Nature’s Route Farm and FOOD SOVEREIGNTY Kent and Ruth Coates Nature’s Route Farm 785 Route 16 Point de Bute, NB E4L 2P1 (506) 536-3562 [email_address] www.sackvillecsa.org

Put a Face on Farming Growing Food Sustainable Environmentally Responsible Farm Ecology SAFE FOOD!!! Farm Income Canadian Agriculture and Food Consumer Options Nature’s Route Farm Outline

Put a Face on Farming

Growing Food

Sustainable

Environmentally Responsible

Farm Ecology

SAFE FOOD!!!

Farm Income

Canadian Agriculture and Food

Consumer Options

Despite working almost 2 hours a day longer than the average Canadian, farmers donate more time to their community (by more than an hour per week). Average Farm Household makes 3.2% less than Average Canadian Household 1996-2001 = 10% fewer farmers in Canada Almost half of all farmers have to work off the farm. Canadian Farmers grow high quality food that meets stringent Health Canada requirements. Nature’s Route Farm Who are our Farmers?

Despite working almost 2 hours a day longer than the average Canadian, farmers donate more time to their community (by more than an hour per week).

Average Farm Household makes 3.2% less than Average Canadian Household

1996-2001 = 10% fewer farmers in Canada

Almost half of all farmers have to work off the farm.

Canadian Farmers grow high quality food that meets stringent Health Canada requirements.

74000 (30%) farm operators will retire within 15 years Retiring Farmers own ½ Canadian Farm Assets 75% of Retiring Farmers have not designated a successor. Farmers DO NOT want their children to Farm. Nature’s Route Farm Who are our Farmers?

74000 (30%) farm operators will retire within 15 years

Retiring Farmers own ½ Canadian Farm Assets

75% of Retiring Farmers have not designated a successor.

Farmers DO NOT want their children to Farm.

Nature’s Route Farm What do Farmers Do? Executive Director Business Planner Technician Accountant Mechanic Carpenter Machinery Operator Labourer Supervisor Veterinary Marketing

Nature’s Route Farm Why is Farming Important? Globally - 6,600,000,000 people and growing - 886kg (1950lbs*) of food/person/year (US) - 5,850,000,000,000kg of food per year New Brunswick -750,000 people  1,462,500,000 lbs of food per year!!! -We import about 85% of our food (1,200,000,000lbs per year) All Food Should Come from Farms * The ERS Food Consumption (Per Capita) Data System . *United Nations 1993

Globally - 6,600,000,000 people and growing

- 886kg (1950lbs*) of food/person/year (US)

- 5,850,000,000,000kg of food per year

New Brunswick

-750,000 people  1,462,500,000 lbs of food per year!!!

-We import about 85% of our food (1,200,000,000lbs per year)

All Food Should Come from Farms

* The ERS Food Consumption (Per Capita) Data System .

*United Nations 1993

Nature’s Route Farm GROWING FOOD Soil Nutrients The Source of Agriculture Pollution Manure vs Synthetic Fertilizer Compost Nutrient Transport Cycle Green Manures Soil pH Limestone in Atlantic Canada Soil Life Compost Tea Composted Manure Maximize Nutrient Availability!!! Food Sewage

Soil Nutrients

The Source of Agriculture Pollution

Manure vs Synthetic Fertilizer

Compost

Nutrient Transport Cycle

Green Manures

Soil pH

Limestone in Atlantic Canada

Soil Life

Compost Tea

Composted Manure

Maximize Nutrient Availability!!!

Nature’s Route Farm GROWING FOOD Weed Control Soil Preparation – rotate crops to break weed cycle Planting Timing – false seeding, minimum tillage Manual Weeding Herbicides (not used at Nature’s Route Farm) Insect Control Rotation of Crops – break insect’s life cycle Planting Timing – Avoid insect’s damaging life stage Manual Removal Predatory Insects Insecticides

Weed Control

Soil Preparation – rotate crops to break weed cycle

Planting Timing – false seeding, minimum tillage

Manual Weeding

Herbicides (not used at Nature’s Route Farm)

Insect Control

Rotation of Crops – break insect’s life cycle

Planting Timing – Avoid insect’s damaging life stage

Manual Removal

Predatory Insects

Insecticides

Nature’s Route Farm GROWING FOOD Fungus Control Rotate Crops – avoid build up of spores Integration or Removal of Crop Waste Keep plants strong Avoid Spread – not touching beans when wet Fungicides (not used at Nature’s Route Farm) Animal Control Predators – Fencing, Companion Animals and Dogs Herbivores – Electric Fencing

Fungus Control

Rotate Crops – avoid build up of spores

Integration or Removal of Crop Waste

Keep plants strong

Avoid Spread – not touching beans when wet

Fungicides (not used at Nature’s Route Farm)

Animal Control

Predators – Fencing, Companion Animals and Dogs

Herbivores – Electric Fencing

Nature’s Route Farm GROWING FOOD Weather Rain – Too much Rots seeds Poor Germination De-nitrification Soil Disposition is a major factor Soil Health improves drainage Humidity Rain – Too Little Poor germination Small yields Soil Disposition is a factor Soil Health improves water retention Wind – damages crops, especially with rain, blows buildings away Lightning – Burns Chicken Coops…

Weather

Rain – Too much

Rots seeds

Poor Germination

De-nitrification

Soil Disposition is a major factor

Soil Health improves drainage

Humidity

Rain – Too Little

Poor germination

Small yields

Soil Disposition is a factor

Soil Health improves water retention

Wind – damages crops, especially with rain, blows buildings away

Lightning – Burns Chicken Coops…

Nature’s Route Farm SELLING AND MOVING FOOD Wholesale – economy of scale – agri-business Retail Marketing Time Consuming Large Overhead CSA – Community Supported Agriculture Reduces marketing Provides Consumers with Really Fresh, SAFE Food

Wholesale – economy of scale – agri-business

Retail

Marketing

Time Consuming

Large Overhead

CSA – Community Supported Agriculture

Reduces marketing

Provides Consumers with Really Fresh, SAFE Food

Nature’s Route Farm SUSTAINABILITY Environmentally Responsible Pesticides - Health Canada – Elimination of Persistent Chemicals Prudent Use of Nutrients – Manure and Synthetic Minimize High Energy Transportation -Minimize Distance -Surface Transport

Environmentally Responsible

Pesticides - Health Canada – Elimination of Persistent Chemicals

Prudent Use of Nutrients – Manure and Synthetic

Minimize High Energy Transportation

-Minimize Distance

-Surface Transport

Nature’s Route Farm SUSTAINABILITY Farm System Grow Desired Crops Feed Animals Local Grain and Grass Grow Green Manures, Catch Crops and Ground Covers Apply Composted Manure and Soil Amendments

Farm System

Nature’s Route Farm SUSTAINABILITY SAFE FOOD!!! Know what is in your Food.

SAFE FOOD!!!

Know what is in your Food.

Nature’s Route Farm SUSTAINABILITY Income Fresh and Local Food requires Canadian Farmers to receive a fair price for their produce. The alternative is non-controllable imported food.

Income

Fresh and Local Food requires Canadian Farmers to receive a fair price for their produce.

The alternative is non-controllable imported food.

Nature’s Route Farm Canadian Agriculture “ Sleeping Giant” – We import so much food people do not realize how much our agriculture has eroded.

“ Sleeping Giant” – We import so much food people do not realize how much our agriculture has eroded.

Nature’s Route Farm Canadian Agriculture -Farmers’ Reputation -Pollution -Tax Dollars

-Farmers’ Reputation

-Pollution

-Tax Dollars

Nature’s Route Farm Canadian Agriculture -Loss of Knowledge Set -Loss of Canadian Infrastructure -Loss of Young Farmers

-Loss of Knowledge Set

-Loss of Canadian Infrastructure

-Loss of Young Farmers

Nature’s Route Farm Canadian Agriculture -Infrastructure vs. Insurance Until 2005 Food Prices Dropped (75% from 1974-2005) Agribusiness runs on credit Biofuel or Food?

-Infrastructure vs. Insurance

Until 2005 Food Prices Dropped (75% from 1974-2005)

Agribusiness runs on credit

Biofuel or Food?

Nature’s Route Farm Canadian Agriculture How has this Happened? - Labelling Laws – Product of Canada or Made in Canada? -Increase cost and regulation of production in Canada -Climate and Climate Change -Uncontrolled imported Food -Lack of Political Will (cheap food policy)

How has this Happened?

- Labelling Laws – Product of Canada or Made in Canada?

-Increase cost and regulation of production in Canada

-Climate and Climate Change

-Uncontrolled imported Food

-Lack of Political Will (cheap food policy)

Nature’s Route Farm What Can Consumers Do? Michael Pollan – In Defense of Food - Buy REAL Food - Buy food from where it is grown Mark Bittman – Food Matters Demand healthy food grown to HEALTH CANADA standards!

Michael Pollan – In Defense of Food

- Buy REAL Food

- Buy food from where it is grown

Mark Bittman – Food Matters

Demand healthy food grown to HEALTH CANADA standards!

Nature’s Route Farm What Can Consumers Do? Options: Buy from Farmer – Directly – Farmers’ Markets – CSAs Buy from Farm Stands (usually locally food) Choose Carefully at the National Grocers Buy Whole Foods – not processed food.

Options:

Buy from Farmer – Directly

– Farmers’ Markets

– CSAs

Buy from Farm Stands (usually locally food)

Choose Carefully at the National Grocers

Buy Whole Foods – not processed food.

Nature’s Route Farm Conclusion Food Sovereignty: Community Food Security is about Controlling Our Food. Without Canadian Agriculture we will be largely unable to control our food.

Food Sovereignty:

Community Food Security is about Controlling Our Food.

Without Canadian Agriculture we will be largely unable to control our food.

Questions?