Grey County Local 344 Member Newsletter Winter 2018
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Grey County Local 344 Member Newsletter Winter 2018 farmers are becoming less accessible and relevant for small and medium scale farms. Grey Local’s president, Gary Kenny, spoke on a panel about Grey Local’s activities, Grey Local Delegates Report on emphasizing the importance of Kiinoo NFU’s 48th Annual Convention Mudwin, a course sponsored by Grey Local about Indigenous history and culture. (see n November, Grey County Local was this newsletter for more information on able to send five delegates to the 2017 Kiinoo Mudwin.) INFU Convention, held in Ottawa. The Convention’s theme was “Farm Renewal.” Convention comments by Grey delegates: Delegates listened to speeches and panel Lillian Burgess, Skyhill Farm presentations and discussions, interacted with delegates from other Locals, and at I was struck by the short primer on times spoke from the floor. One Grey democratic process we received each day. delegate, Devan Penney, accompanied The NFU believes in democracy to its core delegates from other Locals to a meeting and puts it into practice. It was instructive with MP Wayne Easter, to share NFU to listen to passionate debates on issues concerns about NAFTA renegotiations and which were always constructive. It was to discuss how support programs for amazing to look around the convention floor and see substantial numbers of Grey County Local 344 acknowledges that Grey County is on the traditional lands of the Three Fire Confederacy of the Ojibway, Potawatomi and Odawa people. younger energetic faces as well as members hope for that happening more in public life in future! of many year’s standing and experience. That potent combination promises a hopeful Devan Penney, Fair Fields Farm future for the NFU. It was really interesting to see the diversity Patricia Campbell, Better Together Farms of members representing different Locals. Ideas discussed were similarly diverse and From meeting NFU members from across prompted passionate debates about policy the country, to attending informative panel and the overall direction of the NFU. There presentations, and to helping to decide on was a strong sense of commitment to the NFU policy, it was a fantastic, fascinating organization and to working together. It and fun experience. I appreciated the gave me hope that we can work more presentations on farm succession: an issue closely with members of the larger farming that is very much at the heart of preserving community in Ontario and Canada farms and farmland in our country. One of generally. I was also struck by how young the most interesting and inspiring aspects of many delegates were. This gave me hope the Convention was watching real for future generations of farmers in Canada. democracy in action. Leslie Moskovits, Cedar Down Farm Member profile: Ahren Hughes, Blackshire Gardens It was enriching to meet farmers of many kinds and gain a better understanding of hat do asparagus, edible dried our different challenges and priorities and beans and shiitake mushrooms our common goals. I learned a lot about Whave in common, besides all agricultural concerns including NAFTA, the being items of food? Answer: Ahren closure of the Canadian Wheat Board, and Hughes, the sole proprietor of Blackshire the challenges facing direct-marketing Gardens, an artisanal, organic farm located farmers. It was inspiring to see a room full near Ayton, Ontario. Ahren, who exudes of people from different backgrounds make enthusiasm when he talks about his farming decisions in a peaceful, democratic, pursuits, sells to restaurants, health food equitable and respectful manner. It gave me stores, farmers markets, CSA memberships and online. He also does his own marketing dried beans taste amazing and nutritious, and deliveries. Aimee, Ahren’s wife, is a and cook up much faster,” he says. self-employed artisan who sells her wares Ahren grows his third regular crop, shiitake mushrooms, on about 2000 logs kept in nearby forests. “I produce the mushrooms on four-foot hardwood logs which get inoculated with shiitake sawdust spawn,” he says. “Once a log is inoculated it takes a year for the log to get fully colonized by the mycelium, so you don’t get any mushrooms the first year,” he adds. “Fresh, log grown’ shiitake mushrooms have great flavour and people love them,” Ahren says. While he has hosted interns and part-time employees over the years, Ahren says he Arhen Hughes harvesting his shiitake mushrooms. prefers farming alone. But “I do enjoy at summer festivals and online. working with people,” he says, adding, “that's why it's so wonderful to live so close As well as working an acre of asparagus, to several small organic farms where we Ahren grows six varieties of dried beans on can engage in collaborative farm projects 16 acres. Some of the beans are heritage and enterprises.” varieties, others modern. “I grow Black Turtle, Navy, Silver Cloud Cannellini, Ahren resonates with the NFU’s core values Kenearly Yellow Eye, Dutch Brown, and of promoting and advocating for social Aztec Kidney beans,” he says. justice in food production and processing, healthy environmental stewardship, and An old Allis-Chalmers All Crop pull-type healthy communities and agrarian combine harvests the beans. Ahren does all economies. He also likes that the NFU the post-harvest seed cleaning and sells all “stands up to government and big business his beans as “fresh” dried beans. “Fresh and speaks out against the corporate draw attention to the potential impact of control of the worldwide food system.” neonics on Ontario’s wildlife. Ahren has been a member of the Grey County Local Board for the past three years. Kiinoo Mudwin: Grey Local Advocacy File Introduction to Neonicotinoids Indigenous Culture and History In January, Grey Local will sponsor another six-hour course, spread over three consecutive evenings, on Indigenous culture and history. It’s the fifth such course in a year. Called Kiinoo Mudwin (we learn together), the course is led by Objibwe For several years Grey County Local has historian and teacher, Glenn Trivett, and is been vocal with its concern about the a must for those who want to better impact of neonicotinoids (neonics) on understand the challenges facing Ontario’s pollinators and the broader Indigenous peoples, the causes of those natural environment. Neonics are a class of challenges, and how non-Indigenous people systemic pesticides linked to the die-off of can demonstrate meaningful solidarity. For honey bees and other pollinators. In more information contact Gary Kenny. October, new research showed that, “Honey from across the world is Tel. 519-799-5804 contaminated with potent pesticides known E-mail [email protected] to harm bees…clearly revealing the global exposure of vital pollinators for the first time.” (Science, October 2017) Also, new How to reach us… evidence has emerged that neonics may For general concerns, questions, comments or Grazing expert Sarah Flack. damage wildlife far beyond bees and other suggestions please email us. We will try to respond insects. In 2018 Grey Local intends to again within 72 hours. [email protected] For a more specific request contact: Gary Kenny – President: 519-799-5804 .