Putting the "Cool" back into Agriculture

By Carolyn Young

Britney Spears, Eminem, and Homer Simpson never had it so good. These pepsi-promotin', hip-hoppin', donut-eatin' icons have replaced homegrown heroes of yesterday. Youngsters around the world are hooked on urban American culture and are leaving their parents' generation literally in the dust.

Canada's farmers have noticed this pull of the city for years. While some farm kids are still committed to learning about their parents' passion (or persistence), most of them are doing so through institutions far from home that have likened agriculture to big businesses, where labor is replaced by technology and marketing is done by the likes of Ms. Spears. Gone are the days of family stories passed down from generation to generation; family learning seems to be disappearing along with the family farm

Yet despite the push of pop-culture and the call of capitalism, there is a new role model emerging: the organic farmer. Young Canadians are becoming more and more aware of the consequences of their food choices; they are eating local, organic food and are interested in the people who grow it. Through organizations like WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) and SOIL (Stewards of Irreplaceable Land), Canadians of every age are finding mentors in those working the land that surrounds their cities.

Here in rural New Brunswick, the Falls Brook Centre is home to both mentors and those interested in learning. FBC's Organic Agriculture Coordinator, Andrea Berry, has been meeting with organic farmers from Carleton and Victoria Counties for almost two years in the hopes of starting up New Brunswick's very own Organic Farm Apprenticeship and Participatory Research program. The 6-month program would pair interested apprentices with local organic farmer-mentors for hands-on learning. Field trips, workshops and the opportunity for small on-farm research projects could address issues such as crop rotation, vermi-composting, marketing approaches, etc. Completion of the program would be recognized by the NB Community College system as equivalent to 1 or 2 course credits to the Agriculture Program soon offered through the Grand Falls campus.

Although funding for the program was received late this year, headway is being made. A trial field day was held for three Falls Brook Centre interns at the Bull Family farm in Northampton. While the young women helped harvest and hang garlic, Ed Bull shared his wisdom and thoughts on issues ranging from disease control for fusarium, to the future of Community Supported Agriculture in Northampton and organic farming in general. "I think that one of the solutions to world problems is to have everyone plough up their front lawn and plant a garden" Ed commented over lunch. Gardens do not have to be very big to bring physical and spiritual rewards and according to Ed, "they make everyone a lot less aggressive."

Though Ed's passion for farming seems endless, the market for organic produce in smaller municipalities is not. While producers outside of Montreal can't keep up with the demand, Carleton County's organic sector is growing at a slower pace. Educated consumers tend to be located in larger urban centers and university towns. FBC's apprenticeship program is not only geared to encouraging new farmers but also to building a support network for their products. With organics exhibiting the highest rate of growth in global agriculture and the industry's appeal to young city hipsters and rural youth alike, small producers such as Ed hope to see a return for their labor in the near future.

Though the lure of the city may be strong and the arms of Hollywood ever-reaching, the support of organic agriculture promises to be a key component to the revival of strong, rural communities.

If you are interested in participating as a mentor or apprenticing in the Organic Farm Apprenticeship and Participatory Research Program, please contact Andrea Berry at 506-375-4310 or andrea@fallsbrookcentre.ca to get involved. More information can be found on Falls Brook Center's website at www.fallsbrookcentre.ca.

OACC gratefully acknowledges the author for permission to post this article on our website.