June 13, 2019 — What do farmers do in the winter is a question likely followed in both popularity and curiosity with what do farmers do when it rains? It’s been a wet spring. The wettest that Ignatius Jesuit Centre’s farm manager, Heather Lekx, has seen in her 18 years here. So what does the centre’s dedicated team do? Improvise.
Ignatius Farm – Ignatius Jesuit Centre
“Farmers are so fussy,” says assistant manager Donald Bowyer, who’s been running scenarios back and forth in his mind, as everything from light trickles to torrential downpours play havoc with the crop plan. When the ground is too wet, planting becomes impossible.
Ignatius Farm – Ignatius Jesuit CentreStill, the farm team has a little over just a few days to launch this season’s CSA, or community shared agriculture—essentially a portion of the farm’s seasonal production—and a group of families eagerly anticipating their weekly baskets of organic vegetables freshly harvested from Ignatius’ fields. When it comes to growing, farmers are also known for making the impossible, possible.
“We’ve been experimenting with planting crops we’d normally have outdoors in our dry, indoor spaces,” says Bowyer. “So, we’ve planted lettuce, radishes and onions around the tomato and cucumber plants in our hoop house. Also, we’ve planted spinach in our standard, three-row practice but hand-seeded two more rows in between so we can grow more food in less space.”
Ignatius Farm – Ignatius Jesuit Centre
The CSA has been part of the Ignatius Jesuit Centre’s farm since 2001. Ignatius Farm uses organic farming methods and is Certified Organic through a third party, Ecocert. The result of purchasing a local organic CSA share is more vegetable variety and fresher, more nutrient-rich vegetables.
Ignatius Farm – Ignatius Jesuit Centre
Despite the difficult weather conditions, the farm team has an assortment of fresh produce timed to ripen for the first CSA share on June 18, and the rest of the fields are displaying the promise of abundant harvests. The strawberries have all set flower, and are just waiting for the heat to kick in and sweeten them.
“It’s been a spring of great flexibility, and a reminder that all good plans are just guides to better implementation,” adds Bowyer. “This year sure is the year of tearing up the plan!”
It isn’t too late to sign up for a CSA share. There are Early, Mid, and Late Summer Shares as well as Winter Shares available. Those interested in becoming a CSA member can drop in, or order online at ignatiusguelph.ca with the shopping cart.
About Ignatius Farm’s Ethic
Ignatius Farm expresses the Program Objectives of the Ignatius Jesuit Centre through organic and relational farming.
Ignatius Farm – Ignatius Jesuit Centre
Organic farming focuses on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony. They build and sustain healthy soil through the use of composts, complex crop rotations, and green manure crops. No synthetic fertilizers or pesticides are used on the farm. Ignatius Farm is certified organic through ECOCERT, a third-party international organic certification and accreditation body.
Ignatius Farm – Ignatius Jesuit Centre
Relational farming focuses on nurturing human-scale economics. You can have a Zero-Mile Diet by coming to the farm for food they grow, or by growing your own in a garden plot. Farm staff explains that eating locally and in season does more than reduce the travel distance to food – farms and communities need each other to survive and thrive. In order to make farms and organic food more accessible, they offer opportunities to get involved with farming activities, to sponsor harvest shares and garden plots for families and service agencies, and to be mentored in organic agriculture practices.
