-Story by Hans Tammemagi
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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Hamish Crawford 害羞草研究所� lean, fit and exuding energy 害羞草研究所� is waiting at the entrance to the bustling . He害羞草研究所檚 dressed in jeans and working farm clothes, and his face is framed by a white moustache and large sideburns. But what really stands out is an irrepressible smile and a twinkle in his eye. He is clearly a man who enjoys life and, as I am to learn, he害羞草研究所檚 also a remarkable person.
Early Years
As we start a tour of his 10-acre farm, he explains how in 1965 he emigrated to Canada from Scotland at age 21. He worked for the National Grain Company, first in Winnipeg and then in Calgary.
One year, when he and his family holidayed in and the , he became smitten by its rural softness, which reminded him of the fishing village in which he害羞草研究所檇 grown up. In 1989, he purchased 害羞草研究所� sight unseen from a newspaper ad 害羞草研究所� a 10-acre farm south of the airport.
With a love and knowledge of farming 害羞草研究所� he has a diploma in agriculture 害羞草研究所� Hamish decided to grow wheat, an unusual crop on Vancouver Island. His goal was to start a bakery. The venture proved successful: the wheat grew, a bakery followed and it flourished.
The bakery grew into today害羞草研究所檚 Roost Vineyard Bistro and Farm Bakery, which is immensely popular, serving a wide variety of fresh-baked goods such as breads, muffins, pies and croissants as well as meals. Hamish believes it害羞草研究所檚 the only bakery in British Columbia that grows and mills its own wheat.
Cars!
Asked about his hobbies, Hamish says, 害羞草研究所淐ars! Come, I害羞草研究所檒l show you.害羞草研究所�
We enter a large, barn-like building and 害羞草研究所� surprise! 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 like an automobile museum with 16 shining vintage cars, including a striking black and white 1949 MG touring car with a supercharger, and a 1928 Model A Ford Huckster complete with rumble seat.
害羞草研究所淚 love mechanics and have been working on cars since I was 12. I always have one on the go,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淚t takes me about a year to refurbish a car. At the moment I害羞草研究所檓 working on a 1926 Austin 7 Chummy.害羞草研究所�
We climb to an extended balcony and look down on the rows of gleaming cars. The balcony has a bar bearing several bottles and a sign, 害羞草研究所淗amish害羞草研究所檚 Happy Spot.害羞草研究所� Even here, however, Hamish doesn害羞草研究所檛 rest, for strewn about the floor are parts of an airplane he is assembling to hang from the ceiling above his cars.
Wine and Dungeon
害羞草研究所淎fter visiting California I decided we should grow grapes and make wine,害羞草研究所� says Hamish.
He planted two acres of Siegerrebe grapes and now makes white wine, ginger wine and blackberry wine. The winemaker, of course, is Hamish himself.
He leads me into a long, narrow tasting room in the basement of the barn. A full suit of medieval armour stands near the entrance.
害羞草研究所淭hat was a birthday gift after I broke my hip. My friends felt I should be fully immobilized,害羞草研究所� jokes Hamish.
He leads me past an elegant table with two candelabras into a dusky back room with foreboding concrete walls.
害羞草研究所淭his is the dungeon,害羞草研究所� he says, pointing to a skeleton and ominous, full-size rack 害羞草研究所渃omfort害羞草研究所� chair and iron maiden, which look in perfect working condition.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 still developing the dungeon and tasting room,害羞草研究所� he explains.
During a trip to Napa Valley, he visited a winery with an Italian castle where the owner said the dungeon was the most popular part of the property.
| Hamish Crawford shows off a lock for his new medieval themed wine tasting room. Don Denton photography |
Daughter Sarah
Hamish害羞草研究所檚 daughter, Sarah Bohl, joins us as we stroll to another building 害羞草研究所� Hamish害羞草研究所檚 workshop.
The interior is crammed with two cars partly disassembled, airplane wings and parts, wine containers, tools scattered everywhere and hundreds of jars, bottles and cans.
害羞草研究所淭his is where Dad spends most of his time,害羞草研究所� says Sarah.
When I ask Sarah how it is to work so closely with her father, she gives him a hug and responds. 害羞草研究所淚 love my Dad, he害羞草研究所檚 my idol. Everybody looks up to him. He害羞草研究所檚 terrific to work with and he害羞草研究所檚 very patient.害羞草研究所�
She describes how when she was young, living in Calgary, her dad built her a recumbent bike. He also built several other bicycles, so their home became a popular spot for youngsters. Several of the bikes now hang in the rafters.
The three of us walk past a field of grazing sheep to Hamish害羞草研究所檚 home, an attractive two-storey Early American Farmhouse built in 1990. Sam, a black lab, greets us and accompanies us through the comfortable home, which is full of nautical and antique car memorabilia.
A Rubber-Chicken Cannon?
Back at the Roost, Hamish points to a large, horizontal propane tank with a pipe protruding upward from one end.
害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 a rubber-chicken cannon I made,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淲hen school groups come, the kids love it. The chicken flies more than 100 yards.害羞草研究所�
Asked about his next project, a twinkle comes into his eye. 害羞草研究所淎 distillery. I think I害羞草研究所檒l start a distillery.害羞草研究所�
We meet Dallas Bohl, Hamish害羞草研究所檚 son-in-law.
害羞草研究所淪ince 2008, Sarah and I have run the bakery and winery business,害羞草研究所� says Dallas, 害羞草研究所渁nd Hamish supplies the ideas and the energy.害羞草研究所�
Hamish counters, 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 just the hired farmhand.害羞草研究所�
Not true. Hamish is one of those gifted people, who not only brims with ideas, but also has the drive and talent to put them into action. And he wears a smile the whole time.
