All the Dirt

Reflections on Organic Farming

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

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