It’s been quite nice to slow down this month after the remaining crops were brought out of the field and tucked safely into storage. Most of the farmers are done for the season with Jeff, Leslie and Jess still working to get shares out and attend to winter work.
Sadly we’re saying goodbye to our cherished co-farmer Connor who let us know that he’s ready to try new things after 4 years with us at Cedar Down. We are sad! But we love him and hope for wonderful things to come. (Especially if that means he comes back.) This means we’ll be looking for another farmer to join us in the field this spring – feel free to pass that long to any landless farmers you know or someone who might want to learn.
We were so pleased to be able to attend the 10th annual conference of the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO) last week. This is an incredible farm organization that supports sustainable farming with workshops and farm tours and with this great annual conference that brings our community together to learn and connect.
Some amazing highlights were a presentation by the Waterways Collective, a group of young Anishnaabek from Serpent River First Nation. They shared their experience paddling the waters of their territory, expanding their relationship with the rivers and also delving into the health and healing of the water after the impacts of uranium mining. They also have recently begun re-seeding river areas to wild rice and are investigating whether toxicity from the toxic waste from the mines will be found in their rice harvest. Their passion and enthusiasm was incredible.
There were fascinating discussions of watersheds and the ways we can combat climate change through watershed rejuvenation. We talked CSA, soil nutrients, strengthening relationships on the farm, permaculture and all kinds of other inspiring ideas. And we got to revel in the presence of multi-generational passionate land stewards.
It was just what we needed to delve into farm planning for the upcoming season!
I recently gifted myself the two gorgeous cookbooks pictured above and have been captivated by the beauty and humanity found in the recipes and stories.
Like some of you, I’ve been consumed by the horrors occurring in Gaza sparked by a devastating attack by Hamas in Israel on Oct 7. And I’ve been filled with sorrow watching the relentless attack on civilians in Gaza and the utter destruction being unleashed there. Upwards of 20000 civilians have been killed in just a few weeks, 8000 at least being children. As a Jewish woman who grew up in a traumatized Jewish community buoyed by the existence of Israel yet fed a narrative that completely excluded the perspectives or even the existence of Palestinians, I can only understand the broad acceptance of civilian death in Gaza as being a product of decades of subjugation, demonization and dismissal of Palestinians and their realities, histories and narratives. In this moment, it is imperative for us all to see clearly the humanity in the people of Gaza (as well as Jews, Muslims and Arabs around the world) and unanimously call for a stop to this brutal campaign.
These books offer a beautiful picture of the culture and lives of Palestinians through the unifying human experience of food. The recipes reflect their deep connection to the land and sea, beautiful family relationships with food, delicious culinary treasures and important historical details. The stories included help provide context and understanding for the current situation and the incredible challenges and inequity faced by Palestinians as well as their resilience and joy. For anyone who has never heard these stories, I encourage you to seek them out; so that we may bring balance and complexity to our understanding of Palestine and Israel and advocate for justice and peace and a commitment to our shared humanity. These beautiful cookbooks will provide you a beautiful opportunity to begin that seeking.
(I also recently read this article from La Via Campesina, a sister organization of the National Farmers Union, to whom we belong. It’s a sobering account but a necessary read).
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