Growing Opportunities is a podcast series that focuses on agriculture experts discussing everything from setting up the farm to marketing. Hosted by Megan D'Arcy and Michelle Roberge, Agriculture Coordinators for the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako.
Guest: Christopher Walker, Emergency Services Manager for the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN). In episode three, Megan and Emergency Services Manager for the RDBN Christopher Walker discuss steps, safety measures, and best practices for your family, property, and livestock in case of a natural emergency. Topics covered in this episode include evacuation alerts and orders, livestock evacuation, and how the RDBN operates in an emergency. External Links: https://www.rdbn.bc.ca/depart...
6 Mar 2026
Those Pesky Invasive Plants!
Guests: Michelle Miller, Mike Pangman & Kiara Mills (Northwest Invasive Plant Council) This episode features Michelle Miller (Executive Director), Mike Pangman (Field Operations Coordinator), and Kiara Mills (Education & Outreach Assistant) from the Northwest Invasive Plant Council. They discuss invasive plant priorities, integrated pest management, drought impacts, landowner responsibilities, rebate programs, and how communities across northwest BC can prevent the spread of invasive ...
27 Feb 2026
GO Season 3 Trailer
Growing Opportunities is a podcast from the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako exploring agriculture, rural living, and land stewardship in northwest BC. Featuring local producers, regional experts, and community leaders, the third series of this podcast will share practical insights intended to support resilient farms and thriving rural communities. Tune in for regional information on community irrigation systems, invasive species management, emergency management policy, and more!
27 Feb 2026
Interested in Community Irrigation?
Guests: Ione Smith (Upland Agricultural Consulting) & Bruce Naka (Sound Water Advise) In this episode of Growing Opportunities, Ione Smith of Upland Agricultural Consulting and Bruce Naka of Sound Water Advise discuss the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako’s pilot project exploring community irrigation in the Vanderhoof area. They share insights on water licensing, drought impacts on forage production, stakeholder engagement, system design options, and the real costs of building shared ...
1 Dec 2022
Rural Living - Land and Leases
In this episode Penni Adams, Manager of the Northwest Invasive Plant Council, gives us a quick lesson on invasive plants – which ones are common and which are on the critical list for eradicating. Penni also shares about the work of the NWIPC, and the services, education and outreach they provide. And important for landowners to know about is the Landowner Rebate to help deal with invasive plants. Have you wondered or been curious about leasing your land to someone else to work? If so, you ha...
10 Nov 2022
Rural Living - Farm Classification and the ALR
Welcome back! This is the first episode of the Growing Opportunities podcast Season 2. In this episode Megan and Michelle talk to the previous Electoral Area A (Smithers Rural) Director for the RDBN Mark Fisher and Peter Alexander from BC Assessment. They share with us what it means to own property in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), when you might need to contact the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC), and how Farm Classification fits into this picture and why you might want to seek it...
30 May 2022
Marketing Your Farm
How do you grab the attention of your customers? Is online the way to advertise, or should you invest in a billboard on the highway? There are so many different ways to reach new and returning customers, so why not let the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako help you figure our what's best for you! This episode of Growing Opportunities is packed with tips and first-hand knowledge from some of the district's savviest farmers, homesteaders and market vendors. Hosted by: Michelle Roberge Guests...
23 May 2022
Cattle and Chickens and Goats, Oh My!
Interested in what it takes to start up a goat milk creamery? Need questions answered about processing locally-raised chickens? Megan D'Arcy hosts this episode of the Growing Opportunities podcast. With the help of Dena Leier of Graham Acres Homestead and Manfred Wittwer of both W Diamond Ranch & BV Custom Slaughter, we get a snapshot of raising livestock in Northern BC for meat, goat milk & eggs. From a goat obsession to biosecurity, this episode covers a lot of g...
2 May 2022
Veggie Tales
In this episode of the Growing Opportunities podcast, Michelle speaks to three experienced vegetable farmers: Linda and Don Borno and Joe Hug. Healthy Hugs Organics is a certified organic vegetable farm located on the fertile soil of the Bulkley River in Smithers, BC. Most of their vegetable varieties are chosen for their quality of taste and nutrition. They sell to local restaurants, businesses, and families and offer beautiful veggie boxes from July to October. Linda and Don are local veg...
18 Apr 2022
Forage
Welcome back to Growing Opportunities! Today we're talking about forage, an essential dietary component for all kinds of livestock, from Icelandic sheep to Hereford bulls. On the show, Megan is talking to three people about what makes their forage fields successful, and some of the challenges they face. Listen in to the episode to hear from Wayne Ray, Smith Creek Farms (forage producer and retired rancher from south of Fort Fraser), Paul Davidson, Canyon Creek Farm (beef, dairy and forage pro...
4 Apr 2022
The A to Bzzz about Bees
Welcome to the second episode of Growing Opportunities a podcast from the Agriculture Coordinators for the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako. On this episode, Michelle speaks to Barry Clark, apiary inspector for the RDBN East about the ins and outs of inspections and the role of the bee inspector, as well as best practices for starting bees in the Bulkley-Nechako. Side note: for folks in the RDBN, we have two bee inspectors - Barry Clark covers the East side of the RDBN (roughly Topley ...
21 Mar 2022
Setting Up The Farm: Off Grid Options
Welcome to the first episode of Growing Opportunities a podcast from the Agriculture Coordinators for the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako. On this episode, Megan talks to Bryan Swansburg and Michelle Roberge about the steps to setting up your farm to live off grid. It just might be easier than you think! What does living "off grid" mean in northern BC? Listen to this episode's guests for practical tools, useful anecdotes, and a good place to get started. These interview...
15 Mar 2022
Growing Opportunities Podcast Trailer
Growing Opportunities is a podcast from the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako in British Columbia. Listen in as hosts Megan D'Arcy and Michelle Roberge speak with agricultural experts on broad scope concepts in agriculture. These conversations are creative and focus on topics from finding the right power source for your home to best beekeeping practices (and why northern BC is such a good place to do it!)
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