Salt Spring Island

• ORGANIC GARDENING CENTRE OF CANADA

• FIRST FRUIT GROWNING AREA IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

• ARTS AND CRAFT MECCA

• THE BAHAMAS OF CANADA

Just north of Canadian-American border and the San Juan Islands of Washington State, Salt Spring Island, is the most populated and the largest of the Canadian Gulf Islands. It is nestled between Vancouver and Victoria in the Strait of Georgia, about 20 miles north of Victoria, BC. Salt Spring Island has an area of about 80 square miles with 9000 inhabitants, although tourism in the summer months doubles the population. It is about climate zones 8, although elevations to 2000 feet will reduce that climatic zone considerably. Summer days are hot and dry with cool nights and a heavy dew each morning. Late fall is rainy and overcast while winter is mild, with an early spring. Snow falls occasionally with temperature seldom going much below 0° C. Apple, plum, pears and cherries thrive here but peaches will only grow under protection due to peach curl.