Backyard Bounty: an urban agricultural enterprise

The Urban Agricultural movement is developing across Canada. To get a closer look at one the enterprise involved in this industry I interviewed Robert Orland, the founder of Backyard Bounty

BE: Please tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be involved in urban agriculture?

RO: There are many reasons I started Backyard Bounty, below are three main reasons:

• From wasteful to useful: Having been in the environmental field all my adult life, I felt a responsibility and passion to make a positive contribution to the community. Lawns offer very little as they are monocultural deserts devoid of biodiversity, and they consume resources to maintain which contributes to air, water and noise pollution. So, converting wasted land to production agriculture makes so much sense.

• Demand: We are dominated by cheap, fast food with little nutrition. Yet, the organic food industry has been growing rapidly with a population more aware of health issues (e.g. disease prevention, chemical sensitivities and just desiring more energy). I commit to supplying this expanding demand and give people more healthy choices.

• Act Locally: Buying locally saves on unnecessary trucking and its associated fuel consumption and Carbon emissions. There is no good reason why we need to ship produce from California when we can grow it here in our growing season.

BE: What services does Backyard Bounty offer?

RO: • create gardens from turf

• maintain the gardens, teach homeowners, volunteers and school groups about organic gardening

• training in organic and biodynamic farming practices

• unique heritage and heirloom varieties of produce such as Red Atomic Carrots and Black Plum Tomatoes

• build outdoor composts for landowners

• supply the community (public and restaurants) with among the most local food you can get. We are taking the strongly encouraged 100 mile diet to the extreme by offering a 1 mile diet

• Community shared agriculture (CSA) prepaid harvest shares. For those wanting 20 weeks of chemical free and local food from June to October.

• Optional delivery

• A healthy choice for people to help themselves, their families and ultimately the broader community by choosing an environmentally beneficial alternative

BE: What barriers has Backyard Bounty faced in getting established?

RO: : • Cheap food is so prevalent in our society that most people will only pay so much for a head of lettuce no matter if it is organic and local. However, the Guelph community has been so supportive and more are seeing the value of eating consciously for their own well being and of the greater community. Still, there isn’t much (or any) profit in farming. This is obviously a financial challenge.

• Keeping up with demand has also been a challenge. Last year was only our first year. We didn’t have the time to approach all the restaurants on our list. We are more organized, so we expect greater results this year over last year’s initiation.

• More people are graciously offering their yard space. We cannot accept all those offered because they don’t fit our criteria. They are often too small to warrant the travel.

• Some crop failures last year which is to be expected, especially when we converted from grass.

Building up the soil for ideal growing needs that extra year. so again, this year we expect higher yields.

• Equipment breakdowns.

• Farming different yards throughout the city can be inefficient. This year we are asking for larger land parcels and/or close to our existing plots.

• Delivery of CSA baskets was very time consuming and really ate into our finances. This year we are setting up pick up location(s) (across from the Farmer’s market in the parking lot of Wellington Chiropractic Centre). We still offer a delivery option but for a fee.

• Although we grow using natural and organic methods, we cannot certify food organic as we are using donated space. Perhaps not a huge barrier but for some purists it may dissuade purchasing

• Workforce: Although we have an exceptionally talented farmer on board we needed more skilled labour. Utilizing volunteers and government subsidized employment programs helped greatly but didn’t provide the knowledge base to compliment our farmer. Also, many subsidized job programs were restricted to summer jobs and we needed the help in the spring for early seeding and garden prep and in the fall for harvesting.

BE: What steps need to be taken to increase the development of urban agricultural enterprises?

RO: Consumer purchasing power is key. Every time people make conscious eating choices, they are sending a message to suppliers. Simple economics dictate that supply will follow demand. People need to inquire, ask and demand better for themselves. If you are eating out, asking the server what from the menu has local and organic food. If they don’t know, they will ask the chef or manager. If they hear it enough, they will recognize the demand.

Restaurants can more actively promote local and chemical free foods on their menus, websites, etc. to raise consciousness among their clientele. We have been honoured to supply several of them in Guelph to offer their customers healthier choices (Artisanale, Bin 23, Borealis, Cornerstone, Meals That Heal, Woolwich Arms, WOW Café to name a few).

BE: Please tell us about Opportunities for Action: An Urban Agriculture Symposium how did it come about and what has happened since the Symposium took place last November?

RO: The Symposium came about from the dedication of Backyard Bounty’s program coordinator last year and multiple colleagues in the field of agriculture such as (OMAFRA, U of G Urban Agriculture Program). Since then, more promotion, better organization, increased awareness, inspiration and stronger community connection and shared information have resulted from the Symposium. There just might be another one this fall.