1934 – 2021
Adapted from profile by Medwyn McConachy (in 2021 Organic BC)
Throughout his adult life Dave was determined to eliminate fossil fuels. Anyone who knew him appreciated that Dave walked his talk. He was an early hybrid Prius carowner. His partner Susan recalls the time she was driving a car full of recyclables to the end of the driveway and when she rolled down the window, she saw a sticky note on the mirror that said, “is this trip really necessary?”
Dave was committed to cooperative living and working. He was an early member of Community Alternatives Society, living initially in the Kitsilano co-op and later on Fraser Common Farm in Aldergrove. Early on he began a career in urban landscaping where he discovered his love of fruit tree propagation and pruning. He carried this passion with him when he moved to the Fraser Common Farm in the 1980’s. It was there, with his partners in the Glorious Garnish and Seasonal Salad Company he co-created a workers’ cooperative now known as Glorious Organics.
The BC organic community was tremendously influenced and inspired by Dave and Susan. Dave’s focus was always on creating positive solutions for farmers working towards organic standards. At Fraser Common Farm Dave restored an almost-invisible trickle of water running through the small forest beside the driveway into a viable salmon habitat, and was rewarded with the salmon returning to spawn in the stream. His determination to improve organic soils led him to experiment with Biochar—learning to make and use it on crops for Glorious Organics. Recognizing the importance of crop planning and land management, Dave took the initiative to create land use maps for both Fraser Common and Glen Valley farms. Resulting in an accurate record of built and natural features on both farms.
Committed to the planet from the smallest worm on his fishing hook, to the mysteries of the night sky, it seemed no accident that the day of Dave’s birth, April 22, was declared Earth Day and is celebrated by more than 1 billion people in 193 countries every year.