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Minggu, 24 Juli 2011

City Farming

City farming produces an economic return from the unused or underutilized space that exists in many cities

Intensive methods of small-scale food production are potentially more efficient than the traditional farming methods used in rural areas.

City farming is critically important for making city more sustainable and less dependent on important supplies.

There is a huge demand for leafy vegetables as they accompany he tradtional maize porridge (ugla) as vitamin supplement.

Green spaces are maintained in otherwise completely built up areas

Open spaces are not encroached on easily but are respected by city dwellers. This helps to prevent the spread of unplanned squatter houses. Productive open spaces can serve as place-markers for alternative future uses.

A production site will hardly be turned into haphazard public dumpsites.

Home food production in city communities is more likely to supply needed nutrients (essential vitamins and considerable protein and calories) than the existing market system since he variety of food for sale is often limited and quality and freshness may be impaired

Many new migrants to cities come from farming areas and alread possess agricultural skills.

City food production activities can employ poor city residents generating incoome and fostering a sense of achievement and hope.



Benefits at Micro Level

Creative Pleasure

Highly tasty, nutritious, fresh vegetables and fruits.

Good Health

Eco-friendly, pollution free environment.

Optimal use of available space.

Recycling organic waste.

Reduces stress and brings peace and tranquility.


Benefits at Macro level

Waste management: Decreases urban waste management costs.

Environment: Improves urban environment

Economic: Increases economic and entrepreneurial activity in the city.

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Farming's big business, say Valley FCC pros

It's not all heirloom tomatoes, alpacas and farm markets; getting into agriculture takes money and solid planning

By Lexi Bainas, Citizen July 22, 2011

Farm Credit Canada.

If the name sounds familiar, it should.

They've been around for 50 years across the country and have had an office in the Cowichan Valley since 1998.

FCC is a federal crown corporation that offers financing for farmers, all the way from small operations just starting up to massive agri-businesses that have been around for generations.

The Citizen talked to FCC's relationship managers Barry Remus and Pat Durose at their office at 202-2700 Beverly St. in Duncan about financing, farming, and related subjects.

Remus and Durose both have long histories in farming and are proud of their corporation's traditional ties to one of Canada's most important communities.

FCC's roots are deep, according to Remus.

"When the Second World War veterans started to come back in 1945, the [federal government of the day] set up the Veterans Land Act. It helped veterans who wanted to buy a house or a farm or a business. The Veterans Land Act would actually lend them money at a good rate to do so, to get them started. It created employment when all the soldiers came back. Then, in 1961, the Farm Credit Corporation actually took over the Veterans Land Act and administered the portfolio and turned it more towards the direction it's taking today," he said.

FCC is national, with offices strategically placed throughout Canada and offers services to all kinds of farmers, not only those producing primary products like dairy and berries or chickens but also those working in areas that include processing, like vineyards and cheese plants, said Durose.

Prior to the late 1990s, FCC would send an account manager over from Abbotsford to handle Valley accounts and queries.

"He'd come over once a month or so and do a blitz, handling enquiries. But since October 1998 our doors have been open here," she said.

Remus said the Cowichan Valley office has grown from there.

"Even though it may seem that there's a lot of consolidation in agriculture and farms are getting larger, there are a lot of small operations starting out with five or 10 acres, which could be market gardens or whatever offering higher value crops. If you've been watching the farmers' market downtown, you'll remember there wasn't that much volume of product at the start but when you look at it today, you can buy almost anything there from homemade bread and baked goods to jams and produce. It's exciting," he said.

Vancouver Island is somewhat unique because there are many small parcels of land that can be farmed and the price of land itself here is also a factor, he said, agreeing that some of the Valley's farmland could also be described as the most appealing residential land in all of Canada.

Can farming pay enough to pay that price?

"I think that is a challenge that agriculture producers are faced with all across Canada. They try and establish an agriculture business in a rural residential area in competition with rural residents who don't look for production off the land to pay all their mortgages and bills. Basically, we [FCC] fill that gap. The nice thing about Vancouver Island is that we can grow 230-240 different agricultural crops whereas in the rest of Canada they're curtailed.

"Some areas can only collectively grow five or 10 crops plus livestock. People on the prairies aren't growing truffles or things like that; those are high value crops that are paying for high value land." Remus said.

Vancouver Island is a unique area. There are lots of different eco-systems. One person can grow something here and another person two miles down the road can't grow it, he said, adding that on the Island, the Cowichan Valley is one of three main pockets of agricultural land. The others are the Saanich peninsula and the Comox Valley; there's also a little area in the Parksville/Coombs region.

Both Durose and Remus said that agriculture is huge here in the Cowichan Valley and that knowing where food comes from is becoming more and more important to local residents.

Remus pointed out that films like Nick Versteeg's Island on the Edge have enhanced consumer support of agriculture on Vancouver Island by showing how little food supply is actually available here, if the offshore supplies ceased.

People are even looking at producing older varieties of fruits and vegetables on smaller farms and finding interest among buyers.

Remus said there are two sides to that and both can benefit.

"There is a reason for their popularity at markets. A lot of the heritage varieties were bred for taste, rather than shelf life. And nowadays, many varieties grown in big farms are bred for volume production to help pay for the price of land."

This is opening a window for a different kind of agriculture, for smaller operators, options that are even increasing on the prairies along with places like the Cowichan Valley.

So, how do clients find their way to FCC?

Durose said a lot of it is word-of-mouth. Everyone in the industry knows about the corporation. "We understand agriculture. We understand their business and we have access to resources."

Think tanks at FCC cover subjects like the beef industry, the poultry industry, and what's happening in wineries. There's a knowledge base there, and it's community-based within that special group, she said.

The Internet and booths at agricultural conferences, trade shows and other events also spread the word.

People trying to get into agriculture for the first time learn, while doing their due diligence, preparing a business plan, researching and talking to farmers in the area, that Farm Credit is around and helpful, Remus said.

"That's all we specialize in. Once you have a large enough critical mass, you can learn by experience. When you finance as much of agriculture as we do, you create your own understanding within the industry. There are other financial institutions that finance agriculture but it's our total focus and we believe we have an understanding of the area."

Durose agreed.

"We're known. We cater to our people, work from a farming perspective."

Still, one of the biggest challenges is helping people who've never been involved in farming before.

"It's because the market value of land and the amount of capital involved is so large. But we do offer some different programs. We have a transition program in which the vendor will carry some of the funding but we'll guarantee the funding to the vendor. That lets the new farmer start with enough equity. We have a number of different programs for people in different situations. But, at the end of the day, we're like all financial institutions: we lend out money and we expect to get it paid back," Remus said.

Are people able to move into agriculture in the Cowichan Valley if they want to?

It depends on the industry, according to Remus.

"Some industries are a lot easier. If people have the drive to do something, they will get there. It used to be that if you couldn't get a job, you could always go back to the farm," he said. "Well, those days are gone in agriculture. Now, it needs passion and drive."

Durose emphasized that there is plenty of planning needed, too.

Anyone who wants to get into farming really has to set it up like a business, with a business plan that shows where they are now, where they hope to be in five years time and how they are going to make that happen.

The Cowichan Valley is also attracting families or couples who want a career change and see farming as a viable opportunity.

"The capitalization, all the management strategies and techniques to be successful are no different than any other business out there. Agriculture's changing as fast as any other industry out there."
© Copyright (c) Postmedia News




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Jumat, 15 Juli 2011

http://www.tomsrivernjonline.com

County touts environmental friendliness of Toms River facilities

By Toms River, NJ on Jul 14 2011
Filed under: Toms River Community, Toms River Politics

TOMS RIVER – From the lawns outside the historic Ocean County Courthouse on Washington Street to the plantings around the Ocean County Administration Building, the county’s Department of Buildings and Grounds takes an environmentally friendly approach in maintaining county properties.

“With attention focused on the use of fertilizer and its affects on our waterways and environment, we conducted a review of how Ocean County maintains its many properties throughout the county,” said Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Department of Buildings and Grounds. “Not only are we in compliance with recently passed legislation but we have been taking an environmentally friendly approach in maintaining our properties for many years prior to its passage.”

The legislation, signed into law earlier this year by Gov. Chris Christie, establishes statewide fertilizer standards, restricts the amount of nitrogen used along with fertilizer content.

“While this law outlines the dos and don’ts for the proper fertilization of properties, I am confident that in Ocean County we have been doing the right thing for the environment for many years,” Vicari said, noting the county implemented an Integrated Pest Management Program a decade ago.

“Our buildings and grounds staff are always looking at new and innovative ways to take care of the land around county facilities,” he said.

While groundskeepers still use pesticides and fertilizers to control pest populations, the current approach puts an emphasis on using products that are providing the nutrients plants need and not harming the environment.

“We now employ a variety of strategies including bi-weekly monitoring, rather than applications based on the calendar,” Vicari said. “By finding problems sooner, it makes control easier and less costly.”

Organic in nature, products used by the County for fertilizing lawns and for pre-emergent weed control are in compliance with the new legislation.

“We have been using these products long before the legislation was signed into law,” Vicari said. “This Board has always made an effort to be environmentally proactive and our groundskeepers have helped substantially in those efforts.”

Composted poultry manure, rock phosphate, sulfate of potash, ammonium sulfate and methylenc urea make up the county’s fertilizer, which encourages a buildup of a carbon foundation in the soil that allows for the reduction of excess fertilizer.

“The soil first approach improves biological activity, with a healthy soil, you will have healthy lawns and trees,” Vicari said.

Also, for the last decade, Ocean County has used corn gluten for weed control. The corn gluten acts as a non-toxic alternative to traditional chemical-based weed and feed products.

“This is yet another example of an organic and yet effective way of staying green and reducing our use of chemical based products to achieve our goals,” Vicari said.

He added another step taken by groundskeepers is to monitor watering.

“While we cannot control the amount of rain or humidity, we can use irrigation practices more effectively, reducing water cost by watering only when needed,” Vicari said.

In addition, the county uses biological controls like the Brachymeric Intermedia wasp to help in the control of gypsy moths.

“When we use less pesticides, natural predators are encouraged to do their job the natural way,” Vicari said.
The county also is taking steps to begin planting disease and insect-resistant varieties of trees and plants.

“Ocean County will continue to be proactive in maintaining its grounds,” Vicari said. “I want to commend Joseph LaManna and George Stryker, who lead our groundskeeping staff for their dedication to keeping the county green without reliance on harmful products. With more than 135 facilities throughout the county it is important we lead by example and we are doing just that.”

Short URL: http://www.tomsrivernjonline.com/?p=1609

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