Index

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ACORN, 20

activism, 169, 193, 195, 204

agribusiness, 154–155, 164, 167

antibiotics, overuse of in livestock, 166, 167

factory farms and feedlots, 154, 165–167

monoculture system, 154, 158–159, 162–163

see also industrialization of farming systems

ALM Farm, 69

Amhrein, Ilya (Square Root Organic Farm), 10, 16, 52, 59, 185

animals (farm)

chickens, 33, 140, 145

cleaning, 142, 143

layer hens, 33, 36, 139, 141, 165

meat birds, 36, 139–143, 166, 215

movable pens, 34, 140

pasturing, 33, 165

roosters, 33–34, 215

slaughtering, 36, 141–143

Whizbang Chicken Plucker, 35–36

ducks, 76–77, 79

lambs, 107, 143–145

meat regulations, 141–142

pets and, difference between, 36

when leasing land, 215

see also agribusiness; pests; vegetarianism

apprenticing, 19–20, 52, 58, 69, 106, 185, 193

benefits for farmers, 56, 58–60, 102, 106

coordinating organizations, 20

Lamont’s experience, 19

Rachel’s experience, 68–69

Robin’s experience, 113–114

arugula, 78, 89, 137, 196

Baynes, Tina (Corner Farm), 10, 19, 114, 175–176, 178–179

beans, 23, 29, 139, 150, 160

bees, 156

beets, 23, 28–29, 42, 50, 69, 89, 93, 101

Berry, Wendell, 166

blueberries, 35, 63

book resources, 206

box programs. See Saanich Organics

Boyles, Lillie Mae, 22

broccoli, 29, 76–77, 89, 99, 100, 120

Bryson, Chrystal (Square Root Organic Farm), 10, 16, 52, 59, 184, 185, 218

burnout, avoiding, 60, 62

business plans, 118, 121

business skills, 118–119

cabbage, 72, 89, 99

carrots, 28–29, 37, 42, 89, 93, 101, 135

children, farming with, 36, 53–57, 59, 72, 82, 104, 152, 155, 197, 201, 202

Coleman, Eliot, 29, 94

Community Farms Program, 118, 123, 146

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), 46, 182, 183, 190

compost

making, 32, 40, 49, 85

using, 26, 31–32, 75, 80, 87, 98, 100, 116, 126–128, 137

cooking, importance of, 44

corn, 153, 160–165

Cotyledon Farm, 16

CRAFT, 20

crops

cover. See green manures

estimating field contents, 184

failures, 24, 31, 201

overwintered, 33, 68, 76, 88–89

planting data (Heather’s spreadsheet), 208

rotations, 23, 29, 31–32, 74, 93–94, 161

animals as part of, 31, 34–35, 49, 140, 145

selection, 23–24

value of, calculating, 24–25, 103, 119

Robin’s Crop Value Charts (2006), 216–217

see also individual crops

cucumbers, 22, 99, 138

customers, finding, 19, 24, 46, 189

Deconstructing Dinner, 7

Deighton, Tim, 10, 179, 186–187, 196, 218

desk job, farming as alternative to, 15, 176, 201

direct marketing, 118

diseases, controlling, 35, 85, 88, 93–94, 133, 145

blight (early and late), 30, 63, 85, 87, 133

clubroot, 88, 100

mummy berry, 35, 63

drainage, 73, 129, 130, 132, 134–135

dumpster diving, 193

education

books, 19–20, 206–207

courses, 19

organic certification, 19, 50

see also apprenticing; volunteering; WWOOFing

eggplant, 97–99, 120, 191

employees

bookkeeper, 51, 119, 176, 179

compensation of, 196

hiring, 51–53, 59, 101–102, 190–193

managing, 191–193

motivating, 59, 194

working with, 60, 194

Environmental Protection Agency, 153

environmentalism, 15, 67, 176

equipment

cultivator, 39

investing in, 20, 38

rototiller, 80–81, 82

spader, 38, 39

tractor, 23, 27–28, 34, 37, 38, 39–40, 93, 124, 162

Weed Eater, 38, 41, 107

ethics, 120–121

exhaustion, 55–56, 60, 81–82, 177, 186, 190, 201

farm location

selection of, 17, 82–83, 121, 175

farm stands, 46, 134

farmers’ markets

see markets

farmhands

see employees

farming

as a woman, 52, 147

beginning, 7, 15, 19, 114

business of, 19, 51–52, 101–103, 118–119, 175–176, 191–193, 195–197

career choice, 7, 9, 15, 52, 58, 120, 176–178, 201

developing your style, 7, 24, 114, 117–118

reasons for, 176–177

Heather, 15, 63, 201–202

Rachel, 67, 109, 201–202

Robin, 112, 201–202

with children. See children

Feisty Field, 16, 111–148

Crop Value Charts (2006), 216–217

fertilizers (synthetic), 72, 154–155, 159, 162, 164

field layout, 23, 27–28, 74, 88, 124

film resources, 207

finances

expenses, 48–49, 51, 101, 196, 213

goal-setting, 25, 102–103, 176, 202

philosophy about making money, 168–169, 202

profits, 39, 60, 101, 118, 140–141, 166, 176, 190, 195

Saanich Organics, 195–196

expenses, 195–196

income statement (2008), 221

sales spreadsheet (October 13, 2009), 220

weekly invoice (October 13, 2009), 220

Fisher, Rachel (Redwing Farm; Three Oaks Farm), 3, 10, 65–110, 188, 197

food justice, 121, 153, 193

food safety, 142, 167

Food Safety Act, 142

food security, 9, 103, 151, 159

food sovereignty, 51, 146, 153–154, 177

Fukuoka, Masanobu, 127

garlic, 75, 147

genetically modified crops (GMOs), 153, 162, 164, 167

green manures, 23, 31–32, 35–40

Green Revolution, 158–160

greenhouses

benefits, 73, 86–87, 89, 93–94, 96–97, 130–131, 133, 137

construction, 72–73, 94–95, 128–133

site choice, 124, 129–130, 132

site preparation, 128–130, 132

costs, 97

irrigation, 84–85, 88, 125

problems, 72–73, 85, 133

drainage, 130, 132, 134

mineral buildup, 133–134

snow removal from, 128–129

types

aluminum-frame, 78, 132, 133

glasshouse, 129, 130

hoop house (tunnel), 30

movable, 93–97

roll-up sides, 133, 134

wood-frame, 130–131

see also Long John (L.J.)

hardpan, 39, 80

harvesting, 24, 42–43, 135–136

data (Heather’s spreadsheet), 210

efficiency, 135

estimating field contents, 184

packing, 42, 135, 138, 178, 186

quality control, 42

root vegetables, 135

salad greens, 135, 136

squash, 26

washing, 43, 135, 138, 192

hoeing, 116, 127

industrialization of farming systems, 109, 151–154, 158–171

agrofuels, 164

health and environmental damage, 155, 164, 166–167

labour standards, 168

see also agribusiness

International Monetary Fund, 154

irrigation, 29, 83–84, 124–126

automatic system, 125

costs, 84

drip, 19, 26, 28–29, 47, 84–85, 116, 124, 126

hand-watering, 124

micro sprayers, 29

sprinklers, 84–85, 124–126

Island Chefs’ Collaborative (ICC), 183

Food Fest, 182

Islands Organic Producers Association (IOPA), 19

Jehn, Rebecca (Rebecca’s Garden), 10, 16, 19, 143, 175–176, 178–179

Johnson, Mary Alice (ALM Farm), 19, 69

kale, 42, 62, 76, 78, 89, 99, 127, 137, 161

Kimball, Herrick, 35

land-buying, 82

Rachel’s criteria, 82

land-leasing, 71, 214–215

advantages, 121

before signing a lease, 121

benefits to property owners, 16, 17, 71, 123

costs (2008), 16, 214

disadvantages, 123

Northbrook Farm, 16

paying with labour, 16

Rachel’s experience, 71

Robin’s lease agreement (discussion guide), 214–215

land-sharing, 16, 17

Northbrook Farm, 16–17

Rachel’s experience, 70

Leatherman, Lamont (Northbrook Farm), 10, 15, 19, 20–22, 28, 43–44, 179

Long John (L.J.), 10

collective crops, 190–191, 196

construction, 132–133

magazine resources, 207

manures (animal), 31–32, 34–35, 77, 127, 140, 145, 158, 165

effects of heavy concentration, 154, 166–167

market gardening, 70

marketing, 26, 44–47, 101–102, 117–119, 146

see also Saanich Organics

markets, farmers’

first experiences, 44, 71, 138–139

selling at, 44–45, 187–189

see also Moss Street Community Market

Marshall, Grant, 10, 82

melons, 25, 29, 63, 99

mineral build-up, 133–134

Mollison, Bill, 124

Monsanto Corporation, 151, 153, 196

Moss Street Community Market, 44–45, 138, 187–189

Mount Newton Valley, 175

mulching, 32, 35, 41, 75–76, 79–80, 127

National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, 20

North Carolina, 22

Northbrook Farm, 13–64, 88, 91, 113, 175

okara, 32

organic agriculture

being certified, 16, 19, 32–33, 49–51, 94, 102, 146

ecological mindset, 156–157

party, year-end, 203–204

Patterson, Chantal, 218

permaculture, 124

pesticides

chemical drift, 215

impact of, 154–156, 158–159

pests

birds of prey, 35, 139

cabbage moth, 78

carrot rust fly, 78

deer, 21, 91

fencing against, 21, 91–93, 214

flea beetles, 78, 137

rabbits, 20–21

ravens, 63

slugs, 21, 76, 99

hand-picking, 21

use of ducks, 76–77, 79

see also pesticides

Pollan, Michael, 160, 165

potatoes, 81, 89, 105, 182

pricing, 24, 26, 44, 47, 50, 121, 168–169, 182–183, 187–188, 195

Rebecca’s Garden, 16

recordkeeping, 24–25, 47–50, 119, 178, 208–213, 216–217, 220

Redwing Farm (Rachel Fisher), 71–82, 91

resources, 206–207

RiseUp Organics, 16

row cover, floating, 26, 77–78, 98, 112, 137

Saanich Organics, 173–198

administration of, 42, 178–179, 186, 191–192

internal structure (chart), 218

organization (chart), 218

box program, 175, 179–180, 182

contents, 181, 182–183

newsletter, 180, 219

pricing, 180

buying the business, 175–176, 178

collective crops (Long John), 190–191, 196

commercial division, 183–187

founders, 175

mission, 176

reasons for success, 174–175, 176, 182, 195

seed-saving, 196

structure, advantages, 101, 176, 179–180, 182, 195

personal compatibility, importance of, 196

see also finances; Saanich Organics

Saanich Peninsula, 16, 27, 71, 83

Saanichton, 19

salad greens

growing, 25, 92–93, 97, 112, 131, 137, 190

harvesting, 78, 135–136, 138

irrigation, 29, 78, 125

mix contents, 78

seeding, 101

sales channels, 44–47

box programs, 24, 44

restaurants (chefs), 24, 43–44, 118, 137, 146, 175, 179, 183–184, 191, 195

stores, grocery stores (produce buyers/managers), 24, 50, 118, 176, 183, 186, 195

wholesalers, 46

see also community supported agriculture; farmers’ markets; farm stands

Schmeiser, Percy, 153

scything, 41, 107, 131

seasonal eating, 72

seed

as food security, 151

corporatization of, 151

hybrid (F1), 160–162, 196

open-pollinated (heritage varieties), 101

patenting, 151, 153

seed-saving, 158, 160, 162, 196

seed-starting, 28, 31, 48, 84, 86, 88, 93, 97, 99, 100–101, 130, 137

see also individual crops

Seminis Seeds, 151

sexism, 52–53

Shiva, Vandana, 159

social justice, 177, 193

soil

building, 28, 32, 37, 114–116, 127–128

fertility, 23, 27, 29, 31, 35, 75, 114, 137, 140, 145, 158–159, 162–163, 165–167

types, 28, 39, 83, 126–128

see also compost; green manures; manures (animal); mulching

soil blocks, 86, 98–100

SOIL (Stewards of Irreplaceable Land), 20, 58

soil tests, 32, 114–116, 137

Sooke, 69–71, 76

Square Root Organic Farm, 16

squash, 25, 26, 28–29, 39, 48–49, 99, 138, 201

Stordy, Andrew, 10, 24, 113, 119, 125, 127, 134, 137

strawberries, 25, 47, 72, 74, 84, 91, 188, 191

stress, 55, 60, 73, 118, 178, 180, 201

Stretch, Brian and Jane (Cotyledon Farm; Northbrook Farm), 10, 14, 16, 17, 52

Stretch, Heather (Northbrook Farm), 3, 10, 13–64, 91, 178–179, 182, 184, 192, 194, 196–197, 201–202

suppliers, 19–20, 93, 118, 183

Sylvestre, Melanie (RiseUp Organics), 10, 35, 191, 194, 196, 202, 218

taxes, income, 48–49, 51–52, 213

thinning, 60, 101

Three Oaks Farm, 6, 38, 65–110, 197

tilling, 23, 38–40, 80–82, 93, 131, 133

tomatoes, 29–31, 34, 58, 72, 84, 86–87, 92–94, 97, 99, 117, 126, 134–135, 138, 196

see also diseases, blight; greenhouses

tools (hand)

digging fork, 41

harvesting knife, 41, 135

hoes, 40, 41

Ho-Mi, 40

investing in, 40

pitchfork, 41

post-pounder, 91–92

scissors, 135–136

scythe, 40–41, 107

shovel, 40, 41

spade, 41

Tunnicliffe, Robin (Feisty Field), 3, 7, 9–10, 16, 24–25, 40, 45, 56, 58, 60, 78, 82, 91, 107, 111–148, 176, 178, 184, 194, 196, 197, 201–202

turnips, Japanese, 96, 101, 135, 177, 183

Underdahl, Karlyn, 106, 193, 218

USC Canada, 196

US Department of Agriculture, 163

impact of policy, 163

vegetarianism, 21, 81, 143, 145

Via Campesina, La, 154

Victoria, 17, 32, 47, 60, 72, 174

volunteering, 3, 20, 40, 102, 190–191, 193

see also WWOOFing

water

availability, 82–85, 123, 214–215

see also irrigation

website resources, 207

weeds, 23, 28–29, 35–37, 40–41, 60, 75, 79–80, 85, 101, 116, 126–128, 137, 156, 190

winter growing, 69, 73, 84–85, 88–90, 93, 118, 121, 128, 132–134, 137, 180

work parties, 7, 9, 113, 123, 132, 178

World Bank, 154, 164

WWOOFing, 20, 103–106