Experience our Farm
The Cowichan Valley —
“The best place on Earth”
The Cowichan Valley is Canada’s only maritime Mediterranean climate zone. The British Columbia Ministry of Environment describes the region as, “The Best Place on Earth with a cool Mediterranean-type climate of mild winters with and abundance of moisture but little snow, warm relatively dry summers, and a long growing season. This area experiences some of the greatest annual sunshine hours in British Columbia, and has the mildest climate in Canada.”
How’s that for terroir and growing great tasting food? In fact, Vancouver Island has been named the West Coast’s “new epicurean mecca.”
The Cowichan River is a stone’s throw away from the farm. It meanders like a magical, mythical serpent through the Cowichan Valley providing fish and water fun for visitors and locals. It is part of the aquifer that feeds the farm’s deep well.
The Alderlea Farm Airbnb guest house is located in the heart of the Golden Valley of Glenora, in the Cowichan Valley of Vancouver Island. From the balcony of the apartment, you can relax and enjoy the pastoral paradise.
Duncan is called the City of Totems. Each totem pole tells a story. The totem poles tell the stories of the Hul’qumi’num Mustimuhw and Cowichan First People who are part of the Coast Salish First Nations.
The Cowichan Valley is home to the warmest year-round temperature anywhere in the country. It is not surprising that the First People of the Valley called it the Warmland or Cowichan (Quw’utsun’). Hul’qumi’num is the first language in which the first legends were told and the language to which the word Quw’utsun belongs. These supernatural and magical legends are told with the help of the natural signposts or ancient rock markers—the creatures or the people who were transformed into rock. Through its connection to the land, Cowichan’s history stays alive.
The Alderlea Farm and Café face towards Swuqus, known to some as Mount Prevost. The stone boulder that sits atop the mountain is an ancient marker of the oral-based Cowichan people, and is a reminder of the ancient flood. It draws the spirits near and shines light onto all that we do. In the true spirit of appreciation, we say “Huytseepq’u.”
