From Farmer to Family Renée Hartleib There can be major advantages to getting lost. Just ask Lovena and Ryan Harvey, owners of Gathering Place Trading Company, a family run company in BC. Fifteen years ago, they were travelling in South Africa, Ryan’s birthplace, in their vintage VW camper van. On an afternoon jaunt through the… Keep Reading
(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
Marjorie Harris BSc, IOIA V.O. P.Ag When I think of the ‘wholeness’ of a bioregional ecosystem and imagine the inner workings to identify which biological organisms could have the greatest influence on the entire system, nothing seems to compete with the influential power of the domesticated honey bee. This industrious pollinator flies great distances to… Keep Reading
Shanti Heywood This story first appeared on the Young Agrarians website. Protecting my home was just something I had to do. People keep commenting on how brave I was—but I like to think everyone has some grit inside of them somewhere to fight when they have to. My heart goes out to those who have… Keep Reading
Breaking New Ground Michael Marrapese Spring is often a time of optimism and renewed expectations. This will be Ariella Falkowski’s first year breaking ground for her new Sweet Acres Farm.She is leasing two acres of land at Lohbrunner Community Farm Cooperative on the outskirts of Langford, BC. She’s still getting to know the land and… Keep Reading
Tanya Brouwer Agricultural activities are often blamed for the demise of the planet’s environmental systems. It is not uncommon to hear about deforestation, drained wetlands, and dying grasslands when referencing agriculture. Yet the Canadian Organic Standard specifically states that “organic agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plants, animals, humans and the planet… Keep Reading
An Inspector’s View Stuart McMillan This story originally appeared in The Canadian Organic Grower, Spring 2018, with thanks. There are a number of great reasons to be an organic inspector. For myself, the primary one is getting to meet so many fantastic farmers, ranchers, and operators of organic operations across the diverse regions of Canada.… Keep Reading
