A drawing of a wasabi plant published in 1828 by Iwasaki Kanen
On the south west tip of Vancouver Island, lies the land owned by the T'Sou-ke First Nations, who are doing some remarkable things.
They're growing wasabi.
And that's not all they're doing, thanks to some very smart business decisions made by the band and their leader, Chief Gordon Planes.
Hooked yet? Step over that damned orange canoe someone left on the beach, and I'll tell you more.
While other First Nations in Canada, and BC in particular, wrestle with whether or not to deal with fossil fuel companies and pipelines, the T'Sou-ke have decided to become one of the frontrunners in setting standards in sustainability, independence and alternative energy.
So far, this plan has set in motion solar power, electric vehicles and sustainable food. And Gordon Planes is loving it. In addition to community gardens are greenhouses filled with wasabi plants, gently misted from above with water, nutrients and fertilizers.
Wasabi is made from the stem of what is commonly called Japanese horseradish (Wasabia japonica or Eutremia japonica) and is a member of the Brassicaceae family that includes cabbages, horseradish and mustard. Ground up, the stem is used as a condiment in many Japanese dishes and has an extremely strong flavour that stimulates the nasal passages, rather than the tongue like the capsaisin in chili peppers does. Wasabi is difficult to grow, owing to the fact that it likes swampy conditions and grows partly submerged. This, and the demand from the Japanese market, makes it a very expensive condiment.
https://en.wikipedia.org/...
The funds provided by the wasabi operation will be used to generate other projects, such as expanding the community gardens and implementing a 70 hectare oyster farm in the Sooke Basin.
Map:
https://www.google.com/...
The google map is apparently not working,( thanks, a gilas girl) so let's try this one:
https://www.gaiagps.com/...
But that's not all they're planning;
On the alternative energy side, the T’Sou-ke have partnered with Timberwest Forest Corp. and EDP Renewables Canada Ltd. to develop, build and operate $750-million in large-scale wind power projects on Vancouver Island. It has also recently started a project that will harness wave power from the ocean to create energy.
So far, the First Nation has managed to cut its energy bills by approximately 75 per cent.
On top of this, the band has implemented solar to run their administrative buildings and solar chargers for the EVs, one of three solar generating systems they use. In 2009, at 75 kilowatts, the systems put the T'Sou-ke on an exclusive list as one of the four designated "solar cities", and "The most solar intensive aboriginal community in the world" says Special Projects manager, Andrew Moore, hired by the band in 2006 to establish the community vision.
The band sells their excess electricity to BC Hydro in the summer, and buys it back in the winter, using BC Hydro as a battery. They have cut their electricity bills to..zero.
They also want to help other First Nations to achieve some independence from both energy needs and government funding. Most First Nations in Canada are in isolated areas and have to rely totally on government funding to supply food, housing, heating and electricity. Gordon Planes hopes to help them achieve some solar, wind and tidal power, so they can at least save the money used to power and heat their homes. Diesel cost run into the millions every year for these remote communities.
To do this, Mr. Planes has met with the Haida Nations and discussed solar power outreach programs run through the T'Sou-ke, as well as partnering with local government on some renewable energy programs. He has also started working with the federal government to enable mentoring programs on alternative energy for remote communities.
Mr. Planes believes his nation’s approach is a necessary one as Canadians become increasingly reliant on fossil fuels.
“The sun is here every day,” he said. “It’s guaranteed to be here. And right now, no one’s taxing the sun.”
This is indeed a man and a community with a strong, smart vision for the future of his people
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/...