While the demand for locally grown food is increasing and concepts such as the 100 Mile Diet are top of mind, according to the Canadian Census of Agriculture, the number of farms in the Kootenays has decreased since 2011.
Farmers markets and the demand for seasonal produce are increasing and even some local retailers are stocking locally produced foods.
75 per cent of residents in the Basin-Boundary regions prefer to buy locally-produced food and more than two-thirds would pay extra for local, says a report from the Columbia Basin Trust. Considering that 95 per cent of the food consumed in the Basin-Boundary region is imported from other regions, provinces or countries, there is expansion potential for local producers and processors.
If you would like to learn more about market gardening, an upcoming workshop, funded by the Columbia Basin Trust and Kootenay and Boundary Farm Advisors may be just what you need.
The workshop is called: Market Gardeing with Lean: How to earn a comfortable living with less waste and work with Ben Hartman.
The event takes place at Centre 65 on Monday, January 21 from 1 to 6 p.m.
Ben Hartman, author of The Lean Farm and The Lean Farm Guide to Growing Vegetables, will explain powerful concepts from the Japanese lean system that prevent burnout and increase profits with less waste and work. The workshop is geared toward market gardeners, covering lots of production techniques and tips. However, Lean Farm principles are applicable to all farms, not just market gardens! The lean system is universal and the workshop will focus on efficiency techniques that farmers of any size and type can take home and immediately employ. Ben will provide examples of lean at work on Clay Bottom Farm, in northern Indiana, where he and his wife earn a comfortable living from 1/2 acre of cultivated land working less than 35 hours per week.
Topics covered include:
■ Organizing workspaces with 5S
■ Genchi gembutsu (close observation) to precisely identify value
■ The 7 types of farm muda (waste)
■ Kaizen (continuous improvement) on a farm
■ How to set prices with lean
■ The lean system and worker management
■ Lean business management
■ Lean production of tomatoes, salad green, carrots, and more
You can register for the workshop here.