Improving Our Community One Elder at a Time

Editor’s Note: Good morning readers. First I’d like to announce that Stacey, Kathy and Melanie won the fantastic cookbooks from yesterday. Yay! Now, we are excited to reveal a new direction for Wendy’s Grand-Parents column this morning, as we move toward a long-term discussion about planning for different stages in our lives and ways to [...]

Sunday Morning Walks – Winter Museum Walking

You have to admit that, some days this time of year, heading outside for an adventure in the perpetual downpour is not on the list of things to do. But, needing to get out of the house is going to be the one thing that keeps everyone from going off of their rockers in the [...]

Holiday Traditions – Where To Check Out the Lights

Editor’s Note: This morning we had a fun post about getting organized and creating some cute projects for 2010 courtesy of crafting goddess Vanessa Falle. You can check it out HERE. Now, time for more holiday traditions. Today, where to find some of the best light displays in the Comox Valley.
If there’s one thing about [...]

Sunday Morning Walks – Finding Swans

The truest sign of Winter’s onset for our family is the return of the Trumpeter Swans. Right after Halloween we move from salmon and skeletons to full-on ornithologists looking for our friends headed South from Alaska for their balmy vacation from the Northern cold.
They’ve become like the neighbors who only live in town half the [...]

Regional Growth in Your Backyard

Editor’s Note: Good morning and welcome to SHIFT News. Today we have Comox Valley reporter Colleen Dane here with the first of a two-part series on the critical roll that local residents can play in the creation of the Comox Valley Regional Growth Strategy (RGS).
In part one, Dane takes a look at the background of [...]

Register for OBE’s Annual Pumpkin Patch Party

Good morning. When it comes to Fall, our favorite family adventure is one that always involves the pumpkin patch.
While there really is all kinds of coolness in the orange farm field universe, we here at Our Big Earth have developed a soft spot in our heart for one Comox farm that puts some serious spooky [...]

Restaurant Review – Benino Gelato

 
There we were, standing at the corner of Fourth and Cliffe a few days ago snacking down in gelato, chatting up Benino Gelato mother-daughter team Ruth and Aline about life in general when it occurred to me that I had yet to chat up our most favourite afternoon treat locale with OBE readers.
Maybe it was [...]

Local Fresh Bread – Wheat- & Gluten-Free

Eating wheat-free or gluten-free doesn’t mean you have to give up foods you love! It seems these days.
Many families have to eliminate wheat products from the household grocery list because of intolerance or allergy. Bread lovers (myself included) find it hard enough to curb this staple from our daily diet (who can resist carbs!), and [...]

Snow Sled Walks in the Comox Valley

Every day, it’s the same question: “Mommy, when is it going to snow? Santa won’t come if it never snows.”
While I’m sure kids in warmer climates would definitely debate the merits of her theory, our daughter could not help but find herself bundled up and ready to hit the hills the last couple of days [...]

A Sustainable Partnership

Last Wednesday, as our daughter and I were headed off to the NeighbourWood Walk out at Lazo Marsh, we drove along the dyke road in the gleaming sunshine and she made an announcement.
“Look at the magic, mommy?”
I had no idea what she was talking about.
“Look, out on the ocean, it’s like magic sunshine out [...]

Parent Getaways – Snuggles, Wine & Dessert

Editor’s Note: Reality of Parenthood #1 – if mom and dad aren’t happy, nobody is happy.
Finding those moments to reconnect as a couple or spend a bit of time regrouping by yourself may seem nearly impossible most days. But, making them possible can be what levels your head, rejuvenates you and helps you [...]

Announcing The Fall NeighbourWood Walks

Good morning.
I am happy to say that after a couple months of NeighbourWood Walk withdrawl since our fantastic Summer series that saw 60 kiddos and their families out for walks all over the region, the Fall walk series is nearly here.
September is always a nutso month for families, and October has been a bit of [...]

Thanksgiving Family Walks in the Comox Valley

We realized yesterday, at the point when we were still debating what will be on the table at Thanksgiving dinner – including a yet-to-be-purchased(oops) main dish – that we are a bit overworked right now.
We’ve debated the merits of breaking for a few minutes to go remember what the beach looks like or stretch our [...]

It’s Raining – Time to Head Outside

Editor’s Note: OF COURSE the sun is back out today. Ha, ha Mother Nature.
But, do save this post for later reference. The sun is bound to disappear again, soon.:)

Mother Nature, she’s not exactly the subtle type.
No easing us into Fall, giving us a few clouds here and there before commencing with the deluge.
My mental space [...]

The Farm – Paper Quilt Making

It seems that all good things (like Summer) must come to an end – and our time with Popsicle out at the Filberg’s Hands-On Farm officially wraps up this Sunday.
We have totally loved spending the Summer getting to know this feisty friend who greets us at the barnyard door and nudges us into hugs and [...]

Valley Insight – The Lazo Marsh

Editor’s Note: If there is one trail in the Valley that we L-O-V-E, it’s the Lazo Marsh loop. Short and sweet, this flat walk is just over 2K, but full of some of the coolest sights any kiddo can imagine.
We discovered this trail thanks to the Comox Valley Naturalists Society, and the first time we [...]

Valley In Sight – MacDonald Wood Nature Park

Editor’s Note:
I used to drive by MacDonald Wood Nature Park and wonder what could possibly be behind those trees. Good or bad, I eventually decided we needed to expand our trail repertoire and just pulled over one day to discover one of the most lovely slices of the Valley during any season.
In fact, we spend [...]

Our Very First NeighbourWood Walk

We couldn’t have asked for a more awesome day to kick off the Spring series of NeighbourWood Walks over at MacDonald Wood Nature Park yesterday.
The sunshine and low tide meant this fun walk through the forest turned into a great afternoon checking out crabs and snails and logging serious splashing in with some new friends.
You [...]

Kin Beach & Bird Badges

On those sunny days when the wind is warm and a day digging in the sand is in order, starting your morning out at Kin Beach Provincial Park is the way to go.
This tucked away spot, just down the hill off of Kilmarnack Road in Comox, is the perfect combination of quaint picnic/cookout locale, beach [...]

The Northeast Woods & Hand Trees

This is the second in our 4-part series of Spring walks that include insider details and activities to pair with some of our favourite trails around the region
Check back in every Sunday in April for a new walk and some fun tips to get the family outside enjoying the season together.

Wow, it’s gorgeous outside, [...]

Eat Local at Comox Valley Farms

Ash Berry Farm, on Royston Road in Royston – U-pick strawberries, raspberries and gooseberries.
Blue Haven Farm, at the corner of Anderton Road and Idiens Way in Comox – U-Pick blueberries.
Seifert’s Farm Market on Knight Road in Comox has a farm market open daily and packed full of locally grown (some from BC like Okanagan fruit) [...]

Product Review – Kumon Preschool Skill Builders

Our daughter couldn’t be bothered.
Crayons were so not in her repertoire. Colouring – no thank you!
As you know, she would paint until the cows come home. But, crayons, pens, anything that involved lines – not so much.
The omnipotent “they” tell us that our kiddo should be thinking hard about the whole line-making thing. I get [...]

A Barn As A Recreation Asset

I cannot be happier to report that Comox Rec Program Director Patti Fletcher kicks off her monthly column today with talk about the Hands-On Farm.
This gem, which generally is open at The Filberg for eight glorious Summer-time weeks each year, has some big news. We all can jump in for some Spring farm fun (and [...]

Comox Parks

Anyway, as promised, we continue our quest to provide you all with a comprehensive list of parks in the region. Last week, we offered up the ins and outs of Courtenay parks. Today, we’re all about Comox.
As with last week, there are several city-maintained nature parks including MacDonald Wood, Condor, Pioneer, Foxxwood, Highwood and Mac [...]

Pools, Skating Rinks and Climing Gyms in the Comox Valley

The Comox Valley is home to a wide range of public sports facilities including skating rinks, pools and recreation centres that are in the process of expanding as the Valley continues to grow.
The Comox Strathcona Regional District maintains local public pools and ice rinks in Courtenay, Comox and Campbell River other than Glacier Gardens ice [...]

Family-Friendly Trails in the Comox Valley

Finding the safe, accessible and fun family trails on the North Island is no small task.
With plenty of trails to choose from, it’s the details on what works and what doesn’t that are often missing. Check here for a list of family-friendly trails around the Comox Valley and Campbell River regions.
SAFETY NOTE: Bears, cougars [...]

Mack Laing Nature Park

I‘d heard a whole lot of people talk about how lovely and relaxing a stroll through Mack Laing Nature Park is on a lovely day. But, wow was it ever tough to find something that actually showed me how to get there. Like many of the wonderful slices of nature around these parts, Mack Laing [...]

Blue Haven Farm U-Pick Blueberries

It’s the season I wait for all year.
Not summer.
No, it’s blueberry season.
And there is one lovely U-Pick blueberry farm in Comox that you can hit for the next six weeks or so and snack down on those tasty blue morsels – Blue Haven Farm on Anderton Road and Idiens Way.

First off, let’s get the important [...]

Dining Out – Porch’s Take-Out

It’s one of those places that you wait all winter for it to re-open.
You know, those spots where – when you were a kid – you’d beg your parents to eat at because grease and fries and fish with a big whack o’ tartar sauce is pretty much the most awesome local island food ever.
Porch’s [...]

Hot Spots – The Comox Hands-On Farm

I have this thing about farms.
There’s a connection to the land and a healthy respect for where our food comes from that makes me jump at any chance to hit anything even remotely farm-like.
So, when the Hands-On Farm at The Filberg opened a few weeks ago, we wasted no time in hoofing it right over [...]

Diaper Gyms In The Comox Valley

Finding the perfect place for your infant or toddler to make friends, play hard and have fun can be tough work.
Here are a few spots to try out:
CFB Comox Parents & Tots 10 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays and Fridays out at the CFB Comox Recreation Centre. $2 and parents are encouraged to contribute a [...]

Comox Marina Park

I grew up in the mountains…never even set foot on an ocean beach (Lake Ontario doesn’t really count) until my double-digit years…had no clue what I was missing.
When we finally met – the ocean and me – it was love at first sight. I can’t even imagine living away from it or even a day [...]

Dining Out – Rocky Mountain Cafe

This is our first edition of Dining Out on Comox Valley Kids – and since it will be a regular topic in posts around here I thought I’d post a few details and a disclaimer.
Eat Out is designed as a section where we will review restaurants around the North Island for family friendliness. The opinions [...]

Art Galleries in the Comox Valley

The Comox Valley is packed full of small art galleries – in every medium – that are a uniquely British Columbian experience.
Taking a day out to see the work of the hundreds of local artists who live among us will amaze you at the talent around these parts.
Check out:
The Comox Valley Art Gallery
Denman Arts Centre
Pearl [...]

Local, Regional and Provincial Park on North Vancouver Island

North Vancouver Island is packed full of family-friendly parks that can turn the gloomiest of days into a full-fledged adventure.
We’re working on gathering comprehensive lists of local parks for you.
LOCAL PARKS THAT WE LOVE:
The Filberg Heritage Lodge & Park: In Comox just off of Comox Avenue. The Filberg is a family fave – filled with [...]