Charlsea and Jenna Visit Salt Spring Island!

Charlsea & Jenna Visit Salt Spring Island!

On Thanksgiving weekend, Shannon and her family spent time at a cottage on Salt Spring Island. Who better to accompany them than Maplelea Girls Charlsea and Jenna?

They visited many of the places that Charlsea talks about in her journal.  First up was Ruckle Farm where they explored the fields with Charlsea’s two sheep, Kam and Loops, and her goat, the Empress.

In the Island’s largest town, Ganges, they explored the waterfront and enjoyed watching the boats and sea planes come and go.

Charlsea delighted in showing Jenna her school.

Another very impressive thing at Charlsea's school on Salt Spring Island was their Hillside Garden. The garden was made on the steep bank at the back side of the school. The entrance was this magnificent wooden carved door. The explanation of the garden was carved in the centre of the door and the perimeter had the school children's carvings of words and drawings. 

Shannon and her family were able to take Charlsea and Jenna through this door and walk in the garden.  It was a magical place of learning—the children make their own fairy garden while learning about growing, composting and plants.  What a beautiful place of exploration and growth on the school grounds. 

There was also another garden inside a tall chain link fence on the front side of the schoolyard. Gardens are fenced because the deer roam freely all over the Island. Deer do love to eat vegetables and flowers, so the fencing is there to protect the growth of the garden.

Blue Herons are a familiar site on the Sunshine Coast.  Displayed on the retaining wall at the bottom of the Hillside Garden there was a school class project displayed on the retaining wall.  It was a fascinating display, rich in explanation and beautifully illustrated with children’s artwork.

In Charlsea’s story journal she talks about the many farmstands on Salt Spring Island and how it all works on the honour system.

As Shannon and her family, along with Charlsea and Jenna explored the Island, they spotted many of these farmstands and used the opportunity to buy fresh totally organic baking, fruit freshly picked from nearby trees, and even goat’s milk. 

Nobody manned the farmstands.  Local folks just deposited the money in the honour box (or wrote an note!)  Such fun the family had!

So totally impressed with the Salt Spring Island farmstands, that upon returning home they built one, with Charlsea and Jenna’s help, of course!

And then it was time to fill the stand with all kinds of miniature produce and preserves and treasures.

 

The stand was filled with miniature real produce, crafted miniatures and other found tiny treasures. 

Maplelea thanks Shannon for this delightful photo story.  We hope it inspires others to craft, create, travel and treasure with Maplelea!