Local Chapter - Yukon
Next meeting: to be announced

What is Via Campesina? Author Annette Aurélie Desmarais was in town mid-February.

“The language around us is changing all the time. Historically, we were peasants.  Then when that term came to mean “backward” we became “farmers.”  In these days “farmer” has the connotation of inefficiency and we are strongly encouraged to be more modern, to see ourselves instead as managers, business people or entrepreneurs capable of handling increasingly larger pieces of territory. 

Well, I am a farmer and I am a peasant. Through my participation in the Vía Campesina I learned that I had much more in common with peasants then I did with some of my agribusiness neighbours.  I am reclaiming the term peasant because I actually believe that small is more efficient, it is socially intelligent, it is community oriented.  Being a peasant stands for the kind of agriculture and rural communities we are striving to build.”
            Karen Pedersen, Former Women’s President of the National Farmers Union

Quoted from La Vía Campesina: Globalization and the Power of Peasants written by Annette Aurélie Desmarais.  Fernwood Publishing and Pluto Books: Point Black, N.S. and London. Book available at Mac’s Fireweed Bookstore and Alpine Bakery.

Feeling out of the loop? Here's some reading to get prepared:
The multi use facility put forward by the YAA can be accessed at the YAA website
http://www.yukonag.ca/StudiesReports.htm
Bottom left of the page under multi use facility feasibility study phase I and II

The multi year development plan done by the Agriculture branch can be downloaded from the Ag branches website
http://www.emr.gov.yk.ca/agriculture/index.html
The plan can be downloaded from this URL
http://www.emr.gov.yk.ca/agriculture/pdf/yukon_multi_year_development_plan.pdf

There's also a slew of great books out there. Many can be borrowed from the Public Libraries in the Yukon, or the Energy, Mines and Resources library on the third floor of the Elijah Smith building, or you can request them from the COG library.

Growers of Organic Food Yukon Members

If you'd like to have information about your farm posted, call Simone 393-4628.

Organic Federation of Canada/Fédération biologique du Canada (OFC/FBC - used to be CORC) -
Claire Desmarais has agreed to represent the Yukon organic community on the Organic Federation of Canada. Here is Claire's 2007 report.
Comments from the Filière biologique du Québec translated into English and CORC’s comments on the Organic Products Regulations.

It's important for us to educate consumers and growers about what the new regulations will mean. Tom and Claire attended the OFC/FBC meetings in Ottawa in November.

Yukon Products Guide is now available.

Meeting Minutes

Projects and Ideas
Cain and Pete have been approved for ACAAF funds for an apiary study of overwintering and hardiness of different breeds of queens. The project will start in December 2007 and is expected to be completed by the summer of 2009. During the summer of 2008, tours of the hives at the Ag branch trial plots can be arranged. In the spring of 2009, there will be hive boxes and bees available for distribution to new beekeepers in the Yukon. If you're interested in learning more about this project, contact Cain Vangel at 393-4483.

The ball mill project has been a success. Local rock was ground into fine enough particles to be used as mineral soil amendments. The final report has been submitted to our funding source, the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF).

The Legume Study has been approved for funding by ACAAF for another 3 years. Cain Vangel, the technician for 2007, has visited each of the plots three times this season. The plot sizes have been reduced to 2 metres by 2 metres which has helped immensely with maintenance. Final visits occurred on the Thanksgiving weekend. We'll look forward to reading the 2007 report.

Fireweed Community Market
The AGM is on Thursday, February 21 at 6:30 in the meeting room at the Whitehorse Public Library.

The regular Thursday evening market will be starting up again May 17 in Shipyards Park. See you there!

If you live in the Yukon (or northern BC), come join other local farmers and gardeners who are interested in using organic growing methods.

You don't need to be big and you don't need to be certified. Find out how to get the best tasting, healthiest food from your garden or farm.

If you live in the Yukon (or northern BC), and become a member of Canadian Organic Growers, you automatically become a member of the local chapter - Growers of Organic Food Yukon. Membership includes quarterly publications of Canada's national organic magazine (Canadian Organic Grower) as well as monthly farm tours, speakers, and workshops on issues of interest to organic growers.

Yukon Contact Information

Phone: (867) 393 GOAT
Email: jjj (at) northwestel.net

P.O. Box 20228
Whitehorse, Yukon
Y1A 7A2