The Rural Voice, 1999-08, Page 14Save Over
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10 THE RURAL VOICE
Robert Mercer
Spelling out organic at the farm level
I was really impressed by what
was being done educationally when I
went to visit a local farm recently.
One of the owners had won a
provincial award in the field of
agricultural
commitment,
both
professionally
and on the farm.
This was an
organic berry
farm that not
only produced
great blueberries
and other retail
goods off the
farm, but also
took great pains
to point out how
they operated the
farm and what organic meant to
them.
In their farm literature they even
defined organic and their fertilizer
components and uses. For example
they say "organic grown food refers
to crops grown without chemical
pesticides and fertilizers. In addition
to our own compost and manure we
feed our soil with the following
natural fertilizers." They then listed
the N, P and K they used and other
substances such as fishbone, blood
meal and feather meal. Their
"Greensand" contained 22 trace
minerals and kelp meal 62 trace
elements. I felt this was a good idea
that could be used by others to build
trust and knowledge in customers.
The farm is owned by Jennifer
and Russell Dryons who both have
"off -farm jobs" as well as running
the farm and farm market. Jennifer,
who is Executive Director of the
Agricultural Workforce Policy
Board, is also a founding member
and on the board of the new Island
Farmers' Alliance.
Jennifer recently won the "BC
Agriculturalist of the Year" award. "I
seem to have a passion for the
industry" says Jennifer, "and in this
work really enjoy the challenges of
communicating the policy
alternatives surrounding workforce
and human resource issues in
agriculture." She admits that she is
sometimes a little outspoken "hut 1
do work for the best interests of the
industry."
At the farm there are three acres
of blueberries, cut flowers,
vegetables and beef all of which have
kept Jennifer primed to tell her
customers all about the farm and the
process of farming. "It is a great
opportunity," she says, "to let people
and kids know where their food
comes from and how it is grown."
All the produce grown on this farm
from the berries to the beef or even
the $1 lavender posies, are sold out
of the farm gate retail market.
The 20 acres of the home farm,
purchased in 1994, have a "host of
critters" as well as the berries. You
might step on a hen running loose
under the berry bushes, rub noses
with a friendly Suffolk -Punch draft
horse across a cedar rail or stare
down a Jersey cow across a fence.
Other working livestock include a
big-hearted dog as large as the deer it
keeps away, the bees (especially
bumble bees) by the thousand during
blossom time and earth worms
encouraged by the organic approach
to farming.
This year's winner of the "BC
Agriculturalist of the Year" award
may say she has a passion for the
industry, but the farm and homestead
also show a passion for flowers,
roses and colour that are pleasing to
the eye and give customers the right
impression about the farm and its
produce.
Visitors to Grafton Blueberry
Farm are just as likely to pick up
educational farm or food literature as
they are blueberries, it's all part of
the customer service.0
Robert Mercer was editor of the
Broadwater Market Letter and a farm
commentator in Ontario for 25 years.
i