(Not Until You Understand the Message) Av Sing This article first appeared in The Canadian Organic Grower, with thanks. All too often when farmers start talking weeds, a common first question is “How do I get rid of a bad case of…?” when a more appropriate question is “I wonder why my field has a… Keep Reading
For Bees, Birds, and Fish (IEHD-BBF) Saikat Kumar Basu Global bee populations are showing an alarming decline due to a number of factors like environmental pollution, indiscriminate use and over applications of various agro-chemicals, industrial agricultural practices detrimental to nature, changes in the land use patterns, and parasitic diseases of bees as well as lack… Keep Reading
Emma Holmes, Organics Specialist, BC Ministry of Agriculture Studies examining soil microbes are showing huge potential to improve growing practices. A number of soil microorganisms have abilities to increase soil fertility, aid in nutrient and water uptake by the root system, and protect crops against pests and disease. Soil Bio-fertilizers If you grow legumes, you… Keep Reading
Meagan Curtis As a physical embodiment of the next generation, seeds compel us to respect the concept of intergenerational justice also known as the seventh-generation principle followed by many First Nations in Canada. To achieve this, agriculture is practiced in a precautionary manner so that harm is prevented to our crops, the seeds they bare,… Keep Reading
Saikat Kumar Basu Clover is the common English name for different species of plants belonging to the genus Trifolium comprising over 250+ species distributed across the planet. These are legume plants that belong to the plant family Leguminaceae (Fabaceae) indicating these are plants capable of successfully fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Clover is commonly used as a… Keep Reading
Gabe Cipes Editor’s note: Aquaponics is a hotly debated topic in the organic sector. As the BC Organic Grower strives to make space for open discussion on all things organic, these pages provide an excellent forum to examine aquaponics in an organic context. The fate and state of the world now depends on innovation in… Keep Reading
Cari Hartt Growing Prairie Grain The Prairie Organic Grain Initiative is a 4-year, $2.2M tri-provincial project dedicated to achieving resiliency and stability in the prairie organic sector by focusing on increasing the quantity and quality of organic grains, and developing relationships across organic market value chains. A partnership between Organic Alberta, SaskOrganics, and Manitoba Organic… Keep Reading
Marjorie Harris, BSc, IOIA VO, P.Ag. New Techniques for Organic Nutrient Management As the International Year of Pulses draws to a close it is nice to give a tip of the hat to pulses, the peas and beans, and to their leguminous cousins, alfalfa and the clovers. Research has demonstrated that legumes in symbiotic relationship with… Keep Reading
Randy Hooper As one of the original conspirators of mulching with kraft linerboard ‘paper’ back 20 years ago, and a continuing fan, I would just like to say that if you listen to my words of wisdom and take this path, you may be really, really happy. Or maybe not. But here’s the deal: 25… Keep Reading
Bob McCoubrey Gary Judd is passionate about his work. As a researcher in tree fruit entomology at Agriculture Canada’s Summerland Research Station, he works hard at balancing his passion for doing the research with his enthusiasm for sharing his knowledge with growers—particularly organic growers, many of whom he has come to regard as good friends.… Keep Reading
