HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-03-19, Page 31THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1997. PAGE A-11.
Agriculture '97
Community share garden offers social experience
An afternoon harvest
Community Share Garden members bring family and
friends with them to enjoy a day's harvest at McQuail's
Lucknow-area farm. These children are surrounded by
the bounty. From left: Martin (hidden) and Olaf Boettcher
and Kaitlin, Emily and Thomas Beard.
Continued from A-10
the customers share the cost of seed
and care.
The community aspect of the
CSA comes into play when mem
bers can volunteer their time to
help plant, cultivate and harvest the
crop. An investment of lime per
mits a discount of the share price.
Aside from getting a good quality
product at the end of the season,
members and their children can
share in the experience of garden
ing. Novice gardeners receive tips
on how to grow a better garden,
children from urban areas can see
where that grocery store food
comes from and, in the case of
McQuail's farm, can enjoy the
numerous farm animals which
enliven any visit.
"There is also a very social
aspect to the CSA," says McQuail.
"People enjoy just coming out,
talking to their neighbours and
helping with the garden. Last sea
son, the group held a strawberry
social which was potluck, a com
roast and bonfire in the fall as well
as an end-of-season harvest bee, in
early October."
The community share idea not
only benefits the members with
farm-fresh produce, but keeps
money spent on vegetables in the
community, instead of paying for
shipped-in goods.
The money spent supports a local
farm family and helps reduce the
risk per member when weather, dis
ease and pests are counterproduc
tive for a good harvest.
Getting a share
For those who buy full (family of
four), half or single memberships,
receiving the bounty of the crop is
a weekly event.
McQuail gathers the vegetables
for pickup two days a week, with
members being told how many of
each item is allowed for their share.
Throughout the season, the selec
tion might include peas, beans, a
variety of lettuces, carrots, summer
and winter squash, com, spinach,
potatoes, onions, beets, cucumbers,
tomatoes, Swiss chard, a selection
of Oriental salad greens, herbs and
more.
"I try to chose a wide variety of
items and make them available
throughout the season," says
McQuail.
The season begins in late Febru
ary or early March when McQuail
starts seeds in the greenhouse. At
transplanting time, the rows are
mulched with old hay or straw and
water walls are built around toma
toes, peppers and eggplants to insu
late them against late cold snaps.
To accommodate the use of a
one-furrow cultivator pulled by a
horse, the rows are planted 30 inch
es apart and 500 feet long.
Horses are big animals so they
need a lot of room to turn around,
says McQuail. The long rows limit
the number of turns.
To maintain the quality of the
food while fighting pests, McQuail
uses both companion planting and
flea beetles, which are a natural
pest control.
At present, McQuail selects the
varieties for planting herself, hav
ing worked out which plants pro
duce the best for the soil and
climate, but says if any members
have suggestions, she would be
more than happy to give them a try.
And what if the family simply
cannot 6ear to eat any more
squash? McQuail has a trading sys
tem where members can leave an
over-abundance of any product and
take more of another which is pre
ferred.
Winter shares can also be pur
chased which include easily-stored
items such as potatoes, garlic, car
rots, onions, cabbage, parsnips,
squash and pumpkins.
Customers can take their cold
storables home or leave them at the
farm, she says.
Other offerings
For the members of McQuail's
Community Share Garden, the ben
efits reaped are more than just
fruits and vegetables. They are on
hand for the organic meats, pas
tured poultry and eggs, organic
apples and apple products which
arc also sold on the farm.
Visiting the McQuail farm is like
a trip to the past. The 100-acre
Continued on A-12
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PAUL STECKLE, M.P.
HURON-BRUCE
CONSTITUENCY
OFFICE
30 Victoria Street North
Goderich, Ontario N7A 2R6
1-800-465-1726
Fax: (519) 524-9374
EMail:jlamport@hometown.on.ca.
OFFICE HOURS:
(Mon.-Fri.) 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Dear Friends:
As I have travelled throughout Canada I have noticed a reappearing
sign reading "If you have eaten today, thank a farmer." Far too often do
we take for granted the food on our supermarket shelves and the food
on our tables. There is no doubt that the farmers and the agri-food
sector of Huron-Bruce have contributed greatly to the agricultural
wealth of Canada and also to the progress of Canada's fiscal health.
We have faced many challenges and changes throughout the years
and we are committed to improving and maintaining the pivotal
partnership that will enable us to move into the next millennium. I value
the level of communication and honestly that has been established
between you, the constituent, and myself. Your input is critical to the
future success of Huron-Bruce and the Agriculture and Agri-food sector,
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Sincerely,
Paul Steckle, M.P.
Huron-Bruce
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