Old 99 Farm, week of apr 14 2019

Lots of lovely greens in the hobbithouse. Take a look.
We have Russian Red and ‘Dino’ kale, spinach, perpetual green chard, rainbow chard and buttercrunch lettuce.
In the store freezers we have a nice variety of pork and beef cuts, and roasting and stewing hens. We have soup bones for making broths and soups.

Pork is on special this week: 15% off market price. Ribs, shoulder roasts, butt and loin chops, smoked cuts.

There are tree saplings now diggable, quite large, about 8 ft tall: Locust, eastern chestnut.

Eggs are three doz for price of two, in other words, buy two doz and get the third free.

Compost for your garden, organic inputs from cow, chicken and pig manure, lots of straw and wood chips, innoculated with beneficial organisms, biochar and rock flours. $4/bushel (35L) or $60/cu yd (22 bushels).

Your climate news site of the week: ScientistsWarning.org
This is what they say in the intro to their website, set up as a ‘wiki’.
Welcome to the Scientists’ Warning Wiki
The Scientists’ Warning WIki is full of relevant, powerful learning resources geared to the individual, local, regional, national and global levels. The Wiki aspires to answer the question “So what can I do?” It also tackles questions about climate science and related issues. Get started by reading our FAQ. Then watch a video introduction on how to be a better steward on Spaceship Earth. They say a journey of a thousand steps begins with the first step. Start here!

There are many ways that we can act to intervene in the catastrophic trajectory that civilization is taking in terms of the unfolding climate crisis. We refer to these actions as ‘interventions’ since we cannot ‘solve’ many of these problems in the conventional meaning of the word (putting things back the way they were), but we can intervene to improve them. This is in the spirit of Drawdown by Paul Hawken, which offers 100 of the most substantive solutions to global warming as a source of information.

Healthy eating
Ian and Cami

apr 4 2019

Lots of lovely greens in the hobbithouse. Take a look.
We have Russian Red and ‘Dino’ kale, spinach, perpetual green chard, rainbow chard and buttercrunch lettuce.
In the store freezers we have a nice variety of pork and beef cuts, and roasting and stewing hens. We have soup bones for making broths and soups.

Pork is on special this week: 15% off market price. Ribs, shoulder roasts, butt and loin chops, smoked cuts.

There are tree saplings now diggable, quite large, about 8 ft tall: Locust, eastern chestnut.

Eggs are three doz for price of two, in other words, buy two doz and get the third free.

Healthy eating,
Ian and Cami

Old 99 Farm, week of Apr 1 2019

Yes, the farm market is open this week if any one has need of it. A delightful crop of greens is prospering in the HobbitHouse, eggs laid up by the hens aplenty, meat of cow, pig and chicken fresh frozen and waiting.

Old 99 Farm, Week of Mar 23, 2019

Greenhouse looks lush with mature plants now in all beds: spinach, collards, kales, chards. The rhubarb is showing it’s head, will likely have stalks in couple weeks.

Pigs went to market this week, will have halves and wholes for the freezer. About 50 lb of meat wrapped per side.

Eggs are on special, buy two dozen, get one free.

Beef still has 15% discount on 20lb and quarter orders.

On the climate front, Hamilton city council passed a resolution this week with unanimous vote to declare that climate change is an emergency. Here’s the wording:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

(a) That the City of Hamilton declare a climate emergency that threatens our city, region, province, nation, civilization, humanity and the natural world;
(b) That a multi-departmental Corporate Climate Change Task Force of City of Hamilton staff be created under the leadership of the City Manager;
© That the Corporate Climate Change Task Force be directed to investigate and identify:i. Additional actions to be taken to incorporate into existing plans and policies to achieve net zero carbon emissions before 2050, etc. (and report back in 120 days).

This is a big deal! Only symbolic at present but hey, we hope they mean it and will be working hard to keep them true to their word. If you want to write your councillor a word of encouragement, I would be pleased. Let me know you did. I’m active with the grassroots movement called Extinction Rebellion. Find us on facebook.

Healthy eating
Ian and Cami

Climate News

Artists for Climate Action Apr 13-12 at Spice Factory
AFCA is a group of local Artists makers and creators who have come together compelled to stop and reverse this senseless destruction. Creating awareness and creating action to motivate Hamilton to play its part in tackling the greatest existential threat humankind has ever faced.

Cami and I went to the ‘townhall meeting’ held for Climate Minister Catherine McKenna at Mohawk college on Wed Mar 13. It was well attended, well orchestrated and well executed for a pep rally for the current government’s plans. We heard an articulate and gutsy McKenna lay out the ambitious plans necessary to come to terms with this existential threat. She did call it that. She also said three times that the people need to get out in the street to show their concern. She lamented the partisan politics of her opponents who are already campaigning to win by scrapping a price on carbon. But McKenna has it right: we all have to pull together in this; it’s away beyond left/right politics. How’s that going to happen? People in the street, school kids on strike, and leaders telling the whole truth.

Healthy eating
Ian and Cami

Old 99 Farm, week of Mar 3 2019

Posted Friday am, just in case some of you are wondering if I sold out last week!

Another cold front hit us this week, normal temp range is -2 to -10 and we’re registering -20 this morning.
The greens are growing, now that we have 10hrs+ sunlight a day, the plants are waking up. Fresh greens on the menu, local and tender: kale, spinach, collards, chard, lettuce. See the online store for all items.
The beef special is held over, still offering 15% off the price of 20lb pack and the quarter.
Pork halves and quarters are available now to place your order, pork born and raised here, fed organic, no medications or GMO. Deposit $50.
Eggs, we will hold over the three for two deal again. Please consider helping your farmer get some local profile: give a dozen eggs to a friend or neighbour and tell them where they come from!

I’m doing a talk on Climate Emergency at the Westdale Library tomorrow Saturday at 11am with discussion at 12 about the Extinction Rebellion movement worldwide. You can register at Eventbrite by clicking the link above.

Artists for Climate Action Apr 13-12 at Spice Factory
AFCA is a group of local Artists makers and creators who have come together compelled to stop and reverse this senseless destruction. Creating awareness and creating action to motivate Hamilton to play its part in tackling the greatest existential threat humankind has ever faced.

It feels appropriate to end with this quote from former Justice Minister and truth-tell, Jody Wilson-Rambo-uld at her testimony on the Lavallin bribery scandal hearing:
“I will conclude by saying this. I was taught to always be careful of what you say — because you cannot take it back — and I was taught to always hold true to your core values and principles and to act with integrity. These are the teachings of my parents, grandparents and community. I come from a long line of matriarchs and I am a truth teller in accordance with the laws and traditions of our Big House — this is who I am and who I will always be.”

Old 99 Farm, week of Feb 24 2019

Another cold front hitting us this week, normal temp range is -2 to -10 and we’re headed for -19.
The greens are growing, now that we have 10hrs+ sunlight a day, the plants are waking up. Fresh greens on the menu, local and tender: kale, spinach, collards, chard, lettuce. See the online store for all items.
The beef special is held over, still offering 15% off the price of 20lb pack and the quarter.
Eggs, have to reluctantly put out the three for two deal again, those hens are back to laying as they should. Please consider helping your farmer get some local profile: give a dozen eggs to a friend or neighbour and tell them where they come from!

I was at the National Farmers Union Ontario division annual meeting last thurs/friday. Was it ever a well done event! the Gray/Simcoe county local hosted it in Alliston, food was provided from local sources, movie nite documentary was called Disconnected, by Egyptian-Canadian film-maker Tamer Soliman. About modern culture’s expanding loneliness and anomie, and what to do about it. We learned about a grassroots project, Soil Health Coalition, showing farmers who to increase the soil organic matter and related benefits of yield, nutrition, eco-system services. NFU-O is the most progressive of the three farm organizations, is active largely on the policy front and also engaging urbanites in the food growing community. You might consider joining!. Only $75 to support the most progressive, climate-change aware, local community boosting farm org. “While our farmer members have the supply side down, many of our foodie members are championing the demand side of the equation. Our organization takes on projects that help to support you in your advocacy for local, sustainable food. We connect with allies in education, health care, and urban communities so that they know they have the support of local farmers as they champion more local food in their daily lives.”

Greenbelt and landuse planning changes proposed by PC Ontario Government. Only till midnight Feb 28 to send in comments to growthplanning@ontario.ca. Include that you are commenting on Proposed Amendment to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe 2017. Environment Hamilton has posted their comments on their website at STOP SPRAWL which you can use for your guidance. One key issue I’m aware of: the government wants to make it easy for municipalities to convert farmland to subdivisions, so they propose that individual farms can be rezoned without considering if they are in the Greenbelt or ecologically sensitive areas.

Climate Emergency
I’m giving a talk on March 15 at the Langford Schoolhouse on the climate emergency. It’s a potluck and social event as well as intended to bring you up to speed on the reality of abrupt climate change risk and what must be done. More details next week, but mark the date!

Young Farmers Convergence
I just learned there are still spots open and bursaries available for this three day event Mar 5-7. If you know anyone under the age of 36 who wants to grow a career in farming, or is one starting up and needs help finding land, this is the place to be. Additional questions can be sent to Ayla Fenton, at nfuyouth@nfu.ca or aylafenton90@gmail.com.
The National Farmers Union (NFU) Youth and in partnership with the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario is planning for the 2019 Young Farmer Convergence! The purpose for the gathering is to offer young farmers workshops, planning and skill-sharing. Our mission is to build capacity for young farmers to be part of an effective social movement and empower them with tools to employ creative solutions to the challenges posed by climate change! This event will bring together dozens of young farmers chosen from around Canada. Successful participants will learn about political organizing and social movements, climate action and agriculture and indigenous solidarity in the context of farming.
https://youngagrarians.org/nfu-2019-young-farmer-convergence-apply-attend/

Healthy eating
Ian and Cami

Old 99 Farm week of Feb 10 2019

Quick message: all freezers are full of my grass fed organic beef. To get you to try it, take 15% off the price. you’ll see. It’s worth it.
and greens and eggs and chicken and pork.
come and get it.
ig

OLd 99 Farm week of Feb 3 2019

Here’s what we have this week:
- eggs, mostly XL and Jumbo
- collards, carrots, lettuce
- beef: ground, stew and roasts, special 15% off.
including two 30 month old steers just back from the butcher, boxed as mixed quarters, also 15% off
- pork: all cuts including smoked items
- chicken: roasting and stewing hens
- potatoes
- celeriac
- lard, rendered or minced
Soon we’ll have spinach, chard, kale as the days lengthen, the plants now in the soil in the greenhouse will put out a burst of growth.

We got through the cold snap, minus 28C and all, with the vegetables in the Hobbit greenhouse still alive and well. Don’t has how much firewood I had to lug in there every three hours at night!

I’m doing a townhall meeting Wed evening Feb 6th at 8pm on Climate Emergency Here and Now, what to do??? Come get up to date information and start considering how to be part of the solution, be the change the earth needs us to be. Co-sponsored by Lions Club, Hamilton 350 and National Farmer Union – Ontario. Located at Copetown Community Centre.

Check this video lecture by my favorite climate scientist Kevin Anderson who tells it like it is to students at Oxford University in Jan 2019.

Old 99 FArm, week of Jan 20 2019

I’ve been nursing a crop of buttercrunch lettuce through the winter so far with success, but this cold snap is likely going to be the coup de gras. Order lettuce week! I’ll leave the roots in the ground for second crop.

Here’s what we have this week:
- eggs, mostly XL and Jumbo
- collards, carrots, lettuce
- beef: ground, stew and roasts
- pork: all cuts including smoked items
- chicken: roasting and stewing hens
- parsley
- potatoes, onions
- celeriac
- lard, rendered or minced

Today Tuesday I took two steers to the butcher so will have full freezers next week. If you want a half or quarter cut to your specifications, please let me know by next Tuesday. All beef on special 15% off.
I’m taking orders for sides or quarters of beef, and for pork. $100 deposit for a side or a whole, $50 for a quarter. We offer a 50lb pack as well. This is all meat we raised here on the farm, organic, grass fed.

The hens are reacting to the cold by cutting the rate of lay by 3/4s. Never seen this drastic drop before.

Yea, Healthy eating,
Ian and Cami