A family in the North Thompson Valley has introduced a creative way to purchase fresh produce, prepared dry meals, dried spices, and other locally produced products such as honey by adding an honour or honesty fridge storeroom to their family farm, garden and accommodations home business.
The idea of the honesty fridge isn’t new, explains co-owner Krysalynne Jones.
“There are similar concepts elsewhere. We’ve attracted not only local interest but quite a few tourists as well heading into Wells Gray Park. I’ve got a system that works pretty well on the honour system, and people can take what they need from the fridge, which is accessible 24/7.
"We stock it with fresh vegetables, some jarred, canned foods like pickles and sauerkraut, and we also have a selection of fresh and dried herbs available to purchase. There is a cash box for paying in cash or instructions on how to e-transfer to us. So far, we’ve had a very positive experience with customers using the honour system.”
Jones and her husband Jean-Yves Boucher lead busy lives as young parents to 22-month-old Desmond. Both are trained wildland firefighters, bed and breakfast operators, and organic gardeners on their Grizzly Paw Gardens and B & B property. The thriving woodland farm garden is located in the Greer subdivision on the edge of Wells Gray Park.
A large welcome sign beside the front door greets visitors, and another big sign on the door directs customers to search out the owners. "We are in the garden, come find us," it reads, with a smiley face and arrow pointing the way to the working gardens.
Boucher is also a red seal chef, and manages a food truck set up in the Spahats Falls parking lot during the summer, not far from their homestead just off Clearwater Valley Road.
The hard-working couple hit the ground running when they purchased the 10-acre property, immediately designing a beautifully appointed two-bedroom downstairs “mortgage helper” suite complemented by a private barbecue area for their bed and breakfast guests to enjoy.
This thriving homestead boasts lush organic gardens bursting with vegetables, herbs and flowers, and is a dream in progress for the little family. They are also raising pigs and sheep as meat animals. The ambitious couple is now providing in-season weekly boxes for pick-up or delivery, as well as freeze-dried “goodies” such as garlic powder, meal kits and spice rub.
Jones points to the garlic she had been harvesting and the bulbs hanging in a special shed to dry before being bagged and marked for sale in the honour shed next to the house.
“It’s all a work in progress,” she says with a smile. “It’s a lot of work but I really enjoy it. We keep improving. We are raising pigs and sheep. We’ve partnered with a nearby neighbour and are now offering her honey for sale also. I’ve recently read on social media about the guy running Nogomos, the farm-to-table grocery circuit, and I’ve reached out hoping we can possibly join his service as well. What a great idea.”
Nogomos, a grocery service, was started up by young entrepreneur Justin Cartwright, who had a like-minded vision to Jones' own farm-to-table goals. He visits farms, ranches, and small businesses as a “buying club” and picks up locally-produced, wholesome foods like meat, eggs, and produce from suppliers from Kamloops through the North Thompson and up to the Cariboo to offer clients healthier, more cost-effective bulk options while supporting local interior producers.
“I’m looking forward to connecting with him and adding our own products to his service. We are also supportive of others and welcome new products to sell that would go well with what we have here,” says Jones.
If you are interested in shopping in the honour fridge you can inquire via their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/grizzlypawbnb/ or via their website at grizzlypawbnb.com.
