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Birdsong Farm: Cow-Share Program

About a year ago Naomi Fournier leased some land from her family and started a Cow-Share Program in Enderby, BC. A cow-share or herd-share program gives a person part ownership of a cow or herd, so the person is able to enjoy the products of the cow or herd. Cow-share programs are fairly new to British Columbia. There are five that I know of:
1. Home on the Range, Chilliwack, BC
2. Wild Thing Organics, Christina Lake, BC
3. Birdsong Farm, Enderby, BC
4. Hunny-Do Ranch, Prince George, BC
5. Graham-Knight Farm, Haida Gwaii, BC
6. EcoReality Co-operative, Salt Spring Island, BC

Naomi started a year ago with one Jersey cow and now has three cows. The cows are on pasture during the summer and hay in the winter. She has staggered the pregnancies of her cows so she can have fresh raw milk all year round. Naomi is considering starting shares in goats and sheep. She is the Enderby Chapter Leader for the Weston A. Price Foundation. If you are interested in owning shares in a herd please contact Naomi for more information and share prices:
Birdsong Farm
Naomi Fournier
3607 Trinity Valley Road, Enderby, BC, V0E 1V5
T/F: 250-838-0235
E: naomisbirdsongfarm(a)hotmail.com

If you are wondering what’s so great about pastured raw milk please read Milk: It Does a Body Good?

Winter Storage Part I

This week my family have been working on a modified root cellar for winter storage. Traditionally, a root cellar would be built into the ground. This would give the vegetables a consistent temperature and humidity throughout the seasons. We will try to build a real root cellar next spring.

This winter we will have to be satisfied with a modified work shed. The work shed is a typical 8′x12′ wood-frame constructed building. The building will be too dry. We will have to put pails of water in the building to increase humidity. We will have to heat the structure during the coldest parts of the winter, something a true root cellar would not require.

We will be sourcing vegetables for storage over the next few weeks. We will be looking for potatoes, onions, carrots, beets, cabbage, assorted types of squash, garlic, hot peppers, parsnips, rutabaga, turnips and shallots. As I said before, I am not a local food zealot. But I like to buy as much as I can locally. My largest household expense is food. When I purchase my food locally, my money stays in our community. Also, the quality is better. It is great to be able to look at my plate and know where everything on it came from. It makes me feel somehow more connected.

I am madly making sour kraut and kim chi. I am always amazed at how many cabbages can go into a crock. These crocks will be stored in the root cellar for later consumption.

There are lots of great places to find local food for root cellar winter storage. These are some of the producers I have used this year:
1. Zaparango Organic Farm (certified organic)
Robert Vanderlip T: 250.318.0235
potatoes, carrots, onions, assorted squash, livestock feed corn
2. Lyne Farm (un-sprayed)
Liz Lyne T:250.578.8266
pickling cucumbers, beets, carrots
3. Farmhouse Herbs (certified organic)
Paula and Mendel Rubinsons T: 250.373.2312
pickling cabbage, onions, shallots, parsnips
4. Gort’s Gouda Cheese Farm (certified organic)
T: 250.832.4274
raw gouda, smoked raw gouda (Have Gort’s cut the large wheels into eight segments and vacuum pack. Each piece will naturally age and easily last through the winter months.)

U-Picking Strawberries, Cherries and Blueberries for Winter

Over the last month, we have been working hard to freeze enough soft fruit to last until next year. I try to find certified organic or un-sprayed fruit. I feel comfortable asking the farmers what growing methods they use. Over a number of years, I get to know people and what they do on their farms. This means I can get products that may not be certified organic but are just as good. I feel good knowing where my food comes from and building a long term relationship with my farmers.

I try to find organic or un-sprayed u-pick situations for soft fruit. I do this for a number of reasons. U-pick fruit is cheaper than buying picked fruit. I can get a better quality product. I know the product has been picked that day which is better for freezing. By freezing the fruit I save money even if the price is higher for organic or local fruit. I also know my money stays in my community and doesn’t go to some faceless corporation half way around the world. Of course, I’m bringing my children and I don’t want them to be picking (and eating) in a sprayed field. Nor do I want the farmers to have to get sick from working in sprayed fields to feed me!

I also want my children to know where their food comes from. A child that has picked strawberries knows it comes from a small perennial plant, blueberries from bushes, and cherries from trees. The experience of meeting the farmer and seeing the farm is a priceless experience. I want the children to have some idea of the work involved in picking, preparing and storing food for the winter. Even when they get tired and stop helping, they seem to take it all in by osmosis. They enjoy the experience many times over in the winter when the sweet fruit brings back the memory of the hot summer day picking on the farm. I am surprised at the complex detail in these remembered stories.

If you have never gone to a u-pick before, I have a few tips to make it fun with children:
1. Call ahead to ensure the picking is good and children are welcome. Find out if you need directions to find the u-pick. I try to pick near the end of the season to have really ripe fruit but this is just a personal preference.
2. Ask if there is any special equipment you need to bring for picking. I normally have a number of small pails, boxes for fruit, and plastic freezer bags.
3. Bring water and picnic food.
4. Go as early in the morning as possible to avoid the heat of the day and wear suitable clothing, especially a hat.
5. When you get there ask for picking advice if you don’t know what to do. Make sure the children hear how to pick correctly to avoid damaging the plants.
6. Ask if the children can eat while picking. Usually this is allowed and cannot be stopped in any case.
7. Bring another adult to help pick and share looking after the children if required. Bringing a group of families can be fun too!
8. Bring cash.

I have listed the u-pick farms I have visited this year. Their information is available on the website. I listed the amounts I picked for freezing for a family of four:
1. Golden Ears Farm, RR2 S25 C18, Chase, BC: 250.679.8421: 35 pounds of un-sprayed strawberries in June. I normally need 100 pounds for the winter. This year I picked too close to the end of the season and I could not get back for more.
2. Highland Farm, 4360 30St, NE, Salmon Arm, BC: 250.803.0048: 90 pounds of certified organic cherries in July. Find a good bulk pitter if you are going to freeze.
3. Blueberry Hill Farm, 4886 South Grandview Flats, Armstrong, BC: 250.246.4099: 65 pounds of un-sprayed blueberries in August. I will be going back for more. This is a favorite berry in the household. I will need about 150 pounds.

New Herdshare Program

There is a new herdshare program in Prince George, BC started by Hunny-Do Ranch. They are selling shares for milk. They have raw colostrum, raw butter and free range eggs available. They are hoping to have raw cream, raw yogurt, raw kefir, raw cheese, pastured pork and pastured beef coming soon. Please contact Lesley for more information at Hunny-Do Ranch.

I have never tried their products. If you decide to order raw butter get it unsalted. Good raw butter will have a dark yellow color. If the raw butter is dark yellow with an orange tinge, you are looking at an exceptional product. This butter is produced for a few weeks in the spring and fall when the grass is growing fast and will have the best nutritional value. Raw butter freezes well. I froze 50 pounds of raw butter from Organic Pastures last November and I am still enjoying the product.

If you are looking for up-to-date information about a herdshare program in your area please go to www.realmilk.com. If you are interested in the political situation around raw milk in Canada please go to www.naturalmilk.org.