For some of the best heirloom tomatoes in the South Okanagan, find Forbes Farm
Brothers Steve and Gordon Forbes own and operate a 13-acre certified organic farm just north of the town of Oliver. Their parents Don and Jean began farming that land in 1974 and received the certified organic status in 1996.
This is a farming family with big heart and mindfulness for our earth and their community. They are land conservation partners with The Land Conservancy of B.C. and are members of the program Certified Naturally Grown, a mission to ‘support local food to local people’.
“We try to produce food in harmony with nature and without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides," Gord explains. "All the farm animals perform various vital functions in the growth of fruit and vegetables. Our free-range chickens happily scratch around the trees and contribute (either with grazing or as natural composters of all the vegetative material). And we have bees!"
And not only do they feed their community, they are protecting nature.
"A small portion of the home farm is a wetland area that we have preserved in conjunction with The Land Conservancy of B.C. and the Town of Oliver," Gord says. "We have made the area available, through a walking path, to the general public and school groups in the hope that they will realize the importance of preserving areas such as this for the amphibian and bird species that are fast disappearing. My dad Don Forbes was instrumental on conserving the wetland and insisted it was set aside."
The family, including Lori Timbol, are fiercely opposed to Monsanto products and spearheaded the anti-Monsanto march here in the Okanagan.
“We believe the organic approach to farming is essential to ensure personal good health and environmental well-being for all, now and in the future," Steve says. "Not surprisingly, food produced organically tastes delicious and is, naturally, also very nutritious. We hope you enjoy eating our organic produce.”
The family has become famous for heirloom tomato lovers as they not only produce a gorgeous lineup of tomato varieties but also provide a range of basil, the tomato’s flavour love match. We are kind of obsessed with his tomatoes.
Steve and Gord attend both the Penticton and Kelowna Farmers Markets. Find them at 6722 Meadows Drive, Oliver, B.C. or phone: (250) 498-4264.
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