Innisfree Farm & Botanic Garden

VOICE(V): What is your background before starting Innisfree?

 

Chanchal(C): I grew up on my parents' small organic farm in the UK, where my journey with herbal medicine began. Watching my father successfully work with a herbalist for his health issues sparked my interest and inspired me to study herbal medicine. I earned my MSc at the University of Wales in 2003 and also spent time in India gaining hands-on experience with Ayurveda. I’ve worked as a medicinal herbalist and therapist specializing in holistic oncology for over 35 years. In Vancouver, I ran three shops, including Gaia Garden, which is still there. After managing Gaia Garden for 11 years, I decided to sell it and move to Comox Valley to grow my own food and medicine.

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V: Why did you choose Comox Valley?

 

C: When we arrived 20 years ago, Comox Valley was known for having the best-growing climate in Canada. It's a fantastic place to live - big enough to keep things interesting with plenty of activities. I love the vibrant culture here. Plus, we have a very engaged and healthy K’omoks First Nation in the community, which you don't see everywhere. They're actively involved in everything we do.

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V: How did you start Innisfree?

 

C: This land was originally a horse farm, and our labyrinth was the old horse ring. It was quite rundown but organically untouched, which was perfect for us. At the time, I was commuting to Vancouver three days every two weeks while running a college department, a routine I maintained for 12 years. Eventually, I took over the farming from my husband Thierry, now a retired soil biologist. He remains passionate about growing food here and even started Comox Valley's first CSA. 

 

V: Innisfree is internationally certified and registered as a Botanic Garden. What does that mean?

 

C: We're registered as a Botanical Garden out of England, certified by Botanical Gardens Conservation International, which is a global organization that certifies gardens around the world. Unlike places like Butchart Gardens, which focus on showcasing beauty, a botanical garden emphasizes education, conservation, and being open to the public. Gardens like VanDusen Botanical Garden and UBC Botanical Garden fit this category. Our goal here is to contribute to the educational aspect.

I'm passionate about being part of such a `club` because I value collaboration and connection. Gardening is a collaborative effort, and a big part of what we do here is building that sense of community.                                                              

Innisfree also hosts Garden Without Borders, a federally registered non-profit. This allows us to offer our space to other non-profits at no cost. For instance, we support the Comox Valley Transition Society, which helps women, children, and families leaving abusive situations, by providing safe houses and healing opportunities through plants and gardening. This summer, we have hosted the biennial Vancouver Island Herb Gathering, which I co-founded with Yarrow Willard in 2013. It was a huge success with over 250 attendees from across North America. This run as a not-for-profit venture raising funds for herbal medicine work in the community. 

 

V: How is herbal medicine perceived by people?

 

C: These days, people are much more knowledgeable about medicinal plants, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Over my 40 years in this field, I’ve seen significant growth in the market, industry, and educational opportunities. When I was studying, there was just one program in England, and while it was excellent, options were limited. Herbal medicine is quite democratic - accessible to everyone. However, it’s important to remember that while plants can be powerful medicines, they can also be harmful if not used properly.

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V: What does `Innisfree` mean?

 

C: The name Innisfree comes from a poem by the Irish poet William Butler Yeats. In it, he imagines escaping the grey, rainy city to a little country place where he could grow peas and find some peace. The poem spoke to me deeply. I kept it on my bulletin board for years in Vancouver, reading it daily as a reminder that my hard work in the city was leading me toward creating my own 'Innisfree' farm one day. Our tagline, "Growing Wellness," perfectly captures what we do - nurturing people and plants and enhancing the health of individuals, plants, and the planet.

 

V: You wear many hats - how do you manage it all?

 

C: I have five seasonal apprentices and also paid staff and volunteers. My role involves organizing everyone's tasks, so I'm often too busy to spend much time gardening myself. But I'm incredibly grateful for the support - I truly believe it takes a village to run this place.

My main motivation is connecting people with plants. That's what it's all about for me. To take care of the planet, we need to notice nature. A big part of my work is helping people become more aware of the natural world so they feel inspired to take action. I see herbal medicine as a form of political activism at home.

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V: Do you have any advice for aspiring farmers?

 

C: We're facing a shortage of good herbal medicine in the market, which is concerning. We need more people who want to become farmers. There's a great opportunity for growing herbs for herbalists and the natural product industry. Having reliable sources for these herbs is crucial. I truly believe that growing herbs has a big potential, and forming partnerships between farmers and herbalists is a promising approach.

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