Words Jo Barnes
Photos Sarah Hartley Photography
Saanich farmer, Rob Galey, owner of Galey Farms, is a fourth-generation farmer who knows intimately the effort and commitment involved in running a farm operation, but he is also a highly creative individual who for 25 years has been offering wildly popular seasonal farm attractions including corn maze adventures and an onsite railway excursion.
“I love community. I have a lot of creativity and love to build things,” shares Rob. “Farming is very physical, and farming plus agritourism gives balance.”
Galey Farms, which covers 120 acres in numerous Saanich locations, grows a diversity of vegetables and berries. The thriving farming operation traces back to 1939 when Don and Mary Galey operated a dairy farm in the Cordova Bay area. The farm was subsequently moved to its Blenkinsop location, where diversity and volume of produce and operations expanded. Farming experience is in Rob’s blood.
“I was born and bred on the farm. When my grandfather passed away, my father Ray and Uncle Gordon took over. After high school, I was heavily involved in the egg and vegetable operation,” relates Rob, adding, with a big smile: “But my big interest is berries! In the late 90s I planted strawberries and raspberries. It is now a large-scale berry operation. Over half a million strawberry plants were in production this season!”
A longtime motorcycle enthusiast, Rob spent many years involved in organizing indoor motorcycle racing shows, and since 1999 has transferred that enthusiasm to creating entertaining annual activities for farm visitors. October ushers in an extravaganza of events at the farm. By day, there’s Pumpkinfest featuring U-pick pumpkins, hay rides to the pumpkin patch, a corn maze, Haunted Town and a children’s haunted house. Locals return year after year for family fun and to create special memories.
“We put a lot of photo opportunities out there. There is magic when it comes to kids in the pumpkin fields. My treasures are photos of my kids in the pumpkin patch,” says Rob. “We also offer hay rides in hay wagons, and we also have wagons with no hay for those who are allergic to it.”
In addition to the well-recognized orange Hallowe’en pumpkin, Galey Farms offers a great diversity of other interesting gourds to the mix. “We have regular pumpkins, but I am geared into specialty pumpkins,” relates Rob. “We have over 20 varieties. Short, tall or fat in shape and all kinds of colours; if you’re looking for the unique, you have to come here to get it.”
Come night, when the sun goes down, the farm comes alive. Dinos and tigers and cave men, oh my! It’s the Festival of Fear where the daytime corn maze transforms into the Corn Maze of Horror and Carnevil offering a massive haunted house sure to frighten visitors who dare to enter its doors.
It takes a team to create the animatronics, sound and lighting that bring the site to life and elicit the crowd excitement. “It’s a team of people with all kinds of technical skills. Many are from the film industry and do the set design. We also have live actors,” outlines Rob. “We don’t hold back! The cost of putting on these productions is expensive. I don’t take shortcuts. The ethic instilled in me from my father and grandfather was to always ‘do it right’.”
Rob shares how the goal of doing it right takes on a whole new level this year when it comes to technical prowess. “This year we’re stepping it up with the animation. We installed fibreoptics, so the transmission is very quick.”
An important part of the fun farm experience is the Galey Farm Train, which takes visitors on a winding 20-minute ride throughout the property so they can see the wonder of it all up close. “It’s a scale replica engine of the C. P. Huntington, a 19th Century steam locomotive. It’s well built, a safe people mover. We can get people around the property, so there’s no mobility issues for customers this way,” remarks Rob. “We’ve added goats, sheep, donkeys and cows grazing in pastures along the route for people to see and enjoy.”
In addition, not only can visitors enjoy this special farm experience, but they can learn at the same time. As they ride along the route, the train engineer shares about how food is grown and harvested at the farm. It’s an opportunity to appreciate the farm-to-table connection and the importance of local farming.
At Galey Farms, it’s understood that it takes dedication, long hours and effort to establish and maintain a sustainable farm and a strong presence in the community. However, at this time of year, the “trick” is to give a special “treat” to visitors and a harvest of fun!
www.galeyfarms.ca
