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Virginia Rasch writer profile

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Virginia is a writer and copy editor with Koocanusa Publications. She is an avid outdoor recreationist in all seasons and has lived in the Kootenays for 10 years. With degrees in the natural sciences, she has worked as a tour guide, an environmentalist, a writer, and a copy editor of scientific publications. Virginia now brings her passion for everything green to Kootenay Business.

Most recent articles by Virginia Rasch

A group of Silverton citizens hold up signs in support of the 100% Renewable Kootenays campaign.
West Kootenay, Nelson, New Denver, Rossland, Salmo, Slocan, Energy, Environment Five West Kootenay communities are leading the way in renewable energy

Five West Kootenay communities have signed on to the EcoSociety’s 100% Renewable Kootenays campaign. Meet the early adopters of change.

Darcy Wanuk is wearing one of her creations, a jean jacket with swaths of added cloth.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Environment, Small Business Darcy Wanuk repurposes old textiles into funky, fun clothes for women

Darcy Wanuk started stitch + cloth Ecodesigns in Kimberley, B.C., to reconstruct old textiles into funky women’s clothing

As manager of Cominco Gardens, Dan Matheson spends a lot of time in the gardens. Here, he is standing next to tall purple delphiniums.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Tourism Cominco Gardens: A floral work of art

While checking out Kimberley’s visitor attractions, don’t forget the flowerful Cominco Gardens

A headshot of Christina Chalifour with a blue knitted scarf around her neck.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Retail, Small Business Knitting is the new yoga

The Knitty Gritty shop in Kimberley can get you started on a new, healthy hobby

Attila Lepsis standing in front of distillery.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Cuisine Elderberry Bros. Farms sells schnapps and more

The Elderberry Bros. Farms in Cranbrook, B.C., sells many elderberry delights, including schnapps

Paul Denchuk and Meredith Hamstead are standing together in front of a home.
East Kootenay, Invermere, Energy, Environment, Small Business thinkBright Homes: A lighter touch on the planet

thinkBright Homes, based in Invermere, B.C., is at the cutting edge of the green building industry

The two owners, Petra and Tiffany Ware, are standing in their store with body care products on shelves behind them.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Health & Wellness, Retail, Small Business Your nose knows the difference in natural body care products

Petra Naturally in Cranbrook, B.C., expanded to offer even more natural bath and body products and loose teas

Rod and Tamara Duggan are standing behind the counter of Cobs Bread Bakery and Tamara is holding a loaf of bread.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Cuisine, Retail Cranbrook welcomes Cobs Bread with open mouths

Rod and Tamara Duggan are the franchisees of the newly opened Cobs Bread Bakery in Cranbrook, B.C.

Fred Searle is standing in the crafts store near a row of paints and stretched canvases.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Retail, Small Business Put down your phone and pick up a paintbrush

Kootenay Arts and Crafts opens on Baker Street in Cranbrook, B.C.

Shown is the interior of a tiny house, showing the kitchen in the foreground with lots of wood everywhere.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Environment, Small Business Nelson Tiny Houses are big on charm

Nelson Tiny Houses in Nelson, B.C., proves that downsizing can mean upgrading

Diana Fox is standing in front of display shelves of glass items.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Retail, Small Business A curated collection of glistening glass awaits

The Mountain Grass Glass Gallery is a new shop in Kimberley, B.C.

Erin Dalton stands in front of shelves of books.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Retail, Small Business Enjoy the freshness of Huckleberry Books in Cranbrook

Lotus Books in Cranbrook has moved and rebranded as Huckleberry Books

Shown is the front of the Pealow's Your Independent Grocer storefront.
East Kootenay, Creston, Retail Refreshing Pealow’s

Pealow’s Your Independent Grocer in Creston has added online grocery shopping

Two female students are wearing warm layers of clothes and are holding a sign that says
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Nelson, Energy, Environment A Cool Challenge

Selkirk College is participating in the BC Cool Campus Challenge to lower its environmental footprint

Mike Konkin, one of the owners of Trail Hammer and Bolt, is standing in front of the store counter with goods for sale in the back.
West Kootenay, Trail, Retail, Small Business Trail Hammer and Bolt gets the job done

Trail Hammer and Bolt is a new business in Trail, B.C.

Denise Nagai is standing in front of fabric panels of wild animals.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Retail, Small Business There’s always time for quilting

The newly opened Ragtime Quilts in Cranbrook offers workshops and classes

Aaron Davidson, founder of Cronometer Software Inc.
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Technology, Top 10 Business People Aaron Davidson

Aaron Davidson is the founder of Cronometer Software Inc., based in Revelstoke, B.C.

The two owners of The Purist Pantry are shown seated: Todd and Melinda Kopet.
West Kootenay, Rossland, Cuisine, Environment, Small Business The Purist Pantry in Rossland offers healthy foods from scratch

Melinda and Todd Kopet create healthy foods from scratch out of The Purist Pantry in Rossland, B.C.

Shown are Angela and Perry Symes, who opened Black Dog Cycle and Ski in Kimberley's Platzl this summer.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Retail, Small Business Black Dog Cycle and Ski in Kimberley, B.C., will fuel your fitness goals

Black Dog Cycle and Ski is contributing to the small-business climate thriving in Kimberley’s Platzl

Zoe Ferguson, co-owner of Treehouse Toy Co., holds a stack of games in her newly opened store in Kimberley's Platzl.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Retail, Small Business Kimberley welcomes the Treehouse Toy Co.

With perfect timing for the holidays, Zoe and Sheldon Ferguson opened the Treehouse Toy Co. in Kimberley, B.C., in November

Alicia and Nicola Herman stand in front of their storefront, Grow Tea & Elixir Corner in Kimberley, B.C.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Environment, Health & Wellness, Small Business Growing a sustainable business in Kimberley, B.C.

Grow Tea & Elixir Corner won the Kimberley chamber’s Environmental Stewardship Excellence Award in 2018

Jill Bentley-Lobban stands in front of her new store in Kimberley.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Environment, Health & Wellness, Retail, Small Business Fulfill your shopping needs at fullfill in Kimberley

Newly opened fullfill in Kimberley, B.C., is a green alternative to traditional stores

A bugling bull elk sits in a forest opening.
East Kootenay, Environment, Forestry National Forest Week 2018

National Forest Week (September 23 to 29, 2018) celebrates the research we undertake in our forests, including studies on our Rocky Mountain elk

Owners Gabriele and Frank Lorenz are standing in front of the Lido Motel in Radium Hot Springs, B.C.
East Kootenay, Radium Hot Springs, Energy, Entertainment and Hospitality The Lido Motel in Radium Hot Springs, B.C., has your values at heart

Green travellers are enthusiastically welcomed at the Lido Motel in Radium Hot Springs, B.C.

Owner Kara Clarke is standing in her store in front of lots of jewelry.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Small Business Tumbled Earth lands on Wallinger Avenue

Kimberley jeweller Kara Clarke opens the Tumbled Earth Studio Boutique

The interior of The Nest features a relaxed colour scheme of blue, grey and black.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Cuisine The Nest: Layers of flavour and ambience

A talented chef finds his roost at The Nest, a new restaurant in Kimberley, B.C.

Lana Schanzenbach is holding several of her Little Lunches Reusable Wraps.
East Kootenay, Creston, Cuisine, Environment, Small Business Little Lunches Reusable Wraps reduce your plastic use

Little Lunches Reusable Wraps keep food fresh and reduce plastic use in your lunchbox

Colourful beehives are lined up underneath blooming apple trees.
Agriculture, Environment Bee involved in bee health

The Province of BC has announced the new BeeBC Program

A headshot of Scott Wilson, owner of Grassroots Environmental Services in Golden, B.C.
West Kootenay, Golden, Environment Aquatic biologist Scott Wilson whistles while he works … most of the time

Owner of Grassroots Environmental Services in Golden, Scott Wilson can encounter anything while out protecting waterways … even wolves

Ashley Taylor is leaning over a green bin that she collects food waste in.
East Kootenay, Fernie, Agriculture, Environment A step forward for food security in Fernie

Valley Vitals owner Ashley Taylor has a passion to connect people back with their environment and their community through food.

The Heartbeet Catering food truck is a brilliant light blue, with the owners, Michel Kuhn and Nicole Vogt, standing nearby.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Cuisine, Small Business The HeartBeet Burger is back!

Two well-loved local foodies, Michel Kuhn and Nicole Vogt, have switched from a restaurant to a food truck—Heartbeet Catering based in Kimberley

Dana DiPonio and Kevin Hagel are shown in a health food store. They are co-owners of Nelson Naturals, producing a natural toothpaste.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Environment, Health & Wellness, Small Business, 40 Under 40 Think outside the tube

Kevin Hagel and Dana DiPonio of Nelson Naturals create natural toothpaste. But don’t expect to find any tacky, distasteful plastic tubes in their business.

Natasha Benson (L) and Julie Taylor, owners of The Raw House, are standing in a field of beets.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Environment, Health & Wellness, Small Business Drink your plants!

The Raw House in Cranbrook, B.C., offers unique, healthy cold-pressed juices and nut mylks

A headshot of Forrest Campbell, owner of Freewheeling Energy in Invermere, B.C.
East Kootenay, Invermere, Energy, Environment, Small Business Sun-kissed lemons and buckets of optimism

Based in Invermere, B.C., Forrest Campbell formed Freewheeling Energy

A covered log and timber pedestrian bridge is covered in snow.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Small Business Functionality meets beauty

Tyee Log & Timber has built five log and timber pedestrian bridges in the City of Kimberley, B.C.

Brandi O'Neill (L), owner, and one of her staff stand next to a tall shelf of books.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Cuisine, Retail, Small Business A boutique bookstore

Paper and Cup is a new bookstore and café in Kimberley, B.C.

A headshot of Monica Swagar with snow in the background
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Environment, Health & Wellness, Small Business Monica Swagar thrives on growth

The Swag Hair Studio won a green award from the Kimberley and District Chamber of Commerce

Michelle Tucker is standing next to an evergreen tree in the snow.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Nelson, Health & Wellness A catalyst for moving forward

The Still North Retreat Co. offers customized workshops and retreats

Connie Lawrence, owner of The New West Trading Co. 1985 in Grand Forks, is standing outside her store with three staff members.
West Kootenay, Grand Forks, Health & Wellness, Retail, Small Business For a local gem, visit this health food store in Grand Forks, B.C.

For great health choices, visit Grand Forks’s New West Trading Co. 1985

A water bomber is flying over Moyie Lake with the sun filtered by smoke.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Environment, Forestry Historic B.C. wildfire season

The unprecedented wildfire season in B.C. will affect the forest industry

Melanie Buerge is standing outside in a row that is between huge benches of evergreen tree seedlings.
West Kootenay, Forestry Growing our future forests

Harrop, B.C.’s nursery is part of PRT Growing Services Ltd.

A photo of the moon covering most of the sun during a solar eclipse
Environment Where will you be during Monday’s eclipse?

Watch wild animals during the solar eclipse on Monday, August 21 and become part of the citizen scientist project.

Janet Borger is standing at her booth at the Kimberley Farmers Market, selling her chocolate bars.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Cuisine, Small Business Take a taste on the wild side

Wild Wholeistic Chocolate is a new Kimberley, B.C., business that makes raw chocolate bars

Sarah Osadetz, WildSafeBC community co-ordinator for Golden, is standing next to a bear-resistant garbage bin.
East Kootenay, Environment Saving bears . . . one garbage bin at a time

Golden, B.C., is distributing bear-resistant garbage bins to decrease bear destruction

The Bolter family (parents and two kids) stand in a pasture with their beef cows in the background.
East Kootenay, Agriculture, Cuisine, Environment A celebration of citizenship—of Canada and food

It’s a great time to be a food citizen in Canada

Ornamental kale is in the foreground of a traditional flower garden. The green, purple and pink kale is edible.
Agriculture, Environment Edimentals: edible, ornamental plants

Landscape your yard for beauty and for food with edimentals—edible, ornamental plants

Co-owner Wendy Lyn holds out a two-scoop ice cream cone while standing in front of the Happy Cow Ice Cream's logo.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Fernie, Cuisine, Small Business Happy cows and happy eaters

Taste the delicious, decadent difference when indulging in premium Happy Cow ice cream in Fernie and now Cranbrook.

The author is sitting on top of Mount Brewer near Invermere with a sea of mountains in the background.
Environment, Health & Wellness Time to play . . . on Earth Day!

This year’s theme for Earth Day—April 22nd—is EarthPlay

A Chevy Bolt is parked next to the newly unveiled DC fast-charging station in Cranbrook, B.C.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Energy, Environment, Tourism, Transportation Accelerating the future of electric vehicles in the Kootenays

Accelerate Kootenay is a two-year $1.5-million project to install over 50 electric vehicle chargers along Highway 3

The pot is into a plastic bag that is inside the solar collector.
East Kootenay, Fernie, Cuisine, Energy, Environment Faisal Jhandir of Fernie, B.C., has invented a portable solar kitchen

Retired physician Faisal Jhandir is on a mission to save the planet with solar cooking