expand Stony Mountain Farm. Finding additional farmland is more difficult than it would be in the Fraser Valley, where most farms are located. The farm currently sits on three and a half acres, two of which are leased from a neighbour in exchange for meat.
Providing food for the animals is also more complex than it would be in the Fraser Valley, where farmers often have their silos loaded weekly. Instead, Robertson faithfully carries around 44-pound sacks of feed.
Despite the drawbacks, Robertson said there are many more positives to running her farm in the Sea to Sky Corridor.
Business is booming. Even though Roberston now has a permit to house 399 hens, her eggs often sell out at the 麻豆社国产Farmers鈥� Market and other venues. The eggs are also served at Fergie鈥檚 Caf茅.
McGuiness also says being further away from Vancouver leaves her feeling somewhat disconnected from the Vancouver business community and support from other entrepreneurial networks.聽
Still, as a guide and ski patroller, she finds 麻豆社国产to be the perfect place to own a business because of the ample outdoor activities here.
鈥淣othing is major. I still want to be here in Squamish,鈥� she said.
Small boutiques
Trish James, the owner of Stylezone Fashions in downtown 麻豆社国产for 27 years, has worked hard to attract a local customer base in Squamish.
鈥淚 form good relationships with my clients because I鈥檝e been here so long. I know what styles they like and what price point they want,鈥� said James. 鈥淚 need to love the way it looks before I sell it. I feel accountable because of our close relationships.鈥�
James sells a wide range of women鈥檚 clothing, from casual to more upscale, and has her own clothing line, Modern Revival, that she describes as 鈥渁 bit more trendy with a small-town feel.鈥� She buys clothing from Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and New York to offer customers the latest fashions.
Proximity to Vancouver can be a concern because, James said, 麻豆社国产residents sometimes think they can find a better deal at bigger chain stores. Stylezone, however, has benefitted from Park Royal, the closest large mall, becoming more upscale with new higher-end stores moving in.
鈥淚鈥檓 up about 20 per cent from last year with clients that are new to town. They鈥檝e done the big mall shopping, and now they鈥檙e looking for small boutiques like ours that put customers first,鈥� said James. 鈥淭o be successful, I鈥檓 always looking for new ideas and promotions to draw local people.鈥�
Another Squamish-based businesswoman, Johanna Hunt, helps promote Dynamic Women in Action, a networking event for women in the business world that runs several times a year. A business and life coach is on site to offer micro-coaching and insight into participants鈥� businesses and careers.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity for all the business women to get together to meet each other, gain referrals and build relationships,鈥� said Hunt. 鈥淲e have a lot of wonderful businesswomen here in Squamish.鈥�
