Gulf Islands Food Co-op

Jan, 2026 NEWSLETTER, Bonfire & Wassailing Celebrations, New Seeds Coming!

Greetings, here’s the January, 2026 Gulf Islands Food Co–op Newsletter, to report on recent agricultural activities including drinking ale or cider in island orchards, and having ceremonial bonfires!  Saturna led the way with a New Year’s Eve bonfire celebration (see below), to burn orchard deadfall plus mouse effigies made of wood, wicker, whatever…  stuffed with regrets and unkept resolutions.  Then there are both Saturna and Mayne Island “Wassailing” celebrations…  an ancient folk tradition involving toasting the orchard trees, singing, and making lots of noise to scare away evil spirits, and to wake up the trees in time for spring.  On a more sedate note, this Co-op Newsletter also announces upcoming Seedy Saturdays organized by the amazing Island Seed Libraries: February 14th on Saturna, February 28th on Pender, and March 7th on Mayne, plus other inspiring news in the link above :-)