Here at the University of Guelph, there is a ton of things to do! From taking a walk in the arboretum and the Bovey greenhouse to grabbing a coffee at a local shop downtown, there’s always something to do. Every student knows about these activities, but what many do not know about is the Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming. When given the task of volunteering at the farm for 10 hours, I thought it would become a chore, but I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived. The first time, I made bouquets of flowers for customers at the markets, then, I was harvesting tomatoes, and finally, I weeded some beds in preparation of the farm closing for the season. Throughout my time there, I learned quite a bit about farming, and even about the university itself.
The first day we went as a class, I thought the farm was wonderful! It was lovely and quaint. When I arrived the first day for volunteering, I realized how much hard work went into the everyday life of an organic farmer. The first Thursday market, I was put on making bouquets of flowers. I had a more simple job, which allowed me to observe the workings of the farm before I was given a more involved task. I saw Martha and the other regular volunteers running to and from, harvesting, tidying, labelling, etc. It was a new experience I loved doing! All the while, I got to handle flowers, and take some home with me!
The second time I arrived at the farm, I was harvesting the last few tomatoes off the vine in the field. This was the first time I got to see the extent of the whole farm. Each crop is placed in a particular place for various reasons. Sunlight, soil quality, beds, etc. With the tomatoes, I learned that they are not harvested when red. Although they can be, most of the red tomatoes on the vine had rotted. For the most part, you harvest the green tomatoes, and then leave them out to ripen. I also realized how much food waste would have occurred should this farm have been industrial. The tomatoes at the supermarket are all large and perfectly round. At the organic farm, they were not. They were still juicy, and perfectly fine, but they were not grown with pesticides or enhanced with who-knows-what. I was able to see, during my time there, what real, untouched food looked like, and tasted like.
We were only harvesting for a short while, but the amount we took back to the market was incredible! We had to reorganize everything in the tent that was ripening, AND we had to use the ground too! There was so much delicious food, it was incredible!
Finally, I was given the task of weeding the beds. I didn’t manage to take any photos of the weeding, but we were told to weed in preparation for the end of the season, preparing the soil in order to be ready for another prosperous crop next year.
All in all, I enjoyed my time at the farm. Martha is passionate, grateful, and a wonderful woman to work for and be around. I really look up to her and her hard work to keep what she loves alive, despite the difficulties she faces. In this day, running an organic farm is difficult. Many consumers want their products as cheap as possible, and as big as possible. They want GMOs, and pesticides, etc. and the university knows this, which is why they do not support her farm. Through this experience, I learned one of the many things I believe the university doesn’t want to be common knowledge. I do not know the exact details, but I learned that the institute does not support the farm financially because they themselves, receive support from large food companies that do not farm their food the way Martha does. This way is not nearly as environmentally sustainable, nor is it as ethical, but because it brings in money, the university loves it. This disappointed me quite a bit to hear. The University claims to be a “green” school, but yet they don’t support this wonderful endeavour and the hard work Martha does. I also learned that the school invests millions of dollars in fossil fuels, AND they do not compost like the rest of the city, even though there is enough resources, and compostable single use items on campus (i.e. the bowls and plates in LA and the UC). I care deeply about the environment, and plan on obtaining a job which allows me to protect it and therefore, hearing this has made me feel very conflicted. Back in grade 12, I had made a pro/con list of each school I wanted to attend. One of the pros on Guelph’s list was that it was a “green” school. I use quotation marks here for obvious reasons. This “green” initiative seems to be only a front put on by the institution to draw students in, and keep the tuition money rolling in.
All this said, I believe that the farm has inspired me to really try my best to support Martha, and people like her in every way I can. I have a new appreciation for the work it requires, and for the benefit it brings to people. What the university does behind doors seems impossible to change, but by reaching out and offering a helping hand to the determined individuals, together a change is not impossible. I look forward to the spring season so I can learn more about the farm, and about growing my own vegetables so that one day, I can perhaps have my own greenhouse, and grow my own produce! Wouldn’t that be wonderful?