Fall Farm Fest at Just Food Farm
By M.Tourond-TownsonPhotos by Valerie Blondeau In early October, Just Food in partnership with the Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard and the Canadian Organic Growers [Ottawa-StLawrence-Outaouais Chapter] brought to our communities a great “Fall Farm Fest”, an event filled with live music, hayrides, delicious foodand interesting, informative booths. Moe Garahan, ED of Just Food welcomed the people […]
A Good Crop Plan Starts With a Good Sales Plan
Farmers markets are finally over and the field is cleaned up. It’s time to kick back with a seed catalog and start choosing what to grow next year. It’s always fun to dream of all the new varieties you’re going to try, the new tools you’re going to buy and how they will make farming […]
One Organic Farm Approach to Solving the Farm Labour Problem
My partner and I have been operating an organic vegetable farm in Western Quebec for almost 25 years. During all these years, the most persistent problems are weeds and staffing! We started farming with just the two of us, but as our acreage increased, we needed to hire help. Our first employee was both a […]
Putting Fungi to Work in Your Soil:
… and making compost that will do that! As my own way of addressing the climate challenge in retirement, I am making, sharing and applying a particular form of compost called fungal dominant compost (FDC). My teacher through YouTube has been Dr. David Johnson and I have developed a composting method partly based on his […]
Are You Thinking of Growing Garlic?
The first question you should ask yourself is: what do I hope to accomplish? Is this a hobby or a commercial enterprise? Only you know the answer to these questions. In my case I began growing garlic as one of several products made available to CSA and farmers’ market customers. Gradually I put more emphasis […]
What Makes Them Udderly Different?
Adding Value by Creating the Upper Canada Creamery Motivation, dedication, passion, risk taking & good old hard work are key factors that we have relied on through the past 7 years. Our journey to date has been a short and challenging one, but the risks and sacrifices are starting to pay off. Josh & I […]
Growing Certified Organic Field Crops
Good Results Come with Challenges I am a 4th generation “seedsman.” My great grandfather was a Scottish immigrant who established the Wm. Ewing Seed Co. in 1869 in Montreal. My father expanded the business (from garden, horticultural and agricultural seeds and supplies) and moved it to Vankleek Hill in the mid-’50s where he developed a […]
Farming with Biodiversity
One Farmer’s Contribution to Climate and Wildlife Health The Dobson family began farming in the 1830s. The current farm location, in the Upper Ottawa Valley near Cobden, was established by my great-great grandfather in the year 1857. Cattle, along with other farm animals have grazed these rolling 200 acres continuously since then. I purchased the farm from […]
Growing Certified Organic Asparagus
Asparagus is a perennial that can produce at a commercial level for 15 or 20 years with proper care. Given that long duration, weeds are a concern.
Planting Seeds Springs to Mind
April – Planting Seeds Springs to Mind by Catherine June Wallenburg Hi! My name is Catherine June Wallenburg, I am an organic seed farmer and seed enthusiast located in the Farrellton, Quebec (roughly 45 minutes north of Ottawa/Gatineau). I grow over 120 varieties of organic vegetable, herb and flower seed. I’ve been growing seeds for […]