Friday 24 January 2014

Let's Celebrate International Year of the Family Farm!

 
2014 has been designated the International Year of Family Farming, an initiative promoted by the World Rural Forum and supported by over 360 civil society and farmers’ organizations. This worldwide celebration aims to encourage policies for sustainable development of agricultural systems based on farm families, communal units, indigenous groups, cooperatives and fishing families.

The term “family farmers” is defined as agricultural producers who make the majority of their living by farming.   According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) The International Year of Family Farming honors over 400 million family farms in both developed and developing countries, defined as farms that rely primarily on family members for labour and management.  These farms produce the food that feeds billions of people. In many developing countries family farms make up on average up to 80 percent of all farm holdings.  But small and medium-size family farms are suffering across the world. One bad harvest, a rejected bank loan, or too much or too little rain can drive farms out of business.  The most effective way to combat hunger and malnutrition is to produce food near the consumers, precisely what family farming does.


 
Farm numbers have been declining steadily in Canada since 1941. The 2006 decline is slower than in 2001, when farm numbers fell 10.7% from the previous census. With increasing production costs and decreasing commodity prices, successful farming increasingly requires a niche market or a large operation with significant capital to remain viable.  Another country wide trend is our aging farmers who are choosing to retire or move to less physically demanding and less capital-intensive "transitional" types of operations, particularly since fewer members of the younger generation are continuing the family farm. 

 
Why should we care?  Family farms play a pivotal role in enhancing food security. The World Bank estimates that a 1% increase in GDP in the agriculture sector will be twice as effective in alleviating poverty compared to any other sector.  There have been too many years of lack of interest towards agriculture, which has led to a number of issues facing this sector today – the disappearance of many family farms, population migration to the cities and less than thorough government support. The time has come to re-launch farming, and the international Community should not squander the opportunity.
 
What can we do? Lots!
 
 
  1.  Teach our children where our food comes from.  Growing our own food can not only be healthy and educational but is extemely rewarding and self fulfilling.  It doesn't require a lot of space.  Participate in a community garden or explore container gardening.   The internet is full of ideas for urban farming, from container gardens to back yard chickens (check your local bylaws).
  2.  
  3. Buy local.  Locally grown food is better for your health, for the environment, and is the right choice to support farmers, producers and your local economy. Over the past 20 years, the import and export of food have tripled with agriculture and food now accounting for more than a quarter of the goods transported on our roads. Food is now also the largest component of airfreight, the most polluting form of transportation. Local produce is the freshest produce you can buy.   When we buy a local food product, the producer receives a higher percentage of our food dollar.  Eating locally grown food supports our farmers and protects our precious farmland by keeping itin production.
  4.  
     
  5. Start small; it doesn’t have to be 100% .  Learn what local foods are in season and enjoy the freshness and variety available at lower prices.  Think beyond fruits and vegetables and also look for local dairy, meats, seafood, and grocery items. Each month, replace an often-bought imported product with a local product.  Think of imported produce as a treat, not a staple.

  6. Support grocers and restaurants in your area that offer local food.  If your favorite grocer or restaurant does not offer much local food, talk to them about it and ask for.
  7.  
  8. Many farms have diversified to offer a myriad of family activities such as fish ponds, corn mazes, hayrides, farmstays.  You don't have to go far to find some fun in the countryside.  Watch for farm tours in your local area. It's the perfect way to learn while being entertained.
Sources:


Monday 20 January 2014

Updated 01-21-14: It's Back! The Great Chicken Debate!


You may have read two of my previous blogs on the subject of back yard chickens in urban settings.  As with pretty much everything else, there are two sides to every story.  Chickens are small and require little room; they provide food for the table, in terms of eggs and meat;  help children and adults alike identify with where food comes from; waste, when properly cured, is an excellent form of natural fertilizer; and it's really quite amazing how many scraps three or four chickens can eat through, keeping it out of landfills; not to mention, a chemical free form of pest control.  Unfortunately, there is also a dark side.    Municipalities are now finding themselves having to deal with those few irresponsible individuals who abandon their fowl, perhaps because they unexpectedly discovered that it's not only work to keep chickens but a whole lot messier than their rose colored glasses may have, at first blush, permitted them to see. 
But the debate continues, and while some municipalities have had success implementing sound policies to support the keeping of a few chickens, others have not.  For example, Paul Hughes, President of the Calgary Liberated Urban Chicken Club (aka CLUCK) has challenged the  City of Calgary's bylaws by refusing to pay a $200 fine for raising backyard poultry.  He considers his chickens as pets and believes we should have the right to raise animals for food, even in the City.  The  City of Calgary considers the chickens to be livestock, and livestock is generally not allowed in urban situations.  For the record, I'm with the City on this one; chickens are not pets; they are livestock and most livestock doesn't belong on the average City lot.  If Paul wants to keep them as a pet, perhaps they could live in the house with him. . . then no one would be any the wiser, would they. . . unless they visited Paul's house (but then that's an entirely different story, isn't it?)
For Red Deer citizens, the City's one-year pilot project, approved last February, is about to come to an end.  Over the past year, the City bylaw provided for a maximum of 6 hens (no roosters), provided they were registered with the City not later than June 21, 2013, after which no additional chickens were to be allowed.  Yesterday, Council supported extending the program to June 30, 2014.  I have a hunch that those Red Deerians who participated in the pilot project, didn't cause much of a flap and carried out their animal husbandry in a responsible and humane without ruffling the feathers of their neighbours.  Peavy Mart Urban Farm show, this past November was well received and there is even an upcoming permaculture workshop on 'productive pets', discussing the keeping of bees, worms and chickens in urban situations.
I think City Council is smart enough to realize that there are bigger fish to fry rather than to spend long hours debating over a few chickens.  That being said, if you have an opinion about this subject the City will be looking for input until the end of February, after which the chickens will come home to roost. . . either inside the City or out. 
Sources: 




Sunday 12 January 2014

Gandhi's 10 Rules for Changing the World, by Henrik Edberg



So much Wisdom. . .

Gandhi's 10 Rules for Changing the World, by Henrik Edberg

Quotes:

The weak can never forgive.  Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong

An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind

Happiness is when you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony

Nobody can hurt me without my permission





source:  http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mahatma_gandhi.html#zD4Wq2aV7k5WXXvz.99



Sunday 5 January 2014

Update: A Shameless Plug for the Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival


You may be interested to know that the ZIGF organizing committee was successful in meeting its fundraising commitment, earning over $10,000 in pledges by Thursday, January 23rd, with TWENTY hours to spare!  Thank you for reading, sharing or participating in any way to ensuring this small community festival continues to thrive!

Once again, if you are looking for a wonderful, warm winter destination and have a great love for music, particularly guitar music, you will not be disappointed by attending this wonderful festival, which brings together world class musicians from across the globe.  Whether you spent 3 hours or attend every single event over the 10 days, it remains one of the best deals we have yet to come across.  The City of Zihuatanejo, while offering every kind of tourist accommodation imaginable, has managed to retain all the charm of a true Mexican community.  It's sister City, Ixtapa, has it's own charm.

Adios Amigos



 

Perhaps you read my March 2013 blog post on how I spent my winter vacation?  I went to the beautiful resort community of Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo to enjoy two sun-filled weeks sipping margaritas, exploring the community and beyond and be entertained by world-class musicians from around the world at the Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival (ZFest). 

 
Night after night, we listened to flamenco, classical, blues, folk, jazz, rock and everything in between, performed by exceptional musicians from Mexico, Poland, Spain, United States, Japan, Brazil, Cuba and Canada.  I know I've missed a few countries; sometimes we forget where they hale from but one can never forget the music they share so willingly).  One would think this would be an expensive endeavour but one would be dead wrong.  There are 2 three-hour sets each weekday for $10 each plus an opening and closing gala for $15US. 
 
Last year, the opening gala was located on lovely Madera Beach, attended by 600 which was BY FAR the largest venue.  For the most part, venues were open air  (because it NEVER rains in Zihua in March), seating about 150 to 200 people.  Seating is restaurant style and, while you are enjoying the music, you can also enjoy a meal and beverage or two.  If you're really really lucky, you might even get the opportunity to do a little dancing!
 
 
IF you are considering a winter vacation this year (and, if you live in Canada I can't believe you aren't!) and IF you are a lover of great music, then I ask that you take a look at the Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival website:  http://www.zihuafest.info/ .  There is also a Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/#!/ZGuitarFest?fref=ts
 
This festival is not about making money.  There are no professional concert organizers, agents, event coordinators; instead, you will find is a very dedicated group of hard working volunteers offering thousands of hours of time and effort, as a means of raising the profile of tourism and culture and enhancing the lives of the children of this wonderful community.  And yet, musicians from around the world clamor to volunteer countless hours and be a part of this dynamic little event, simply because it is so rewarding and satisfying. . . (and being held in Paradise doesn't hurt either).
 
As part of its fundraising strategy, ZFest is offering a steal of a deal:  full passes for all venues at $100 per person. In fact, there are a number of enticing packages which might be of interest.  I have opted for the $250 package, along with a guitar signed by all the musicians for the 'man cave'.  But there are opportunities, large and small, to fit every budget; for example, if you want to rub shoulders with the musicians, there's even a package for that!
 
IF, by chance, you choose to visit the wonderful community of Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo this winter, or at any other time in the future, let me suggest you check out my earlier blog, How I Spent My Winter Vacation:  Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo at http://hpdsinc.blogspot.ca/2013/03/how-i-spent-my-winter-vacation.html for tips on places to see, along with the contact infor for the perfect guide to get you safely there and back, all while regaling you with interesting facts and customs of the country. 

 
There is a reason why they call this corner of the earth Paradise.  Perhaps you should find out for yourself what that reason is.  And if, by chance you are there during the first weeks of March, perhaps we'll see you in Paradise and at ZFest!