A Trip to A Wilder Market

6 May 2024Max A, Whittall ‘24

On Saturday, April 6 a group of 10 Brentwood students went to Caleb and Robins’s organic fruit and vegatable farm – Wilder Market Garden – as a part of Service Day to help with chores to get their farm ready for spring. It was one of four environmentally focused Service Day options organized by the Environmental Advocacy class. Others included working at the Malahat First Nation garden, the Somenos Marsh, and the Cowichan Green Community.

Some of the things we did included weeding a strawberry patch, making starter plugs for planting, pulling carrots, stacking wood, and having a bonfire.

Partway through our work day, Robin and Caleb invited us into their home and we had some homemade chocolate cake which Connor W, Whittall ‘24 said was “the best cake I’ve had in a long time” and we learned about how they made their house environmentally friendly. The front of their home faces south with floor to ceiling two story windows. In the summertime, a combination of deciduous fruit trees, bamboo, and grapevines provides natural shade to keep the space cool and a large overhang prevents the midday sun from shining directly into their home – while also allowing full sunlight in the winter months.

“Robin and Caleb have been very generous with their time over the last two years hosting students from the Environmental Advocacy class and BEAT. We’ve learned a ton of stuff about organic farming and enjoyed copious amounts of delicious, nutritious freshly picked fruits and vegetables” enthused Mr Ganley.

Being at their home helped us see a way of living that has a very low environmental impact and learn about a way of living that is very different from what a lot of us have ever experienced before. It was a day full of learning and lots of laughs. Special thanks to Robin, Caleb, their two energetic children, and Seamus the huge white dog for hosting us.

Max A, Whittall ‘24

Where Students Choose To Be