A global economic crisis, along with concerns about the environment and our ecosystem, inspired them to give up their jobs in the U.S. and head north to run a farm in Pictou County.
“Nova Scotia is so wonderfully unusual in that there are still smaller farms and not the giant industrial farms we knew in the midwest,” said Jensen of Red Road Farms near Scotsburn. “That is a strength that should be nurtured for the future, to maintain the rural culture.”
It’s this belief that has him excited about a new challenge put to Nova Scotians by the Farmers Markets of Nova Scotia to reconsider their diets in support of local agriculture and commit to a 50 per cent local diet. The goal is to increase purchasing and consumption of locally grown food in the province.
“This can be a really positive thing,” said Jensen, a four-year vendor at the New Glasgow Farmers Market. “There’s been a lot of discussion about food security and the climate impact of shipping food in from across the world. There are lots of good reasons to buy from local farmers.”
Farmers Markets of Nova Scotia executive director Keltie Butler agrees and believes New Glasgow is a community ready to take the challenge.
“New Glasgow has a fantastic market in a distinct community, especially in that the town is a major financial and promotional supporter,” she said. “The fact there’s a good connection makes it unique.”
According to town community development director Geralyn MacDonald, members of town council and other staffers have committed to the challenge and see it as a challenge for others.
“We’re encouraging businesses and residents to sign on and town employees are signing on as well,” she said. “It’s about supporting local food, well being and health and wellness. With 1,500 people visiting the dome on a Saturday morning, it’s also keeping money in the community.”
This is the first year that the initiative is being held province-wide. Last year in Cape Breton, local food advocate Alicia Lake invited islanders to eat 50 per cent local food for the month of September. More than 200 people from across the island took part in the challenge, paving the way for this year’s province-wide effort.
“The 50 Per Cent Local Food Club is about Nova Scotians having a real relationship with the food producers in our communities,” said Lake, a co-organizer of this year’s campaign.
According to Butler, the idea of having half the food at the dinner table coming from the community touches many important issues for residents including improved food security, support for local business owners and economy, and the health benefits of eating fresh and seasonal food.
“With the 50 Per Cent Local Food Club, Nova Scotians have a unique opportunity to stand with local farmers and put money directly into our economy, in both rural and urban communities,” she said. “We are a province of communities and we are being called upon to act – and eat – according to our community values and our shared vision for the future.”
Since the town committed to the challenge, the mayor of Yarmouth has signed up, the mayor of Truro will present it to the town council for approval and Mayor Mike Savage of HRM has expressed interest. But Butler hopes that people might continue to buy local beyond September.
“Part of our idea was that it takes something a number of times to build a habit. We think a month is long enough,” she said. “Some products are harder to find but we hope it will change Nova Scotians’ habits for their own health and continued support and the moral support for producers.”
As Jensen conceded, you don’t go into farming to get rich but initiatives like these can make a difference for local producers.
“It doesn’t take a lot to help and even a ten per cent increase in sales could be the difference between being in the red or the black.”
He hopes that if the initiative is successful, people will sign up in advance. This way, he and other farmers can plan to have more produce at this time of the year. This is similar to Red Road Farm’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, in which the number of members signed up determines the amount of produce. Nonetheless, he hopes people will choose 50 per cent local at least for the next month.
“There’s a different quality with local food. It hasn’t been picked green only to ripen in the truck. Our produce tastes fresh and has so many much more complex flavours.”
To join the 50 Per Cent Local Food Club, register online at http://nslocalfoodclub.wordpress.com. To help participants, organizers have created a website of resources including important information on where to shop, where to eat, and 30 days worth of recipes.
A global economic crisis, along with concerns about the environment and our ecosystem, inspired them to give up their jobs in the U.S. and head north to run a farm in Pictou County.
“Nova Scotia is so wonderfully unusual in that there are still smaller farms and not the giant industrial farms we knew in the midwest,” said Jensen of Red Road Farms near Scotsburn. “That is a strength that should be nurtured for the future, to maintain the rural culture.”
It’s this belief that has him excited about a new challenge put to Nova Scotians by the Farmers Markets of Nova Scotia to reconsider their diets in support of local agriculture and commit to a 50 per cent local diet. The goal is to increase purchasing and consumption of locally grown food in the province.
“This can be a really positive thing,” said Jensen, a four-year vendor at the New Glasgow Farmers Market. “There’s been a lot of discussion about food security and the climate impact of shipping food in from across the world. There are lots of good reasons to buy from local farmers.”
Farmers Markets of Nova Scotia executive director Keltie Butler agrees and believes New Glasgow is a community ready to take the challenge.
“New Glasgow has a fantastic market in a distinct community, especially in that the town is a major financial and promotional supporter,” she said. “The fact there’s a good connection makes it unique.”
According to town community development director Geralyn MacDonald, members of town council and other staffers have committed to the challenge and see it as a challenge for others.
“We’re encouraging businesses and residents to sign on and town employees are signing on as well,” she said. “It’s about supporting local food, well being and health and wellness. With 1,500 people visiting the dome on a Saturday morning, it’s also keeping money in the community.”
This is the first year that the initiative is being held province-wide. Last year in Cape Breton, local food advocate Alicia Lake invited islanders to eat 50 per cent local food for the month of September. More than 200 people from across the island took part in the challenge, paving the way for this year’s province-wide effort.
“The 50 Per Cent Local Food Club is about Nova Scotians having a real relationship with the food producers in our communities,” said Lake, a co-organizer of this year’s campaign.
According to Butler, the idea of having half the food at the dinner table coming from the community touches many important issues for residents including improved food security, support for local business owners and economy, and the health benefits of eating fresh and seasonal food.
“With the 50 Per Cent Local Food Club, Nova Scotians have a unique opportunity to stand with local farmers and put money directly into our economy, in both rural and urban communities,” she said. “We are a province of communities and we are being called upon to act – and eat – according to our community values and our shared vision for the future.”
Since the town committed to the challenge, the mayor of Yarmouth has signed up, the mayor of Truro will present it to the town council for approval and Mayor Mike Savage of HRM has expressed interest. But Butler hopes that people might continue to buy local beyond September.
“Part of our idea was that it takes something a number of times to build a habit. We think a month is long enough,” she said. “Some products are harder to find but we hope it will change Nova Scotians’ habits for their own health and continued support and the moral support for producers.”
As Jensen conceded, you don’t go into farming to get rich but initiatives like these can make a difference for local producers.
“It doesn’t take a lot to help and even a ten per cent increase in sales could be the difference between being in the red or the black.”
He hopes that if the initiative is successful, people will sign up in advance. This way, he and other farmers can plan to have more produce at this time of the year. This is similar to Red Road Farm’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, in which the number of members signed up determines the amount of produce. Nonetheless, he hopes people will choose 50 per cent local at least for the next month.
“There’s a different quality with local food. It hasn’t been picked green only to ripen in the truck. Our produce tastes fresh and has so many much more complex flavours.”
To join the 50 Per Cent Local Food Club, register online at http://nslocalfoodclub.wordpress.com. To help participants, organizers have created a website of resources including important information on where to shop, where to eat, and 30 days worth of recipes.
