Introduction: Scaling Up Organically

Up to now, Canadian Organic Grower books have primarily focussed on organic production methods and record keeping. But learning how to build soil and manage pests and diseases while adhering to organic principles is only part of the journey towards sustainability. True sustainability includes environmental, social and economic elements.

It’s hard not to be infected by the enthusiasm of a young farmer who tells you that “organic farming is cool again”, but I want that farmer to be with us growing fabulous food for his family, neighbours and community long after I’m gone.

For this reason, and for all the young farmers, the new organic converts and those who haven’t quite figured out how to make farming truly sustainable – environmentally, socially and economically, Canadian Organic Growers has chosen to write a book that we hope will serve both to inspire and to pass on lessons that Canada’s best organic farmers have learned the hard way.

A key goal of this book is to explore subjects that have long been considered taboo in the organic world, likely because they come directly from that other agricultural system - the issues of efficiency and scale. Is it possible to farm efficiently and at a scale beyond what we would consider to be small, to make money, while adhering to organic standards, and more importantly to organic principles?

The farmers that we interviewed for this book were chosen in a most scientific way. I asked all of my friends, colleagues, and associates in the Canadian organic community, along with my board members to provide me with a list of Canada’s top ten organic farmers. I didn’t give them any clues about what I meant by success. I was hoping and expecting that given enough lists that I would begin to see some of the same names emerge on the various lists. They did.

The farmers that you’ll meet on the pages of this book were those that appeared on many of my colleagues’ lists. Most are long time certified organic farmers and most have been active, not only in farming, but in other aspects of building a new social movement in Canada - including standards development, education and farmer mentoring. I intervened a bit in the process to ensure that I got good coverage of this enormous country and that a good diversity of Canada’s most common organic crops was represented. I also did some due diligence to ensure that these farmers were part of the certified organic system.

Once I had the list, I endeavoured to visit the farms that I could and to set up lengthy telephone interviews with the farmers I could not visit in person. In my interviews, I focussed on the challenges that the farmer had faced on the path to sustainability and how he/she overcame the challenge (obviously they overcame it or they wouldn’t be one of Canada’s top organic farmers!).

On the pages that follow, you’ll learn how Canada’s most successful organic farmers have dealt with some of the issues that have no doubt plagued you and your farm – from acquiring land, money, equipment and buildings, to paying for farm labour, developing record keeping systems, etc. You’ll also get some candid thoughts on farmers about efficiency and scale in organic production systems.