We recently connected with Dana Dykema and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Dana thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I have always loved supporting local. In 2019 I was somewhat irritated and flummoxed about the lack of local representation at the grocery stores, particularly for garlic. I was connected to a garlic grower in Kamloops and for 2 summers I bought her garlic to sell to the North Shore. I began seeking out farmers for my meat to buy directly from. I knew the Fraser Valley was home to so many farms and I wanted to get to know them to I could buy from them too, but didn’t know where to start. During the pandemic I hit a real low point. I needed something to do. Something to my hand to.
One day as I was scrolling Instagram I came across a picture of a bee on a windshield with the farm tagged on the photo. I clicked on the tag which led me to Local Harvest. I followed that to their website, watched a video about an online gardening course and the following weekend I went to the farm with my family. There I met Andrew Couzens of Terra Flora Soilworks. He was one of the instructors of the gardening course. I signed up for the course that day and would later become an ambassador.
A couple weeks later I went back to Local Harvest and met Dan Oostenbrink, the owner and farmer there. I loved how he and his family had taken this old dairy farm land and transformed it to its present day 35+ acre no till. I loved the food from this place, knowing everything was grown in healthy soil using regenerative methods of working with nature. I kept going out to Chilliwack for my groceries. Would other people from the North Shore also want this no spray food?
In Sept. 2021 I ran a fundraiser for my daughters grade 7 class selling Harvest Boxes from Local Harvest. A Harvest Box is a collection of fresh, seasonal produce from the farm of about 14 different items. I sold 22 boxes for the school with a little under 2 weeks to promote the fundraiser.
I’ve never enjoyed working for other people. I always wanted to be an entrepreneur but I didn’t know what I’d like to do. I figured when I did find “the thing” I was meant to do, I would know it. I have tried refinishing furniture, network marketing for a clean beauty brand, those things taught me things but they weren’t something I could see myself doing long term.
When I saw the response to my local garlic, and then to the Harvest Boxes, I asked myself if this was it? Maybe this is the puzzle piece that would fit for my own heart and for my community.
In November 2021 I through it out to the Metaverse, would anyone be interested in a Harvest Box from this lovely local farm. I packed 10 boxes in my little Prius. I was pleased as punch.
The following week I planned to go out again, this time I had 16 orders! Then the devastating floods surged throughout the lowermainland, pummeling the Fraser Valley. Chilliwack was an island. I was able to get through the week after, even though the main highway was closed. Food distribution was on the list of acceptable travel reasons. That was me! It was a 6hr round trip from the North Shore to Chilliwack those 2 weeks until the highway opened again. Welcome to entrepreneurship!
I was able to bring Harvest Boxes from November to mid January 2022 to the North Shore before the season closed for winter. That last run I loaded 85 Harvest Boxes into my rented U-Haul trailer! What an honor for me to serve both the farm and my community of the North Shore in this way. There was an obvious hunger to know where your food comes from.
In March 2022 I decided to take this business to the next level; I incorporated Valley to Shore.
The spring was slow to awaken after its long winter nap so it wasn’t until mid May that I was able to get started bringing Harvest Boxes once more. Since then I have partnered with many other farmers and small businesses to bring their quality products to the Shore.
I provide recipe ideas to those who purchase a Harvest Box each week and thoroughly enjoy educating what I have learned from farmers and from my own experience about the agricultural industry. I hope to one day expand this business to be a full on family business with my husband and children.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I grew up in a single parent home and grew up on the standard diet of canned mushroom soup, pork chops and steamed broccoli. We didn’t seek out local food nor did the thought to do so ever cross our minds.

I moved out from home at the age of 17. I was meant to make something of myself now that my high school career was now complete. The trouble was I had no idea of my passions or interests. I had no inclination for college so it was serendipitous that I met my husband at 18 and was married 18 months later. By then I was somewhat competent in the kitchen and had started to frequent farmers markets when it was convenient.

I had my first child when I was 21. The price of baby food was expensive. Could I make my own? I could and I did. It was cheaper than store bought and I liked being in charge of what the ingredients were.

It wasn’t for many years yet when I watched the documentary, “The True Cost”, about the fast fashion industry that I really began to take stalk of the purchases I was making for my family. Who was on the other side of my $5 tshirt, my imported pepper and my cellophane wrapped boneless, skinless chicken thighs?

Fast forward to present day. I have 4 children ranging in age from 10-15 years old. I have now been married for 18 years. Most of our food is bought farmer direct. I cook all of our meals from scratch everyday and am very conscious of my purchasing power as a consumer.

I have one year under my belt as a small business owner. I want Valley to Shore to be a family run business. I want to partner with more farmers and ranchers to bring their high quality, local products to the community of the North Shore. Transparency is an important pillar of my business. I want people to know where their food comes from.

One of the reviews I am most proud to have received this year is how Valley to Shore has changed my customers life and got her back in the kitchen, cooking good food for her family. What a privilege to be instrumental in gathering this family together around the kitchen table, enjoying locally grown food together.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I started my Valley to Shore Instagram account in November 2021. Previously to this I was a consultant for a clean beauty brand. I found success being in front of the camera. This is the easiest way for people to get to know me and to build trust. I’ve learned that people respond well to authenticity. I don’t need to be polished or perfect. Learning to speak to the camera as if I am sitting across the table from someone has been my mindset whenever I do a video. I want people to feel like they know me and that I am approachable. That’s proven to have been successful as many have said as much to me. When I get a comment on a post, I always respond. People want to feel seen, like they are worth your time to converse. And they are! I’ve made many, many friendships through direct messages too. This app has been a very productive tool in growing my business and growing a loyal following.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

As a mother of 4 kids I’m a busy lady. Driving to the Fraser Valley from the North Shore takes time. It’s risky. I have been stuck in traffic for hours. I have been unable to use the highway due to floods in my second week in business! A trip that would normally take 3hrs round trip took me 6! I pushed through. Every entrepreneur rides through bumps and blocks. When I first started bringing Harvest Boxes I would rent U-Hail trailers to collect the boxes. I would drive to my house and hand carry and stack the boxes in my garage. Then I would return the trailer to U-Hail before my customers were due to arrive. One week I couldn’t rent a trailer anywhere! They were all booked. I had a decision to make. Postpone my orders to the following week or bite the bullet and buy my own. I chose the latter. With only a few days to find a suitable trailer I found one in great shape and it served me well until I felt like it was time to upgrade to a bigger trailer. I sold that one with only a week to find a replacement. It felt like a trust fall moment. I was fortunate to find one for less than I sold the other for and have enjoyed having the extra space to carry more product.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.valleytoshore.com
• Instagram: @valleytoshore
• Facebook: Valley to Shore

Image Credits
Dan and Helen Oosentbrink with me in front of Local Harvest Andrew Couzens of Terra Flora Soilworks with me Rob and Corrie of Washtock Family Farm with me at the farm