Organizers are calling Chilliwack’s Botanica Tulip Festival the first carbon-negative flower festival in Canada.
Jen Giesbrecht (nee Pauls), co-owner and co-operator, said she’s “thrilled” with that accomplishment.
“Our commitment to environmental stewardship is deeply rooted in our love for nature and the stunning tulips we grow,” Giesbrecht said. “We’ve worked really hard to prioritize environmental initiatives to be a fully carbon-negative festival.”
Botanica Tulip Festival, which opened on Friday, April 12, is owned and operated by the Pauls family. It’s on the same grounds as the former Chilliwack Tulip Festival, which moved to Agassiz.
This year’s festival will include 1.5 million bulbs and 59 unique varieties of tulips across more than 13 acres of fields.
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Botanica’s approach to its sustainability initiatives involves transforming organic waste into stable carbon, preventing the release of harmful carbon dioxide. They partnered with a company which takes waste from other industries — such as forestry, agricultural and even movie productions — and burns it in an inert process.
“The carbon stays in the char instead of being released to the air,” Giesbrecht said.
Then it was brought to the tulip fields. This stored carbon remains in the soil, actively reducing greenhouse gas levels and improving soil quality.
“Carbon helps retain all the nutrients in the soil instead of being eroded through water.”
By integrating a new carbon sequestration method into its tulip fields, Botanica is reducing its carbon footprint further and enriching soil health for better flower growth.
Other highlights include a Ferris wheel during the first three weeks, and Chilliwack’s iconic pink ‘Pick-A-Part’ car. It was Giesbrecht’s father Frank Pauls who purchased the vehicle for $9,250 via an online bid. The auction was a fundraiser for Chilliwack Salvation Army where Beekman Auctions match the winning bid as part of the fundraiser.
READ MORE: Sold: Chilliwack’s iconic pink car auctioned off for $9,250
Visitors can pick tulips from the U-pick field (where the pink car is now located), and shop for local products at the farm store. Local food trucks will be on site daily like Palm Cafe Truck, Urban Wood Fired Pizza and others.
There are EV chargers for visitors, and recyclable and compostable packaging. Attendees can also take in interactive exhibits showcasing Botanica’s environmental initiatives, including North America’s first carbon-capturing production truck an activities for kids to learn about carbon and sustainability.
With a history of over 75 years, the Botanica Tulip Festival farm site has been a cherished part of the Pauls family heritage since 1948.
The Botanica Tulip Festival is located at 41310 Royalwood Dr. and runs from April 12 until mid-May, with daily hours from 5 a.m. to dusk. The festival is pet-friendly. Tickets start at $12 for adults which includes access to the festival, with the option of add-ons for additional attractions such as the Ferris wheel and floral workshops. Season passes are $40.
For more info, and to buy tickets, go to www.botanicaflowerfestival.com.