The Citizen-Agriculture 98, 1998-03-18, Page 34Raising the roof
Mennonites from the Howick Twp. community came by
the dozens to help Mike and Cynthia Beretta of RR4,
W;ngham rebuild their barn after it burned. Vanden Heuvel
Construction Ltd.
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PAGE A-14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1998.
Agriculture '98 ---
7-15tcwr
Farmer says gentle giants versatility a bonus
At work
Using a team of horses to work his fields, Mike Beretta of
RR4, Wingham says that while you have to pick your
days more carefully this way and that the work is slower
the advantages for him far outweigh the cons.
Learning more
Each year the Berettas hold an open house for their customers from Toronto. Using the
wagon and horses to tour the property, Mike and Cynthia often have as many as 70 people
on hand to see where their food is coming from.
CONTINUED FROM A-12
exist with a tractor."
While time-efficiency may be the
biggest con to this type of farming,
Mike says that because it takes
more time to farm with horses, he
has become a better manager.
"Decisions tend to be keener. With
a tractor you may decide that day is
not right to disc, but with horses
the decision to do it is much more
timely."
"Lost time is the hardest adjust-
ment, but the quality is there if not
even better."
The versatility of the gentle
giants is another bonus, Mike says,
as he can use them in the garden or
even to plow snow.
"The appeal isn't in the horses so
much as the animal traction," he
says. Also, for the Berettas, utiliz-
ing a renewable resource offers a
sense of satisfaction, much as a
wood stove. "It makes us feel more
self-sufficient."
The Berettas' bond with the Men-
nonites has brought another aspect
to their business. "There is a social
aspect here. This year we did all
our harvesting with the closest
group of Mennonites in the com-
munity. Some may not find that a
bonus, but to us it's a return to a
better way of life. It's rewarding."
"The bottom line is that it's the
choice for me, so all else is irrele-
vant."
Mike gives a nonchalant shrug as
he says that many have accused
him of wanting to be Mennonite. "I
associate what they do with .self-
sufficiency and that's important to
me. I'm even thinking of putting in
a windmill to pump water. We have
had the Mennonites in our home,
we have gone to their church. We
feel fortunate to have them in our
lives."
Mike's attitude towards other cul-
tures may have resulted from his
diverse experiences in life. Raised
by Missionaries in South America
Mike played professional soccer in
Peru and Portugal for several years
before a series of injuries brought
him home to Canada.
He eventually met Cynthia, the
daughter of a farmer. It was from
his future in-laws that he developed
an interest in agriculture and went
on to study it at university.
In addition to being editor of the
EFAO newsletter, read by 600
organic farmers across Ontario he
is also vice-president. Mike is also
an executive member of the Toron-
to Food Policy Council and is one
of two agricultural reps on the
Toronto board of health.
Cynthia, who works in banking,
has supported Mike wholehearted-
ly, he says, adding that right now,
however, her focus is in looking
after their three small children,
Thomas, three and one-year-old
twins, Marcus and Lieshen.
While Mike's focus continues to
be on agriculture, it has spread
recently. With the Toronto market
for his organic product growing to
the point where he had reached his
limit, he wanted a tie that would
allow greater access. "When I first
started selling in the city it was to
family and friends. By word of
mouth that has increased to 135
families and several restaurants and
hotels."
Last month, the couple purchased
a butcher shop in Brussels. "I have
always enjoyed the butchering
aspect and with the Toronto market
growing this will help me as well
as other local farmers to expand
CONTINUED ON A-15