Harbour House Hotel, Restaurant and Organic Farm: Canada’s only farm-to-table hotel
The Harbour House Hotel, Restaurant and Organic Farm is located on the largest of the stunning Gulf Islands off the West coast of British Columbia in Salt Spring Island. With lovely harbour views from a comfortable room, and an on-site organic farm which supplies their farm-fresh restaurant – the Harbour House provides the perfect setting for a slice of authentic Salt Spring Island culture.
Situated at an outstanding location, overlooking Ganges harbour, it is just a five-minute stroll to activities, shops and markets. One can easily arrive by BC Ferries, or via a 15-30 minute float plane from either Vancouver or Seattle.
In their award-winning restaurant (“Best Brunch in Canada” by FoodDay Canada), Chef Brooke Winters creatively uses 70 varieties of vegetables, fruit and herbs grown in their organic gardens, to create meals that are a feast for the senses. Fresh artisan breads, sauces, and dressings are created in-house from local, sustainable ingredients.
The 2.5 acre farm sits on a 15-acre remnant of the Crofton family’s original 100-acre farm, directly behind the hotel. In 2004, the hotel began the “farm remediation project” to provide their restaurant and guests with farm-fresh produce in their meals -- just as the Crofton family did from 1916 until the
1950s before selling which is when the farm became a heap of brambles and broom. The benefit of the farm resting for all those years is that the land was never exposed to chemicals used in farming at the time. Read more about the hotel’s history here.
In season, 80 percent of the food that the Harbour House Restaurant serves is produced on Salt Spring Island. They serve 100 percent grass-fed, free range beef and free range chicken. Their seafood is Ocean Wise certified which means that they only use seafood that is ethically fished or harvested. They raise their own lamb; serve their own organic free range eggs; and also produce their own honey and maple syrup.
“My passion comes from allowing food to stand out in its natural, beautiful state,” says Executive Chef Brooke Winters. “Sure, I enjoy the culinary indulgences of presenting things in new ways and creating innovative and unusual pairings. Yet, in my heart, it is the true love of the ingredients and where they come from that inspires me.”
The Harbour House is committed to sustainability and they have been recognized for their many green initiatives.
“We care about our community and our environment,” says Len Brown, Director of Operations. “We are a Certified Green Accommodation with the Salt Spring Chamber of Commerce and we have an Audubon Society 3 GreenLeaf™ Eco Rating.”
Harbour House provides an on-site yoga studio, in-room spa treatments and live weekend dinner music.
Just across the street from the hotel is the Outdoor Adventures Group ready, among other things, to take you kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing or whale watching – a fantastic way to explore Salt Spring and the surrounding islands.
Visit www.saltspringharbourhouse.com or call 1.888.799.5571 to book a limited time only Farm Wellness Retreat or any other farm-to-table getaway they offer here.