Who We Are

The seed of Kootenay Organic Growers Society was nurtured over several years of conversations among farmers in the Slocan Valley in the mid 1990s. Eventually, partly driven by a vision to create a co-operative to grow and sell certified organic echinacea, a plan was developed to establish a local certifying body. The early meetings of 4 or 5 farmers who struggled to have quorum soon expanded as more and more farmers heard about the organization and sought out the services and networking offered. The first certification took place in 1998, based on the Standards developed by Boundary Organic Producers Association.

By 1999, with a membership in the 50s (27 of whom were certified), KOGS was having regular meetings that encompassed both the business of the organisation and practical discussions about farming. Best recipes for green manure tea, sources for local seeds, and mulching practices were among the hands-on topics. KOGS was also incorporated in early 1999, had its first AGM, and applied for and received society status in BC. In that same year the membership passed a motion to join the Certified Organic Associations of BC (COABC) which, at the time, was made up of 7 certifying bodies.

KOGS received an Industrial Adjustment Services grant to help us assess and support the needs of our members in developing solid businesses. This project ran through the year 2000 and included KOGS first in-depth membership survey, the results of which helped set our future directions and priorities. This was supported in 2001 by a Board-level strategic planning process that reaffirmed the need for credible and cost-effective local certification, as well as extension and support services. A stable and dedicated Certification Committee certified 19 members in 2001.

In 2002, KOGS successfully sought funding from the Columbia Basin Trust for a capacity building project entitled "Feeding Our Communities: Strengthening Organic Agriculture in the Kootenays". This project, slated to wrap up in late 2003, has focused on increasing skills and market access for KOGS members and on raising consumer awareness in the region about KOGS and local organic producers. The project has included a series of well attended field days, mentorships, marketing materials and a winter speaker series.

In 2003 KOGS also received funding from the Organic Sector Development Program of the COABC to continue where the Columbia Basin Trust funding left off. The addition of a cover crop research project led by local farmer and cover crop specialist, Oscar Somasco, has elicited a lot of excitement and interest among the KOGS membership due to the very practical nature of the information that will come out of the project. Soil fertility is always a hot topic!

KOGS membership has remained steady over the years, with new farms seeking certification each year. The membership is made up of active farmers, organic gardeners, those dreaming of and planning to farm (some day!) and supporting members. Most of the certified members are farmers cultivating between 2 and 6 acres of ground crops but KOGS also has some longstanding processor members and received some new livestock applications in 2003.

Become a member of KOGS

KOGS Strategic Planning Report, May 2001 (96 KB pdf file)

Contact Info and Board

Certified Members of KOGS can be found on the COABC website using the "search by region" option - our members farm in both the East and West Kootenays.

Farmer Profiles