For those of you new to reading this blog please note that it is my means of keeping in touch with friends and family, and other interested folks, while the spouse and I spend the winter in Vancouver - and during the trip here and back to PEI.  I update when I can, aiming for every few days.  It is very simply my thoughts, observations and details I want to share about our travels.  Scroll down, way down, for details of the trip across the continent which began our odyssey and our adventures living in our small, 22 ft, Rialta RV, for the winter........

By the way.  If you want to get in touch, share a thought or comment on the blog you might want to email us at julie@seacroftpei.com

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I’m constantly impressed by the successful entrepreneurial endeavours of small farm operations in the Fraser Valley.  People with a small piece of land make a living from it, often a good one, because they work hard at creating both good produce and a good experience for their customer.

Just before Christmas we went to a place known as Krause Berry Farms.  They grow several kinds of berries which they in turn use to create products such as baked goods, jams, jellies and more. But that isn’t all.  They have a shop on their farm, a place to get something to eat, many photo ops are set up for parents to get some photographs to treasure. Wagons to sit in, character cutouts to stick their faces in - that sort of thing. They sell live Christmas trees, in pots ready to go into the house then into the garden.  They do gift baskets which they sell made up.  They have horse and wagon rides and other things to do.  Best of all, they have a number of things you can participate in - like making your own gift basket, decorating cookies, that sort of thing.

In the village of Fort Langley there is another neat shop, Cranberries Naturally.  Everything they sell has cranberries in it.  Shop is one room, down a little alley in a little village that has turned itself into a tourist destination.  The day we went in, the door was constantly opening and closing as people came and went - almost always carrying a paper bag with something yummy inside.The only thing I didn’t see here was fresh cranberries - wrong season.  But they still attracted cranberry lovers with lovely displays of various products.  There was both a large variety of stock, and enough of most to make a display.  A jam and chutney were open for sampling with crackers.  Samples of candy were highly visible, placed well back from the door to entice people into the display area.  

There are literally hundreds of small specialty shops like these obviously successful and busy throughout the winter.  Several reasons for their success are obvious.  They have created a destination - somewhere to go for a satisfying feel-good experience.  The welcome extended when you visit is obvious.  At the little shops it’s a cheery hello, come in and have a look around. At busier spots its done with cheery signs inviting visitors to take photos by a sleigh, wagon, or the silly cutout you put your face through, followed by cheerful staff inside and again, lots to look at.

In Prince Edward Island we do have shops that have turned themselves into a destination such as Prince Edward Island Preserve Company in New Glasgow. Now if both they and customers could extend their seasons..................