Editor:
There’s been quite a bit of chat about the way we’re using our agricultural lands these days. Do we insist on preserving the current ideals or do we put more effort into diversification? One thing that seems pretty clear is that people want our agricultural land to stay as just that – agricultural.
A major issue is that farming and farmers are dwindling in numbers. It’s estimated that in the past 60 years, Canada has lost approximately 66 per cent of its farmers. While there are a number of factors contributing to this (e.g., decline in programs and services, lack of financial incentive, etc.), the bottom line is that dwindling they are. So how can we help farms stick around? How do we support the farmers we have?
Go there. Go buy from your local farms and support endeavours that buy from them too.
The Sunshine Coast boasts a number of working farms where, depending on the season, you can get everything from hay to berries to greens to eggs to brassicas to root vegetables. Heck, you can get beer. You can even get a whole festival (Go Rogue on Clarke Farm).
But the bottom line is that if we want fresh, local food, we have to support the people who give it to us. So the next time you’re heading out to stock up on veggies, consider heading over to your neighbourhood farmer for a bunch of potatoes and a high five.
Arwen MacDonald, Artistic Director, Rogue Arts Festival, Clarke Farm, Wilson Creek
