I have learned a lot since I have become involved with the Save the Prison Farm campaign.  As a farmer, I wanted to see the land remain Class 1 farmland used for agriculture.  As I learned more, I came to see how inmates earned the right to work on the farms, how they learned responsibility, and developed work ethics and most importantly learned empathy for other beings. I learned about rehabilitation from a man who came through the system and out the other side, a better man.  My hat is off to Mr. Leeman for his willingness to share the lessons he has learned.

I also learned the sad realities of this campaign.  I learned my MP did not listen, nor did he participate in the many meetings and events.  In fact, silence and avoidance seem to become the norm.  I tried to speak to him at his levee in January. Twice his assistant blocked me before I had a brief chance to speak directly to the man.  Was it because I sat with other farmers, clear supporters of the Save the Prison Farm campaign?   Naïvely I expected courtesy and some of his time for this very important issue.  I voted for him - what a shock to learn that he would not; or perhaps could not give this campaign the time and attention it deserved.  I am ashamed on his behalf for not representing my rural riding. Shame on him for his silence and lack of support for farmers, the lack of support for local agri-business and all the interconnections we share.  It is shamefully for our elected representative to ignore the value of our food supply and food security.  I freely admit I will not knowingly purchase food from China or from many other countries - because the quality controls we expect from Canada is not globally consistent and terrible things have happened and will continue to do so. I am a huge supporter of the local food movement.

The loss of the prison farm program is a tragedy.  There are so many reasons, and we (all of us in the campaign) have tried repeatedly to get the message to our government and elected officials.  This is bigger than Kingston; this is a national issue.  Yet debates were squashed in a heavy-handed and dismissive way, much the way some of us were treated by the over-the-top response by the police on Monday August 9th.  SHAME on so many levels - the response to control a peaceful demonstration was excessive and demeaning to all involved including the city of Kingston and our government.  I had not realized we lived in a police state - I thought that intelligent logical debates and conversations had a place in this society.  Instead, foolish arguments were presented with little or no data to support the dribble being given to the public.  Our government handled the prison farm issue badly and should be completely ashamed. I have never been an activist, but by god, this sure makes me want to shout from the rooftops about how disappointed I have become. 

My husband and I operate a small old-fashioned farm.  We will continue to farm our land and feed our customers and ourselves with food grown and raised in a transparent, humane and ethical fashion.  Customers are encouraged to ask how we do things and why do we do what we do.  We appreciate that they are interested in where their food comes from.  We truly appreciate their support of our efforts.  We believe this helps make our business practices transparent.  I am not ashamed to discuss the difference between our opinion and someone else's.  We stand to be better farmers and care-takers of our land for learning new ideas.  In case I am not clear enough, let me state unequivocally, the Conservative government appears non-transparent, irresponsible and unwilling to listen to rational debate over topics that concern the public.  Many of the very things they promised but did not deliver. 

I am one very disappointed person.  I expect my elected government to listen to my concerns, give of their time and help do the right thing, even if it is not the right thing according to others.  This is supposed to be a democracy - well as one of our chants suggested: if "THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE "- I am not impressed!

Sincerely
Janet Creasy

Wilton, ON



• The Conservative government insulted farmers by the declaration there is no value in the skills needed in farming.  You suggest that those released will never work on a farm - that may be true, but how many courses did you take at high school, college or university that now do not apply to what you do currently? I don't use Latin in my day to day life, but the knowledge learned has helped in my careers. 
• You will never save $4M because the cost to out-source to a middle man will quickly lose any possible chance of saving dollars.  Why should the prison not work to help feed themselves?  Have you not paid any attention to the MERX tender for milk for three prisons - close to $1M - I can not fathom how the government cannot do the math and see this will cost - what a thoughtless argument and shame on everyone for thinking we are so foolish to believe that $4M will be saved - yet millions can be spent on small ferry port in BC that will never see much use... and the list could go on.
• Why would you not want to jump on the "green bandwagon"?  Use these farms to partner with local communities and all levels of government - be a showcase of how new programs can make Canadian farms be more efficient and support local food movements.
• Take the opportunity to make this a demonstration place for cities and city children to learn that milk comes from cows, as does beef, eggs from chickens etc.  Viewing areas could be created, so schools could learn what farms provide and why farms are still needed to feed people.
• The loss of business dollars to our Kingston community is huge - have you forgotten how widespread agri-business and the off shoots are in a community?  I stand to lose my suppliers because they will be losing a large portion of their customer base.
• I have not mentioned the rehabilitative impact - this is supposed to be a corrections service, not just a punishment system - pay attention to the re-offend rates - you apparently will be surprised to discover that the people who work on the farms learn the value of work, and responsibility to other living things. Empathy is critical to help people stand in some one else's shoes.
• This land is the best in the area - it should never be lost as farmland - we want our government to stop the loss of farmland - where or when will there ever be a chance to have prime farmland in the middle of a city?  In the future the food will have to be sourced closer to the people - this land is prime agricultural and should remain as agricultural.
• Not to mention that fact a green space is good for everyone including the chemical plant that is nearby and therefore the farmland provides a buffer zone.

Mr. Reid - please step up to the plate and listen to your constituents - act now to encourage the Prime Minister and Mr Toews to stop this foolish plan.

sincerely
Janet L Creasy

1. Auction Sale Re-scheduled, Cattle to be moved this weekend OLEX has re-scheduled the dairy herd sale for 11 am on Tuesday, August 10, at their facility near Waterloo, Ontario.  Rather than a video sale, as previously announced, it wil be a live sale -- that is, they plan to move the cattle out of Frontenac Institution before the sale, taking them to Waterloo for Tuesday's sale.  We think they will move the cattle Sunday and/or Monday.   So, we are setting up the COWS trailer again on Friday.  Please call Aric at 546-0869 to sign up for a shift and watch the website for available spaces in the schedule.   We plan to set up a blockade on Sunday, starting around noon.  We need everyone to be there, to make the strongest possible statement about our support  for the prison farms.  Anyone attending will be able to choose the level of participation they are comfortable with -- from actively blocking cattle trucks to standing nearby as a witness or supporter to the demonstration to bringing food and water for participants.   We may need to blockade on Monday as well, so please consider how you can re-arrange your schedule to allow you to participate.   Should the sale proceed, we plan to have prison farm supporters there to inform people that the sale is controversial, and that major farm organizations in Ontario and across Canada endorsed our postion that the prison farms should remain open.  More details later.   Please continue to call Larry Witzel, OLEX general manager (1-800-265-8818), to ask him to withdraw his company from this sale.  Remind him that this sale is controversial and that all the major farm groups in Ontario, as well as national organizations, support the retention of the prison farm program.  Be polite, and non-threatening.  Leave a message on his machine if he is not available.  

There is further information below on the following topics:  

2. Urgent -- flood the PM's office with phone calls, emails and letters 3. Online Declaration calling on the PM to restore democracy in Canada 4. Umbrella left at City Park 5. a couple of interesting URLs         2. Urgent -- flood the PM's office with phone calls, emails and letters   It seems that Minister Toews is adamant that the herd will be sold and the farm program ended.  So, while pressure on him should continue, it is urgent that we flood the PM's office with emails, phone calls, faxes and letters.   Contact Prime Minister Harper, in one or more of these ways: phone: 1-866-599-4999 (ask for the Office of the Prime Minister)

fax: 1-613-941-6900 or email  pm@pm.gc.ca 

or letter:               Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.,Prime Minister of Canada, Room 313-S, Centre Block,                             House of Commons,  Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0A6

Suggested focus: economic arguments: the green technology possibilites and other innovations proposed to CSC Commissioner Don Head, and Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews earlier this month; loss of almost $1million business for farm suppliers in the KIngston-Belleville region; higher costs of outsourcing the milk and eggs now produced on the farm, plus other points you want to express to the PM.

  Contact Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, phone: 1-613-992-3128 fax: 1-613-995-1049 email toews.v@parl.gc.ca letter to House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6   similar arguments  

3. Online Declaration calling on the PM to restore democracy in Canada   There is an online declaration, very relevant to the prison farm campaign, that individuals and groups can sign by going to www.voices-voix.ca Below are the opening sentences of the declaration, to give you a sense of its content:   "Since 2006 the Government of Canada has systematically undermined democratic institutions and practices, and has eroded the protection of free speech, and other fundamental human rights. It has deliberately set out to silence the voices of organizations or individuals who raise concerns about government policies or disagree with government positions..."  

4. Umbrella left at City Park   Someone left an umbrella on a picnic table at City Park, following the civil disobedience workshop held there July 29.  Let me know if it belongs to you.   5. a couple of interesting URLs   an article quoting Vic Toews justifying "the tough on crime agenda" (aka "stupid on crime")  It also quotes Craig Jones from the John Howard Society, with an alternative view. http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2010/07/31/14889356.html   a companion to Toews' comments on rising violent crime -- a Statistics Canada report from July 2010, on falling crime rates: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/100720/dq100720a-eng.htm

Thank you for your continuing support and interest.  We had about 100 people at the workshop last Thursday night in City Park, and people are asking to be added to our email list and phone tree every day.  The information table in front of Tara Foods was very successful in spreading the word, gathering donations, and bolstering supporter confidence that the community agrees with our campaign.   Remember to contact your family members and friends in other parts of Canada, asking them to support the cause through letters, emails, phone calls to the PM or Minister Toews-- the government needs to realize this is more than a Kingston-only issue.  Ask them to contact their MP (especially if the MP is Conservative), Mr. Harper and Mr. Toews, to express disagreement with the decision to close the prison farms. Tell them about our website www.saveourprisonfarms.ca for more information on the issue.   Attached is the brief our campaign presented to CSC Commissioner Don Head on July 9.  You may find it useful in contacting politicians and media.   Keep up the pressure -- every voice counts!

Sincerely, the Save Our Prison Farms campaign

See the full story at

http://www.country-guide.ca/east/issues/isarticle.asp?aid=1000359365&link_source=aypr_CGE&link_targ=DailyNews

In the case of our sows, we allow them to farrow in a small box stall, that has one corner of the pen blocked off with a bar gate.  The presence of a heat lamp helps to encourage the piglets to rest under its warm glow. Venturing out for a turn at the dairy bar. The piglets have to learn rather quickly to get out of mom's way.  To be fair to the sow, it is pretty hard to see little tiny creatures that are one to two pounds in size when Momma weighs closer to 500 pounds.  Mother Nature certainly did not give pigs much in the way of flexibility, so turning your head to look beside or behind you is difficult to say the least.  We admit that first week or two is always stressful for us, the care-takers.  Hoping that all piglets made it through another day or night as the case might be. As times go on, piglets learn the specific "oinK/grunt" that their momma makes just before she slowly lays down and stretches out on her side.  Feeding times are frequent but short. 

We do not rush to separate the pigs.  We generally allow the babies to stay with the mom till they are about five weeks of age.  By that time we have opened up the box pen into a double pen, so everyone has more space.  Then comes the day when you notice Momma has no patience for the "kids".  They show up expecting the dairy bar to present and she roots them aside.  If they try to investigate her grain tub, they may even get rudely tossed out of her way.  If she lies down, it is not on her side, but on her tummy, firmly ignoring all the little noses rooting along her sides.   A few more days, while piglets sneak the odd drink of milk as she stands to eat her grain or hay and then we put a gate between the two pens.  Now Momma is on one side, while babies stand and look at her through the bars.  She may come and sniff noses with them, even lay down close to the gate, but frankly we picture a bit of a relieved expression on her face.  Oh the peace of having no babies, demanding food at all times of the day and night.  The babies run to the gate to call to her, but then notice a new pile of hay to nibble on or perhaps the ball to push around the pen.  Well really what is to worry about, Mom is just over there and this rough and tumble game of tag is pretty fun...

 What has struck us all along is how many people feel strongly about this issue.   This particular issue crosses many political and social groups.  There seems to be as many reasons to be involved in the Save the Farm campaign as there are people.  At one end of the spectrum are farmers, who do not want to see some of the best farmland in Canada, become lost to agriculture, who feel slighted by the notion that farm skills have no relevance in today’s world.  At the other end, are people who believe in justice and support rehabilitation for incarcerated individuals? 

Recidivism is defined as a tendency to relapse into a previous condition or mode of behavior; especially to relapse into criminal behavior. 

Mark Holland asked a very important question. Who do we want released out of the penal system?  He reminded City Council members and the audience, that most people will be released from prison. So we the voting public need to consider who is being released.  Surely we would prefer that released inmate to have had an opportunity to learn empathy (and maybe some compassion), as well as some skills to see them set a new course for their life; rather than someone who has been locked away without a chance for rehabilitation.  That someone may very well have been toughened up in a harsh penal system with time to be angry and think of new crimes to commit?   I think the answer is obvious.  We would prefer to have someone released that has had an opportunity to learn or regain skills necessary for their reintegration into society. 

Wayne Easter as a former Solicitor General had a broad understanding of Corrections Canada and what can be done.  He was well acquainted with the information that inmates who do become involved in the prison farm programs rarely re-offend or if they do, it is more likely going to be a misdemeanor or a civil offense rather than a criminal offense.  He knows the statistics that prove the usefulness of these programs.

Comparisons were made between Canada and the United States.  Canada has a much lower crime rate than the United States and that observation is based on the numbers of convictions per hundred thousand.  Many feel that this is in part, because our system within Corrections Canada provides work programs. These programs provide the opportunity for inmates to learn vocational skills.  So again, it makes sense to ask yourself, what makes you feel safer? A penal system that based on corrections or one based on punishment. 

People feel that the Canadian government is not being open with the public.  They have not released any data to support their claim that they will save $4 million dollars if they close the farm programs.  Yet we know that the prison farms help feed the prison communities.  Recent information provided at the information session would suggest that the sale of dairy products to Quebec prisons from the Frontenac Prison Farm is over $1 million.  We wonder how much it will cost to provide food from a food supply company.  Many people are asking that same question.  The government would have us believe that no one gets a job in farming, it is an outdated occupation.  That is news for those of us farming and working the land.  Working the land, working with animals helps create a strong work ethic, it helps develop responsibility and the sense of doing a job that needs to be done and to feel the appreciation that comes with doing a good job.  Yet where is the openness we have come to expect from a democracy – where is the data to support this BS.

So whose agenda we are being told to swallow.  Is this about cost savings?  Is this about larger food processing companies pushing for more federal contracts?  Is the government trying to reclaim the land for the development of a “super” prison?

We do not know of anyone that wants to see Canada spend huge amounts of money building a super-prison – an environment that will combines minimum, medium, and maximum-security penitentiaries.  To do so would mean moving toward a pod system with less human interaction, involving more technically reliant observation of prisoners and with nothing constructive for them to occupy their time.  The United States is now moving away from the super prison system, they have admitted that it is not good; it creates more problems than it solves.  Those prisons become warehouses stockpiling people. Why would Canada want to follow an example that has been shown to fail?

We encourage you to ask questions and let the government know your concerns.



We appreciated Mr. Allen’s comment about farmers.  He said that “farmers were the only group that he knew of, that would take a second job to keep their first job”. If you stop and think about it, I don’t believe there is another group of workers that would take a second job for that reason.  Yet most farmers will know exactly what he meant.  Because we strongly believe in the idea of being able to feed and look after ourselves as much as possible, it means we have chosen a lifestyle that is comprised of long days and hard work to accomplish our goals.

When I am told by our MP and government that the farm program is not working, I wonder why someone would say that.  It seems that the prisoners enjoy working and doing something constructive with their time. Frankly why shouldn’t they work while they are incarcerated and serving their time.  In fact there are statistics that suggest the re-offend rate is reduced among the prisoners that participate in work programs such as the farm programs vs. the general inmate population. 

We feel very strongly that closing the prison farm programs is the wrong thing to do. In fact I have written about the closure of the prison farms in earlier Ruminations (see April and May 2009).  We have written to the Prime Minister, Mr. Scott Reid MP (federal) for the riding of Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington, Mr. Randy Hillier MPP (provincial) representing the riding of Lanark - Frontenac - Lennox and Addington. Now in an attempt to disseminate the information, we are posting a similar letter here on our blog.  If you are concerned about the closure of the Prison Farms, please spread the word.  The Canadian government needs to hear from you!

An open letter to the Canadian government and the people of Canada,

 January 24, 2010

My husband and I are farmers living in the Kingston area.  We have always voted believing that if you do not vote, you reduce your right to criticize.  Having said that since we do vote we feel we do have the right to express our opinion when mistakes are clearly being made.  We are extremely concerned about the closure of the six Canadian Prison Farms.

We have attended meetings and listened to many people speak on the issue. We heard our local MP and MPP speak at St. Lawrence College (Fall 2009).  At that time we were under the impression they had heard our community’s concerns. Now we wonder what happened.  Why are they not representing us?  We are disappointed in the current government’s decisions to close the Prison Farm programs. 

We feel that poor choices/decisions are being made, and there appears to be great secretiveness and no accountability being given to the Canadian voting public.  We feel we must impress upon the government the seriousness of those actions.

Below are some of our thoughts on why closing the prison farms is the wrong thing to do.

•  Locally the Frontenac and Pittsburgh prison farms are on some of the best farmland in Canada.To remove Class 1 land out of agriculture use is a travesty. I was told that the land would remain agricultural – but who will farm the farmland in the middle of Kingston, if there is no prison farm?
• Prison farms help rehabilitate prisoners - the prisoners volunteer and learn perhaps for the first time in their lives, that being responsible and getting a job done is a good thing.  Since when is the installation of a work ethic a bad thing?   We believe they learn many skills which are transferable to the “real outside” world.
• If our society means even a fraction of what they say – then local sustainable farm operations must be kept operating. Farmers feed people!! Peak oil is a fact – we will need food produced locally to supply surrounding communities.
• The government needs to step up to the plate and turn these farms into examples of new “greener” farm technologies teamed with ethical, sustainable farm practices.
• The six prison farm “communities are integral parts of local business communities across the nation.  Their closure means the loss of thousands of direct and indirectly related jobs.  i.e. prison farm staff, agricultural equipment dealerships; feed stores and many associated trades and businesses.
• Local prison farms contribute to the greater Kingston community by donations of food to the local food bank.
• The prison farms help to feed themselves (the prison communities). To toss out vague and unsubstantiated cost savings of $4 million dollars is hogwash when there are no figures to show the replacement costs to feed the prison communities.  We seriously doubt that the federal government is going to buy locally and support those of us still trying to farm and make a living. So what will happen – you and I both know the answer, some bureaucrat will save money and buy cheap processed alternative food products from faraway places – thus increasing not reducing the carbon footprint due to shipping factors.

This is a national issue, even though we refer to the local prison farms,– the government must show leadership and move our society towards sustainable business practice and promote local business structures. 

The future is now and the Canadian people must step up to the plate and show the world that we can lead the way into the future.  This is the perfect opportunity for all levels of government (municipal, provincial and federal) to set a new course of cooperation and a spirit of community.

• We want the government to stop the rush to tear apart the prison farms.
• We want an immediate halt to the sale of the Frontenac Holstein herd – those animals are some of the best in the province – the loss of the herd is a tremendous blow to all farmers.
• We want an immediate halt to the loss of agricultural land by way of sales plans or potential re-zoning or the unwanted building of an American style penal system grouping all levels of inmates into a “super prison”.
• We want want our government to continue to believe in rehabilitation rather than a punishment based penal system.

 Please pass this message onto your friends and peers.  We hope the Canadian public will help get the message through to the government and reverse the decision to close and dismantle the Prison Farm programs.  

Sincerely,

JL Creasy & RC Langlais

Suggested readings include “Prison farm may not produce farmers but could create better people” By RG Boulianne.  This letter was published in the Kingston This Week newspaper

http://www.kingstonthisweek.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=2261084

http://saveourfarms.ca/   “Farming Matters! Canadians need a safe, secure and sustainable food supply. Ending prison farm programs hurts all of us!”

The Whig Standard recently published an article “Canine connection” by Rob Tripp.  We are reminded how powerful it can be when people work with animals.  So again we return to the prison farm closure issue and wonder how when you have people learning to be responsible and care for animals, why that program is not seen as positive within the correctional system.

The wire door into the poultry room hung askew, the wire torn, the bases partially ripped off the hanging feeders, further along water pails, and tools were upturned.  What the heck, had happened?  My mind was racing, had I not secured the door; but how could chickens have made such a mess? Had raccoons invaded during the day? What were we going to find? As we moved further into the barn, we did indeed find the culprits.  They were sleeping it off in the loose hay and straw strewn across the center barn floor.  Our hogs had broken into the barn.  Yes, broken into the barn.  The hogs had run amok partying and trashing the place.  Not a pretty sight!

Knowing that we had some mild weather for a few days, we locked the pigs out of the barn.  The plan - patch the large craters they had made in the old concrete floor.  Pigs are well designed to root, and it is no wonder they have been called living plows. Finding a crack in the floor and given a bit of time was all the opportunity they needed.  Soon largish craters were excavated.  Covering the small holes with the heavy rubber mats had barely slowed the destruction down. The rubber mats are 4x6’ and ¾ inch thick and close to 100 pounds.  Pigs are amazingly strong and even the smaller ones could easily fold a mat back to get to the yummy hole or perhaps our pigs were tunneling to the great outside much like Hogan’s Heroes.   Not wanting to see the newly patched areas torn up, we decided they could live outside for a few days – we gave them extra straw to bed down in and all seemed well for the first day and half. Then who knows what happened: did they rush the door in a concentrated manner, had something spooked them and they forgot the door was shut… we will never know.  But who can argue with 17 hogs hell-bent to get inside.  Not a door frame, the barrel bolt ripped the catch right out of the frame. 

Clearly the hoodlums were tired after their adventure filled day. They slowly got to their feet stretching, grunting and wagging their tails happy to see us and share their day’s adventures.  Needless to say, evening chores took over three hours to do, that night.  Along with the regular chores, we had to fix the doorframe, repair the catch and install a second barrel bolt on the door and set the barn right. 

Our 17 babies were not given their supper.  Although they felt it was cruel punishment, we were quite certain they had feasted on their supper and the chicken’s grain earlier. They were herded back outside given fresh water and more hay and told to stay put!!  The barn cat and kitten found us quite entertaining, watching us work.  They generally do not see us for that many hours in a row at least not on a weeknight.  As you may be aware, felines seem to believe that humans are here for their entertainment.  And, we did certainly our best to entertain the kitten and barn cat, as we muttered and cursed at the damn pigs, the mess; the time of day and fact we still had not had supper.

Raising livestock is satisfying, sometimes frustrating, is full of hard work, and definitely full of moments of enjoyment for us.  It is a full-time commitment much like parenting.  We would not do it if we did not love the animals and the lifestyle.  And, yes we do know exactly what fate is in store for many of our hogs and beef cattle.  We consider it a reasonable trade – we invest in their well-being and care, keeping them happy and healthy and in return they help to feed us.  We know exactly what they have eaten and what medicine if any, went into our animals.  We know how they live and know that their lives come to a quick end after a short drive.  There are no crowded trucks or pens and long distances to be travelled. Most importantly we respect their contribution in the food chain.  

P.S. Cedarstone has remained peaceful with no further break-ins or break-outs.



Now jump forward a few years… In June a farmer stopped by for a visit. His son had come home from school talking about a discussion on the important jobs in our world. Apparently, the common ones were teachers, police officers, firefighters, doctors etc.  What was obvious to us, was the missing occupation – farming. We wondered how a classroom in a small town surrounded by rural and agricultural land could not think about the farming community.    As our discussion rolled along we wondered if people realized that without farmers, there would be no schools or businesses, that in fact society would be quite different.  History has shown that the advent of agriculture allowed people to have the time to do develop other skills and trades.  It permitted the development of local trade connections and sustainable living skills.  In a primitive culture, most people were occupied with foraging and feeding themselves and their families.  Our present day world allows the majority of people to live away from the land, with no knowledge or concern on how they will feed themselves.  For most people the search for food ends at a grocery store.  However, this has serious ramifications because it appears that people do not recognize the need to keep agricultural land in production and to pay people a decent wage to work the land.  Farming is not a get rich scheme – nor is a job with minimal efforts – hard work and sweat equals results. 

I was surprised; surely, the world values farming as an important job.  Therefore, I began searching the internet for a top ten list of the most important jobs in today's world.  Yet there did not seem to be a straightforward answer to the question - hard to believe - I thought you could find anything on the net... so I decided to do an informal poll.  I realize that this was not scientific nor was it a blind poll – I sent out an email request to friends and colleagues – asking them for the top ten important jobs in today’s society.  Thank you to everyone that took the time to answer.  Clearly it was a thought provoking exercise –many people put a list together – some lists were in order of importance,  others in no particular order, some people went further to define categories of necessary jobs.  They felt it was not enough to say doctors and nurses, they wanted to acknowledge paramedics, physiotherapists, emergency room teams; in effect the group that make up health care in our world. Then there were discussions about the need to have a judiciary system, which includes police officer, judges, lawyers, jurors, and so forth.  There were thoughtful emails about the need for scientists, researchers, technical support staff in the laboratories and students working on research projects.  There was recognition that in fact we need civil servants, politicians, and people willing to lead our free world in a democratic society. 

I had been concerned because I was asking the question, that this would lead people to mention farmers.  Although many did, some did not.  I had 30 respondents, with 245 jobs listed.  Here is the top ten list.

#10 – manufacturing and factory workers

#9 – military/peacekeepers

#8 – firefighters

#7 – civil servants/politician/government workers

#6 – tradesmen – carpenters, plumbers, electricians, architects and builders

#5 –scientists/research teams

#4 – teachers

#3 – law enforcement – police, judges, lawyers

#2 – farmers and the producers of food including butchers, cheese makers etc

And the # 1 valued job is:

#1 – health care worker – doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, ER teams, imaging technologists and so forth.  

Honourable mention goes to the computer and information technology/communication group. 

In the end, I feel more hopeful that our world will remember farmers and the people who work the land.  If you feel strongly about your food and its source – get to know a farmer and tell them ‘thanks for a job well-done!”

We planted gardens and were able to eat fresh vegetables daily.  It began with the early herbs and rhubarb and progressed through onions, and peas and lots of zucchini – but where were those hot days of summer.  You know the ones that typically would have been frustrating because it was too hot to work.  At the beginning of the summer, we had hoped to finish the hay in July and move forward to other projects. That just did not happen!  We finished our hay in August.  Our preference is to do small square bales of hay stored in the barn. However, they are labour intensive and we had to hire a custom operator to come in and round bale some of the hay.  There just was not enough time between rain showers to get the hay done. Of course, we were not alone – most farmers fought the same battle against Mother Nature.  Farmers were trying to grow crops and or harvest hay without enough sunshine or BTU’s to make good growing or drying weather.  So we were left trying to squeeze summer chores in between the rain showers, while muttering and complaining about the weather.  And yes, in case you did not know it, we farmers are never ever happy about the weather.  It is too wet (definitely standard issue 2009 comment/complaint), too dry (not really applicable this year), too hot, too cold – all can make for a standard opening line at the local feed store or wherever farmers gather.  Comparing how much rain fell at our farm with others or with family back home in the County was also standard issue. 

The last calving for 2009 occurred in August, with a bonus delivery of healthy twin heifers.  My husband was (midwife) in attendance as he had stayed home to organize and cover the round bales. A couple of phone calls during the day to announce first the early arrival of a calf followed less than an hour later by another call to announce a second calf had just arrived.  The twins were 10 days ahead of their due date. Pepper and daughters are all doing well.

September means back to school as well as the time to harvest crops. As the days are become shorter and the nights become cooler, we have to pack as much as possible into the shorter daylight hours. For those of us, who like to preserve our food for the months ahead – this is a great time to be in the gardens and in the kitchen.  Farmers markets have become increasingly popular as a great source of fresh wholesome local.  Check out www.farmersmarketsontario.com to find out more about the markets in Ontario. Their resurgence in popularity has provided opportunities for new markets to open up. Below is a list of local markets within an hour’s driving time in or around Kingston. If local farmers markets are going to thrive and survive, we must support them.  Consumers and vendors both profit from the connections made. The consumer will learn how the food is grown and the vendors will learn what the public wants.

The Kingston Farmer’s Market began in 1780, as one of the first Farmers' Market in Ontario, located in downtown Kingston at the Market Square behind City Hall running every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.  North of the city in Verona is the Frontenac Farmers' Market (www.frontenacfarmersmarket.ca) located at The Lions' Club Hall 4505 Verona Sand Road running Saturday mornings, February through mid-December.  The Bath Farmer’s Market is every Sunday mid-May to October at Centennial Park.  The Napanee Farmers Market runs every Saturday at the Agricultural Memorial Community Centre at 170 York Street. The Shriners Farmers Market is open Sundays at 3260 Princess Street at Collins Bay Road until the end of October. Belleville Farmers’ Market, also an older market began in 1816 and is found in the Market Square behind City Hall every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Queen’s University encourages students and staff to shop the Farmer’s Market at Queen’s promoting local, high quality, fresh tasting food to the Queen's community (www.thefarmersmarketatqueens.com). Gananoque Farmer’s Market has moved to a more central location near the town hall on Saturday mornings. Lansdowne Farmer’s Market started two years ago and can be found Friday afternoons at the Agricultural Society Fairgrounds. Community Harvest Market on the Grounds of the Wally Elmer Neighbourhood Centre runs on Sundays in Kingston. Amherst Island Market operates on Saturday mornings.  This list of local markets may be incomplete as new ones start up.

If you are not sure what produce is available and when, check out Foodland Ontario’s website http://www.foodland.gov.on.ca/english/availability.html.

In closing, although we lost all our tomato plants and tomatoes to a late blight, I was able to make my tomato sauce for the coming winter by shopping at a local farmers market. Two bushels of tomatoes and three long days later in the kitchen, we are set to survive another winter.  It may be some latent human version of the chipmunk/squirrel type gene – but we are not really ready for winter until some canning is done and stored on the pantry shelves. Hope you enjoy the harvest season, and all the fresh produce that is now available, we do!