On Thursday October, the 26th, I headed out to the University of Guelph’s organic farm to complete my volunteering with Martha Scroggins. Martha is the woman in charge over there.
Five volunteers including me set a record at the farm. Martha said that she has never had more than three male helpers at a time. I was ecstatic. I set to work picking the peppers that had ripened up since the main harvest. I was to collect all firm peppers that had some color to them. One thing I did not like about this process however was how many peppers I had to throw away. I never realized at what rate mold and worms could ruin these jewels. After I was finished, Martha introduced me to the term “gleaner,” saying I was wonderful at gleaning. After returning to my room, I looked up the word and found the definition. Gleaning is “the practice to gather the leftover crops after the harvest” (alive.com) or “to extract information from a number of sources.”
The peppers that are grown on the farm require to be in a greenhouse. This containment of the environment leads to the creation of one breed of pepper, rather than the two that had been grown years ago. The blend of the two flavors have led to what is now called “sweet and spicy” which I had the pleasure of enjoying. I can speak from experience when I say the name does not disappoint. Although the peppers are smaller, they do not have as tough a skin as the ones found in grocery stores. However, they make up for it with flavor and aroma. I also learned how to hang and dry these peppers by putting a sewing thread through the stem and hanging them in a well-ventilated area. Dried peppers are an excellent source of vitamins in the winter.
Organic farming is a more intensive method of farming, without the use of pesticides and herbicides. This natural method is picking up much traction and popularity. Compared to commercial farming, organic yields may not be as high, or the fruits and vegetables may not be as big, but there are benefits. Some of these benefits are; healthier food for people, better soil condition and it’s less harmful on the environment. Organic farmers have a strong sense of community and appreciation for the plants and the environment. This has given me a new look at farming and I have gleaned a wealth of information from my organic farm experience.
