Saanich Mayors Valerieby Green Saanichby Mayors Valerie Green followed by a guided tour. followed by a guided tour. Dec. 2-4: Self tours fromtours 9a.m.– 4p.m. Dec.guided 2-4: Self guided from 9a.m.– 4p.m.
SAANICH MUNICIPAL HALL moreFor information more information CELEBRATES 50 YEARSFor visit saanich.ca visit saanich.ca
See ad on page 9
Dec. 1: Join Council for a Special Meeting at 7p.m., featuring a presentation on the of theRoyal HallJubilee and the unveiling of a20-year plan /A5 NEWS: Hospital unveils Ride of his life history sign. Cake cutting andfor disabled /A7 Cancer survivor tackles commemorative SPORTS: Promoting access to sports reception to follow. ride to inspire others
Page A3
ARTS: Fear No Opera comes to UVic /A12
Dec. 2: 10a.m. presentation on the history of Saanich Mayors by Valerie Green followed by a guided tour.
SAANICHNEWS Dec. 2-4: Self guided tours from 9a.m.– 4p.m.
For more information visit saanich.ca
Friday, November 27, 2015
Gray Rothnie
250 744 7034
www.graymatters.ca
Connected to More
®
Watch for breaking news at www.saanichnews.com
Chicken rentals bring the farm to your door Jacob Zinn News Staff
“Why buy when you can rent” is a more common phrase in the real estate market, but in Saanich, it now applies to farm animals – specifically chickens. Rent the Chicken, a service that offers chickens on a temporary basis, is taking off across North America and has spread to Saanich. Kate Fraser, of Bees Please Farms, is the local affiliate – the first in the Greater Victoria area – and said the service was created for people who want their own farm fresh eggs without the commitment of full-time chicken ownership. “You’ve heard of the 100-mile diet. I’ve heard in James Bay, they’re trying for a 100-yard diet – here it is, in your yard,” she said. Fraser joined the Rent the Chicken program after doing a similar program with bees, which rents beehives to people who want to increase pollination, boost the bee population and make their own honey. “My mom called me and said, ‘Have you seen this Rent the Chicken?’” said Fraser. “I looked it up and I thought, this goes perfectly, this is a great idea. “The two really go hand in hand. We’ve had a couple orders where people are getting bees and chickens. It’s usually the people that care about the same things, like local
delivery date,” she said. “I take them the chickens, the coop, the feed, the feeder and a little instruction book, and answer any questions that they have.” Fraser said concepts like eating local and organic are taking off because people want to know where their food comes from. “When you can see where it comes from, there’s no guesswork,” she said. “You know what the chickens ate – it’s just really simple. It’s getting back to simple ways of eating.” In addition to fresh eggs, Fraser said the chickens come with other benefits such as fertilization, pest control and lawn maintenance. “We had kind of a bet going: I’d read that you don’t need to mow when you have the chickens, and my husband said, ‘There’s no way they could control the lawn,’” she said. “But it’s true, they kind of nibble across the top and keep it a consistent height, and we have not had a single dandelion in the Jacob Zinn/News Staff Kate Fraser, with her son Orion, 7, is the new local affiliate for Rent the Chicken, a service that offers back.” While the service is brand new egg-laying hens on a temporary basis without the commitment of full-time chicken ownership. The service provides chicken renters with farm fresh eggs in their backyard, a concept that goes hand to the area, Fraser said she’s already received a lot of positive in hand with eating locally. feedback about the initiative. on 11,800sf Vieweven Lot just 73write people with delivery, setup and pickup is building the coops to order, 1. Duplex“Some food, sustainable and organic Sylvan to Lane $1,099,000 MLS 351211 me and say, ‘Good on you for of contents, two to four eggadding that Rent the Chicken practices.” doing this, this is wonderful.’” laying hens, a chicken coop, has a support line if renters have Rent the Chicken offers three 2. Renovated Legal Duplex with Views For more information about food and water dishes, 40 to 80 questions about what to do with six-month rental packages, 1828 Crescent Road $1,199,000 MLS Rent the Chicken or to schedule kilograms of feed, a care guide their chickens. priced at $425, $600 and $1,000 353190 a rental from Fraser, visit and a copy of Lisa Steele’s Fresh “I take the deposit, build plus PST and GST. The chickens rentthechicken.com. Point Executive Home 4516 Eggs Daily. everything, I give them a call 3. Gordon are available from May to Drive $1,175,000 COMING In preparation for May, Fraser closer to April and schedule a Gordon Pointjacob.zinn@saanichnews.com October and the packages come SOON
Spacious 2 Bedroom Unit #312-1025 Inverness Road MLS 357802 $159,900
RE/MAX Camosun
2014 Built Cordova Bay Home 5092 Clutesi Street MLS 356153 $1,050,000
250.220.5061
Corner Unit Town Home #112-1196 Clovelly Terrace MLS 357666 $409,900
www.preferredhomes.ca
Guy
Scott
Karl