DeCourcy Island, British Columbia, Canada
An off-grid company creating nourishing products using traditional techniques
Pirates Cove Trading Company
Fermented Grains
Sourdough Bread
Other Fermented
Baked Goods
Fermented Drinks, Tonics & Condiments
Our Products
about
Our Business
Pirates Cove Trading Company is run by Sabrina and Dane Clark, two off-the-grid entrepreneurs who are homesteading and running a small home-bakery on DeCourcy Island, located near Nanaimo, British Columbia. They moved to the island in 2018 and have run the bakery since 2019. DeCourcy Island is off-the-grid, with no electricity service and no ferry access. The island is a 15-minute boat ride from Gabriola Island and Vancouver Island and has about 150 homes and cabins, with approximately 20 of the properties occupied year-round. Living in a tiny unfinished cabin with solar power and a propane oven, they have had to make do with rustic facilities. They even had to haul all their water from the well at neighbour BC Park for most of the first summer. All supplies are brought to the island by boat and delivered to the markets on Gabriola Island by boat. They tested the market for their products at Community Markets on Gabriola Island, through digital marketing on DeCourcy, and direct sales to boaters moored in Pirates Cove.
The consumer response has been remarkable. They believe in selling only healthy products that promote better well-being, and do this through fermenting their grains, which is unique to the area. It is a historical way of making bread and has allowed many gluten intolerant people to be able to enjoy traditional products like bread once again. They also use organic ingredients and source supplies locally as much as possible. They are well on the way to establishing a high-demand, speciality business that could support them in the low-impact lifestyle that they desire.
The grains, flour, and sourdough starter are set to ferment for 12-24 hours. This one got extra active!
after fermenting for 12-24 hours a dough ball is made and set to slow rise.
Golden Beet Kvass
The grains, flour, and sourdough starter are set to ferment for 12-24 hours. This one got extra active!
Why Fermented?
What is Fermentation and What are the Benefits?
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Fermentation is the transformation of food by various bacteria, fungi, and the enzymes they produce.
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It is Alive with flavor and Nutrition
Teeming with beneficial microorganisms and active bacterial cultures it provides the body with a great source of nutrition. Full of probiotics, that help balance the “good” and “bad” bacteria in the intestinal tract as well as B vitamins, and amino acids.
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Naturally preserved
Fermentation produces Natural Bio-Preservatives that retain nutrients and prevent spoilage.
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Easy to digest
Fermentation breaks nutrients down into more easily digestible forms. Wheat that has undergone fermentation is easier to digest than unfermented wheat and similarly with milk. making people who are gluten or lactose intolerant able to consume them fermented. It’s like a form of “pre-digestion”
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Protects us from diseases
