08/20/2023
Thank you to everyone who has reached out. Here is our situation. Ravens View Farm is fortunate to be located in Peachland which is due south of West Kelowna over a small mountain. The fire is about ten miles North of us. We cannot see the fires but it brings back memories of being on alert and watching fire kindling ponderosa trees on the hill across the ravine five years ago as it approached the farm. We have been firesmarting our farm every spring for the past three years and Mark has sent the last of his extensive wild and wonderful ephemera to auction in Chicago just one month ago to preserve his 40 years of archiving in case of this eventuality. Our grab and go kits and emergency preparedness plan have been updated. Yesterday we spent the day with teen helpers doing fall clean up around the property instead of picking peaches and plums as the farmers market was canceled along with all other events across the province. Our deepest disappointment was having to cancel a two week visit with our niece at the eleventh hour literally when the state of emergency was declared with mandate that non essential people in the province go home and not come. The Cottage at ravens view farm is now available for evacuees with animals who need refuge. Apocalyptic is the word that is used for a reason. And now I have family in Southern California preparing for a hurricane and a year’s worth of rain being delivered. Wish it were coming here.
