Going on a hike was the first official field trip we took as a class. We went to Mount Nemo Conservation Area located in Burlington, Ontario. Doing this was a great way to introduce the outdoors to all of us. It was a first hand experience to interact with nature together. This may not have been my first time being here but regardless, hikes are always enjoyable. Hiking is done for many purposes. For example, it could be for the reason of exercising, meditating, observing plants and animals, and/or exploring.
Nicole enjoying the view (as most would do on a hike and hope someone takes a picture).
I remember about halfway into our hike we realized that we didn’t have much time left to complete the full 5 km. It was around this point when we decided to pick up the pace while being careful with the obstacles along the way. For example, there were large roots and steep slopes as well as narrow passageways between rock. It was incredibly hot that day and on top of physical activity, I think it’s safe to say we all broke a sweat (or two).
Classmates walking cautiously down a narrow path between rock.
During one of our Outdoor School classes we had the opportunity to participate in a workshop ran by Chris Earley. The workshop took place at the J.C Taylor Nature centre, in the Arboretum. We learned about bird calls and participated in some hands on activities, involving bird tagging.
After spending some time inside learning the basics about birds, we headed outside to set up some ground traps in the hopes of catching a bird. However, after waiting for a good 15 minutes we were met with empty traps.
With hope starting to dwindle we switched our sights from catching and tagging to birding. However, we decided to check the traps once more.
To our surprise we found a small Dark-eyed Junco trying to escape from one of the ground traps.
We were directed back into the nature centre, where Chris taught us how to properly tag the Dark-eyed Junco, and how to properly record the physical description of the bird – to input into the online data base.
Finally, our very own Jaedyn completed the honourable task of releasing our Junco ! 🙂
On October 31st, the Outdoor School class headed across Gordon to the Bovey Greenhouse. We’ve seen some pretty incredible things throughout the semester, but nothing quite like the Bovey Greenhouse.
We started out in a massive room filled with large tanks. It looked futuristic, with different bright lights and metallic walls, and Rodger explained to us that this was the area in which they did research for organizations like NASA! There were several different stations set up in which they were experimenting with different growing conditions, and their ultimate goal is to be able to grow in space.
When we walked into the next room, Rodger showed us an example of how they can use light to grow plants in different ways. He showed us lettuce grown under different wavelengths of light, and each sample looked totally different! One was a dark green, one was lighter and the last one was purple. They didn’t just look different, Rodger explained that they actually all have distinct tastes. This was so interesting, because it shows the level of control humans can have over food, and it was a large contrast from the farm and how Martha grows her plants.
Next, we moved into a room that was filled with tiny samples of plants. One entire wall was filled entirely with shelves of plants! In this area, the plants are grown from tiny cells or sections, and the wall displayed the plants in all of their different stages of life.
We also got to see a greenhouse where people can conduct research projects. There were plants being grown as medical treatments, and even for materials such as rubber. Scientists can conduct research in there, and they can take their results back to the companies they are working for and determine whether using that plant is viable.
Finally, we arrived in my favourite room. It was a large, high ceilinged greenhouse filled to the brim with tropical plants. We saw everything from pineapples to cactuses, there was even a little pond with fish swimming around! Many of the plants I’d never even seen before. I had no idea that this place even existed, let alone that it was open to students. People can come inside whenever they want and eat their lunch, study, or just be with nature. This is such an amazing resource to students and staff, because it is so beneficial to be in green spaces, especially in the cold Canadian winter.
GORDON HEMPTON: Silence and the Presence of Everything
Silence is an endangered species, says Gordon Hempton. He defines real quiet as presence — not an absence of sound, but an absence of noise. The Earth, as he knows it, is a “solar-powered jukebox.” Quiet is a “think tank of the soul.” We take in the world through his ears.
It is safe to say that last year I did not picture myself volunteering at the Guelph Center for Urban Organic Farming alongside Martha Scroggins the Farm Coordinator. Assisting with the farms daily routines has been an enriching experience and I would not have it any other way. After harvesting butternut squash during the first venture to the farm, I was fairly enthusiastic to begin what would be a strenuous but gratifying ten hours.
On arrival to my first shift, I greeted Martha in one of the greenhouses. Both Nicole and I were sent off to work, watering various plants and collecting bundles of tomatoes underneath the vines. Because the Center for Urban Organic Farming uses limited technology (only one tractor which is not utilized for harvesting or maintenance of the plants), Nicole and I scooped up water from rain barrels in order to water the garden. The majority of tomatoes that we discovered were already rotting but some remained slightly soft and had an even red colour, indicating that they were still ripe.
As you can see from the image, one of the tomatoes in the bottom right corner looks like a golden egg!
One of my favourite tasks during my time on the farm was harvesting potatoes. I know for a fact, that one volunteer who I was working with had a very different perspective. When I had reached the garden to begin, the vines of the plant had already disintegrated and the mulch and bedding had been removed from the site. Martha explained to me that potatoes can be harvested in the early spring and summer however this sacrifices the parent plant.
To ensure that the potatoes were ready for harvesting, one or two potatoes from a plant had to be dug up. If the skin on the potatoes was not easily rubbed off, then they could be collected.
It was essential within the activity to begin by placing the fork into the soil on the periphery of the mound. This was done in order to minimize skinning, cutting or bruising of the tubers. On reflection, a six instead of four-pronged pitch fork would have been more efficient as then the entire root system could be lifted in one fell swoop. I found it entertaining once I spotted the potatoes, to plunge my hands into the soil and dig for them. This was partially due to the fact that I had a tendency to stab the vegetables. Please note that this was not on purpose, as I was aware that by doing so, I was reducing the storage quality and damaging their appearance! After a few attempts, I was able to grasp the depth of the mound and the location of the plant and therefore caused fewer casualties. The damage tubers were consequently set aside from the market basket as they would rot quickly.
Closed toed shoes were a must, as you ran the risk of accidentally spearing your foot in the process. I did not photograph the activity as it was only two of us working on the patch and I was too consumed with finding the treasures.
I met this little guy shortly after digging the tubers
My final days at the Organic Farm were occupied by weeding, the most popular deed. Although it was a labour-intensive task, the job seemed effortless with the collaboration of numerous people. The heavily dense areas were stripped using our hands and the use of a tonged pitch fork (for the tap roots that extended deep below the surface). Unlike digging for potatoes, this job required the use of leather gloves as thistles could provide you with some discomfort.
In this moment, I was weeding some of the larger plants with members of outdoors school
Two years, I had the opportunity to visit an Organic Farm near Ottawa called Mariposa Farms. It was fascinating to reflect on the experience and juxtapose the techniques used at both sites. For starters both farms have a focus on sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, the owner of Mariposa, Ian Walker, follows Martha’s methods in utilizing crop rotation with no pesticides.
One of the main difference is that unlike Martha, Ian Walker utilizes animals such as pigs to churn up the soil. I pondered as to why this might be the case. Nonetheless, as one walks around the Urban Organic Farming center, it is evident that there are woodchips to form paths and since one must remain on it at all times, the soil never packs down. As a result, there is a permanent bed that allows for aeration in the soil and consequently animals are not required. Overall, the experience at both sites allowed me to strengthen my knowledge surrounding organic farming methods.
Some of the permeant beds visible after weeding
I’m certainly looking forward to volunteering and purchasing items at the Organic Farm in the future (specifically the aloe vera plants or the magic onions). Martha was a delight to assist and therefore my experience at the farm was extremely positive. Even with our lack of knowledge surrounding Organic Farming, she remained patient and it was clear that she really did appreciate our help.
This fall semester at the University of Guelph has by far been one of the greatest as I was given the opportunity to work at Guelph’s organic farm located right on campus. The farm itself is run by Martha, an amazing farmer and kind hearted lady, who takes pride in the nature of the farm as it is all run organically and primarily by her. The farm is supported by volunteers from the university and from around the city of Guelph. Martha enjoys hosting markets every so often to sell her crops to the people of the city and to collect donations to keep her farm running. In addition, Martha makes round trips down to the women’s shelter in Guelph to donate multitudes of fresh vegetables and other crops to the many women living there.
At first glance the task of completing 10 hours at the farm seemed daunting as I have never worked in a garden or such before. Yet, even after the first hour of work with the rest of my classmates by my side it appeared to be much more fun and exciting than I had planned. At the time I had no clue how the work ahead of me would allow me to build an appreciation for the dedication and hard labour that goes into harvesting these crops for people to enjoy.
The first time I went to Martha’s farm I showed up alone and ready to work on a beautiful sunny day. The first tasked that was asked of me was to pick all of the red peppers from the garden and the greenhouse. Martha took me out to the fields and explained to me the decision process that takes place in deciding whether a pepper should or shouldn’t be picked. Martha takes pride in selling only the best quality vegetables as it keeps satisfied customers coming back for more. She showed me how some peppers will have a translucent colour and look shriveled which is indicative of a pepper hit by frost. Due to the recent cold weather many of her vegetables were hit with frost and could no longer be sold.
The peppers that were hit by frost appeared shriveled
The peppers in the garden were almost all hit by frost wiping out entire plants although many of the peppers in the greenhouses were still good to harvest. I harvested many crates full of peppers that were smooth in texture and full of colour. After a few long hours of harvesting peppers my next task was to pick the tomatillos from inside the greenhouse. Martha showed me how to pick the tomatillos saying she wanted “very full” ones not the ones that were tiny and rotten. Alongside my classmate Emily we picked the tomatillos for a few hours while often watering the rest of the plants. After a long day of work on the farm I went home only to return the next week searching for more work.
The tomatillos that were harvested and sold at the market
The next time I attended the farm I helped Martha run one of her last markets as I was responsible for organizing the baby tomatoes and cutting the leaks to be sold. The market provided me with an amazing opportunity to meet some of the locals in Guelph and bond over our love for food. Many people came out to the market and took home numerous fresh peppers I have previously picked along with the leaks I had just cut. It was pleasing to know how my contribution had led to the smiles on these people’s faces.
A display of the vegetables and crops for sale during the market
One of my last days at the farm was spent pulling weeds with many other classmates. A lot of my classmates came to the farm that day eager to help and of course Martha put us to work. We spent hours digging out an entire field of weeds which at first appeared impossible but as we began working together the task became much easier than we had thought. We used a pitchfork to ensure we would be able to reach even the deepest roots but we had to be extremely careful around the greenhouses as the pitchfork could deflate the entire thing if punctured. Martha supplied us all with gloves as the weeds were very prickly and we managed to fill many wheelbarrows full of weeds within hours. We were taught many interesting facts while picking these weeds such as how spiders are a critical part of the garden killing and consuming many smaller bugs and insects that prove harmful to the gardens. After hours of pulling weeds the field was completely cleared leaving us feeling accomplished and proud of what we had done for Martha.
Many students can be seen pulling weeds from the weed infested garden
Overall, working at Martha’s farm allowed me to appreciate the hard work and dedication that goes into harvesting these organic crops. I enjoyed the entire experience as it was an eye opener for me in seeing how hard Martha works and how knowledgeable she is in the field. From harvesting peppers to pulling weeds I gained a new experience that I will never forget. I would like to go back and volunteer with Martha next year as she clearly has a lot of work on her hands and could definitely use the extra help. I look forward to contributing next year and am thankful for the opportunity.
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.”
Medieval gleaning.
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.
The fresh peppers.
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.
While working at the University of Guelph Urban Organic Farm I preformed various tasks including picking tomatillos, watering plants, organizing peppers for the market etc, but an activity that was most interesting for me was weeding. Weeding doesn’t sound too interesting and I wasn’t particularly excited for it but once we began, we got into a system and were determined to finish. There were about 5 of us working together to completely de-weed the area.
Image 1: The area full of weeds!Image 2: The weeds being pulled out by their root
The first image shows how the area looked before, you couldn’t even see a pathway. There was a wide selection of weeds, debris, and dead plants that Martha told us was supposed to be taken care of in July. We used thick garden gloves to pull the prickly bushes (seen in the second image) and for the weeds that were too thick to pull, we used pitch forks and shovels to dig them out from the root. It is very important to make sure they were pulled out by the root so that the weed can be completely eliminated from the area and to prevent future growth. (The third image is the pitchfork next to the greenhouse) But, we had to be very careful with the sharp tools around the greenhouses because if they got punctured the whole structure would deflate.
Image 3: The pitchfork was a key tool for the huge stubborn weeds that were deep in the groundImage 4: The finished product! All our hard work payed off and we can finally see the pathway
We also came across some creepy crawlies in the bushes but Martha explained that many insects, especially spiders, are not only important but actually essential and beneficial to farms because they eat the mites and other unwanted pests in gardens. Kind of like a pesticide, but its a completely natural process! It took a few hours but we finally loaded the last 2 wheelbarrows with the weeds and brought it to the composting area, then admired how well we cleaned up the area (as seen in the fourth image).
Image 5: The tall red root pig weeds
We then moved onto the pinkish/purplish coloured red root pig weeds (As seen in the last image) that grew taller than me! they were much easier to pull out and were less time consuming. Overall, volunteering on the farm was very exciting and I learned so much from Martha about things from strategies on how to take care of your own garden at home to information about insects that are destructive/beneficial to the farm. After a day of working, Martha allowed us to take home some vegetables so I also was exposed to being able to eat what we helped cultivate. It was a great experience that I hope to be able to help take part in again!
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.
Just a small part of the flowers I had available to create bouquets with!
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 bouquet I took home! It brought some colour and joy into my little dorm room!
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!
The tent with ripening vegetables. In a couple hours the back tables, and underneath each table would be covered in lovely green tomatoes!
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.
The beautiful greenhouse (Check out that neat blue barrel!!)
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?
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