Stowel Lake Farm

10/08/2026

Community trip up to Keremeos!

We’ve been visiting this special place for a number of years. Jen’s dad, Stuart, used to have a garlic farm here, and every fall we’d head up to help him plant. It’s been a handful of years since those trips, but this year we decided to make our way back up just to visit!

It was a weekend full of good food, hikes, swims, singing around the fire, and lots of laughs. Here are a few photos of everyone soaking up and loving the dramatically different landscape of the Okanagan-Similkameen!

While we were there, we also visited the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, which we highly recommend if you’re ever in the area! 🌵

10/06/2026

You might not have heard of these weird little orange berries before, but they’re one of the most nutrient-dense fruits we grow here at the farm.

This is Sea Buckthorn. The berries are really high in Vitamin C and antioxidants, and they also contain a range of healthy fatty acids, including Omega-7.

They’ve been used as food and in traditional medicine for centuries across Europe and Asia. They’re extremely tart on their own, so once we harvest them, we process the berries into a puree that we can use in things like drinks, sauces, and desserts. Our favourite Sea Buckthorn recipe currently is a cheesecake! It’s divine😋

10/02/2026

We are selling our Apple juice at the farmstand!! 🍎🧡🍂

It’s that time of year when you are eating endless apples! There are too many to count so off to the juicer they go at Laughing Apple Farm Farmstand 🍎

They just get sweeter as the months go on.

09/29/2026

The farmstand will be closed tomorrow (Sept. 30) in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.🧡

We hope our farm and greater community can take this day to listen, learn, and reflect on the intergenerational impacts of residential schools, as well as each of our own ongoing work toward reconciliation.

A handful of our team will be attending the community gathering at Fernwood Dock and Café Flora from 12–3pm on Wednesday, Sept. 30, hosted by the Coastal Blood Singers. Hope to see you there!

09/27/2026

Meet our Chef Kari!

Kari stepped into the role of head chef and kitchen manager on the farm 6 years ago without missing a beat. We’re constantly amazed by everything she manages to pull off.

Kari works closely with the farmers to use what’s growing in the garden for our farm-to-table meals for retreat guests. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes, from planning and prep to getting three meals a day out on time. Kari’s team leading skills, attention to detail, excitement and incredible organization make her fabulous at what she does. And of course, everyone loves her food! If you know, you know! 

Kari lives close to the farm with her family. Nalima,her daughter has been working as part of the kitchen team for the last 3 years. Tashin, her son has also worked on the farm at different times over the years.

Off the farm, Kari is the owner of hOMe Grown Living Foods, a sprouted nut and seed company. Some of her products and recipes have made their way into our retreat meals and are sold at the Farm Stand, so if you haven’t tried them yet, you should! They’re so yum😋

When she’s not in the kitchen, you’ll usually find Kari making pottery, hiking in the forest or along the seashore, and enjoying a care-fully made cup of tea.

We feel so lucky to have Kari not only in our kitchen, but as part of our community too. Thanks for all you do!!🫶

09/27/2026

Meet our Chef Kari!

Kari (Kari Mathieson ) stepped into the role of head chef and kitchen manager on the farm 6 years ago without missing a beat. We’re constantly amazed by everything she manages to pull off.

Kari works closely with the farmers to use what’s growing in the garden for our farm-to-table meals for retreat guests. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes, from planning and prep to getting three meals a day out on time. Kari’s team leading skills, attention to detail, excitement and incredible organization make her fabulous at what she does. And of course, everyone loves her food! If you know, you know! 

Kari lives close to the farm with her family. Nalima,her daughter has been working as part of the kitchen team for the last 3 years. Tashin, her son has also worked on the farm at different times over the years.

Off the farm, Kari is the owner of hOMe Grown Living Foods, a sprouted nut and seed company. Some of her products and recipes have made their way into our retreat meals and are sold at the Farm Stand, so if you haven’t tried them yet, you should! They’re so yum😋

When she’s not in the kitchen, you’ll usually find Kari making pottery, hiking in the forest or along the seashore, and enjoying a care-fully made cup of tea.

We feel so lucky to have you Kari not only in our kitchen, but as part of our community too. Thank you for all you do! 🫶

09/27/2026

09/25/2026

We work together, live in community together…
And apparently sometimes we all clap and dance together too.

09/19/2026

While in the garden, it’s hard not to start seeing all the veggies as different things. Especially carrot legs. 😂

So we decided to actually turn some of those ideas into little veggie beings.

We’ve been talking about the roots of spring onions as pigtails for a very long time, haha.

What do you see while you’re wandering around the garden? Are there any veggies that always remind you of something else?