Well, I can't answer about the drugs but I highly doubt it's an more an issue than anywhere else. I've not heard of that area being associated with drug issues, unless you are talking about pot. I say that only because Comox has always had a reputation as being a crunchy, "hippy" sort of place (not really so much anymore, I don't think) and that is often associated with pot. But really that holds true for just about any crunchy BC town, and we have lots of them.
As for your last question, Vancouver Island has this in spades, more so than Vancouver (which does have it, but it's not easily accessible and it's quite expensive). Local food is big here on the Island. In Vancouver I bought farm fresh, grass-fed, etc eggs at the farmer's market for $5/dozen (which is still 50 cents - $1 cheaper than the organic eggs at the supermarket), but here I buy them from a farm down the road and they are $3.50/dozen. There are many such places around here and I saw them in Courtenay too (as mentioned above, farmland is just a few minutes outside of downtown so easy to get to). There's also a great meat processing place called Gunter Bros Meat. They process local, grass-fed pork, beef etc and make their own hams, bacon, cured meats, etc. They also sell the fresh stuff. Great prices compared to what I paid in the Lower Mainland. As for raw milk, you can't advertise that here as it is technically illegal, but I'm sure in no time you could find out a place to get it from by word of mouth.
If you dine at Local's they have posterboards up all around the restaurant featuring their suppliers. That will give you a great idea of the variety and availability of local food.
our area.
Hi Kim)
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