Sharon Rempel, a food and agriculture historian, researcher, writer, Neo-Gastronome local food activisit and folklorist.
Sharon is credited with the 'Red Fife' revival and is the founder of Seedy Saturday community seed events happening in over 80 communities in Canada and throughout the U.K.
'Red Fife' wheat is a nation wide phenomenon that has captured the hearts and palettes of people around the world. The variety fed Canada from 1860 to 1900 but the story is 'value adding' and people want that variety because it has a name and a story. 'Red Fife' is a great example of what we can do when we bring story back to seed and food.
For the 'Bread and Wheat Festival' songwriter Phil Vernon to created a song about 'Red Fife' Wheat. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/philvernon2
B.C. Author Sharon Rempel
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"The hand that holds the seed controls the food supply. May seed always be in the hands of gardeners and farmers who will save and share this wealth.”
- Sharon Rempel
Photo: Red Fife Wheat. Sharon Rempel, standing in the first Victoria area Red Fife field. Frequently heard on CBC Radio in the 1980s and 1990s, Sharon is a published writer with dozens of magazine articles and four books to her credit.
Sharon's research work uncovers obscure trivia that provide uniqueness and integrity for selling and idea or product. Sharon finds the remarkable and makes it marketable.
Sharon has worked in the field as an organic plant breeder with heritage wheat for 25 years. She has coauthored organic certification standards for Alberta in 1986. She advocates fair wages for farmers and conservation of Canada's farmland. Local food activist Sharon Rempel has been nominated for a Slow Food Conservator award.
Her research findings provide 'value' for heritage varieties of crops so hopefully communities will conserve the varieties.
As a pioneer in agri-tourism in the 1980s she put The Grist Mill at Keremeos provincial historic site on the tourist map. She used the zucca melon as a marketing product of 'uniqueness and integrity' for the site. This 'golden thread' attracted attention from media and resulted in increased revenue for the site.
Sharon runs a charity The Garden Institute of BC that works at the local level to help projects that support conservation of farmland, farmers, organic agriculture and heritage crop biodiversity.
Sharon has studied classical and folk music and plays fiddle.
If you are looking for heritage varieties of crops, for information for a media story or looking to brainstorm....book an hour of time with Sharon using Pay Pal.
If you are looking for a remarkable individual to inspire your next conference think about Sharon as a speaker.
Free download Sharon's books: DIG, Diversity in Gardens; Heritage Gardens; On Farm Research Guide
"Terroir" link the heritage genetics with the land and soil. Taste terroir in heritage wheat with the foundation Red Fife wheat Sharon's branded 'Faith Red Fife'.