Owen Seeding

Owen Seeding
Little Owen Sowing Seeds

Saturday, March 9, 2013

A brief history of Grow Good Things... and whats around the curve :)


In order to attend the Joel Salatin Meat 'n Greet in High River next week as a table host, I've been asked to write a brief bio and history of our farm & organization, and answer the question "What makes you a Lunatic farmer?"


There are so many reasons that farming in the Foothills takes lunatic measures.  The extent of our madness is best defined by the weather we are susceptible to in this region.  'Freak' June, July, or August snowstorms are not uncommon in our already short 90-day frost-free season.  Vicious hailstorms shred crops and destroy buildings in unpredictable bursts throughout the short summer, and the desiccating winds often whisk the snow off the ground, leaving perennial roots exposed to winter temperatures that can exceed -45C.  Living on the edge of Kananaskis country; wildlife such as deer, cougars, coyotes and even wolves and bears linger on our doorstep, eager to partake in the spoils of farm food production.  And to top it off, the culture of sustainability is not yet fully-integrated into the fabric of our petroleum-based society, which means that organically-grown foods are often not recognized for their inherent value, and must be sold at market in direct competition with conventionally-grown products.

Way up in these High Country foothills, Golden Rose Farm stands as a multi-generational food-growing operation, raising a spectrum of organic vegetables, grains, cattle, pigs and chickens at one time or another since its establishment in 1947Grow Good Things founder Bridget Lacey grew up on the farm, helping her parents William & Jacqueline as they established one of the first certified organic greenhouse operations in Alberta during the 1990’s, before it was fashionable.  At this time, Jackie was also the manager of the Millarville Farmer’s Market, and so Bridget was raised working alongside a diversity of farmers from across rural Alberta; earning an innate understanding, respect and love for the growing, production, and marketing of home-grown food, and the people who dare to try and make their livelihoods in such a difficult profession.

Golden Rose Farm is not presently active in livestock production, since the collapse of the cattle industry in the past decade.  We currently lease our pasture to neighbors who graze their animals on it, and who have tractors sound enough to harvest the hay crop.  The greenhouse plastic has blown off the frame so many times that Will Lacey’s organic greenhouse operation shut down in 1999.  

A few years ago, Bridget began working alongside like-minded friends in the Calgary-and-surrounding-areas community to develop Grow Good Things as a source of advocacy, education and empowerment for the expansion of organic food gardening.  With the objective to encourage everyday people to become involved in local growing, the work of the organization has included the development of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Program, assisted in the building of community gardens, the installation of permaculture designs on participant’s land, the installation of self-watering food growing beds in urban areas, and the resurrection of the large greenhouse on Golden Rose Farm, southwest of Turner Valley.  

Although the Grow Good Things team straightened the frame and recovered the greenhouse in 2011, the top layer of plastic was likewise blown off by high (hurricane force) winds later that winter; and so we are left now with a 3000 square foot cold-frame with fans and irrigation.  And so this year, Bridget is putting a new SPIN on greenhouse production by focusing on growing the foods that do best in the short-season, cold-night, and storm-susceptible region we live in; Greens, Greens, Greens!  The farm will also be experimenting with flowers and herbs for teas and salads, a few mixed vegetable crops, harvesting the rhubarb patch, and the establishment of a Saskatoon orchard.  A one-acre planting of the adaptogenic herb, Rhodiola Rosea is also going in the ground as three-year-olds, and shelter belt trees will be planted to boot!  Bees and Chickens are on the horizon, so stay tuned ;)

And so despite the adversity we face every year, the future of the farm remains promising.  Bridget dreams of Earthship greenhouses built into the south-facing sides of the large hills on the land.  Mix in sheep and chickens and ducks and pigs and fruit orchards and hemp fields and wind-catchment and aquaponics… and demonstrate the kinds of lunatic methods that will soon be commonplace elements of permacultural food growing operations across the world!  The future is taking shape with every conversation that is shared with likewise lunatic farmers and eaters who have the passion and wherewithal to support the objective of growing food sustainably in cooperation and respect for the land and elements we live with.

This year, Bridget will be opening Grow Good Things Futures, a prepayment plan that will work similarly to a CSA, but instead of receiving a weekly "share" of mixed vegetables, participants will have an account card that they can debit food purchases from throughout the growing season, equal to the amount of their investment.  We will email a list of the week's available products out to members on Sunday night, and orders can be picked up at the Millarville Market on Saturdays; or throughout the week as may be arranged.  We believe that this type of model will enable people to receive more of what they like, in timing that suits their lifestyle.  For example, if you like to and freeze a large quantity of blanched greens for winter soups and smoothies, or order a large quantity of kale to make kale chips, or a number of pounds of tomatoes for canning; this plan offers the flexibility to cash in your CSA Futures as your tastes dictate.  We will be vending at the Millarville Farmer's Market on Saturdays throughout the summer, and so CSA members may find it convenient to come weekly and purchase bags of greens, flowers, veggies, herbs and sprouts from our table there.  We will also sell canned and frozen goods as the season progresses, and handcrafted goods which may be purchased as part of the program.  Half-Share memberships are selling for $220, and Full-Shares for $440; however any level of investment can be applied to our program.  Futures investment helps us build greater infrastructure and increase our food growing capabilities; and could be redeemed over future seasons. 

Grow Good Things is also looking for partners across the community to collaborate on the development of a regional SEED BANK, specializing in retaining and expanding a catalogue of open-pollinated seeds that grow well in our region.  We will begin to distribute seeds this spring to fellow gardeners in the Alberta region who are willing to try and save a portion of their harvest for seed; with the hope that they will return newly saved seed by mail in the fall.  The project collaborators will seek to build a permanent seed vault storage facility as community property, most likely using grant applications for funding.  This type of collaboration is very important to establishing long-lasting food security, and to preserving the genetic heritage of our food supply.

Please get in contact with Bridget if you are interested in becoming involved in any of these projects, she can be reached by email at bridgetlacey@gmail.com.  The learning and sharing opportunities are limitless, as we grow together with our community.

- Bloom Where you are Planted

 “You may be right, I may be crazy, but it just may be a lunatic you’re looking for.”
- Billy Joel
 

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