tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24819940653516547612024-03-05T01:44:36.399-04:00Rolling Hills OrganicsPeter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-87501218158053896242019-05-08T09:34:00.001-03:002019-05-14T08:44:01.613-03:00From the Rolling Hills to the Atlantic Coast <div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_b5_22ad_8a18_25fc" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/RpMzZ181ZI6vcN-R-9mGKMhiSRXRAjz-zziWeml1QqlNJdg_c0S77N0bCy0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 510px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Fall greens at Rolling Hills Organics</i></div><div>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We, Peter and Gundi, have moved to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, on about the easternmost coast of mainland Canada. Our house is perched 25 feet above sea level and less than 150 feet from the sea, in the picturesque maritime cove of Little Lorraine. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">"Now why exactly are you making this move?", (one person pondered). Exactly because we fell in love with this property and location as soon as we laid eyes on it. We have long wanted to live beside an ocean that is wild, scenic, pristine, and wondrous. We cannot afford to do this on the west coast of Canada and we are not ready to trade this country for another as home. When we visited last October, we were immediately enchanted by the varied land- and sea-scapes, the friendly welcome from locals, the rich choice of seafoods, and, yes, the 'out there' nature of living detached from the busy world of people, yet belonging to a community of way less than a hundred people. "Won't you be isolated?" No, not really. We are eight kilometres from the nearest large village (as we were before), and half an hour's drive to the nearest large town (again, as we were before). We are within 45 minutes of an airport, right on the ocean, with a thriving local food and farming market easily accessible (online or by weekly pick-up). Family and friends have been overwhelmingly supportive of our move, expressing admiration for our boldness, sense of adventure, and wishing us the best. An element of envy exists, but most show their better nature by being genuinely happy for us.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This move came about very fast as we sounded out the saleability of our farm property in the Northumberland Hills of southern Ontario. We began by advertising Rolling Hills Organics as a farm and business. Seeing strong interest at the advertised price, from two parties in particular, we made a four-day visit to Cape Breton, touring the Cabot Trail in all its Fall colour and glory, and visiting our chosen property. We returned home and made an offer conditional on selling the farm. This offer was accepted! With no firm buyer, we opted to put the farm on the open market, through a real estate agent specializing in selling farm properties to Toronto buyers. Within three weeks, the farm was sold, firm, just before we departed for twelve weeks of winter break on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. All this happened at breakneck speed. With constant developments, it was hard to keep up with apprising family, friends, colleagues, and customers. Some were miffed not to be the first to hear, or to hear second-hand, or, worse, through the grapevine. We left for Guatemala before Christmas as arranged well in advance of planning to move. We did so with a firm closing date of mid-April for both sale and purchase. We returned home at the beginning of March with six weeks to pack up the household, farm, and glass art studio, and to organize financing, moving, transfer of accounts.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We sounded out the move because we are at the stage of life where we need to downsize and plan for the next chapter while we are still active, mobile, energized, adventurous, and in good health. If I am no longer farming, I do not need a farm property with all its physical demands and upkeep. Importantly, with a strong market demand from Toronto and vicinity, the time is right to sell at a good price. And the time is right to buy at way less than half the sales price in Nova Scotia. Plus, we are following good friends who have made this move ahead of us, and they are all loving their new lease of life on the east coast.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So, Rolling Hills Organics is no more. I will miss the camaraderie of farmers market customers, vendors, and staff. It remains my fervent hope that the pure land that I farmed organically for twenty years will continue to be chemical-free, as it always has been. The new owners seem to be very conscientious in willing it so. They plan on having a pony, chickens, and an apple orchard. A neighbour surfaced over the winter wanting to take on the organic farming, either at our farm or by converting his own family conventional (chemicalized) farm. Jason took on all my seeds, catalogues, and a lot of farm and market tools and equipment. I am flattered that he wants to grow the same salad green blends as I did, marketing them as "Peter's Greens". It may take him a while to get up and running as there is a lot to learn, but I wish Jason, and the farm's new owners, all the best.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><img id="id_180a_1a41_b733_2170" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/UigLAqYVTXWdwRQ68xrHn5ATFxm1VJAdv_7g4v8Mts41gjLPng8P-YbblpE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 510px; height: auto;"><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Our new locale, Little Lorraine, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia</i></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Here in Little Lorraine, we are pinching ourselves at our good fortune in finding our dream home on the ocean. The land and sea scapes are constantly changing with the weather and light. I look forward to many years of looking out over the cove, out to the open Atlantic Ocean. We want to explore this wild, rugged coastline, the rocky shores, and the manifold beauty of Cape Breton. This afternoon on this glorious sunny day, we went off on a walk to explore the heralded Gooseberry Cove, brimming with anticipation. And the views exceeded expectations. This is classic, open, wild Atlantic coastline with bold headlands, rocky shore, sheltered coves, and clear waters. The sun danced on a sea pulsing with sound, energy and light.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px; width: 510px; height: auto;"><img id="id_4ce6_fc27_e682_7681" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1-6QA0zNvXsnyt4pbXfTa8vFNBaF_ix-OOAHx3jHP4LiF8RTCyfjD4RXg4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 510px; height: auto;"></span><br><i>Looking out to the open ocean</i><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br></p></div>Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-79763445468940021222019-02-26T12:22:00.001-04:002019-02-26T12:22:23.626-04:00Andrea y Chico<div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_5938_64b0_992e_8092" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jaeDYn4JKOI/XHVnuIbPe6I/AAAAAAAACHs/G6oSdG9epNAUVMEb5TZfvioRUh8bAEcQwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 510px; height: auto;"><br><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">First we met Chico as we arrived in Pachitulul, a small Mayan village outside San Lucas Toliman on Lake Atitlan in the Guatemalan Highlands. He was sitting barefoot on a bench, resting from toil in his field. He told us he has a wife, Andrea, and six girls. This evening he came by to offer us tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage, parsley, and celery. Conversation led to details about our family and his. We were astounded to hear that he has an Andrea (his wife), and a Cristina and another Andrea among their six daughters, just as Gundi has these two as daughters along with Claudia. Their other daughters go by the names of Maria,Isabel, Rebecca, Liliana. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Buoyed by Chico's sale of fresh vegetables to us, Andrea and Liliana came by an hour later under cover of darkness and tapped on the kitchen window. They were carrying three big baskets of hand-woven textiles Andrea had made and proceeded to extract a huge, vibrant assortment of clothing and decor, all beautifully and uniquely fashioned and created. Not now, later, Gundi re-iterated over and over as they unfolded more and more. Another time. Later. We are cooking...</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chico duly came by with a huge bag of lettuce, radishes, arugula, celery, tomatoes, parsley, and cabbage. He sat down, chatted as we peppered him with questions about the community and its history. Yesterday's marimba band concert was apparently attended by around a hundred locals, and celebrated the recovery from illness of a village member. "How old are you?" he asked Gundi... "... and you?" I countered. "Fifty two". "Ten years younger than me", I confessed. When pressed on the cost of the five pounds of vegetables, freshly picked from his garden, he shyly said twenty quetzales (around three dollars). "Cheap, no?", he joked. When I gave him thirty, he was very grateful. "Expensive, no?", he joked. The next morning he came by, as promised with fresh epazote and purple basil to make a tummy tea for Gundi. Ten quetzales were gratefully tendered and received.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">w</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><img id="id_24a6_f39b_b9b2_faf5" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbh6au-7EOhaz8O0ILXhn1_ss3y7cuvvFKTedCSqJ2SaS1dFHocfN4Kv0OS4WBtzlU4BvXYAvssg409FLrC0A218vEuYlh6VezZ2xOxzSkynZfIs76KdusKO8Ui-Vc51K04qyw2OZ-9eG/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 510px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">After I reminded Andrea about coming over with a shirt for me, she appeared on a Sunday morning with daughters Maria, Liliana, and Andrea, and three baskets of textiles. I picked out a subtle purple, green and orange shirt that Gundi approved of, and, lo and behold, it fit,with just the hood for Gundi to cut off. Andrea asked for 300 quetzales and settled for 250; we were all happy with the deal, which is the main thing. Too many tourists show no dignity in seeing haggling as a sport by which to belittle the seller and back-slap their own powers of persuasion in a display of cultural imperialism.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chico is one of eight local farmers that rent land from IMAP, the *Instituto Mesoamericano de Permacultura*, in exchange for seeds that they grow. Chico saves a black corn, tomatoes, arugula, carrots, beets, chard, celery, parsley, lettuce, cabbage, spinach, and more. In addition, some early mornings well before the sun gets up, he and his two dogs walk an hour up the mountainside of Toliman volcano to tend his corn, coffee, peaches, bananas, and lemons. Ah, the life of a campesino - hard but gratifying; this and the physicality, sensuality, fresh air, sun on skin, and communion with nature, which have in concert provided me with so much enjoyment over the years. As we return home and then start a new chapter on the ocean in Cape Breton, I will miss Rolling Hills Organics, the farm and the farming vocation. The sowing of seeds, the changing of the seasons, the planting of seedlings, the turning and nurturing of soil, the harvesting of greens, the pulling of root crops, the selling at markets have, after all, granted me a happy living and sustained me in good health for the last two decades. </span></p></div><br></div> Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-7055189859069129152018-12-07T11:10:00.001-04:002018-12-07T11:24:09.607-04:00Bye, bye, Brick Works<div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_6388_3f03_394b_e0dd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGT3hJyVoF6enTjnVSebBZ8NdgCKPE852FxhC1ihgmQC4fL8Y9O6I4G2XKZYCn5V0xiBq9JxnxNhb62LArM8qskqwzNo5Wx9uIPTZfi4vqzsRXLoLsMcHqQClTv4QmUhgC3OZVApBRs85F/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"><br><div style="text-align: left;">For the past twelve years (since 2007), I have been standing here at Toronto Evergreen Brick Works Farmers Market as a Saturday morning vendor.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> First under the umbrella of the Quinte Organic Farmers Co-operative, then as my own farm Rolling Hills Organics, this long run draws to a close tomorrow with my final market. By my records, I have around 400 under my belt. Some vendors like Irene, Jens, Dave, Ed, Angelos and others will have more as they are there year-round, all through long winters when we are down south or in hibernation.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">I would like to thank loyal customer turned colleague turned close friend Christina Temple for her loyalty and avid support of our farm's certified organic, fresh, local produce. I have learned a lot about food, health, medicine, herbs, restaurants, value-added products from her. Thank you too to the amazing Elizabeth Harris who gave me my start at Riverdale and Brick Works farmers markets, and to Marina and Cameron for building and running the market. Thanks most of all to you cheery regular customers, vendors and volunteers too numerous to mention. You have provided a vibrant venue for business, chat, and enduring friendship.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Gundi and I have decided the time is right for a new and exciting challenge and the next chapter in our lives. So it is that we have all but sold the farm and all but bought our new home in a little cove overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. We will grow our own food and Gundi will continue her glass artistry but I will be trading in small-scale land farming for small-scale ocean farming (fish, shellfish, and sea greens) and diving into a new community. Look for me at the admirable Cape Breton Food Hub.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Cheers, and keep local fresh organic going at Brick Works!</div><br></div><br> Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-26499769324950945582018-06-27T22:10:00.001-03:002018-06-27T22:10:00.806-03:00Farmers Markets, Food Feature <div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_295b_5d4f_f559_6280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLo295sIR8Le94Bvpm2pdv0MMVv2V4_QfF85ttMILZO8Xxsgou9aHz2ms-yEKoFb-Qb9nsO6JGcc9YQ6WnqBdDHkvRYaW7M-k4owtCfAcx81LEU8QYLnuX9TwBbB5H-1u4hB7MP6TSLuU/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 493px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"><br><br></div><div><br></div><div><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">From www.thisiscrumb.com, my featured interview:</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Can we assume everything at the farmer’s market is organic?</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">By no means. Farmers markets are wonderful places and improved signage is in the works, but customers should be aware. Labels such as organically grown, sustainable, ecological, minimally sprayed, local can be misleading. Always ask if the farmers grew all the product they are selling. If not, where was the rest grown and how.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Is everything local? How far (on average) do farmer’s/vendors source their product from?</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Each market has different rules, but generally Toronto markets feature produce grown within two to three hours' drive. The 100-mile limit is a good guideline.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Talk me through the process from farm to stall.</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We have a full day of harvesting, processing, packaging, sorting, cataloguing prior to market. On market day, we are up at 4.30 am for the hour and a half drive to market, one hour set-up, five hour market. Home by 4 pm, bushed after interacting with customers and other vendors in the fresh outdoor often hot air, selling, and hopefully selling out!</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><img id="id_df65_3af3_595f_ed63" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--tQDMqMs3dE/WzQ1ZUGhCAI/AAAAAAAAB9E/5a51lt4apn04YSLkpjs5j5Nv2X02JHdUQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 508px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"><br><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i><br></i></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>You vend primarily at the Evergreen Brickworks Farmers Market - how does the farmer’s market select farmers to participate? What is the criteria?</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This market used to be an exclusively organic market with all vendors verified to grow organically if not certified organic by third party verification. These days, customers should ask questions of vendors to ascertain their growing methods and practices. Go with farmers you can trust.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>How does weather affect the growing season and the quality of the crops? If it is a late winter, or an early frost, how does this affect the produce? What are the most resilient fruits and vegetables? Which are more likely to suffer?</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Southern Ontario farmers have just been through the driest summer since records began, followed by one of the wettest. Farmers are at the mercy of the vagaries of weather and the excesses of climate change, unless their operations are indoor, climate-controlled, using large amounts of energy and foregoing natural sunlight, rain, dew, wind (Nature's elements). Extreme winters, cool springs, variable summers are conditions that outdoor farmers must face up to. Late frosts, extended cold, wet summers, heavy winters, extreme heat, lack of rain are all eventualities that must be faced up to.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>What else can affect the quality/quantity of crops in a growing season?</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Extremes of weather, mineral and nutritional deficiences, poor farming practice and excess pesticide use can cause bug infestations, bacterial disease.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Any trade secrets/ dead giveaways in sussing out the best of the best? If two vendors are offering the same product, how do you know which is better? Are there buzzwords on signage that we should look out for?</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Talk to farmers, ask questions about seeds, organic practices, GMOs, whether chemicals were used, what the nature of the soil is, when produce was picked. Be price-savvy, but appreciate that you grt what you pay for. Skimping on price will land you a less than stellar product. Biodynamic and certified organic are the gold standards.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>What does the picking process look like? How large is your team? Do you pick all your produce by hand or do you use machinery to assist in harvesting?</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">At Rolling Hills Organics, all produce is picked fresh for each and every market. Salad greens are picked early morning, washed three times in our pure well water, spun dry, weighed, bagged, and cooled in bins ready for transport to market. We are a small team. All seeds and plants are planted, harvested and processed by hand.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>You run a certified organic 55-acre farm. Talk to us about the rise in the use of pesticides - why are you adamant on growing organically?</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>To taste or not to taste - is it really true that we can sample everything at the Farmers Market? How open are farmers to having you sample their product before purchasing</i>?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Our land has never seen chemicals. No pesticides of any kind are used, since we insist on farming entirely organically, holistically, sustainably, using Nature as guide. Chemicals are responsible for many of the terrible ailments afflicting the health of consumers, whether ingested from food or absorbed from a toxified environment.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sampling at market is subject to strict health guidelines. Some vendors offer this, and we welcome customers tasting our salad greens.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: left; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i><br></i></span></p><p style="text-align: left; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>What are your top picks at the market? Do you purchase non-produce items like pasta/bread/baked goods - or do you save those for the grocery store? Why?</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Naturally raised, minimally processed, organic produce and foods. There are many locally-produced, small-batch, artisanal foods of good quality available at market. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Do farmers markets account for the primary source of revenue for most farmers? Or are there other components of the business that contribute to the overall revenue - for example, supplying to local restaurants, etc.</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Most farmers receive their income from a mix of farmers markets, wholesale accounts, and sales to restaurants. We prefer to focus on farmers markets where we receive full retail price and enjoy a highly respectful and regular clientele along with a constant stream of new customers.</span></p></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></div>Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-45253964154435555182018-05-22T19:19:00.001-03:002018-05-22T19:20:54.752-03:00Farmers Markets in the Spotlight<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_d16a_ce55_7e3d_ab8b" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHn1cOs0TGQ1TGbuYWC2uWh0oYwqxEFRlCG9ETp5nEed2Qyqv7H9BTjNUFhYmRBhEOxF60rvEUWwLwrNrIx1kma8ueCY1I_baj3ZHx_q-2HUPIsmlVzMZfVG5jsvBTEtg_dGREnbM5Fu_F/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 381px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"><br></div><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 13.8px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What a perfect farmers market experience Warkworth Market at the Mews offers! it is authentically local, reflecting genuine community. With the CBC Marketplace "exposé", farmers markets in general have come under the spotlight and the fallout has not been pretty. Like any other business model, farmers markets face issues of credibility in the eyes of the consumer. They also present massive opportunities for good food, good health, the localist economy, and societal change. In many ways, they are victim of their own success as more and more consumers flock to them, away from name-brand food sources like supermarkets and grocery stores. They stand to be knocked down.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In the CBC Marketplace report, the Peterborough Farmers Market was highlighted. While most appreciated the revelation of some produce coming from the Ontario Food Terminal, the market management most certainly did not. Several small-farm vendors ironically seen as troublemakers were subsequently uninvited to participate. They have now set up their own Saturday farmers market through Peterborough Regional Farmers Network. While it is a shame for markets to fragment in this way, the intransigence of a Board of Directors in this case made a parting of the ways inevitable.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yes, a few re-sellers maintain a presence as vendors at some farmers markets. Sometimes market management allows them under their regulations; this is especially true of long-established regional town and city markets across southern Ontario, like Peterborough. This is, after all, how these markets began, long before the local food movement took hold. Sometimes management just turns a blind eye or fails to take adequate time or effort to monitor what farmers bring. Sometimes re-sellers sneak in the back door, selling incognito through farmers or while representing produce as home-grown alongside harvests from their own farm.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">By and large, farmers are honest and upfront, as indeed they should be. The few bad apples should be weeded out through strong rules and clear signage rigorously enforced. The buying public deserves nothing less than total transparency, especially at farmers markets, where the stakes for health are so high. We all have a right to know where our food comes from, and whether it is certified organic, grown using chemicals, or containing genetically modified ingredients. After all, these venues offer our best chance to feed body and soul with locally-sourced healthy food direct from a family farm in a convivial setting. Talking of which... in our neck of the woods, Codrington Farmers Market, now entering its fourth year, has become a popular destination for a local food and artisan craft experience on Sundays. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><img id="id_480f_dac5_7618_e799" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iXdWeCMe4bs/WwSXdkjyPrI/AAAAAAAAB8E/iGvTlwAfewg1EjfE5hKUgERHTgGwxaVqwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 508px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And now, the vibrant village of Warkworth has its very own afore-mentioned Market at the Mews on Friday afternoons. These two markets fully embrace local growers and food artisans with - hopefully - no re-sellers to be seen or negotiated. They reflect how every farmers market community - city or country - should be. Let's celebrate them. As an organic farmer, I certainly do!</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><br></p> Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-65120331012059533362018-04-12T19:26:00.001-03:002018-04-12T19:28:51.686-03:00Patience <div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_a8d8_5d57_feef_289" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n2vdzPW0_YI/Ws_dFA1WaeI/AAAAAAAAB7g/6w4xep-OH0MrusDb1fUn-AKEMoGRF0VFgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 508px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"><br><i><font face="Arial">Arugula seedlings<br></font></i><br></div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">After a long, hard winter, a long, slow spring is upon us, like a big, dark cloud. It too will pass. Patience is required, in spades (especially with an impending icestorm in the forecast).</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Rolling Hills Organics is a very small farm but we are in good heart, relishing the opportunity to sink seeds in soil once more and witness the re-birth of the land after its annual slumber.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Our greenhouses are not heated in the winter nor air-conditioned in the summer beyond Nature's absorbed sunshine and winds.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Our soils have been cover-cropped, green-manured, or mulched, and will be primed ready to go once they have dried out and warmed up.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Our seeds are sourced from small-scale suppliers and not mass-planted by machine but individually by hand.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Our fields are not covered by sheets of black plastic nor fed by a mechanized irrigation system. Weeds will plague the early plantings and we will water and weed manually.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">All crops have been certified organic for 18 years now, and remain so. They are grown in our mineral-rich glacial till soil (that has never been exposed to chemicals), picked, washed and bagged fresh for each and every market.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">First harvest starts shortly with spring salads and mixes like arugula, baby kale, baby spinach, spicy greens, mild mesclun, baby lettuce mix.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We look forward to seeing you at market very soon!</span></p></div>Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-52585704391057077772018-01-27T18:52:00.001-04:002018-01-28T11:22:50.800-04:00Atitlán Organics <div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_a33c_fd7e_5e7b_5a7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ib2GeCdS79U/Wm0Cmt1bSoI/AAAAAAAAB0A/FGKEJOAKlkAYQRuV2wskGZO-__15O4E5wCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 497px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"><br><br></div><div><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The road up to Atitlán Organics from the lake through Tzununá past the Bamboo House up the stony dirt road to the farm is an arduous one. One needs to be dedicated to a sense of discovery and exploration to undertake it. As a form of pilgrimage to the principles of permaculture, I was determined to pay a visit. Friday mornings are scheduled for farm tours. As a group of overnighting local schoolkids wrapped up their time with excited babble, we twenty or so visitors waited in the wings, discussing our own interests and vocations - in organic farming, in seed-saving and sharing, in permaculture, in volunteering, in travelling through Guatemala and Central America....</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">After our stand-by, Shad was ready. Shad Qudsi hails from New Jersey. He and his partner Colleen from Rhode Island are celebrating the eighth anniversary of founding Atitlán Organics, up in this peaceful, Eden-like valley of lush fruits, greenery, plants, crops, with a heavy smattering of large rocks and boulders. The background symphony of sounds includes birds, chickens, dogs, the whistling breeze, all subsumed by the cascading waters of the river and waterfalls. The year-round flow of the river is rare for these parts where the long dry season succeeds the rains of the summer months (wet season). It is a principal reason for Shad choosing this rocky mountain-side site on which to bring his dream to life. It is a work in progress and yet much has been achieved over these first years through hard work and a headstrong steadfast vision for the future.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The enterprise that is Atitlán Organics is divided into three areas - the permaculture farm, educational courses of learning, and accommodations and restaurant. Volunteers work on the farm and stay at the Bamboo House. Visitors too eat and drink at the restaurant and support farm tours by donation. Courses teach permaculture and natural building techniques.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><img id="id_2199_47fc_9e9_bfc5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yomVOEQntCA/Wm0Cg8mUyGI/AAAAAAAABz8/JQwngOcrNecqS7PEqoHhLma56dDymPR8ACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 517px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"><br><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The farm consists currently of around two and a half acres - over a hectare - of mountain-side fields, fruit trees, and animal shelters. The challenging terrain has been very painstakingly and gradually cleared of rocks, channeled by swales, and dotted with ponds, creating habitat for a whole micro-environment of mixed plants, trees, crops, and livestock habitat. Chickens and goats have access at different times to thirteen separate eco-systems in miniature and provide the farm with ample rich compost from the barns that continually builds fertility in the terraced fields. They also provide between them eggs, meat, milk, cheese, yogurt. Fruit trees include mulberry, banana, mango, orange, papaya, pomegranate, soursop, and, of course, coffee. Shad is focusing on salad greens as a viable and reliable source of income and two local helpers Nicolas and Juan prepare for local deliveries to stores and restaurants twice a week.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><img id="id_15d7_9787_afec_50db" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-azr8rtUFn_s/Wm0CoohmGgI/AAAAAAAAB0E/gEAhLC3n1Wc6ee6YSpIS5TYfEJSMDYriACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 507px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As a salad green grower myself, I was very taken by the manual salad spinner, consisting of Nicolas windmilling his arms forward and back out in the garden. (My left shoulder would not last long with the repetitive strain). Production is expanding and the nearby village of San Marcos with its base of travellers, yoga practitioners, and worldly seekers is a ready market hungry for fresh local organically-grown produce. Given the ambient climate of the lake, production can be moreorless year-round. Shad explained that the farm's situation deep in a steep-sided valley means that it enjoys less hours of sunshine than most locations. So it is that some sun-hungry crops like tomatoes and peppers have not thrived. And the altitude of over 5,000 feet above sea level creates further restrictions for certain crops.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hats off to Shad, his local staff and his army of ever-changing volunteers for creating such an inspiring model for community living and sustainability using the solid principles of permaculture and human resiliency in this beautiful yet challenging highland lake environment. Long may it prosper and continue to grow.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br></p><p style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 13.8px;"><a href="http://www.atitlanorganics.com" id="id_813d_f2e8_647c_a590" target="_self">www.atitlanorganics.com</a></p><p style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 13.8px;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 13.8px;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/atitlanorganics.com" id="id_e5ad_3c88_434c_6c98" target="_self">www.facebook.com/atitlanorganics</a></p><p style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 13.8px;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 13.8px;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/atitlanorganics" id="id_be2b_5f3c_5f0e_f24b" target="_self">www.youtube.com/atitlanorganics</a></p><p style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 13.8px;"></p><p style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 13.8px;"></p></div>Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-11472888581099894422018-01-19T12:34:00.001-04:002018-01-19T12:34:49.854-04:00Mountain-side Terraced Fields<div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_b1ef_14da_a91c_a6e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7FTU1fHTAAg/WmIeGvX0JBI/AAAAAAAAByg/7UHpafLeKBgNVJzbM0sljK76Q_pnjqTwQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 536px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Santa Catarina </span><span style="text-align: start; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Palopó</span></i></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yesterday we visited the Mayan town of Santa Catarina Palopó. Many buildings are newly daubed in elaborately-patterned sky blue reflecting the traditional huipil colour worn by the women. This is an initiative begun last October to make the town more attractive to visitors and it certainly does the trick.</span></p><p style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><img id="id_6980_872a_9268_e19e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yt4BclCnaEo/WmIeJqQqFTI/AAAAAAAAByk/rHPUyzUK4gg6ZkQAcCnw1TTKAs2jywXdACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 449px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The mountain-side terraced fields perched high above the town are spectacular. The climb up steep steps past the upper residential area rewards with breath-taking views as one enters the expanse of vegetable and flower fields situated in a gentle valley bowl. Up there, on a fine, sunny, breezy day, I felt on top of the world, blown away by the beauty and ingenuity of the landscape. There are probably around 20 acres of meticulously-designed fields constructed into terraces and separated by channels for water to flow. Even now, in dry-season, water gurgles down the mountain-side in a meandering flow. Sluice gates control the side-flow into fields. One friendly field-worker (OK, all the locals are friendly) was controlling the flow of water with his foot as he prepared his field for bean planting by turning it over with a spade-like hoe. You cannot tell me that turning over the soil after winter dormancy is not good practise. These Mayans have been cultivating this land constantly for centuries, achieving prolific production always, rotating crops from field to field. The Mayan empire is long gone, of course, but these descendants continue the fine engineering and farming methodologies their forebears introduced. Their fine-tuned tweaking of nature is an inspiration.</span></p><p style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><img id="id_335e_8e7d_9b26_7daf" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KeODSrbwkVU/WmIeACBiXnI/AAAAAAAAByc/ewiRz8rXyIQ9Q_kJeayet46fkS1MGe3xQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 507px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">On this day, on cursory glance, we witnessed corn, squash, tons of onions, beans, avocados, lettuce, almonds, yucca, oranges, papaya, chrysanthemums, lilies. Apparently, most produce is destined for the local big town market of Sololá. I was told that crops are organically grown, but they do use a small amount of pesticides against troublesome bugs. I noted about twenty farmers tending the fields, men and women. They use only hand tools and every harvested item is carried down the mountain on their backs. We watched as full sacks of corn and firewood were being carried down, empty as they come back up.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A huge swathe of mountain-side that is tinder-dry grass (denuded of greenery) was just left burned off by a fast-moving fire above the town a couple of weeks ago. Deforestation of these steep slopes creates such problems; thankfully, there is a lot of intact forest remaining around Lake Atitlán, especially on the iconic volcano sides.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Our twenty-minute ride back to Panajachel was in the back of a pickup track colectivo. The bench seats held mostly local townfolk, the women shy and reserved in their Santa Catarina-blue huipils, the men in their traditional textile shorts and sandals, the children gazing at us with curiosity. They are such sweet folk, always ready with a smile and warm greeting. The ride cost 3 quetzals, less than 50 cents, each.</span></p></div>Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-49340853011278586102017-11-21T13:03:00.001-04:002017-11-21T13:12:09.542-04:00How Organic is Organic?<img id="id_7341_165f_a038_5656" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U0OXA6ZFA8U/WhRcYWBem7I/AAAAAAAABwU/G9XxU6xVlAY3_SBbzgjXBBdX8wcIN6CGACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto; margin: 4px auto; display: block;"><br><div><br></div><div><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The true nature of organic farming is under assault. It always has been since it became a commercial venture.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So, what constitutes "organic" in farming? It has deep roots, worldwide, especially in small-scale family and community farming. Wikipedia states: "Traditional farming (of many particular kinds in different eras and places) was the original type of agriculture, and has been practiced for thousands of years. All traditional farming is now considered to be 'organic farming'."</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Traditional, organic farming is anchored in the soil, a highly complex amalgam of minerals (rock, clay, sand, silt), water, air, organic matter like decomposing plants, animal manure, micro-organisms, worms, live insects, bacteria, fungal mycorhizzi that has evolved over centuries. Soil evolves with the cycle of the seasons guided by the movement of celestial bodies. Traditional organic farming takes place outdoors with plants and animals exposed to the full spectrum of elements (sun, rain, wind, dew, and, yes, here in Canada, snow and ice). No synthetic additives (chemicals, hormones, steroids) are utilized or sought. Fertility depends on plant compost and animal manure and resilient seed.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In the 1990s, the first regulations came into force with their de-centralized, sometimes heavy-handed mechanisms and provisions based on a very non-holistic reductionism. (Nature, conversely and, by extension, organics, is far from being simplistic). Certification, verification, commodification, standards, advocates, consultants, lawyers, government agencies and departments, third-party certifiers, now all claim their piece of a pie that expanded with all the resources and money thrown at it. With regulation came vested interests. Conventional industrialized agriculture, indoor vertical urban farms, hydroponics, aquaponics, all sought in on the lucrative "organic" markets. They were out to co-opt and take a slice of the pie that was not theirs. The result was many organic farmers opting out of (or not opting into) the regulatory system, creating a stream of non-certified farmers operating using organic methods. In Ontario, unlike other jurisdictions, organic labelling is still not policed within the province in spite of much advocacy. With powerful lobbies, political clout, and deep pockets everywhere, existing standards were challenged, diluted and made inclusive to their lower threshold. Now, in the USA (but not yet in Canada), hydroponic agriculture has been sanctioned as allowable under Organic Standards. This is one reductionist method too far removed from the true definition of holistic organic farming. We need a line in the sand.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The four principles of organic agriculture are as follows:</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Principle of Health - Organic agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal and human as one and indivisible.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Principle of Ecology - Organic agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Principle of Fairness - Organic agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Principle of Care - Organic agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It is time to put a halt to the dilution of organic standards satisfying powerful lobby groups that do not subscribe to the four principles of true organic farming (listed above), and for government at federal, provincial, and municipal levels, as well as the market-place for organic goods to throw weight behind regulating and enforcing organic standards with integrity and teeth in order to protect organic farmers and consumers. Otherwise, organic farming will splinter into many special interest groups and bitter disputes. Indeed, why should farms spend the high fees to certify as organic year upon year under the current lax regulatory framework? (The irony is, of course, that farms have to pay to be verified as organic, whereas conventional commodity farms are highly subsidized by government). I am on the side of small-scale regenerative organic farming as espoused by the esteemed Rodale Institute, relying on soil that has evolved and matured naturally over thousands of years, even millennia to produce nutritious, delicious food.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Peter Finch</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Rolling Hills Organics</span></p></div>Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-39864317108544153002017-02-07T13:27:00.001-04:002017-11-21T13:14:54.634-04:00Plant Medicines in Guatemala<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" height="238" id="id_ef08_5c5a_7004_3066" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iYIXjC5fLZQ/WJoDieCmXJI/AAAAAAAABtQ/TMJfY5Os6Eo/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" title="" tooltip="" width="320" style="text-align: left; height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 518px;"> </div>
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In this small country the size of Ireland, or Tennessee, the population is 60% indigenous Mayan, most of the rest being Ladino or Spanish. It is no wonder then that we have been well served by plant guides both in Antigua and on Lake Atitlan.</div>
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In Antigua, we were privileged to visit two very diffferent organic farms that are making the most of the appetite from locals and foreigners alike for fresh organic produce. At Caoba Farms a short walk south of the enchanting town, Alex and his team have built a resounding success of a business by growing organic food in fields and under cover and marketing through a store and weekly buzzing farmers market. Other vendors sell their products here too and Mayan women prepare excellent food from local ingredients. Alex is from here and has been growing organically (in more ways than one) for thirteen years. He went and picked some nettle for Gundi's skin irritation and offered to harvest some dandelion if we wanted to come and pick it up in a day or so.</div>
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A couple of days later, we were excited to hop into the minibus shuttle up the dusty bending road to Cerro San Cristobal with its magnificent views over Antigua, the valley and volcanoes. On arrival we were hustled onto the terrace for lunch. The best view was obscured and lunch was not the best, despite the promise of field-to-table organic food. This destination appears to be a victim of its own success. With overflow traffic on weekends, they clearly prepare a lot of food ahead of time, and it shows. To their credit, the owners allow the public to wander freely through the organic market garden, and the bounty from the volcanic soil on steep mountain-sides is impressive, thanks largely to drip-irrigation throughout.</div>
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In town, we discovered the Pachamama Healthy Market herbal store, which advertises "Natural, Local, Fresco". Don Jorge prescribed a herbal tea blend for Gundi's skin irritation, largely to boost the immune system. It consisted of green tea, moringa, cardamom, yerba mate, nettle, plantain, dandelion, echinacea root, turmeric, lemongrass, whole black pepper. What a blend!</div>
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Here on Lake Atitlan we are getting into a happy routine, nicely ensconsed in our AirBnB home with a fabulous view over the lake. At night, the twinkling lights of the north shore villages beneath the starlit sky soothe the soul. San Pedro offers all that we need in the way of fresh fruit and vegetables from the market, organic products (albeit pricey) from international brands at the health food stores, a great selection of freezer beef, pork, tuna, fish at Smokey Joe's, and fresh-picked greens from roadside market gardens.</div>
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Over the hill in the next village of San Juan, we came across Planta Medicinales Maya, a co-operative of thirty Mayan women. In this region that is 90% Mayan in make-up, the women and girls always wear their traditional dress woven from brightly-coloured textile in styles particular to each <i>pueblo.</i></div>
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Their backyard garden is a repository of local indigenous medicinal plants and herbs. We purchased some yarrow skin cream, moringa tea (for normalizing blood sugar levels, providing energy, detoxifying, promoting liver and kidney function, and strengthening the immune system), and a digestive tea (with mint, parsley, chamomile, basil, artemisia, rue, mago, lemon balm).</div>
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We are well set as we continue our explorations of this fascinating place and culture!</div>
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Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-14681286404639296532016-12-23T11:01:00.002-04:002016-12-23T11:01:53.667-04:00Celebrating Winter, A Farmer's Perspective<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Candara; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In
celebrating the seasons, we celebrate the cycle of life. Now the winter
solstice is behind us, the days are already getting longer again, although
winter is just beginning. Outside the window, a gentle snow is painting the
landscape white, in festive fashion bedecking the trees and freshening up the lustre
of the fields.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Candara; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At
this winter season, I become nature’s bear, entering a period of quiet
hibernation for resting up and recharging
batteries in order to be ready for the growth and activity spurt that marks
springtime. It is a time to reflect on the past growing season (this one having
been a challenging one for our farm with the drought), and to peruse seed
catalogues and make plans and dreams for the one that lies ahead. Plants are
now dormant in the fields. Perennials and bulbs face a deep freeze to be
tempered by a thick blanket of snow. Storms will rage, blizzards will pass
through, snow will fall. They are safely snuggled up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Candara; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Some
farmers remain active with livestock to tend and feed and breed; others have
heated greenhouses to maintain and have the joy of observing plants growing all
winter long. All the while, at year-round farmers markets like the one at
Evergreen Brick Works farmers continue to serve the public with greenhouse
produce, local cheeses, eggs, other dairy, meats, stored vegetables, fruits,
nuts, berries, and seeds both from the farm and from the wild. In this way,
they are extending the harvest of the summer season behind them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Candara; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Processors
preserve this harvest, offering teas, herbs, spices, pickles, jams, jellies,
fermented foods, honeys, and, of course, maple syrup. During the summer season our
farm preserves the harvest by making freezer jams from the rhubarb, strawberries,
raspberries, plums, and peaches purchased at market. Freezer jams have less
sugar and preserve the freshness of the fruit by not cooking it. Basil pesto is
frozen in ice cubes for a pasta hit in the middle of winter. We also make
tomato and apple sauces, and together with friends we press apple cider from
our heritage apples and their own. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Candara; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Food
purveyors at market prepare and serve up dishes largely made from ingredients
provided by local farms in this community. By supporting such markets through
the winter season, you are supporting the efforts and livelihoods of local
farmers and food artisans, as well as your own vitality and health. Adapting
diet to the availabilities of the season and lifestyle to the changing weathers
is a good stratagem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Candara; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Living
in southern <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ontario</st1:place></st1:state>
as we do, traditional winters are naturally long and cold, especially for those
who hail from warmer climes. They take a bit of getting used to. Despite having
lived here for some thirty five years, I still have to remind myself of this as
my ears fast-freeze when going out hatless in
the brilliant sunshine of minus 30 temperatures! Adapt to the prevailing
conditions of winter we must. A bracing walk in the bright sunshine, whether
along city streets or out in the wild woods, is manna for the soul. As trees
and food plants go dormant in our
gardens and fields, we can of course escape to
southern tropical sun for respite, as I prefer to do for part of my
“bear-time”. We can equally embrace the great white outdoors here by hiking,
cycling, chopping wood, skating at the rink, shussing down the slopes,
cross-country ski-ing along tranquil trails, and snow-shoeing across pristine
landscapes. Nature is glorious in all its urban and rural diversity and
enhanced by the variety bestowed on her by the ever-changing seasons. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Candara; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As
I reflected in my book <i>High Up in the
Rolling Hills</i>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Candara; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Over time, spirited seasons
guide us onwards, <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Candara; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">as the hazy summer days
linger ahead of sticky, humid nights;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Candara; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">as the autumnal winds play
with leaves all transformation;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Candara; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">as the winter snows will
tumble and coat the realm white;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Candara; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">as the bitter storms will
rage, then blow out in a whisper;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Candara; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">as the fresh buds of spring
will burst forth with fluorescence;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Candara; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">and, for ever more, as
night turfs out the light, <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Candara; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">till morning rises on the
other side of darkness. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Candara; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Perhaps
no season is so starkly wondrous as our Canadian winter, so we may as well wrap
up warm and celebrate it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-68759750651482658562016-08-10T15:08:00.002-03:002016-08-10T18:24:58.290-03:00The Infernal Dry Summer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Today's field contrast: on the left, unwatered corn, beans, zucchini, on the right, watered arugula</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "candara"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This
is one infernal dry summer. For a multitude of farmers across large swathes of
southern Ontario and many other parts of the world – conventional, GMO and
organic – the extended months of little to no rain will result in reduced
harvests, lower yields, draining of water sources, and perhaps the enforced sale of livestock.
Naturally, lower farm income will be on the table at the end of the year, a
situation dire enough for some to put them out of business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "candara"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Fellow-farmers
I have chewed the cud with at farmers markets have told me they are having to
truck in water. Some have drained their wells and ponds and are drawing from
swamps and creeks. At least one farm has turned to crowd-funding to ensure delivery of water to thirsty plants.
Without rain, of course, these are short-term solutions which are uneconomical
and unsustainable in the long run.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "candara"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At
our small farm Rolling Hills Organics we have switched to a much-reduced
planting regime. We have watched helplessly as successive early plantings have
been sacrificed to the dry, taken over by weeds which have in turn been
sacrificed to the mower or tiller. With the initial weeks of no rain, it seemed
counter-intuitive to till the dry soil in order to plant. As the drought conditions
have gone on, however, we have found it necessary to water and till, plant and
water, water and water (using our drilled well with good pressure), so as to
continue to have greens for markets, albeit at reduced volume. Early in the morning, late in the afternoon,
every day we are watering. (We do not have a switch to flip as the bigger
farmers do). The heat is befuddling, but the deep-seated dry is demoralizing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "candara"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There
is always something that hampers production; in early summer last year, I found
myself apologizing to customers for the scarcity of salad greens: <i>“From June to September, our greens are
grown in mineral-rich, glacial-till soil and enjoy sun, rain, dew, wind, heat,
cold, all the elements that nature bestows. This Spring season has been
unusually challenging with its extremes. Hence the tardy start with field
production. We do not have commercial climate-controlled greenhouses, nor do we
buy in greens from other farms. With warmer nights now finally here, next week
we will be able to offer more. Thank you for your patience.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "candara"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Back
to this year, when the rains finally return (and a beginning could be
imminently upon us), normal service and the regular full Fall production will
be resumed. As market farmers growing many different crops, we are able to be
nimble in negotiating mother nature’s curve-balls. We can write off one crop
while another thrives; we can plant more, or less, water more, or less. We can
wait out the storm rolling through. But sometimes, the extremes are severe
shocks to the farm system, and they are increasingly systemic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "candara"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Make
no mistake: This challenging season is not just a wake-up call that can be
doused by a few buckets of water; this is a full-on jarring alarm that we
cannot merely turn off to nod off to sleep again. Extended water shortages may
well be a major part of our future and of farming. We need to conserve water,
conserve soil fertility, moisture and
nutrients, conserve crop resilience and diversity. With no water, there is no food and no life.
The big boys with their massive acreages of glyphosate-drenched corn, soy and
wheat face their own challenges in assessing the unsustainability of their
animal feed, ethanol, industrial processing mono-crop model.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "candara"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">For
you farmers market customers out there: stick with us small-scale local
farmers. Yes, some of us are facing challenges, we always do; but no, we are
not giving up on you. We weather adversity well, coming back stronger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "candara"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We’ll
have some greens on Saturday. Come early.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-13059083868061920242016-04-08T12:34:00.004-03:002016-08-10T15:11:00.216-03:00Overwintered greens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EDLFGvQuBhLZAIjObMCjURlxAxlhGmmcO9WASm-379X9Biq7N7157G8TOgb4-85ebBjG-Gvsq415Azs1Lm9fiMScL0047DTRpyWCraUpR3VyG0IR40szG6IrsHA7ZN8XhZw6OJ1G9ZiT/s1600/ourluckystars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EDLFGvQuBhLZAIjObMCjURlxAxlhGmmcO9WASm-379X9Biq7N7157G8TOgb4-85ebBjG-Gvsq415Azs1Lm9fiMScL0047DTRpyWCraUpR3VyG0IR40szG6IrsHA7ZN8XhZw6OJ1G9ZiT/s400/ourluckystars.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">From Our Lucky Stars in our village of Warkworth, <a href="http://www.ourluckystars.ca/">www.ourluckystars.ca</a>:</i><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">We have gorgeous organic baby greens in from Rolling Hills Organics ! Come in for a satisfying Lucky Greens Salad or a slice of quiche with salad! Of course, there’s lots more delicious homemade food for lunch including some vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free options. Yes, there’s also some meat - how about Franz award winning ham and brie on a fresh baguette with grainy dijon… just as a suggestion! Make it a combo with salad and a juicy Royal Gala apple from Coates! $10.95!</span></div>
Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-48518623266357761552016-01-27T13:33:00.000-04:002016-01-27T13:55:49.495-04:00Sticker Shock!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPaV8XJlmguQ0shw46e9NxrJW77LJoB8KqGgCV2KyMiItB_GJ9aOpwpPM9JIzfrW8ahUo7XNyac1dL7JhSDcL-yZYWhOpws8zKU3K-ba6UMu95PsM8W2CSme5qiy0XDSaUJGhjwluOxnC/s1600/bag-salads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPaV8XJlmguQ0shw46e9NxrJW77LJoB8KqGgCV2KyMiItB_GJ9aOpwpPM9JIzfrW8ahUo7XNyac1dL7JhSDcL-yZYWhOpws8zKU3K-ba6UMu95PsM8W2CSme5qiy0XDSaUJGhjwluOxnC/s400/bag-salads.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Supermarket salad greens</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "candara"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">CBC.ca
advised on January 23 that in December, lettuce in supermarkets was priced on
average 21.8% more than a year before;</span> <span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "candara";">apples 11.8% more; oranges 8.8% more. These price
increases and the resulting sticker shock experienced by Canadian supermarket
consumers reflect the extended drought afflicting <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:state> growers and the nosedive of our
currency against the greenback.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "candara";">There is no need to buy cauliflowers at $8 a head when they are out of season! Right now, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region> imports more than 80 per cent of its
fruit and vegetables each year, the majority of which comes from the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region>, according to the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Guelph</st1:placename></st1:place><st1:personname w:st="on">'</st1:personname>s 2016 Food Price Report. This is an absurd ratio,
given that <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region>
exports a huge amount of produce only to import the same products in a
different guise, with carrots being cited in the CBC report. The 20% of our
food grown here could be way higher if supermarkets were open to changing their
modes of purchase, making the distribution chain more efficient by focusing on
local supply.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2G8fozwARgec9W858iTRy9kZHbCLvkNVUJf0PY9yDoTdCbSSEio9sZxwFII3so32HAvh5d9QZbgQedieeqIgbGgarbzMR8azQ_CdVF03oRE9v8dMkkr8L70L8tCdap1E0v0TQWjolfD7e/s1600/wheelbarrow1507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2G8fozwARgec9W858iTRy9kZHbCLvkNVUJf0PY9yDoTdCbSSEio9sZxwFII3so32HAvh5d9QZbgQedieeqIgbGgarbzMR8azQ_CdVF03oRE9v8dMkkr8L70L8tCdap1E0v0TQWjolfD7e/s400/wheelbarrow1507.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "candara";"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wheelbarrow Farm stand at Fairmount Park Farmers Market</span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "candara";"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "candara";">Farmers markets
utilize such a simplified supply chain. They rent space to local certified
farmers who sell direct to customers on a regular basis, sometimes year-round.
What could be more ideal than buying your food fresh, local, and often free of
chemicals, additives and GMOs direct from the people who procured the seeds, grew
the crop and brought it in season to their local market? What is more, this produce is
not subject to currency fluctuations, droughts and floods and associated
production and fossil-fueled delivery problems in far-off places. Nor is there
a string of middlemen taking a cut.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "candara";">Our farm,
Rolling Hills Organics, has certified our produce as organic for the past 15
years. The ever-changing weather means that some growing seasons years are more
challenging than others. And through these ups and owns that are part and parcel
of small-scale farming , our prices have remained stable and have not increased
in several years despite inflation in the economy as a whole. For some, our
produce may appear expensive. However, when the extreme freshness, nutritional
value and organic nature are taken into account, we believe that our products
represent great and durable value for money and multiple benefits to health. Compare
this to the spike in supermarket prices. As consumers, our family shops less
and less at supermarkets as they are full of highly processed foods which are
misleadingly labelled (with no mention of GMOs except for the non-GMO
certified). The produce is mostly imported as we have established, having
traveled an average of 2,000 miles on fossil fuels.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "candara";"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "candara";">Yet <a href="https://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2015-10/julie-brown-food-and-fairness">some
in the local food movement</a> argue for food being 80% locally-produced
and 20% imported, an inverse of the current industrial food system. This feels
like a realistic yet ambitious target, and one worth aiming towards. Their
UK-based Food Zones Chart illustrates a vision for a sustainable food and
farming system that many local farmers at farmers market are already building.</span><span style="font-family: "candara"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp71P-PDlQ7xgeYIdVVzzxw3G_FTdLzV94JttSAkockJYtrT8IUxDnmyukiuGqfxz7JG6dbdQAKFKbq8TUbseRdEGJJjzSaJnyXZb4TZ_ngezGuAkwJeETCRskpevU_bUJmsPUOp2J4vfY/s1600/foodzones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp71P-PDlQ7xgeYIdVVzzxw3G_FTdLzV94JttSAkockJYtrT8IUxDnmyukiuGqfxz7JG6dbdQAKFKbq8TUbseRdEGJJjzSaJnyXZb4TZ_ngezGuAkwJeETCRskpevU_bUJmsPUOp2J4vfY/s400/foodzones.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-66124028167928276622015-12-31T11:07:00.003-04:002015-12-31T11:10:34.033-04:00In Defense of Food<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4bCcoh_wX7IOH2zj1scHlhtzwCGv-Q8IfykPAncPv01C7ASz7gU-TIbV3sMkheXLD39fwVdUzUCMMBpS-ppf1wJKFReBpGmGTqVgWuekwCp-zVYAP2-rihi_IXdMEDMxUs8k45u9gdRr/s1600/paleodiet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4bCcoh_wX7IOH2zj1scHlhtzwCGv-Q8IfykPAncPv01C7ASz7gU-TIbV3sMkheXLD39fwVdUzUCMMBpS-ppf1wJKFReBpGmGTqVgWuekwCp-zVYAP2-rihi_IXdMEDMxUs8k45u9gdRr/s400/paleodiet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Last night we tuned in to the 2-hour PBS documentary <i><b>In Defense of Food</b></i> based on the book by Michael Pollan.</div>
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The main message, presented by Michael's Pollan was his long-standing mantra <i><b>Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly Plants. </b></i></div>
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<div style="color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6px;">
The health of the Hadza hunter gatherers in Tanzania illustrates that those of us exposed to the Western industrial food system and the SAD Standard American Diet would be well served by adopting <i><b>Eat Foods grown in Nature, without additives.</b></i></div>
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<span style="color: #3f4549; font-family: Helvetica Neue, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6px;">Read more at <a href="http://www.pbs.org/food/features/in-defense-of-food-about-the-show/">http://www.pbs.org/food/features/in-defense-of-food-about-the-show/</a></span></span></div>
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Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-18097853893296112372015-11-23T15:00:00.001-04:002015-11-23T15:00:56.905-04:00A Commons Sense<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/116223299" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px; line-height: 28.05px;">A beautiful 8-minute video: "The US patent act clause 102 says that nothing can be patented if it is prior public knowledge. If the public has been aware of the material and its benefits, then it is not possible to patent. Clause 102 then goes on to define ‘public knowledge’ as only that of Americans’ and no one else. Not the billions of Indians, Native Americans or Africans, their knowledge. Their natural resources are not represented or protected by this act."</span></div>
Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-82839979137475034182015-11-18T11:51:00.001-04:002015-11-18T11:51:54.473-04:00A Trip down Memory Lane<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52w1IUQPkECPlhzsKK4TMQlZoSbY7ZUbls7ySavG1JVhBzjLKan7l5RQxlhVRSXu7mrjMDKAYDg-9pOUCQ2MXOukuWb6uOyRY8-BNetm6uQSsjFnAno1GPkwCWFmMi9FKaUGSVk704UrF/s1600/RHO2010L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52w1IUQPkECPlhzsKK4TMQlZoSbY7ZUbls7ySavG1JVhBzjLKan7l5RQxlhVRSXu7mrjMDKAYDg-9pOUCQ2MXOukuWb6uOyRY8-BNetm6uQSsjFnAno1GPkwCWFmMi9FKaUGSVk704UrF/s640/RHO2010L.JPG" width="498" /></a></div>
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In 2010 Schelle Holmes came by the farm to do a photo shoot and interview me about our certified organic operation for a feature on the now-defunct Warkworth Diner. Looking back on her wonderful photos, it strikes me how far we have come in the intervening five years to ameliorate the soil fertility. In these pictures, the fields look slightly anemic!</div>
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Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-26701707918174383122015-11-10T23:01:00.003-04:002015-11-23T15:15:46.443-04:00Holistic Planned Grazing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Here's a great 8-minute video by Christopher Gill, a rancher in west Texas. It includes amazing images shot by a drone and shows the power of this tool for managing and reclaiming land and an abundance of wildlife.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/133367501" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe></div>
Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-54305273372051839562015-10-28T20:16:00.004-03:002015-10-28T20:16:57.549-03:00Farming, The Gandhian Way - A Tribute to Shri. Bhaskar Save<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In honour of the enlightened Bhaskar Save who recently passed away at the age of 93. He was revered in India as "the Gandhi of Natural Farming."<br />
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Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-18278759681754336352015-10-12T11:29:00.004-03:002015-10-12T11:31:02.757-03:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-x4CRQPEurEGe1iMQFunl8CsBwbREiXCXo6Ou6MLfmYtaTs4lYexzpMpXx7wV_JDMPGwB2rmQYOX6hmkdp4BYTjtLdehP8-P4dXo0-vWb1kD9O_uZ7_U9yiECICPstnJYF4YnFp6Coy4/s1600/fall1510+013sr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-x4CRQPEurEGe1iMQFunl8CsBwbREiXCXo6Ou6MLfmYtaTs4lYexzpMpXx7wV_JDMPGwB2rmQYOX6hmkdp4BYTjtLdehP8-P4dXo0-vWb1kD9O_uZ7_U9yiECICPstnJYF4YnFp6Coy4/s400/fall1510+013sr.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span 14px="" 19.32px="" arial="" font-family:="" font-size:="" helvetica="" line-height:="" sans-serif="">On this glorious Thanksgiving morning,</span></div>
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<span 14px="" 19.32px="" arial="" font-family:="" font-size:="" helvetica="" line-height:="" sans-serif=""><span style="line-height: 19.32px;">Giving thanks for the family and friends we share, the land we inhabit, the community we share, the food we grow and eat, the gifts of love and life, and much more besides.</span></span></div>
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Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-71949966466849369382015-07-21T15:52:00.001-03:002015-07-21T19:51:14.497-03:00Tricky Transition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Candara;">It
is like this every year, only this year more so. We have a transition from
early (spring) season greens grown in unheated hoophouses to summer field
production fully dependent on mother nature. This was a tricky transition, as
May early dry turned to heavy rains and saturated fields. Ongoing cool
temperatures and sodden soil made it difficult to get on there with a tractor
and tiller in order to plant. Early attempts resulted in salad greens rotting
away, weeds taking hold, and beans not even bothering to poke their heads out
above ground. In June, a month of more rains and cool days and nights. Then, as
we hit July, we are playing catch-up with weeding, tilling, and planting.
Finally a sequence of warmer nights and sunny days with splashes of rain and sprinklers
now and again mean that greens are finally growing as they should and market
tables are beginning to look more fullsome.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4P2Ztn6d252vShyZUF6Ri5lx7aUDO_ePflywP8Db1nTiDFN2XK7pbxvWzTNvAcT3abpcP9QMRvujZNtdewcpV5kE3bOWYA5u52FK-JZSVgxHA6UFlOSvuNfHZbv0ZgDhGXemDQXclVpTH/s1600/ghouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4P2Ztn6d252vShyZUF6Ri5lx7aUDO_ePflywP8Db1nTiDFN2XK7pbxvWzTNvAcT3abpcP9QMRvujZNtdewcpV5kE3bOWYA5u52FK-JZSVgxHA6UFlOSvuNfHZbv0ZgDhGXemDQXclVpTH/s400/ghouse.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Candara;">All
this while, greens growers with commercial climate-controlled greenhouses have
been able to enjoy steady, regular production whether growing in soil or
hydroponically, sheltered from the cool, the wind, the rains, the intense sun
without worrying about the elements outdoors, the rampant weeds and grasses choking
out plant growth, and the flea beetles chomping holes in the arugula and
mustard greens in the fields. In their year-round controlled environment,</span><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Candara;">
plants live the life of Riley, like comfortably pampered condominium dwellers,
fed by a steady diet of constant temperature and moisture, clockwork heat and
light, and packaged soil or pumped-up water. Just how energy-efficient are their heating and cooling systems, anyway</span></b><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Candara;">?</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50L4V0WMdUSDIE7tJLZzGGAZvaLzrp3Ao-3n2KZEVkTaw9x2pDahfZxETC0S4B3tVy3KhKbLFEA4TEvU0OorUVssQbdFd7z5FuzSLe7viUbioRbQ-hnanLXuoy4vTpkAgEP022aSE7yiM/s1600/field0807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50L4V0WMdUSDIE7tJLZzGGAZvaLzrp3Ao-3n2KZEVkTaw9x2pDahfZxETC0S4B3tVy3KhKbLFEA4TEvU0OorUVssQbdFd7z5FuzSLe7viUbioRbQ-hnanLXuoy4vTpkAgEP022aSE7yiM/s400/field0807.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Candara; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Now,
our field production is finally coming into its own as the greens pick up
natural sun, dew, rain, wind, and mineral-rich nutrients from the worked-up
organic soil. Now we’re in business. After
all, t<b>here’s nothing like the deep,
juicy, bold flavour and enhanced nourishment of field-grown, especially
fresh-picked from mineral-rich organic soil! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Candara; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>From earth to mouth in one day –
the healthiest way there is. </b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Candara;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-81426658240375064382015-06-30T14:11:00.001-03:002015-06-30T14:11:40.038-03:00A Year at Rolling Hills Organics (slideshow)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<iframe width="560" height="420" src="http://www.kizoa.com/embed-22351114-3365220o1l1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-79798474582424437242015-03-27T11:11:00.000-03:002015-03-27T11:14:16.177-03:00Plowing the Sacred Soil<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8LkXaaoPs2keEClb3FuFDF1atKQF15o45UP-32Cs2fQ9CThWfg3xU2zARW_mwuvEjtMUArua-tvbOQRn4CJ4rnl9OAFPRNQkO9I5Gt23r_NCN6gFuVgHNA0y-An5w9Yxk_nUSw4j2J1z/s1600/plowcuba3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8LkXaaoPs2keEClb3FuFDF1atKQF15o45UP-32Cs2fQ9CThWfg3xU2zARW_mwuvEjtMUArua-tvbOQRn4CJ4rnl9OAFPRNQkO9I5Gt23r_NCN6gFuVgHNA0y-An5w9Yxk_nUSw4j2J1z/s1600/plowcuba3.jpg" height="317" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Candara; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A couple of days ago, the Guardian published an
article by George Monbiot, entitled</span><b><span style="font-family: Candara; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Candara; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We’re treating soil like dirt. It’s a fatal
mistake, as our lives depend on it”. </span></b><span style="font-family: Candara; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(The full article is at <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/25/treating-soil-like-dirt-fatal-mistake-human-life?CMP=fb_gu">http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/25/treating-soil-like-dirt-fatal-mistake-human-life?CMP=fb_gu</a>
).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Candara; font-size: 10.0pt;">George
complains that “there is no mention of permaculture either on the websites of
the two main funding bodies (NERC and BBSRC) or in any other department.” Here,
in his article on the destruction of soils, there is no mention of RoundUp/glyphosate,
atrazine, DDT, 2,4 –D, other poisons often used in his preferred no-till regime.
Instead, the author takes aim at plowing. “While it now seems that ploughing of
any kind is incompatible with the protection of the soil, there are plenty
of means of farming without it. Independently, in several parts of the world,
farmers have been experimenting with zero-tillage (also known as conservation
agriculture), often with extraordinary results.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Candara; font-size: 10.0pt;">Yes,
indeed, farmers have been experimenting often with extraordinary results.
However, many farmers have continued with the tried and tested ways of farming
that have been practised and honed for ever and a day. Smallholders the world
over use simple plows to till their soil, using oxen and horses to draw them.
These wise farmers have farmed organically for hundreds of years and certainly
well before we all started discussing the merits of organic food.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Candara; font-size: 10.0pt;">As
an organic farmer, I prefer to eschew
chemicals and use instead time-honoured methods like certified organic seeds, crop
rotations, green manures, mulches, composts, incorporation of crop residues,
and, yes, plowing in the constant and never-ending exercise of enhancing the
health of the soil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Candara; font-size: 10.0pt;">Soil
is a complex and beauteous thing. When healthy, it is teeming with life of
endless diversity that is exceptionally beneficial to us as human beings. Each
spadeful contains a plethora of minerals, millions of living organisms, like
earthworms, ants, bacteria, fungi, mycoryzzi….. George compares the production
of allotment holders to that of farmers. There are a variety of reasons why
small-scale produces more per square foot than large-scale. To me, there is no
difference between my plowing of fields and the allotment-holders turning over
the soil with a fork (an exercise I still treasure in our hoophouses). My small
tractor-drawn plow digs no deeper than a fork and stirs the topsoil soup more
efficiently over a larger expanse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Candara; font-size: 10.0pt;">There
is not much sweeter in farming than sitting on my tractor on a breezy, bright
fall day watching over my shoulder as the two furrows expertly turn over the
soil. What better way to incorporate the
brittle sweet corn stems, the tangle of bean stalks, and the mass of squash
leaves, the bolted remains of the summer greens? The seagulls gather behind as
the rich insect life is exposed. The act of plowing benefits the body of soil,
by aerating the lungs, circulating the lifeblood, and stirring the dense
nutrients, working them into a rich broth, providing balance and depth. And
then the soil can go dormant. Over the winter, plant matter breaks down and the
worms mix it all up. Come Spring, the ground thaws and for a while is sodden
with moisture; not a good time to plow. (And when the ground is dry, hot and
wind-blown in mid-summer, the plow is sleeping in the shade). Once the mid-spring
soil warms and dries out somewhat, what better way to prepare a fine tilth
seedbed than with a small tractor and its rear-mounted roto-tiller? The only
thing sweeter than to plow is to plant the annual seed of the new season’s
harvest into that same prepared soil. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7abOXD_TYzeI6q3-RZBcIN-HEC_9e0j4K8Z_sEOdIsGKK9GrJM7I0Y1zahukKGvQYuCmOBEpuGUSUs2H4DwwMzD4M-ol2nWN90EsAzrqQSWQ1mdNWj5D89wVO27-d3KwJrXZt24Di-N8A/s1600/plowtractor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7abOXD_TYzeI6q3-RZBcIN-HEC_9e0j4K8Z_sEOdIsGKK9GrJM7I0Y1zahukKGvQYuCmOBEpuGUSUs2H4DwwMzD4M-ol2nWN90EsAzrqQSWQ1mdNWj5D89wVO27-d3KwJrXZt24Di-N8A/s1600/plowtractor.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Candara; font-size: 10.0pt;"><i>(Not my tractor, but probably about my age!)</i></span></div>
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Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-48691363463150314322015-01-26T15:18:00.002-04:002015-11-23T15:21:09.791-04:00The End of the Riverdale Road<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICW5ugFeVFE49mPrK4gGalrpht3KBJ933qD5Rc2Uig-QLp0TF5GpIiamp-D8UGn7gDkV94R8VzdsE1WrVBarCwkO3nvMmepYbW5KhFCG3NY-aPN-xOK9h-mekKIe0A-mKAF4HTqxBwIYS/s1600/riverdale07s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICW5ugFeVFE49mPrK4gGalrpht3KBJ933qD5Rc2Uig-QLp0TF5GpIiamp-D8UGn7gDkV94R8VzdsE1WrVBarCwkO3nvMmepYbW5KhFCG3NY-aPN-xOK9h-mekKIe0A-mKAF4HTqxBwIYS/s1600/riverdale07s.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Riverdale Farmers Market in happier days - with myself, Didi Curry, Peter Southward, and some of our lovely regular customers</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "candara";">The Riverdale Farmers
Market has reached the end of its life. The City of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Toronto</st1:place></st1:city> that has managed the weekly summer
Tuesday farmers market in recent years has decided to close up shop. No surprise really, after
recent seasons of dwindling attendance from both vendors and public. But sad,
nonetheless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "candara";">In its heyday, the market
was jam-packed with a motley array of organic farmers and enthusiastic
Cabbagetowners. We were all under the charge of the effervescent Elizabeth
Harris who founded the market and oversaw it with humour, verve, commitment,
community spirit, discipline, and drive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "candara";">I wrote about the
experience in my book, <i>High Up in the
Rolling Hills:<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "candara"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">It
was the irrepressible Elizabeth Harris who had given me my big break as a
certified organic grower all those years ago. Then as vice-president of Quinte
Organic Farmers Co-operative, I approached <st1:city w:st="on">Elizabeth</st1:city>
to apply for the co-op to be a vendor at her flagship organic farmers market at
Riverdale Farm in Cabbagetown, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Toronto</st1:place></st1:city>.
She sized up what we offered, 12 small certified-organic family farms pooling
their produce to market direct to the customer, and she voiced her doubts. She
was used to allowing only single farms to join her family of vendors. But she
sized me up too and found something she liked or trusted, so she said, “Okay,
but only as long as you bring all the farmers in to sell at your stand through
the season.” “Sure,” I promised having gotten a foot in the door. It wasn’t to
be, of course; only one or two farmers bothered to come in at all, but the
first season was a roaring success for the co-op as a fledgling sales
organization. I made sure we stayed on <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Elizabeth</st1:place></st1:city>’s
good side—as one had to—and, over several years, Elizabeth and I developed a
wonderful mutual respect. I was awed by her tight control of the market, her
fairness, her discipline with slack vendors, her amazing vision in holding it
all together and bringing people together.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "candara"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Peter,
I’d like you to meet Jamie Kennedy.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "candara"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Peter,
can any of your farmers supply three bushels of romano beans for a dinner for
seventy-five this Friday?” <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "candara"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "candara"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">She
would often call up and tell me about the latest new vendors that she was
excited to have visited. She had such respect for farmers and for food produced
honestly and in a fresh way. And she would ask my opinion and advice. Early on
at market, I incurred her wrath. She had strong rules and enforced them.
Vendors were not allowed to sell before the bell rang, right at 3:00 p.m. As I
tried to sneak in a sale for a customer who was running off to work, a booming
voice bellowed out from the other side of the park: “Mr. Finch, the market
opens at three o’clock, and not before!” Last year, held up in traffic and
running late in setting up, I upheld her rule when an impending storm told her
to ring the bell early. “No, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Elizabeth</st1:place></st1:city>,
that’s not fair; I’m not ready,” I pleaded. She agreed to wait, and for weeks
after, she deferred to me to see if I was ready before ringing the bell. A
softening, maybe? I feel deep down that she truly respected her senior farmers,
and I was lucky enough to have been in that number.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "candara"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "candara"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Elizabeth
slipped away from us, succumbing to cancer, but her amazing energy, drive and
spirit would remain with us as we tried to honour her legacy and continued to
provide for the table she set for us so passionately. It had been an honour and
a privilege to know her; hard to believe that she wouldn’t be shuffling along
on a glorious spring afternoon on opening day of market in May and that her
voice wouldn’t be greeting me across the park: “Peter, who do you have helping
you today? I’d like to introduce you to …” <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "candara";">Elizabeth</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: "candara";"> is now gone, as is Didi Curry, the defunct Quinte
Organic Farmers Co-operative, and now Riverdale Farmers Market. I still miss
Elizabeth, and it was for her that I kept Rolling Hills Organics selling at
Riverdale under the very last day in mid-October last year, 2014. We were down
to just four vendors on that day which turned out to be the final market,
valiant to the bitter end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "candara";">Thank you to all you
lovely customers who also kept me coming in. This upcoming season, I am hoping
you will find me, Rolling Hills Organics and our salad greens, herbs (and much
more besides) instead on Wednesday
afternoons at <a href="http://www.fairmountmarket.ca/">Fairmount Park Farm Market </a>at Coxwell & Gerrard.... and of course at <a href="http://www.evergreen.ca/get-involved/evergreen-brick-works/farmers-market/">Evergreen Brick Works</a> on Saturday mornings most of the year.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "candara";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "candara";"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "candara";"><i><b>November 2015 update: Riverdale Farmers Market was resurrected in the summer of 2015 as Cabbagetown Farmers Market, running on Tuesday afternoons as before. I am delighted to hear from both vendors and customers that it was a successful well-attended season. The spirit of Elizabeth Harris lives on!</b></i></span></div>
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Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481994065351654761.post-55891866838504804242015-01-25T11:37:00.001-04:002015-01-25T11:53:48.689-04:00Organopónico Vivero Alamar, Cuba<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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" 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<i>We are planning to visit this inspiring model of urban organic agriculture during our four-week trip travelling around Cuba.</i></div>
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(originally posted at <a href="http://www.ica.coop/en/media/co-operative-stories/organoponico-vivero-alamar-cuba">http://www.ica.coop/en/media/co-operative-stories/organoponico-vivero-alamar-cuba</a>)<br />
Cuba used to have an industrialized agricultural system, exporting sugar and citrus to Russia and importing most of its food, as well as oil, machinery, fertilizers and pesticides. Then the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, which combined with a US trade embargo created a crisis that Fidel Castro named "The Special Period". Suddenly cut off from all these inputs, the country turned to agricultural self-sufficiency, organic production and permaculture almost by default. Urban gardens sprouted around the island's cities, encouraged by the government, and the end result is an incredible example of sustainable agriculture.</div>
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One of Havana's largest and most successful urban gardens is the Organopónico Vivero Alamar, a Unidad Básica de Producción Cooperativa (Basic Unit of Cooperative Production). Covering 11 hectares in Alamar, a residential suburb, the allotment's rows of vegetables are overshadowed by grey Soviet-style blocks of flats. Though small, the garden (really more of an urban farm) is incredibly productive. As well as fresh vegetables, fruits, ornamental plants, seedlings, timber and medicinal and spiritual plants, the cooperative also produces dried herbs, condiments, garlic paste, tomato sauce and pickles; vermicompost, compost and substrates; goat and rabbit meat and mycorrhizal fungi. The Organopónico also welcomes tourists and holds workshops and courses in organic agriculture. Products are sold to local restaurants and directly to community members from the farm shop.</div>
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The cooperative that owns the Organopónico has 150 members, with 17 employees. Miguel Angel Salcines López, one of its founders and the current president, says, "The sense of belonging is central to organic production, and in the cooperative form there's even more a sense of belonging. We're less vulnerable economically because we can adapt better to the economic conditions. And we can improve social conditions for members and their families."</div>
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He says the cooperative is contributing to local development by facilitating access to healthy food at fair prices and creating jobs, especially for women and older people. They are also providing a beautiful example of how organic agriculture can be practiced in a city. Cuba's shift to self-sustainability, at least in fruits and vegetables, and its wide-scale adoption of urban, organic food growing, offer plenty of lessons in how to cope with potential future oil shortages and how communities, when driven by necessity, will organize and find ways to feed themselves. In the words of environmentalist Bill McKibben, Cuba may be "the world's largest working model of a semi-sustainable agriculture."</div>
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" width="400" /></div>
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<i style="text-align: left;"><b>Find out more about Vivero Alamar at their beautiful website <a href="http://www.farmcuba.org/">www.farmcuba.org</a></b></i><br />
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Peter Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156248662074946259noreply@blogger.com