Sustainability Dedication

The agricultural industry has been intrinsically connected to the oil industry since industrialization began over 100 years ago. When the system arose its increased yields made for great profits and plentiful food for growing populations. Now, we realize the longterm drawbacks of becoming so dependent on a system that we are also now learning has been so detrimental to natural environment, as well as becoming increasingly exploitative in terms of profit. With the gorgeous 12 mile creek running through the site and incredible natural flora and fauna abundant within the microclimate of the St johns valley, I feel that encouraging natural spaces and highly focused shepherding of the land is absolutely necessary, especially in the face of encroaching development within the region depleting our wonderful dwindling and diminishing natural areas.

 

This past season we ceased our spray program and although the trees decaying more rapidly and a lot of the fruit turned out rough (some peoples reactions were rougher), it has only bolstered the importance of growing in this direction. People have become so disconnected from their food and don’t realize that the perfect uniformity the expect at big box grocery stores come at the expense of the environment immediately potentially and their own long term health as during their production they’ve been sprayed with various chemicals again to get them to that level of perceived perfection. Meanwhile the natural spots on my completely unadulterated apples scare the general consumer despite their definite health benefits. I understand how we ended up here as a society propped up on largely superficial consumption in all aspects but it doesn’t mean we should succumb to it. After working on this orchard for years and often eating spotty ‘seconds’ and other rejects it becomes easy to look past bits of scab, scratches, even some bug damage on a beautifully nuanced fruit. Eating some of the natural bacteria and fungus that grows upon a fruits flesh is probably beneficial for a balanced gut biome, even a bug, would be beneficial, though undesirable, definitely better than a coating of chemicals. 

 

The response has been split with many of the consumers who’s patronage goes past the inception of FFFF being upset at the appearance of the fruit, some unwilling to even consider looking past their surface despite only needing “seconds for baking” and disregarding the perfect flesh exposed when an example is sliced open. An understandable reaction after years of outstanding conventionally beautifully apples were grown here with chemical spray programs in place and a lifetime of Big Ag’s influence. However, there were also many that were expressly overjoyed and enthusiastically returned to keep purchasing only our homegrown imperfect fruits specifically because they’d been grown completely naturally,

 

Also, some of our crops did they best they ever have. We had our best crop of Early Golden plums ever! Plums overall did well this year, and were also the least superficially marked of all the fruit this season. From my observations the increased spider population might have taken care of the plum curculio, which has caused most of the superficial bug damage in the past. However, the spiders were no match for some of the larger later season bigger bugs. It was with great joy and satisfaction I heard many people exclaim the were they best plums they’d ever had. I often recall Jim Williams, the former owner telling me that if he could start again he would have grown all plums, due to their ease of management, early harvest time, and quick financial return. Thus wiith his words ringing in my head we are planting more plum varieties to try, and the seeds from the most successful varieties will also be sowed growing forward.

 

With the success of the plums, as well as some of the older varieties of apples, and Bosc pears, compared to the resulting apples from more modern varieties like Honey-crisp and Ambrosia this season, coupled with the limited options for disease resistant replacements for the struggling varieties of pears and apples, the FFFF New Fruit Development Initiative has come further into focus. Goaded on by the success of other amateur independent apple breeders like Stephen Edholm and Karim Habibi, I’m confident that over time we will be able to create a number of unique and incredible fruits specifically adapted for our area and with many of the common pests and pathogens already in our orchards we have an ideal natural testing ground for imbued disease resistance. With the goal of producing trees and fruit that will be easy to grow and exceptionally flavourful for locally focused growers as well as proliferating the idea of getting people to grow their own from seed and make their own highly localized unique creations, as a stated goal, I think success is essentially important in terms of food security but also attainable.

 

Another important aspect of sustainable growing is the careful introduction of new potential crops, with focus on native species we’ve planted numerous Pawpaw, American persimmon, increasing the Serviceberry population, and inspired by the rampantly growing Black Walnut introduced a few nut groves with Hazelnuts, English Walnuts, Ultra Northern Pecan, Heartnuts, Butternuts, Buartnuts in some locations where the trees can get a bit bigger and offer some weather refuge and food to animals and humans alike throughout the seasons. With increased bio density overall yield should increase as well as lower chance of complete crop loss. By carefully selecting what we plant and where we plant it we can prevent unintended spread of vigorous species and utilize plants specific characteristics to compliment one another, and reduce the amount of input needed from the grower.

 

Native species protection and establishment has become another aspect of contributing to the sustainably focused development of the site by encouraging the already present examples like black raspberries, nanny berry, and existing nut trees, but also offering seedlings for sale from seeds collected onsite and locally to help promote the growth of these often less than recognized amazing native species.

 

Also as we learn about native and invasive species we’ll continue to prevent the spread of invasive species when they’re found onsite as well as increasing general awareness of problematic species in the area.

 

One of the biggest changes we’re continuing to make is to reduce our reliance on tractors and fossil fuels in general in terms of normal everyday function here.  Although still very necessary to many aspects of operation on the orchard, by being mindful of each and every use and continuing to maintain machines to achieve optimal function reduces usage and wasted energy overall.

 

Herein lies a big issue with conventional organic fruit production in Ontario; under the certification you can still use pesticides in fruit production, albeit less, there is certainly a still a net negative environmental impact. Yet growers are trapped in the cycle of conventional pesticide dependence because they can’t sell their otherwise ‘unsightly’ unprofitable fruit to the general public. This is a serious predicament we are in that will not be solved easily. Many minds will have to be changed drastically but big endeavours can be accomplished with small steps and many hands applied and as people become aware of the situation we are currently in they too can learn to love the natural nuanced beauty of truly healthy, sustainably grown fruit, and hopefully be encouraged to grow their own.