The Organic BC Podcast: Recent Episodes
Organic BC
An educational resource for farmers, gardeners, processors and other members of the organic food & farming community in British Columbia & beyond! Featuring conversations with farmers, eaters, academics, scientists and authors about the philosophy, practice, and politics of organic food. A project of Organic BC, British Columbia's primary organic sector advocate and representative to 700+ certified organic producers and processors in the province for more than 25 years.
This episode of the Organic BC Podcast was funded in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the BC Climate Agri-Solutions Fund delivered by Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.
University of Wisconsin-Madison soil scientist Matthew Ruark joins us to talk about some research he co-authored on the use of cover crops to reduce nutrient pollution following a manure application, and how to limit the potential agronomic tradeoffs of this practice.
You can read a summary of the research we discuss here.
This episode: we explore the potential of tools that use electricity to control weeds on the farm. Specifically, you'll learn about the research of our guest, Marcelo Moretti, on an electric weeder produced by a Brazilian Company called Zasso for use in perennial cropping systems.
Marcelo Moretti is a Weed Science Specialist and an Associate Professor with the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University.
This episode of the Organic BC Podcast was funded through Sustainable Canada Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
Opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and not necessarily those of the Government of Canada or the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The Government of Canada, the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and their directors, agents, employees, or contractors will not be liable for any claims, damages, or losses of any kind whatsoever arising out of the use of, or reliance upon, this information.
This episode is all about robotic weeding technology for the farm. Jordan interviews Kristen Obeid and Chuck Haggerty about why the time has come to give robotic weeding tools some serious consideration and the strengths and limitations of these tools.
Here's a link for listeners who want to be able to picture these tools as they listen.
Our guests will also summarize some of the options currently being tested by the AgRobotics Working Group, which is an initiative spearheaded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture that brings representatives from government, academia and the farming industry together to discuss and test some of the new robotic technology available for farmers to consider.
Kristen Obeid is CoChair of the AgRobotics Working Group and a Weed Specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs.
Chuck Haggerty is a farmer and the President of Haggerty AgRobotics.
This episode of the Organic BC Podcast was funded through Sustainable Canada Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
Opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and not necessarily those of the Government of Canada or the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The Government of Canada, the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and their directors, agents, employees, or contractors will not be liable for any claims, damages, or losses of any kind whatsoever arising out of the use of, or reliance upon, this information.
This ep: a preview of the 2023 BC Organic Conference---OUR 30TH ANNUAL!!!---from conference coordinator Sarah Stewart.
The conference runs November 7 through the 9th and you can learn more/get tickets at organicbc.org
This ep: a longform conversation with a farmer who was present and active for all the major milestones of BC's modern organic sector. Paddy Doherty talks about communal farming in the BC Interior in the 70s, why organic farming appealed to him from the get-go, the art of growing great carrots, and his thoughts on the evolution of BC's organic sector.
COG's Organic Production Handbooks, where you can try (I failed) to find the book Paddy refers to in our conversation.
Also: Annelise and Tristan shout-out someone they admire in our community. Want to do that? Record a voice memo, email it to farmer@unearthedorganics.ca, and I'll put it in a future episode.
Note: the first release of this episode left off the end of the episode. It's been fixed now...if your version cuts off, re-download! Episode should be 1 hour 9 minutes.
This episode: you can't run a successful rotational grazing system without good fencing! Rancher Tristan Banwell guest hosts to interview fencing expert Axle Boris of Fencefast about the crucial considerations for using electric fencing in a rotaional grazing setup.
A couple of items mentioned in this episode:
Short Tumble Wheel Video referenced in episode
BC Agricultural Fencing Handbook
Also, guest host Tristan Banwell's farm was recently featured as part of Organic BC's Organic Innovation Series
This episode was supported by the BC Climate Agri-Solutions Fund. Funding for the BC Climate Agri-Solutions Fund was provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions On-Farm Climate Action Fund.
This episode I talk to Dru Yates of ES Crop Consult. Getting the right amount of nitrogen to our crops at the right time can be tricky, and if we over-apply it, it doesn't just hurt our bottom line. Nutrient pollution contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and pollutes our water, and so I invited Drew to join me to help us understand how to find the right balance between meeting a crop's nitrogen needs and our collective responsibility to avoid nitrogen pollution of our air and water.
Here's a link to the BC Ministry of Agriculture & Food's dedicated web page for nutrient management...lots of useful info and tools here.
This episode was supported by the BC Climate Agri-Solutions Fund. Funding for the BC Climate Agri-Solutions Fund was provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions On-Farm Climate Action Fund.
This episode, a frank conversation about the sexual politics of organic farming. You'll hear perspectives from two farmers and one academic about a dynamic on many organic farmers that is seldom addressed so bluntly.
Got feedback about this episode? Record a voice memo using the recording app from your phone to farmer@unearthedorganics.ca
This episode: farmer & entrepreneur Jacob Beaton joins guest host Tristan Banwell to discuss the Indigenous relationship with agriculture that has been largely ignored or even suppressed in mainstream discourse about the history and traditions of Canada's First Peoples. Jacob is a member of the Eagle Clan of the Tsimshian Nation. He lives and farms near Gitwangak in Gitxsan territory of Northern BC, where he operates a thriving Indigenous skills training program at Tea Creek Farm.
Some books Jacob recommends in the conversation:
Grizzlies & White Guys
21 Things You May Not Know About The Indian Act
Indigenous Writes
Shared Histories
This episode was funded by the BC Ministry of Agriculture & Food.
This episode: a primer on production practices that can reduce on-farm GH gas emissions via carbon sequestration. Joining us for this episode: Amy Norgaard, Climate Change Extension Specialist for the BC Ministry of Agriculture & Food, and Dieter Geesing, Provincial Soil Specialsit for the BC Ministry of Agriculture & Food.
First up: Amy outlines the problem of farm-based greenhouse gas emissions, defines carbon sequestration, and suggests some practices that can lead to a net reduction in on-farm emissions. After that: Dieter raises his hand to say: not so fast! In our effort to reduce emissions, he says, we have to take into account our specific growing conditions in order to avoid increasing, rather than decreasing, our farm's contribution to climate change.
This episode was produced with support from the BC Ministry of Agriculture & Food. With special thanks to Emma Holmes, Organics Industry Specialist with the ministry for some help in producing this episode.
This episode: part one of a conversation with the owners of Fresh Valley Farms. Based in Armstrong, BC, owners Steve Meggait & Annelise Grube Cavers produce pasture-raised, organic beef, pork, poultry & eggs on 300+ acres under a rotational grazing system.
This time, we'll learn about cover cropping practices at Fresh Valley Farms, some of the vital tools and equipment in their operation, and Steve & Annelise' thoughts on the arrival of the word 'regenerative' in conversations about sustainable agriculture. You'll also hear their thoughts on where livestock fits in a sustainable food system, and their perspective on running a business with your spouse.
Here's a link to a short video of the Tumblewheel Steve talks about.
This episode: part one of a conversation with the owners of Fresh Valley Farms. Based in Armstrong, BC, owners Steve Meggait & Annelise Grube Cavers produce pasture-raised, organic beef, pork, poultry & eggs on 300+ acres under a rotational grazing system. In this episode, Steve & Annelise summarize their business model and describe their core farming values. After that, Steve reviews important considerations in a rotational grazing system, and Annelise explains how they market their meat.
Be sure to catch part two of this focus on Fresh Valley Farms. Next time, Steve & Annelise will talk about how and why the word 'regenerative' has gained momentum in conversations about sustainable agriculture, vital tools & equipment around the farm, cover cropping, and more!
This episode: guest interviewer and orchardist Molly Thurston returns! This time her guest is Tom Forge, a research soil ecologist at the Summerland Research and Development Centre who specializes in nematology and integrated root health management for perennial fruit crops.
Molly interviewed Tom so we can learn about the biology of plant-parasitic nematodes, how they impact tree fruit and other horticultural crops, and how growers can deal with them in organic production systems.
This episode features part two of my conversation with Anna Helmer of Helmer's Organic Farm. This episode, we go into more detail about the five year rotation that the Helmers use to produce their potatoes, and how this rotation allows them to farm more or less without any off-farm soil inputs. We'll also cover a number of other topics that burn on the mind of a modern organic potato whisperer like Anna.
The score for the second segment in this episode is called Glacier by SalmonLikeTheFish and is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License.
This episode: a conversation with Anna Helmer of Helmer's Organic Farm. This conversation is meant to be a companion to a video that Organic BC produced about Helmer's Organic Farm for its upcoming Organic Innovation Series. The video will take you on a virtual tour of the Helmer farm and showcase their dedication to low inputs, long rotations, and heavy cover cropping. That video will be released on the world wide web in early March, and a public screening of the video will take place in Pemberton in the third week of March, and Anna and Doug plan to be there to participate in a Q & A about their farm. To learn more about the screening, head to organicbc.org/events.
Using organic and biodynamic practices, the Helmers produce 15 varieties of beautiful potatoes that they have sold at farmers markets in BC's lower mainland for decades, and Anna joined me on the phone to tell me all about the farm. And she had a lot of interesting things to say, so I've divided our conversation into two parts. In this episode, we'll hear about the history of the farm, how the Helmers market their potatoes, and Anna will take us through a season of production on the farm.
In the next episode, we'll go into more detail about the five year rotation that the Helmers use to produce their potatoes, and how this rotation allows them to farm more or less without any off-farm soil inputs. We'll also cover a number of other topics that burn on the mind of a modern organic potato whisperer like Anna.
This episode: a conversation about limiting nutrient pollution in organic cropping systems. Our guest is Sean Smukler, an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia. Sean and his collegues completed research on this topic as a project under the last round of Canada's Organic Science Cluster. In this conversation, Sean talks about that research, and more generally about organic practices that can lead to nutrient pollution of our air and waterways, versus ones that tend to limit such outcomes.
After that, we hear from Alyssa Belter of Plenty Wild Farms on the impact of extreme weather on her farm production in recent years.
This episode, a conversation with two biologists from the Summerland Research and Development Centre about how climate change is impacting tree fruit production in BC, and how the breeding work of the research centre can help the industry understand and adapt to these impacts.
The guests in this episode are Jesse MacDonald and Chris Pagliocchini
This episode features part two of my conversation with Manish Raizada, a Professor of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph.
Herein, Manish talks about his lab's efforts to develop a microbe-based biopesticide that could be sprayed on crops like wheat and corn in order to protect those crops against fusarium wilt. Manish also describes research of crop wild relatives as a key to gaining insights for biopesticide development, the potential for plant breeders to factor beneficial microbe relationships into their selection practices, and the regulatory hurdles involved in developing these new techniques.
In this episode, host Jordan Marr interviews Manish Raizada, a Professor of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph. They discuss the role that biofertilizers can play in reducing our food system's dependence on synthetic nitrogen and its undesireable impacts on water quality and climate emissions.
Manish, who heads the Raizada Lab at the University of Guelph, describs the evolution of the science behind biofertilizers, which centres on the use of microbes to provide nitrogen to plants, cites examples of successful commercialization of this technology, and describes the current challenges limiting a wider adoption of biofertilizers by farmers.
This episode: an inspiring conversation with Reid Allaway of Ferme Tournesol about his years-long commitment to electrifying various internal-combustion-powered machinery around his co-operative farm. There's a lot of useful information in here for those who want to follow Reid's lead, including the successful transition to an electrified cube van that costs the farm $5 in electricity for every delivery run!
Also: a BC-based farmer responds to a questionnaire about the impacts of climate change on his farm.
Reid mentions:
The DIY Electric Farmer group on Facebook
DIY Electric Car
Reid's Youtube page
Enless Sphere
This episode of the Organic BC Podcast was funded by The BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
Originally produced for the 2022 BC Organic Conference
This episode, five BC farmers (and your host) talk about the challenges of 2021's chaotic weather events. With thanks to:
Chris Bodnar
Mike Broersma
Cameron Bell
Hermann Bruns
Molly Thurston
Originally produced for the 2022 BC Organic Conference
This episode is all about the British Columbia Certified Organic Program (BCCOP), the first province-wide organic program that existed in BC, and at present, fairly unique in North America because of its regional focus and its use of the peer-review process. There's so much to say about this program. It represents a through-line from the grassroots of the organic movement to the current regulatory environment. It was the first program in the world to implement a low-risk component. And it comes with built-in flexibility to innovate by creating certifications for emerging sectors like cannabis and aquaculture. Herein, we learn about the program's history and highlight a current debate about the program's basis in peer-review.
Originally produced for the 2022 BC Organic Conference
This episode: farmer and verification officer (and BC Organic Conference planning committee member) Jolene Swain talks to host Jordan Marr about the Permitted Substances List for organic operators in Canada (CAN/CGSB-32.311-2020, officially). This conversation is primarily for people who are new to certified organic production, but aims to be helpful for anyone who has struggled to interpret the list or understand how to avoid using restricted inputs in their operation.
Originally produced for the 2022 BC Organic Conference
In this episode, BC Organic Rancher Tristan Banwell describes changes to BC's slaughter regulations that took effect on October 1st, 2020. We begin our conversation with a brief review of how slaughter regulations have evolved in BC over the last two decades, leading up to these newest changes, which Tristan believes will create new opportunities for meat producers in the province, particularly those operating at a small scale. A must-listen for meat producers in BC!
This episode was inspired by concerns raised by Organic BC board member Brody Irvine. Brody is a part-owner of Discovery Organics, a BC-based organic food distributor that has traditionally purchased from farms of all sizes. Brody fears that the most recent updates to Canada's food safety regulations have made it difficult for smaller-sized operations to continue selling into certain wholesale markets, despite those same farms having good food safety practices. Brody is our first guest for this episode.
Then, we're joined by food safety expert Elsie Friesen, who will help us better understand the regulatory landscape around food safety in BC, and explore options for operators who want to maintain access to wholesale markets.
Some helpful links:
Canada GAP
BC GAP Guidelines
A Handbook for Understanding the Safe Food For Canadians regulations
Originally produced for the 2022 BC Organic Conference
In this episode, guest interviewer (and our sector's Industry Specialist at the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Fisheries!) Emma Holmes interviews Dru Yates, a pest & soil specialist with E.S. Cropconsult, based in the lower mainland. This is part two of two. Here, Emma & Dru discuss:
- IPM advice for new farmers
- B.C. Plant Health Lab for diagnostic support https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/animals-and-crops/plant-health/plant-health-laboratory
- New soil services soon to be offered by E.S. Crop Consult and the Agricultural Environmental Management Code of Practice https://escrop.com/ https://bcac.ca/aemcop/
- Field Guides: https://escrop.com/outreach
Originally produced for the 2022 BC Organic Conference
In this episode, guest interviewer (and our sector's Industry Specialist at the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Fisheries!) Emma Holmes interviews Dru Yates, a pest & soil specialist with E.S. Cropconsult, based in the lower mainland. This is part one of two. Here, Emma & Dru discuss Dru's experience of the impacts of climate change on pest cycles, mass insect trapping techniques, and the use of robot beets to improve your crop handling.
Emma also reflects on the challenging farming conditions in 2021 and wants farmers to know that there is help available from the province. Here are a couple of links to programs aimed at helping those affected:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/programs/2021-wildfire-and-drought-agrirecovery-initiative
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriservice-bc
Originally produced for the 2022 BC Organic Conference
In this episode, guest interviewer and rancher Tristan Banwell speaks with rancher Steve Kenyon about winter grazing strategies for the herd. Tristan is co-owner of Spray Creek Ranch in Lillooet, BC. Steve is a grazing expert and co-owner of Greener Pastures Ranching, in Busby, Alberta. In addition to managing a custom livestock-grazing operation, Steve is an author and speaker focused on sound farm business management and regenerative ranching practices.
Plant-growers take note: this is clearly one for the animal-farmers, but Steve's ideas on building what he calls "good soil armour" will be of interest to any farmer interested in improving their soil health!
Originally produced for the 2022 BC Organic Conference.
This episode: a wide-ranging conversation with Kerry McCann and Andrew "Budgie" Budgell, co-owners of Laughing Crow Organics in Pemberton, BC. Laughing Crow is a diverse operation. Kerry & Budgie grow produce & cut-flowers for farmers markets and a CSA and in recent years have established a successful agritourism enterprise featuring a u-pick pumpkin patch and a sunflower maze. All of this production takes place on a lease at Across The Creek Organics, whose on-farm brewery dovetails rather nicely with the sunflower patch to bring tourists in droves to the picturesque property.
We've broken the conversation in two. In this episode, Kerry & Budgie discuss their agritourism operation, maintaining a good relationship with landlords, how they avoid tension in their business relationship and friendship, and the division of labour on the farm.
In part 1 you'll learn about the origins of the business and the cultivation tools that have transformed their operation.
Originally released for the 2022 BC Organic Conference
This episode: a wide-ranging conversation with Kerry McCann and Andrew "Budgie" Budgell, co-owners of Laughing Crow Organics in Pemberton, BC. Laughing Crow is a diverse operation. Kerry & Budgie grow produce & cut-flowers for farmers markets and a CSA and in recent years have established a successful agritourism enterprise featuring a u-pick pumpkin patch and a sunflower maze. All of this production takes place on a lease at Across The Creek Organics, whose on-farm brewery dovetails rather nicely with the sunflower patch to bring tourists in droves to the picturesque property.
We've broken the conversation in two. In this episode, you'll learn about the origins of the business and the cultivation tools that have transformed their operation.
In the next episode Kerry & Budgie discuss their agritourism operation, maintaining a good relationship with landlords, how they avoid tension in their business relationship and friendship, and the division of labour on the farm.
Originally released for the 2022 BC Organic Conference
One of our orcharding-focused Q&A sessions at last year's conference brought a lot of questions about Codling Moth Management from participants, so BC Orchardist & podcast guest host Molly Thurston sought out someone who could enlighten us on the subject! Molly's guest is Matthew Grieshop, formerly Michigan State University's Organic Pest Management Specialist, and just announced as the Director of Cal Poly's new Organic Production Research and Education Center. Codling Moth is a persistent pest in Matt's corner of the world, and he brings lots of insights for apple growers to this conversation.
This episode: for the 2022 BC Organic conference, our conference coordinator, Michelle Tsutsumi, interviewed Sarah Mock, author of Farm & Other F-Words, a book that challenges many of our cherished beliefs about farms and farming. Is the small, family-owned farm the 'ideal' farm? Are most forms of farming inherently exploitative? How might some of our ingrained values about farming be contributing to an unjust food system? Sarah and Michelle discuss these topics, and explore how a 'big team' approach to managing a farm might make for a healthier food system overall.
In this episode: a conversation with Kurt Simcic, an organic viticulturist who works for the Mark Anthony Group. The company, which owns numerous wineries in the Okanagan including Mission Hill Estate Winery, Cedar Creek Estate Winery, and Liquidity Wines, tasked Kurt with overseeing the transition of 1200 acres of its vineyards to certified organic production. Those acres are now fully certified. In this conversation, Kurt talks about his early career in New Zealand, where he originally learned about and mastered organic principles. He also describes the process of transitioning forty separate vineyards to organic practices in BC's Okanagan Valley, and provides advice to viticulturalists who are considering a transition on their own vineyards.
In this episode, we'll be learning about on-farm research trials that examined the role that silage tarps can play in managing agricultural soils in the winter months in British Columbia. https://sal-lab.landfood.ubc.ca/people/raelani-kesler/ (Raelani Kesler), Master of Soil Science student with the https://sal-lab.landfood.ubc.ca/ (Sustainable Agricultural Landscapes Lab), discusses the research process and key findings. Our conversation includes some of the challenges growers face managing soils in a changing climate and some of the tradeoffs associated with cover crops and tarps on the farm. The link to the project report referenced in this episode can be found https://sal-lab.landfood.ubc.ca/projects/too-much-too-little-climate-resilient-vegetable-farming/ (here). Project contact Raelani Kesler: rkesler@mail.ubc.ca Project Funding Acknowledgement Funding for The Climate Change Adaptation Program has been provided by the Governments of Canada and British Columbia through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. The program is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. Opinions expressed herein are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Governments of Canada and British Columbia or the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. The Governments of Canada and British Columbia, and the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC, and their directors, agents, employees, or contractors will not be liable for any claims, damages, or losses of any kind whatsoever arising out of the use of, or reliance upon, this information. Podcast Funding Acknowledgment Funding for this project has been provided by the governments of Canada and British Columbia under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
In this episode we discuss on-farm research trials that compared different combinations of organic amendments (composts and organic fertilizer) and their impact to crop yield, soil carbon, input costs, and residual soil nutrients. https://sal-lab.landfood.ubc.ca/people/amy-norgaard/ (Amy Norgaard), a former Master of Soil Science student with thehttps://sal-lab.landfood.ubc.ca/ ( Sustainable Agricultural Landscapes Lab) at UBC, discusses the research process and key findings. We also hear what it’s like to participate in on-farm research like this from one of the farmers involved. Our conversation includes some of the challenges growers face managing soil nutrients for multiple outcomes (i.e. maximizing yields and minimizing environmental impacts) and some of the region-specific tradeoffs associated with different options. A recording of a presentation of this research (and more!) and the final project reports referenced in this episode can be foundhttps://sal-lab.landfood.ubc.ca/projects/organic-vegetable-nutrient-management/ ( here). This episode also discussed the https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/agricultural-land-and-environment/soil-nutrients/nutrient-management/nutrient-management-calculator (BC nutrient management calculator) and https://nmp.apps.nrs.gov.bc.ca/miniapps/manurenutrientcalculator (manure nutrient calculator). Project Funding Acknowledgement Funding for the research in this project has been provided in part by Organic Science Cluster 3 under the AgriScience program of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Mitacs Career Connect. Podcast Funding Acknowledgment Funding for this podcast has been provided in part by the governments of Canada and British Columbia under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
This episode: a COABC explainer that aims to help you understand the organization's role in BC's organic industry, and the relationship between certified organic operators, the province's certifying bodies, and the COABC (which is now facing the public as http://organicbc.org (Organic BC)). That sounds pretty dry, but your podcast host put lots of effort into keeping it sufficiently moist to hold your attention. If you're an organic operator in BC, it's a must-listen! This is a re-broadcast of an episode originally produced for the 2021 BC Organic Conference. You can learn about and purchase tickets for the 2022 conference at http://organicbc.org/conference (organicbc.org/conference)
In November of 2020, we lost someone who made many meaningful contributions to the organic farming movement in British Columbia and Canada, and who played a very important role in the reduction of pesticide use on countless acres of tree fruit in BC and beyond. I'm talking about Linda Edwards, who died suddenly at the age of 77 the day after she contributed to an episode in this podcast series. Linda was many things. A farmer. An entomologist. A teacher. A writer. She is a past president of the Certified Organic Associations of BC, and a recipient of its Brad Reid Award for her contributions to BC's organic sector. And for years, she contributed to the development and evolution of Canada's organic standards. In this episode, we remember Linda Edwards.
In 1994 the newly-formed Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia identified the lack of reliable information on organic crop production as an important obstacle to the growth of the organic agricultural industry. From this realization grew a plan to publish a number of organic crop management guides. The organic tree fruit management manual was the first in this series. It was written by Linda Edwards, an orchardist, entomologist, and pioneer in the BC Organic Farming movement. It has been many years since that first edition was published, and over the last year or so, Linda had been planning an update to the manual with her colleague, fellow entomologist Tamara Richardson. So guest host Molly Thurston, herself well-versed on these topics as an orchardist and entomologist in her own right, arranged an interview with Linda and Tamara to talk about the manual's past and future. This episode is dedicated to https://www.castanet.net/obituaries/EDWARDS,_Linda_Lynne/21967/ (Linda Edwards), who died suddenly the day after she sat down for this interview. Linda was a tireless advocate for organic agriculture who advanced the sector in many ways. We produced a tribute to Linda as part of the 2021 conference podcast. It will be available on the Organic BC Podcast feed shortly.
This episode features an installment on the theme of wholesale buyer perspectives. This time, I talk to Nick Johnston of https://www.naturesfare.com/ (Nature's Fare Markets). Nick manages the buying for the prepared foods side of Nature's Fare, and he joined me to provide advice for those wishing to sell into grocery stores, as well as talk about recent trends in the marketplace. This is a re-release of an episode produced for our 2021 conference podcast. We're hard at work on the https://organicbc.org/conference/ (2022 conference), which will feature an in-person event in Kamloops, a podcast series, and some live-online sessions.
Every five years, the https://www.organicfederation.ca/publication-2020-canadian-organic-standards (Canadian Organic Standards are updated to keep the standards current). Each update follows a multi-year process of review, during which anyone can submit requests for revisions. The whole process is overseen by the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) Technical Committee on Organic Agriculture. The committee was required to produce an update by the end of 2020, and they did! Which is why it seemed very appropriate to invite known standards wonk Rochelle Eisen to give us an interview to help us understand the updates. I was not up to this task, but luckily, organic verification officer Gavin Wright offered to conduct the interview. This is a re-release of an episode from our early-2021 organic conference podcast.
This episode: BC Ministry of Agriculture Organic Industry Specialist Emma Holmes in conversation with https://biology.ok.ubc.ca/about/contact/miranda-hart/ (Miranda Hart), Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UBC Okanagan. A good deal of Miranda's work focuses on the biology of soil, and in this conversation we'll learn about the tricky business of studying soil microbes, the trickier business of trying to inoculate your soil with them, and why creating the right soil ecosystem might be a more effective way to increase the biological activity in your soil. We also visit the conference trade show booth ofhttp://localline.ca ( Local Line), a Canadian e-commerce platform built for farmers and food suppliers. This is a re-release from our 2021 BC Organic Conference podcast that initially broadcast in January 2021. We're busy producing a new podcast series that will be included as an option with your https://organicbc.org/news-and-events/bc-organic-conference/ (2022 BC Organic Conference) ticket.
This episode, I speak with https://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/scientific-collaboration-and-research-in-agriculture/agriculture-and-agri-food-research-centres-and-collections/british-columbia/agassiz-research-and-development-centre/scientific-staff-and-expertise/kabaluk-todd-msc/?id=1181848117865 (Todd Kabaluk), a research biologist for Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, about his research on the use of entomopathogens as a biological control for wireworms.
https://www.appliedbio-nomics.com/ (Brian Spencer) was trained as a molecular biologist, but he found his way to biological pest control and never left. This episode, a conversation with Brian, who has devoted his career to mastering the control of bad bugs with good ones. This conversation is one of my favourites of this series, and will be of interest to everyone, not just the pest-obsessed. Our conversation was kind of free-range. Brian knows lots and lots about this subject and generously offered to share some of it with all of us. We will also take a trip to the conference tradeshow. This episode:https://bcfoodweb.ca/ ( BC Food Web). This is a re-release of an episode first issued as part of our 2021 BC Organic Conference. Learn more about the upcoming conference, which will include new podcast episodes, https://organicbc.org/news-and-events/bc-organic-conference/ (here!)
Another chapter in our Research Roundup. This time, Dr. Kelly Ross, a researcher with Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, tells us about research on harnessing the antibiotic properties of berry pomace for use in poultry feed in order to combat the rising problem of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella. Project contact info: Dr. Moussa Diarra (Project Lead): moussa.diarra@canada.ca Dr. Kelly Ross (project team member): kelly.ross2@canada.ca Organic Science Cluster III project information website https://www.dal.ca/faculty/agriculture/oacc/en-home/organic-science-cluster/OSCIII/livestock/activity-24.html (https://www.dal.ca/faculty/agriculture/oacc/en-home/organic-science-cluster/OSCIII/livestock/activity-24.html) Contributing partners: Wild Blueberry Association of North America Fruit d’or Centre de recherche en sciences animales de Deschambault Rosebank Farms Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada This is a re-release originally produced for the http://organicbc.org/ (2021 BC Organic Conference.)
This episode features guest interviewer Molly Thurston's interview with http://csanr.wsu.edu/people/david-granatstein/ (David Granatstein). Molly is a horticulturalist, agrologist, and co-owner of https://www.facebook.com/Claremont-Ranch-Organics-101694613244596/ (Claremont Ranch Organics), an organic orchard in Lake Country, BC. David is a recently retired Professor Emeritus at Washington State University. David served as a sustainable agriculture specialist for over two decades, with a focus on orchard management. Their conversation focuses on orchard floor management, orchard replant challenges and solutions, and David's take on the future of the organic tree fruit industry in North America. We'll also visit the conference tradeshow! This time: we learn about Agriculture & Agrifood Canada's research stations in https://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/scientific-collaboration-and-research-in-agriculture/agriculture-and-agri-food-research-centres-and-collections/british-columbia/summerland-research-and-development-centre/?id=1180620561099 (Summerland) and https://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/scientific-collaboration-and-research-in-agriculture/agriculture-and-agri-food-research-centres-and-collections/british-columbia/agassiz-research-and-development-centre/?id=1351005326819 (Agassiz). This is a re-release originally produced for the http://organicbc.org/ (2021 BC Organic Conference.)
This episode features an installment on the theme of wholesale buyer perspectives. This time, I speak with Lisa McIntosh of Kelowna-based grocery delivery service http://urbanharvest.ca/ (Urban Harvest). Lisa sources a LOT of locally and regionally produced organic food for Urban Harvest. In fact, she's been so supportive of our industry over the years that the COABC bestowed its Brad Reid award on her in 2019, which is given to an innovative leader who has strengthened the organic community by moving the sector forward. Anyway. In this conversation, Lisa shares her advice for establishing and increasing your business relationship with a wholesale buyer like Urban Harvest. We'll also visit the conference tradeshow again! This time: a trip to the https://www.omri.org/omri-canada (OMRI booth). This is a re-release that was originally produced for http://organicbc.org (Organic BC's) 2021 BC Organic Conference.
This episode features a chapter in our miniseries on seed production. This time, my conversation with https://cms.megaphone.fm/organizations/88b50b64-fb9f-11e7-bd58-1743cd86ef27/podcasts/25345dc8-090d-11eb-8681-03381651c7ce/episodes/c012049c-57c0-11eb-b958-bf764213d4c7/sweetrockfarm.ca (Sal Dominelli of Sweet Rock Farm) on Gabriola Island. Sal has operated a small-scale organic seed company for years. It's a wide-ranging conversation, but the target audience Sal and I kept in mind was the newbie seed grower--those who are just getting going in commercial seed production, or veggie farmers who want to produce more seed for use on their own farms. I hope you enjoy it. This is a re-release originally produced for the http://organicbc.org (2021 BC Organic Conference.)
This episode is about the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Fisheries' https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/animals-and-crops/animal-health/animal-health-centre (Animal Health Centre). Guest interviewer Tristan Banwell interviews Dr. Glenna McGregor, a veterinary pathologist at the centre, about the centre's purpose and how it can help you diagnose pathology in your animals. Along the way you'll learn a bit of vocabulary and some basics about necropsy. This episode is a re-release originally produced for http://organicbc.org/ (Organic BC's) 2021 BC Organic Conference.
One major focus of the 2021 conference podcast series was what we called our research roundup. I sought participation from a few different research institutions across the country so that we could hear about recent research of interest to the organic food and farming community. In this installment, I talk to Dr. Chandra Moffat, a research scientist focused on entomology and biological pest control at the https://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/scientific-collaboration-and-research-in-agriculture/agriculture-and-agri-food-research-centres-and-collections/british-columbia/summerland-research-and-development-centre/?id=1180620561099 (Summerland Research and Development Centre), which is run by Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada. Chandra tells us about her work on two recent studies that involve the use of parasitoid wasps in the control of two different serious tree fruit pests in BC. Chandra's work is really cool, and this conversation was super interesting. We also take a trip to the conference tradeshow. This time: I speak with Brian Spencer of http://appliedbio-nomics.com/ (Applied Bio-Nomics), a BC-based source for biological pest control. This episode is a re-release originally produced for http://organicbc.org (Organic BC's) 2021 BC Organic Conference.
It was only a few years ago that I became aware of the term regenerative agriculture, and now, it's everywhere. We definitely wanted to include something on regenerative ag in the conference, and we settled on what you're about to hear: A conversation with Elizabeth Whitlow, Executive Director of the Regenerative Organic Association, which oversees the https://regenorganic.org/ (Regenerative Organic Certified) program. This new standard requires organic certification as a prerequisite, then adds additional requirements related to soil & land management, animal welfare, and social justice. Is this ‘beyond organic’ development the way the industry is headed? Elizabeth shares her perspective. Also in the episode, a trip to the 2021 conference tradeshow, featuring a conversation with https://www.bcsamerica.com/ (Larry Seymour of BCS America) and their line of walk-behind tractors, implements, and accessories. This episode is a re-release originally produced for http://organicbc.org (Organic BC's) 2021 BC Organic Conference.