Time to look back on the fun, because that was a seson well done.

Looking through seed catalogues

What on earth will we grow

Rotations and crop planning

We were beginning to know

The season begins

And so much to learn

How to dress ourselves for the rain

Or prevent a sunburn

Days began to get sweaty and long

The sun was strong and high

Terraces were vibrant in colour

From the pollinator garden to the matter’s dye

Buzzing bees, hungry aphids,

And warmth in the soil

Banjos strumming at the farmers’ market

And customers so loyal

The season was abundant

The season was warm

But with the blink of an eye

It takes a new form

Changing ever so slightly

Until suddenly

It’s transformed
~

The sound of geese leaving

Cold cheeks, dry hair

The plants dwindling

And all becoming bare

But the puns keep us going

When the sun is not glowing

And Eric’s music keeps us bopping

When Rebecca says “no stopping!”

And soon the kale stops growing

And cover crops we start sowing

Time to look back on the fun

Because that was a season well done.

Being with the same group of students throughout the last 3 semesters over the farming season has been such a journey. We've laughed, we've complained, we've seen all sorts of weather and felt all of the changes of the seasons. We've raised many crops together, nurtured the soil together and made so many plant puns together. We've enjoyed the fruits of our labors with watermelon slices, juicy strawberries and chewing on sweet stalks of sorghum. What a wonderful feeling, to watch the plants grow, see the earth change, and feel in tune with the rhythms of nature. Why do I feel like eating so much soup in the Fall? Is it a coincidence that everything I am harvesting in October makes for a perfect pot of soup? The earth has so much to teach and so much to share. I will never forget the feeling of going home on the skytrain after a day at the farm: carrot tops and green things exploding out of my backpack, soil under my nails, dirt probably on my face and definitely on my knees; a deep inner joy and a smile on my face, for I am a student of the Earth.

When Sustainable Agriculture students from the 2017 season were asked what there favorite memory was, here is what they had to say:

PIPER

I’d say it was ripping out spots of blackberries for the compost pile. It was one of those moments that’s horrible but cathartic. We were using loppers not the way they are intended to be used, and just hacking away. If there was any aggression you needed to get out it got out. It was a super hot day and the blackberries were scratching us but we made a game out of it all and were laughing so much, it felt like we were part of a football team or something. 

LINDSAY

When we were transplanting brassicas into the orchard last minute. There was lots of rain, we were not prepared for the muckiness and all of the mud got stuck on our boots and it was so miserably horrible that it was hilarious. One part hilarious and one part misery.


KRISTEN
My favourite part was when we were starting out. Putting all the compost down and seeing it start from the ground up.

EMMALEE

For me it was strawberry harvest and tasting all the different varieties. It was one of the first crops to be ready, and we got to eat so many when testing for the sweetness.

STARK
When we had to cut down the rye in the terraces. We had one weed whacker and as Jordan was about to use it he realized there was no gas. Meanwhile, I came in with my sheers and kept cutting, cutting and cutting and it was maybe 30 minutes before the weed whacker was up and running. I felt like manual tools had triumphed that day.

NICK

Going to the different farms to do soil samples. We were out there in the rain and Amy had her head in the dirt making dirt puns. It helped set the class dynamic a bit. It was also cool seeing different work at different farms and how the soil varied. 

MIKE

Something I will remember from this season in particular is the puns. It’s something I’ve never seen before. I will remember 2017 for the puns.

JORDAN

I’d say it was backing up the tractor successfully and easily with the trailer attached because that made me feel like a big man. But the real reason it is my favourite memory is because I thought it was going to be really difficult but then it wasn’t so bad.

HAZEL

The community. The people are really inspirational and passionate and it’s a really supportive community. And the soil puns.

WILL
Those strawberries were really great. I thought it was really cool, not only eating the strawberries but seeing how each variety dealt with pollination issues and how breeding programs can develop fruit because some turned out really great and some turned out really narly.

JESSICA

The farmers’ markets. I loved connecting with customers and sharing stories about food. It was such a treat to buy food from other vendors as well. To establish relationships with the people we buy and sell food feels like the best way to nourish ourselves.