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A Glance at Our Finnish Past
Looking through city landmarks such as the Hoito Restaurant and the Finlandia Club, one cannot deny Thunder Bay's Finnish ancestors. Looking at farm history also shows our Finnish roots.
Combing through photo archives and the memories of some of the older citizens of the area, Will Wilson, associate professor at Lakehead University, has discovered Finnish traditional farming methods throughout the Lappe and Nolalu areas, as well as other locations in the NorthWest. From the land clearing methods that regularly left poplars standing in the middle of the fields to the type of livestock that they raised, Finnish immigrants brought their traditions and knowledge from home and put it to use here in the Lakehead.
Some of the methods that worked years ago continue to be applied to agriculture today. "The Finnish farmers would often burn the cleared land, incorporating the wood ash into the soil," Wilson commented. "This is done today in Thunder Bay by utilizing wood ash from the mills."
Wilson continues to study past and present farming techniques in Finland and other northern climates, including heritage breed cattle suitable for northern climates. Currently he is seeking individuals interested in starting an Eastern Finn Cattle herd here in the Lakehead for genetic conservation purposes. Contact Will Wilson at northernfarms@yahoo.ca.
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Short News
In the area
Northern Agriculture Learning Opportunities
Plans are underway to run a course on Northern Agriculture and Sustainable Rural Communities at Lakehead University this fall. The course would start in mid-August and include 3 weeks in Scandinavia and the Circumpolar Agriculture Conference, held every three years, this time in Norway. There will be an information session about this opportunity in January. Contact Will Wilson at northernfarms@yahoo.ca for more details.
Speaking of the Circumpolar Agriculture Conference, there is interest in hosting this event three years from now, in 2013. (Members of our farming community, including Christina Mol and Jeff Burke, have attended this conference in the past, and greatly enjoyed it.) Would you like to see this become a reality? Contact Will Wilson at northernfarms@yahoo.ca to get involved.
Northern Food Connections: Get Fresh, Eat Local, Go Wild
Thursday March 4 to Saturday March 6, 2010 at Lakehead University.
Join us at the first ever Northern Food Conference. A chance to showcase local food security projects and develop new skills, food producers and consumers alike can attend hands-on workshops, discussions, and displays.
Topics include producer/retailer/consumer connections, small farm stories, do-it-yourself food production and preservation, indigenous food culture & knowledge, food justice, and sustainable food systems.
This event is sponsored by the Thunder Bay Federation of Agriculture, Thunder Bay Country Market, Rainy River Federation of Agriculture, Northwestern Health Unit, Thunder Bay District Health Unit, Food Action Network and the Food Security Research Network.
Feature Speaker will be Margaret Webb, author of Apples to Oysters - A Food Lover's Tour of Canadian Farms.
Visit www.nwofood.ca for more information.
Looking Back
Quest For New Farm Value - Growing Opportunities
With a combination of farm veterans and new ventures, the QFNFV workshop was a chance to brainstorm new ideas, realize challenges and find guidance to added value opportunities. With Eric Long and Rudy Buitenhuis as workshop leaders, participants discussed marketing ideas, "strengths vs weaknesses" and "opportunities vs threats" analysis and current success stories. Thunder Bay Federation of Agriculture is pleased to have been a part of this workshop, and looks forward to hosting other such events in the future.
How many uses are there for a squash? Participants of QFNFV workshop are challenged to think outside of the box.
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Events
January 5 - April 15
Friday, January 15
Environmental Farm Plan Workshop
Register with Peter Brunner before January 8;
Contact Peter at 1-807-938-6417
Thursday, January 21
Cattlemen's Annual Meeting
7:30pm at Founders
Contact: camaki@xplornet.com
Saturday, January 23
Hymers Fall Fair Board Meeting
2pm at Rural 60+, Kakabeka
Interested in getting involved next year? Got Ideas?
Contact: info@hymersfair.com
Tuesday, January 26
Thunder Bay Agriculture Research Station Results Revealed
1:00pm at Founders Museum
Review a summary of 2009 crops
Contact: tarloksahota@tbaytel.net
Wednesday, January 27
OFA- PAC meeting in Sudbury
Northern Federation meeting
Comments or Questions: peggy@tbfarminfo.org
Thursday, January 28
TBFA regular board meeting
Contact: peggy@tbfarminfo.org
Last Week of January
Grower Pesticide Training and Renewal
Contact opep@ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca
March 4-6
Get Fresh, Eat Local, Go Wild
Northern Fodd Connections Conference
At Lakehead University
Student displays, Workshops, speakers and Margaret Webb, author of Apples to Oysters
Contact: www.nwofood.ca
April 6,7,8
Thunder Bay Soil and Crop Improvement Assoc.
Annual Spring Farm Conference
At the Kakabeka Legion Hall
Farm business displays, guest speakers and more
Contact: christinamol@hotmail.com
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Another Great Recipe
All-Ontario Frittata (Potato and Ham Frittata)
A frittata is an omelette of Italian origin. It's a quick, easy supper or brunch dish and a traditional way to use up cooked vegetables, pasta or meat. Serve with sliced ripe Ontario Greenhouse Tomatoes and crusty bread.
Ingredients:
1 tbsp (15 mL) vegetable oil
1 Ontario Onion, chopped
1 clove Ontario Garlic, minced
2 cups (500 mL) cooked diced Ontario Potatoes (about 3 medium, 1 lb/500 g)
6 eggs
1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) pepper
1/2 cup (125 mL) diced cooked ham, chicken or turkey
1 cup (250 mL) shredded Ontario Old Cheddar cheese
1 small Ontario Greenhouse Tomato, sliced
In large nonstick ovenproof skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; cook until lightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add potatoes; cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
In small bowl, beat eggs with salt and pepper; stir in ham and three-quarters of the cheese. Add to skillet; reduce heat to medium and cook until bottom is brown and crusty, about 5 minutes, occasionally lifting edges so uncooked eggs can flow underneath. (If skillet handle is not ovenproof, wrap in foil.)
Sprinkle half of remaining cheese over frittata; top with tomatoes and remainder of cheese. Broil until eggs are set and cheese is melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Cut into wedges to serve. Garnish with parsley.
Tip: If you don't have cooked potatoes, scrub raw potatoes, pierce well and microwave at High until almost cooked, 6 to 8 minutes. Cool slightly, then dice (leave skin on for added fibre).
Recipe Source: Foodland Ontario
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Thunder Bay District Agriculture Economic Impact Study Released
The numbers prove it – agriculture is a positive force in the region.
At the EIS release on October 17th, there was much to celebrate. With continued financial growth shown in the historical data and with great potential for expansion of agriculture in the future, farming in Thunder Bay District is a spot of sunshine in the economy of Northwestern Ontario. With over $32.3 million in gross farm receipts and 605 on-farm jobs, just direct farm impact is significant. With indirect and induced jobs, total jobs as a result of agriculture are between 1400 and 1850.
“This report indicates that farming is on the rise in the area,” stated Peggy Brekveld, president of TBFA. “By continuing to support our research facilities and developing more added value opportunities, agriculture will continue to be a driving force in our local economy.”
Area gross farm receipts are the highest for Northern Ontario at $30,600/farm, and well above the provincial average of $26,200. As well, the number of farms in the district grew between the last two census reports to 252, up from 238.
To read the full report, click on the cover on the right.
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Two Success Stories
Local Farmers Feed the World’s Hungry
Harvest Day At the Canadian Foodgrains Bank field
(Photo : Wilma Mol) 
A group of local farmers have banded together to grow a field of barley that will help those in need of food aid. Proceeds will go to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, which in turn coordinates and provides worldwide food aid.
This year’s crop was grown with the help of a group of about 15 local farmers, in true community fashion. Several farmers donated time and equipment to till the soil, others donated the use of their seeding equipment, the seed itself was donated and yet another farmer sprayed the field with herbicide to control weeds. The use of the field was also donated by the farmer that owns it. Harvest of the barley grain was also carried out by a group of volunteers. A fleet of combines and grain trucks converged on the field on September 19 and completed the harvest in a single afternoon.
68 tonnes of grain was harvested off of 45 acres, about a 70 bushel/acre yield. Total value is $11000, that will translate into about $55000 in actual funding available to the foodgrains bank for project costs. The local growing project is now in its seventh year, and has provided over $47,000 in contributions since its inception.
(Story : Bernie Kamphof)
A New Meaning For Urban Growth
Agriculture is growing in Thunder Bay – literally. Community gardens are a growing success story. Coming in various shapes and sizes, their purpose is to allow access to fresh produce to those who may not have the space or opportunity to grow their own garden at home.
Examples include the Ogden-Simpson Street Garden Project, where people share a plot of donated land, donated water and tools, and St Luke’s Anglican Church, where volunteers grow a garden that neighbours may pick from for free. Garden land may be a private garden that someone has donated, or it may be public property that a group has been allowed to use. The group may decide to work the land into individual gardens or they may collectively harvest one large plot. Community Gardens also make it possible for people who do not have a garden of their own to obtain fresh produce at a modest price. For more information contact the Health Unit Community Nutrition Promoter at 625-8816.
Ogden-Simpson Street Community Garden
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Funding for this project was provided in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the
Agricultural Adaptation Council’s CanAdvance Program, Farm Credit Canada, Food Security Research Network and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.
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Winter in Thunder Bay and Area
As snow blankets the fields and cold air blows in from the north, it would appear that farmers have nothing to do. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Field plans are being made, the first greenhouse seeds are planted, and cattle take special care and feeding at this time of year. In your spare time, take a sleigh ride at one of the local farms, and finish it off with a cup of real, hot chocolate milk. Don't forget the marshmallows!
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Website Updates
Thunder Bay Federation of Agriculture updates this website quarterly. Information for our next update should be in by March 25th, with our next update posted the first week of April. If you would like to advertise in our business directory or our events calendar, contact peggy@tbfarminfo.org. |
Teaching Resources
Have questions about agriculture? want to get the real facts about farming? Check out the resources available through Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc. website. www.oafe.org
The Thunder Bay Dairy Educator is available to teachers for presentations on dairy farming and dairy goodness. Contact your Thunder Bay Dairy Educator today for your FREE visit! Trudy Reid-935-3224 or reidridgefarm@rogers.com
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Job Opportunities
Co-operative learning students and farm hands
Co-operative learning students and farm hands are always needed in the area. If you are interested in such an opportunity, please call Peter Aalbers at 939-1644 or e-mail him at peter@tbfarminfo.org.
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