A snapshot of an Organic Community

By Margaret Savard

Organic agriculture is a study in wholeness; a way of farming where processes are connected and interdependent. It flourishes with the strength and balance of its individual parts.

A native of northern Nova Scotia, I reflected on the organic movement as I journeyed from Truro towards the ACORN conference, past the deep red silt of the Tantramar Marshes, my Acadian heritage shivering with collective memory. I thought of the Acadian farmers building the dikes, growing their hay and feeding their families. They survived and flourished by respecting one another and the land. Community and cooperation were the cornerstones of their successful rural life.

Organic agriculture is also about working together. It begins with the soil. Billions of tiny microbes, organisms and elements combine to nourish crops. Organic farmers assist this process, ensuring that soil is nurtured so that it can provide for their families’ needs, and those of their customers, the extended family. The farmer does not use pesticides or synthetic fertilizers and provides the soil with the nutrients that it needs to support a vibrant, crop-producing ecosystem. It is a movement that has turned into an industry. ACORN is an important organization that facilitates networking within this large, diverse group of people.

This year the annual ACORN (Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network) conference was held at the Memramcook resort in New Brunswick, previously the Université de Saint-Joseph Collège, originally St. Thomas Seminary, one of the last bastions of Acadian culture. A three day conference, I attended on the second day.

Upon my arrival, the day quickly emerged; an organic tradeshow, a research gallery created by the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada, and farmer-targeted seminars and workshops ranging from Organic Cheese Making to Post-Harvest Handling (of produce). Business-people from as far away as BC, presenters from Quebec and Maine, local farmers and researchers, small businesses, and large distributors were in attendance. They shared information, discussed the organic industry, solved problems and tabled new challenges. Suddenly they were face- to-face: a community, though it spanned the country.

The farmers were the most fascinating. Often, the entire family was attending, with voices and questions. Listening in awe, I could hear the pride and knowledge in their remarks. They were interested in the highest quality products, knew their land and were working towards solid, tangible changes that mirrored provocative and pioneering ideals. Environmental stewardship was mentioned in the same breath as best practices in harvesting and storing apples. They were astute businesspeople armed with a reverence for their soil.

The soil is the key; I think again of the richness of the land as I traversed the Tantramar Marshes and the promise it held for our ancestors. Historically, we would grow our own food or purchase or trade with a local farmer, often at the farmers’ gate. We would know the farmers, their practices and how their land was stewarded. In today’s economy, the farm gate could be in British Columbia or across the world. Organic certification means that we can know our farmer’s practices and that a standard is in place for these practices. We can ‘know’ our farmer and ‘know’ how our food is grown. Organic certification brings us community and cooperation from across Canada.

What does this mean for the future? As each person left the conference, they took a little more knowledge and understanding back to their homes. From farms to stores, from processors to consumers, organic agriculture is growing, changing and evolving, creating an impact on our food, the health of the environment and in our ideals. Growing and evolving, like a healthy family.

That day, as I traveled away from Memramcook I thought of the farmers and their passion for the land. I thought of the rural areas that they represented and the sense of cooperation and family they send to urbanites with their organic produce. I realized Memramcook was the ideal location for the ACORN conference; a small village taking care of a larger, national community. It embodies the cooperation and community of organic agriculture.

 

Margaret Savard works for the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada. Please send comments or questions by phone to 902-893-7256 or by email to oacc@nsac.ca

 

 

“We gratefully acknowledge funding support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for for production of this publication. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is pleased to participate in this project. AAFC is committed to working with industry partners to increase public awareness of the importance of the agriculture and agri-food industry to Canada. Opinions expressed in this document not necessarily those of the OACC or AAFC.”

Posted June 2008

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