HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-03-17, Page 41PAGE A16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2005.
Nature and history combine in local business
that Yuzwa learned of a heritage
seed program in existence. “I’d
always been interested in history so
it seemed a cool thing to do. to
combine that with my enjoyment of
gardening and grow old varieties.”
The program eventually evolved
into Seeds of Diversity, a member
organization that trades seeds. “The
Tante Alice cucumber I have, lor
example, comes from somebody’s
grandmother in Dorchester."
While there is some debate
regarding what constitutes heirloom
seeds, Yuzwa said that it technically
means anything 50 years or older. “I
tiy to find older varieties and have
tried to get the dates for them as to
when they actually came to North
America.”
The 50-year mark is set. she
believes because that was when
hybrids were first introduced.
“These won’t reproduce. People
who buy my seeds can keep them
and have the same plant
year."
In addition to her
vegetables. Circle Dance
seeds for a variety of flowers and
herbs. Packages include the basic
growing information as well as the
history.
When Yuzwa first started her
company she advertised in the
Canadian Organic Growers and
attended the Seedy Saturday (“We
are gardening nerds), at Dodn
Village. She also used to attend the
Guelph Organic conference, but says
her business now is strictly mail
order.
There is no special talent required
for growing Circle Dance Seeds.
“They are ordinary gardening seeds.
Anybody can grow them. However,
if you want to re-use the seed you
will have to do a bit of research. To
save them you need a little expertise
because varieties can cross
pollinate. For example I can’t grow
soybeans or corn because I don’t
want cross-pollination.”
Tomatoes, she said are the easiest.
“I have varieties you can grow 10
feet apart without danger of cross
pollination.”
Other things, such as cucumbers,
she said need to be planted 1/4 of a
mile apart. ‘ I only grow one variety
at a time.”
The herbs, and even some
vegetables and flowers can be grown
Continued on A17
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At the task
Kim Yuzwa of Circle Dance Seeds prepares her seeds for
customers literally from the ground up. In addition to
harvesting the majority of her seeds, she also does her own
packaging and creates her own labels. (Bonnie Gropp photo)
Kim Yuzwa’s interest in organic
gardening is rooted strongly in her
past. “I grew up in Toronto. My
parents were displaced farmers from
Manitoba, so I always wanted to live
in the country.”
Her fascination with organics
began to form in the free-thinking
1960s and 1970s. Then 18 years ago
when Yuzwa moved to the area she
learned of the Organic Growers
Association and signed on.
It was through this organization
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
Agriculture is about a love of the
land, about growing things, caring
for and about them. But it is also
about tradition and history.
It is a combination of these
elements that inspired Circle Dance
Seeds, a mail order seed company
based in Cranbrook, that specializes
in organic heirloom vegetable seeds
and medicinal herbs.
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Net metering another issue
Continued from A15
critical.”
Another issue is net metering.
According to Nichol if a person had
their home wired for solar energy
and there were times the house was
generating an excess it could send
this excess back to the grid so at the
end of the month, hydro could owe
the individual.
“There is a possibility down the
road that all of us could be our own
energy producers. That’s part of the
whole green movement.”
The fact that in two years Ontario
is going to need a big chunk of
renewable energy is not lost on
Nichol. “Thre best way is wind farms
and wind parks.”
However, the cost of the $1.5
million turbine is beyond the means
of most farmers. “But the co
operative model is a way.”
Once the co-op model is
developed the committee hopes by
this fall to have something on the
road to explain the project and the
cost of shares.
They are also working with
Lambton College on a program to
train workers for the on-going
operation and maintenance of wind
turbines. “Il would be a creditted
engineer technicians program
around alternative energy.”
There arc also early discussions on
looking at biomass and solar energy
in the future.
“There is a clear commitment
from both governments to move
towards renewable energy. We view
the co-op not as a wind venture, but
as an energy co-op. We are creating
a community-owned utility which to
my mind is no different than 100
years ago when the telephone
companies began. We still have that
mind-set in Huron and Perth about
co-operative ownership.”
“It’s a partnership coming
together.”
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