The Farms That Fed Us: Chilliwack Agriculture Through the Generations

When we talk about Chilliwack’s heritage, we often picture our historic streetscapes, beloved landmarks, and the families who helped shape this place. But woven through all of that—quietly, steadily, and quite literally—are the farms that fed us. Agriculture is one of the oldest threads in Chilliwack’s story, and it continues to shape who we are today.

Long before the first settlers arrived, the fertile lands of the valley supported the rich food traditions of the Stó:lō people. Salmon, berries, wapato, wild greens, and cedar-root harvesting anchored a sustainable way of life built around the rhythms of the land and river. Many of these traditions continue today, reminding us that Chilliwack’s agricultural story reaches much deeper than fences and furrows.

Patches of wapato grew to profusion in various wetland regions of the Fraser Valley. Stó:lō elders have noted that, traditionally, families managed and maintained patches of wapato in local sloughs to ensure better growth. (Image credit: www.hastingsmillmuseum.ca)

The winter harvest of x̌ʷəq̓ʷəl's, or wapato tubers, would be ongoing as long as ice conditions permitted. Wapato (otherwise known today as Arrowhead) was an important source of dietary starch for Indigenous communities. (Image credit: www.hastingsmillmuseum.ca)

Click to read about the discovery of a 3800 year old ‘potato’ garden.

By the late 19th century, European settlers were planting roots of a different kind. Small family homesteads soon grew into productive farms supplying everything from dairy and grains to vegetables, hops, and berries. Chilliwack’s mild climate and fertile soil proved so ideal for farming that by the early 20th century, the community had already earned a reputation as one of the most productive agricultural areas in B.C.

Edenbank Farms, founded in 1866 by A.C. Wells, was well known throughout the Fraser Valley for their award winning Ayrshire Cattle and their Creamery store, which was the first one in Chilliwack. (Image credit: www.sethhanby.opened.ca)

Some of the most recognizable industries took shape early on.

Dairy farming became one of Chilliwack’s defining agricultural pillars, with cooperative creameries and cheese factories popping up throughout the valley. Hops, once a booming commodity, dominated fields in Yarrow and Sardis before the industry shifted in the mid-20th century. And corn—well, Chilliwack Sweet Corn became its own local icon, celebrated every summer and woven into the nostalgia of generations of families.

Joiners is a third generation family owned business that started growing corn in the 1970s for the York Farm Cannery in Sardis and then decided to sell direct to the public instead. (Image credit: naturewayfarmmarket IG account)

The story of agriculture here is also a story of family legacy. Many farms have been lovingly passed down through multiple generations, carrying forward the knowledge, work ethic, and traditions that shaped rural life. It’s the kind of heritage that isn’t always marked by plaques or protected by designation, yet it’s fundamental to the character of our region.

New Siberia Farms, located on the north end of Fairfield Island, has been operated by the Balakshin family for over 100 years. (Image credit: www.fraservalleytoday.ca)

Of course, farming has changed dramatically. Mechanization transformed labour-intensive tasks. Environmental practices evolved as farmers embraced sustainability, water stewardship, and soil renewal. New crops—blueberries, hazelnuts, greenhouse produce—reflect both innovation and changing tastes. Yet at its core, Chilliwack farming remains remarkably true to its roots: families working the land, feeding the community, and caring for the place they call home.

The Forstbauer Farm,  a multi generational organic farm since the early 1970’s , employs biodynamic and regenerative farming methods to ensure a sustainable and resilient agricultural system. (Image credit: Forstbauer Farm via www.bcorganicgrower.ca)

As we reflect on this year’s BC Heritage Week theme, “Stir the Pot,” agriculture reminds us that the story of Chilliwack is also a story of the food that sustained us—food that brought neighbours together, supported local livelihoods, and built connections across generations.

Today, as heritage conservation becomes more important than ever, it’s worth remembering that our agricultural landscapes are part of that heritage, too. The fields, barns, old farmhouses, and long-time family operations are living reminders of how this community grew—literally and figuratively.

A typical pastoral scene in Chilliwack (Image Credit: Carsten Arnold)

Here’s to the farms that fed us, and to the generations who nurtured this land so it could, in turn, nurture us.