Hello Farm Folk,
Introducing The Cutting Veg Podcast:
We are thrilled to present “Seeds” — episode 1 of The Cutting Veg podcast We will be offering a new podcast every month or two, as a different way to explore some of the current themes and issues within local, organic agriculture. Listen in: www.thecuttingveg.com/podcast
Introducing Garden Coaching:
The 2nd best place to get your food is from a local, organic farmer that you know. The best place? When you grow it yourself! Since gardening can promote personal, social, environmental, and economic health, the more people growing their own food, the happier and healthier our planet will be. Are you wanting to start a garden at your home or place of work, and needing a little support? The Cutting Veg, in collaboration with Garden Jane (www.gardenjane.com), is ready to support you to make your garden vision a reality. We won’t do the work for you, but we’ll coach you in the process to have a productive garden, which enhances your environment and your quality of life. If you’re interested in hearing more about this service, please contact daniel@thecuttingveg.com. For those of you who already have gardens, thanks for being part of the solution! Happy Planting!
CSAs, Farmers Markets, and Community Gardens:
With the days getting warmer, more and more people are starting to think about the harvest season ahead. Some of us will be growing our own, while others will be turning to farmers markets and CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) to source their local, organic produce. Many of us will use a combo of these options. If you are interested in finding a farmers market or CSA in your area, I suggest phoning Foodlink, run by FoodShare, who can provide this information. The Foodlink phone # is 416-392-6655. They can also tell you about Community Garden plots in your area. More and more people are desiring connections to where their food comes from, and are building relationships to farms through participation in a farmers market or CSA. Though a CSA, one chooses to become a member of a farm for a season, and this entitles her/him to a weekly share of the harvest. Of course, you are also welcome to join The Cutting Veg CSAs, at one of our 4 locations in the GTA. More info about this at www.thecuttingveg.com/CSA. We’re at 150+ members now and counting. Regardless if you grow it, or source it through a farmers market or CSA, it is definitely that time of year to be thinking where you’ll be getting your local, organic goodies this harvest season.
Farm Update:
The good news is that we were able to plant 3/4 of an acre of veg at a dry location in Sutton. Here we planted early salad greens, Asian greens, radishes, turnips, arugula, and 3 varieties of onions (red, yellow, and white). These early plantings are germinating very well, and are on track to be harvested for the early weeks of our CSAs and Farmers Markets. The bad news is that the persistence of the rain means that we have been unable to start planting at our primary farm in Brampton. With the weather having been more dry the last few days, we are optimistic we will be able to till, and start planting there, shortly. We are very eager to begin planting at the Brampton farm, as there are no shortage of crops to get in the ground. In specific, we want to plant (asap) 16 beds of peas (snow and snap), 3 beets, 3 chard, 3 kale, tons more onions, and the next timelines of salad greens, Asian greens, radishes, turnips, arugula. The word around Southern Ontario is that there are a lot of frustrated farmers, delayed in their planting. The reality of farming is that we work in collaboration with the weather, and must adjust as the weather shifts and changes. No two seasons are exactly the same. Last year at this time, we had planted approx 1.5 acres of veg in Brampton. This year, nothing yet. The co-creative nature of organic farming certainly tests one’s spiritual self (eg. patience, acceptance) and physical self (like having to do 6 weeks of planting in 3 weeks, once the soil dries). Quite the challenge…gotta love it!!!
That’s all the news from the farm for now. Until next time, Keep Livin’ on the Veg!
