by Jo Barnes | photo courtesy Graham Creek Dahlia Farm –
Dahlia. Some say day-lee-a. Others say dah-lee-a. For one couple of local farmers, it doesn’t matter how you pronounce the name of this beautiful flower; it’s about planting it properly, tending it carefully, and enjoying its beauty.
Ben and Kirsten Cawston of Graham Creek Dahlia Farm grow dahlia flowers and tubers, which are the tuberous roots of the plant. A very popular perennial, the dahlia is known for its intricate flower with numerous petals encircling a central core.
The five-acre property on West Saanich Road was formerly a lavender farm, but Ben initially wanted to look at other possibilities.
“There were already roses and other flowers being sold at that time, but there were not a lot of people growing dahlias,” shares Ben. “So I decided to grow dahlias. There are so many varieties and colours.”
Their harvests have grown in quantity and variety since the farm began. Today, they have 42 varieties including small, medium, ball, waterlily, and dinner plate dahlias. The flowers are arranged in bouquets and sold at the farm stand, through Thrifty Foods, and at the Saanichton Fairground marketplace.
“We’ll put together over 100 bouquets and bring them to the market. They all go.” says Kirsten. “Making someone else smile – it’s satisfying.”
Tucked away in rural Saanich, the farm is a quiet setting save for the occasional cluck of a chicken or bleat of a lamb. In addition to dahlias, Ben and Kirsten grow strawberries and raise livestock.
“As well as the dahlias, we also grow strawberries. We have 1,500 plants,” says Kirsten. “We have about 100 chickens and sell the eggs. We raise lambs for sale locally and on the Island, and we make wine from strawberries.”
The couple’s farming journey in Central Saanich began seven years ago when the possibility came up to farm this property.
“The owner, our neighbour, wanted to keep the farm status and needed someone to farm the land,” says Ben. “It was a good opportunity for us.”
Ben’s background and work experience proved highly valuable when it came to prepping the land and growing crops.
“I’m from Winfield B.C. and grew up on a farm,” says Ben. “I also had a gardening business here for 20 years.”
Success has come about through a lot of effort. Initially, there was much work to do on the land to prepare the site. “The grass was two feet high,” says Ben.
Those days of clearing and preparing the land are past, but the seasonal and daily effort still continues. The cycle of the dahlia work begins and ends with the tuber, which contains everything the plant needs to grow. After harvesting, the tubers are stored in wood shavings through the winter then readied for planting for a new season.
“At the end of February we plant them in peat moss in the greenhouse, and they grow there until May,” comments Kirsten.
Due to the large variety of dahlias, the growing plants are identified with tags at the end of each row. Miss Teagan, Ebony, Fuego, and Apricot Fire; the names are as varied and beautiful as the flowers themselves. Growing dahlias is a demanding business as the flowers require time and dedication, but for Ben, it’s very satisfying.
“It’s very relaxing spending time in the greenhouse and planting what I want,” he says “I know that people really like them.”
In May, and when there is no longer a risk of frost, the young dahlias are planted in the ground where they eventually bloom in mid-summer through to autumn.
“Ben pounds wooden stakes into the ground, and I follow behind to put the plants next to them,” states Kirsten. “As they grow, we strap them to the stake.”
Customers can order dahlia tubers online. The tubers are gathered and boxed in wood shavings, which prevents excess moisture and rot, and then sent out to their buyers. What began as more of a hobby has grown into a viable business.
“Our online sales of dahlia tubers has grown five-fold,” shares Kirsten. Adds Ben: “We try our best to produce quality products at a fair price.”
However, growing dahlias is never easy. “There have been challenges like pests and wet weather,” comments Ben. “At one point, there was a population explosion of coreopsis beetles, and they were eating the plants.” This infestation was handled using environmentally friendly products which discouraged the insects.
Despite challenges though, the lifestyle is one that the couple has come to relish. “It is a way of life and not a job,” shares Ben. “I really enjoy it.”
So it doesn’t matter how you pronounce the name – the enjoyment Ben and Kirsten have found in this wonderful flower speaks volumes.
