All the Dirt
Reflections on Organic Farming
-
ByRachel Fisher (Author), Heather Stretch (Author)
Ebook
New farmers, experienced growers, budding environmentalists, and fans of natural, organic produce alike are sure to love All the Dirt. Filled with beautiful photographs and covering a wide variety of topics, from agrofuels and food sovereignty to practical tips about specific tools, All the Dirt is the must-read how-to book about small-scale organic farming. But beyond the practical applications, it is also the inspiring story of three friends who followed their dreams and became successful business partners.
Authors Rachel Fisher, Heather Stretch, and Robin Tunnicliffe, co-owners of Saanich Organics, a farmer-run local food distributor, share entertaining stories of three farmers' lives, while also providing practical information about how to start a farm. They relate their personal and collective experiences as women, mothers, and farmers through anecdotes, and discuss the compelling reasons why Canada needs more organic farmers.
All the Dirt proves that there is no one right way to start a farm and no single solution to any problem. But that by working together, farmers can create a resilient agriculture that is vibrant and fun, as well as economically viable.
Rachel, Heather, and Robin have co-owned Saanich Organics since 2002. The business has been featured in numerous publications, including the Times Colonist, West Jet’s Up! magazine, EAT Magazine, and The Province. It has also been featured in Island on the Edge (a documentary film), as well as on CBC radio. By working cooperatively to grow and distribute top quality produce, the business has earned the respect of the farming community, the restaurant community, organic consumers, and activists. Visit Saanich Organics online at www.saanichorganics.com.
Table of contents
| All the Dirt | 1 |
|---|---|
| Contents | 10 |
| Preface | 15 |
| Who We Are | 17 |
| Why This Book | 17 |
| Introduction | 19 |
| Cast of Characters | 24 |
| Chapter One: Heather Stretch and Northbrook Farm | 27 |
| Why Farm? | 29 |
| Where to Farm | 31 |
| Getting Started | 33 |
| Animal Problems | 34 |
| What to Grow | 37 |
| How to Grow It | 41 |
| Chickens | 47 |
| Green Manures (or Cover Crops) | 50 |
| Equipment | 52 |
| The Harvest! | 56 |
| Recordkeeping | 61 |
| Certification | 63 |
| The Business of Farming | 65 |
| Woman, Farmer, Mom | 66 |
| Farming with Kids | 68 |
| Help! (or Farm Labour) | 70 |
| Farming in the Future (or Tips to Avoid Burnout) | 74 |
| Chapter Two: Rachel Fisher and Three Oaks Farm | 79 |
| Apprenticeship in Paradise | 81 |
| My First Market Garden | 84 |
| Redwing Farm | 85 |
| Greenhouse Woes | 86 |
| Bed Layout and Rotation Plan | 88 |
| Mulching and Tilling | 89 |
| The Reign of Slugs | 90 |
| Duck Duties | 91 |
| From Mulching to Tilling | 93 |
| Coping with Exhaustion | 95 |
| Exhausted, and a Baby to Boot | 96 |
| Looking for Chocolate Cake | 96 |
| Water | 97 |
| The Lay of the Land | 102 |
| The Four Directions | 104 |
| Deer Fencing | 105 |
| Greenhouse Dream | 107 |
| The Bottom Line | 115 |
| The Human Landscape | 117 |
| Chapter Three: Robin Tunnicliffe and Feisty Field | 125 |
| Apprenticing | 127 |
| Starting the Farm | 128 |
| The Physical Elements | 135 |
| Greenhouses | 142 |
| Drainage Ditches | 148 |
| Harvesting | 149 |
| First Market Day | 152 |
| Chickens for Meat | 153 |
| Lambs | 157 |
| Certified Organic: Is it for You? | 160 |
| Conclusion | 160 |
| Chapter Four: Why Organic? | 163 |
| Seed | 165 |
| The Effects of Fertilizers and Pesticides | 168 |
| The Green Revolution and Loss of Traditional Agricultural Practices | 172 |
| Social Costs of the Green Revolution | 173 |
| Corn and the Industrialization of Farming Systems | 174 |
| US Department of Agriculture Policy and its Long-term Implications | 177 |
| Factory Farms | 179 |
| Farm Workers | 182 |
| Moving Forward | 182 |
| Endnotes for Chapter Four | 184 |
| Chapter Five: Coming Together as Saanich Organics | 187 |
| Background | 189 |
| Life Choices | 190 |
| How We Came Together | 192 |
| The Box Program | 194 |
| The Commercial Division | 197 |
| The Moss Street Community Market | 201 |
| Long John: The Greenhouse | 204 |
| Hiring Employees | 205 |
| The Finances | 209 |
| Personal Compatibility | 210 |
| Chapter Six: Our Conclusions | 213 |
| Resources | 220 |
| Books | 220 |
| Films | 221 |
| Websites We Like | 221 |
| Magazines | 221 |
| Appendix A: Farming Set-Ups | 222 |
| Heather’s Spreadsheets: Planting Data | 222 |
| Heather’s Spreadsheets: Harvesting Data | 224 |
| Heather’s Notes to the Spreadsheets | 226 |
| Robin’s Lease Agreement | 228 |
| Robin’s Crop Value Charts | 230 |
| Appendix B: Saanich Organics’ Organization | 232 |
| Saanich Organics: Suppliers and Outlets | 232 |
| Saanich Organics: Internal Structure | 232 |
| Saanich Organics: Sample Newsletter | 233 |
| Saanich Organics: Sample Sales Spreadsheet | 234 |
| Saanich Organics: Sample Weekly Invoice | 234 |
| Saanich Organics: Income Statement from 2008 | 235 |
| Index | 237 |
| Acknowledgments | 242 |
Accessibility
No accessibility data available for this publication.
Author biographies
About Rachel Fisher
Rachel Fisher was born in Victoria, BC, and spent her childhood exploring all of the nooks and crannies of the great outdoors. She received a BA in Anthropology and Environmental Studies from the University of British Columbia, and spent several months studying plant medicine. When she isn’t working on her farm, volunteering with community and farming organizations, or mentoring new farmers, Rachel enjoys hiking, reading, and developing her cooking skills. She lives in Victoria with her partner and their two children.
About Heather Stretch
Heather Stretch was born in Edmonton, Alberta. She has a BA and an MA in English Literature, with a focus on Post-Colonial and Native Literature. She has travelled extensively, visiting the UK, Israel, South America, and Central America. Her interest in social justice issues and her love of the outdoors led her to a career in organic farming. Heather enjoys cooking, hiking, yoga, and listening to audiobooks while working in the field. She lives on Vancouver Island with her husband and their three sons.
Book details
- Publisher
- TouchWood Editions
- Categories
- Organic gardening, Organic farming, Business & Management
- Publication date
- February 2012
- Pages
- 240
- Chapters
- 100
- Language
- English
- ISBN Paper
- 9781927129128
- ISBN PDF
- 9781927129142