Organic Visionary Honoured

By Brenda Frick, Ph.D., P.Ag.

Elmer Laird is one of my heroes. He was recently, and deservedly, honoured at Organic Connections 2006 as an Organic Visionary. Elmer began farming organically nearly 40 years ago, and has been an active voice linking agriculture, environment and health ever since.

Elmer came to organic farming through the strong influence of his wife, Gladys, and by economic hardship. Elmer gave up his chemical inputs one year in the late sixties because he simply couldn’t afford them. Gladys, a reference librarian and environmentalist, was able to find many reasons why this was the right path for the health of the both the land and the people.

Elmer was the founding president of the Back to the Farm Research Foundation, a group that developed a number of initiatives to encourage organic farming. One that was particularly successful in bringing attention to their efforts was a contest to build a grasshopper harvester.

Elmer, through the Foundation, helped sponsor six organic conferences in the late 70s and early 80s, and worked tirelessly at getting the word out about both the benefits of organic farming and the practical methods that make it possible. In today’s climate of intense consumer demand for organic products it may be hard to remember how skeptical the agricultural community was at that time about the very possibility of sustained organic production. Elmer demonstrated techniques on his farm.

In the early 80s Elmer was a key player in the Canadian Organic Producers Marketing Cooperative Ltd, commonly known as the Girvin Co-op. In a move that has been emulated by other groups across the prairies, they bought an abandoned school, established bins, cleaning equipment and a stone mill, and began selling direct to consumer. The Girvin Co-op was a crucial factor in bringing many of our organic pioneers into organic production and sales.

In 2001, Elmer retired from farming and donated his land to the Research Foundation, establishing as the first certified organic research and demonstration farm. Elmer continues as the manager on these acres. The Research Foundation demonstrates weed suppressing crops and intercrops and is always open to visitors and farm tours.

Elmer finds that women, in their concern for their families, are crucial in helping break the “chemical addiction” common in agricultural communities. It was true in his family, and he sees it frequently. He is a strong advocate of the role of women in organic agriculture.

Elmer continues in his educational role through a weekly column in the Davidson Leader, in his active lobbying of government for organic friendly policy, in his courageous demands for organic food to be part of our health policy, and in his regular participation on call in radio shows. He is truly a man of vision who has championed the health of the earth, rural communities and eaters everywhere. He is a worthy recipient of the organic community’s recognition.

As this is my last article of the year, I would also like to mention that 2006 was a hard year on organic heroes. Death claimed 2 men whom I admired greatly and who mentored me in my organic path.

Kirby McCuaig was a farmer who reminded me why research and extension are worthwhile and brought me back as an active participant in the organic community. He was a supportive, insightful and encouraging research partner. Kirby once told an organic workshop that he and I shared a disease – the curiosity to search out an understanding of how things worked. His enthusiasm was inspiring and his gentle wisdom and practical approach were life affirming.

Alex Scott was a community builder. A founding member of the Organic Producers Association of Manitoba, he dedicated himself to serving the organic community with quiet humility. He consistently built bridges and encouraged us to focus on our shared values. Alex’s calm strength remains a touchstone for me.

I honour each of these organic heroes, and I am deeply grateful for their examples.

Brenda Frick, Ph.D., P.Ag., is the Prairie Coordinator for OACC (the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada) at the College of Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan. She welcomes your comments at 306-966-4975 or via email at brenda.frick@usask.ca.

Posted January 2007