What a great year!!!

1997 has been quite a year with big challenges for lots of people. There are many new organic growers in the crowd and each has learned important lessons about field crops: how tight should the combine head be? Unfortunately, some of those lessons have been expensive, but I am sure that the reward next year will be even greater.At Homestead Organics, the word "challenge" is an understatement; "upheaval" is more appropriate. We accomplished a lot by moving from the barn to a proper elevator and feed mill... Above all, we sincerely thank all of our friends and associates. Your support has been tremendous and we hope to serve equally well. Together, the organic industry is definitely going places in Eastern Ontario.

Where is the paper trail?

How do you show your customers that your meats, eggs and milk are produced with organic feeds? Homestead Organics can have an OCIA transaction certificate issued to you for your feed purchases. You may want to display the certificate prominently at your farm or even at your sales booth. To help you manage your operation, we can also include a detailed report of your purchases since July 1st '97. Call us if you are interested; the certificate requires about 2 to 4 weeks for processing.

Too many questions? Running out of answers? Expensive lessons? Organic agriculture is knowledge intensive and you can't go to most neighbours for advice. Before you lose all your hair, give us a call. Murray has grown grains organically for 10 years and he knows planting, crop rotation, harvesting, weed control. Tom can provide a referral service, discuss market conditions and identify product needs for the future. Our customers and growers cover the full range of animals and grain crops. We can direct you to someone who can provide a wealth of experience to a fellow organic producer.

Several associations provide lots of learning opportunities. For one, your certification body usually publishes a newsletter with tips and industry news. They can share the membership list to help you find someone in a similar situation. Canadian Organic Growers (COG) promotes the production and consumption of organic food and thus attracts a wide spectrum of members including farmers, market and hobby gardeners and consumers. They organize several learning events, offer an important lending library, and publish a rich newsletter both nationally and regionally.

The Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO) is more focussed on organic farming including dairy, crops, cattle, vegetables. The association seeks to increase and spread the wealth of knowledge about ecological & organic farming through newsletters, meetings, conferences, and farm tours.

What's in a bag?

Until recently, Homestead Organics offered feed in used bags, mostly with other private labels, all in the spirit of conservation. But our growth over the years creates a potential conflict over branding; secondly, our certification body is concerned about the possible presence of fumigation residue on used bags coming from conventional feed sources. Since November 1st, we are packing only in plain new bags or plain bags recovered from our customers. It may be a while before all the printed bags are out of our inventory. The bags are expensive and quite re-usable; to control costs, we can recover the bags during your subsequent purchase. Please keep the bags clean and dry to prolong their usefull life.

Where's the beef?

While the organic market in Canada is growing quickly, the growth is even more spectacular outside Canada. We have received an inquiry for large quantities of organic chicken, beef and horse meat for export - the shipment must usually fill a 20 tonne container of either frozen or chilled products. If anyone is interested in a challenge, let us know. One producer may not be able to deliver such a load alone, but several producers of various meats could fill a container together. Call Tom for more information or to voice your interest; we are still at the exploratory stage with the customer.

Hay, Doc!

Over the past summer, a few people called looking for or offering organic hay. But we already had our hands full at the time. Should we stock organic hay for your animals? Please tell us what you would like. Likewise, tell us if you will be offering organic hay in 1998. Maybe we can make hay a productive part of your crop rotation.

In the beginning, there was a seed.

The crops are off, the plowing is done (or we hope), the machines are greased. And the cycle starts over again ... with seed. Most growers have difficulty sourcing organic or at least untreated seed and we want to help. Homestead Organics has, in house, limited quantities of certified organic common seed (ie: no identity and no garantees): buckwheat (20$/25kg), oats, barley, rye (each for 10$/25kg) and wheat for feed (15$/25kg). Make your purchase early while supplies last.

With the help of a few seed dealers, untreated certified seed (brand names with performance data) is also available for all cereal grains at competitive prices. Call in early January for full details. As a group, we are able to provide a large enough order to warrant a special untreated batch. Some of the popular wheat and soybean varieties that you may have reproduced on your farm are now outclassed by newer varieties. Being familiar with the needs of the food market, we are offering recommended varieties to anyone considering food grade wheat and soybeans. Call us in early January to reserve your seed.We will have untreated certified seed corn (127$ per bag - about 2.5 acres). Reserve with us with a 50% deposit before Dec 23rd.