Thanks be to God! The Thanksgiving weekend is a bittersweet event for us here at Zettel Family Farms. It is the finale of turkey production, which means one less chore each morning and night. The absence of turkeys, who inhabited the space between our house and the river, and occasionally visited our patio without an invitation, signals the end of summer. Thanksgiving is, for farmers, a good time to reflect on the year of planting and harvesting and storage and delivery – the year that is winding down. But for us, it is also the most turbulent weekend of...
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Grazing Management – the Science of Grass
One of the foundations of a pasture -based organic farm is rotational grazing. We adopted this management strategy back in the 1980’s when we were still milking cows, and like everyone else were feeding them in confinement. What that means is that you harvest the feed with machinery and bring it to the animals who are confined in the barn or yard....
What is a cover crop?
When we learned about organic farming in the 1980’s, the term “cover crop” was brand new in the language of farming here in Canada. Pioneered by organic farmers the use of cover crops is now catching on with conventional agriculture as a means to enrich the soil and prevent erosion. Cover crops are plantings that are intended primarily for soil improvement. Usually they are incorporated into the soil while the crop is green and growing. The tilling in of lush, green vegetation feeds the soil biology. Just like the livestock in our barns thrive on good feed, the livestock...
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Our Global Trade in Food
Ted reflects on the impact of COVID-19 on our food supply and how a little food insecurity might actually be a good thing....
More on “Beyond Meat”
February 26th, just a few weeks ago, was “Ash Wednesday”, the day when many Christians around the world observe a day of fasting, the beginning of a 40 day preparation for Easter. On this day they abstain from eating meat. Coincidentally, I turned on the radio while driving to catch an interview with Mark Bittman, the celebrated food writer, on the topic of plant based meat substitutes. It’s worth a listen if you have time; https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-63-the-current/clip/15762625-national-affairs-panel-on-climate-and-resource-policy-mark-bittman-on-plant-based-meat-continuing-the-work-of-iranian-canadian-scientists-lost-in-flight-752-how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-coronavirus As you know, the introduction of plant-based burgers and sausage at fast food outlets like Tim’s and Burger King drew a lot...
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February 2020
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November 2019 Newsletter
https://mailchi.mp/0e767f69e284/the-gift-that-gives-back?e=...
September 2019 Newsletter
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Helicopters, Soil Life, and Healthy Food
On a warm August evening I returned home from making some deliveries to see a helicopter circling over my house alarmingly low to the ground. He headed across the river, almost brushing the treetops and dove lower out of sight in my neighbour’s corn field. There was no crash though, and soon he reappeared to repeat the same maneuver. My initial thought was that maybe the authorities were scouting for marijuana plants. They used to do that from the air – back in the days when pot was illegal. But the systematic flight pattern of this noisy bird made...
"Helicopters, Soil Life, and Healthy Food"Continue readingJuly 2019 Newsletter
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