Natural Gas Crisis :: Home and Garden

Natural Gas Crisis

Soaring energy costs and particularly natural gas prices may be an environmental blessing in disguise.

Last February former Saskatchewan premier Grant Devine spoke to about 100 farmers and gardeners at a United Grain Growers (UGG) meeting in Davidson. This is a farmer-owned grain company with grain elevators in the three prairie provinces supplying chemical fertilizer and pesticides to farmer members.

Devine, a director of fertilizer producer Agrium, which supplies UGG with all of its nitrogen fertilizer requirements, described the effect natural gas prices will have.

"Natural gas is a major component of nitrogen fertilizer. Soaring natural gas prices are taking the price sky high," he said. "Current prices for nitrogen fertilizer are about $450 per tonne. That price has doubled since last fall and it will likely go up another $100 to $200 per tonne. Even if farmers can afford fertilizer there might not be any available.

"Agrium has shut down one half of its plants because selling natural gas earns the company more profit than selling fertilizer." Devine predicted, "It’s going to get even worse. We’ll shut them all down."

Devine said Agrium pre-bought its natural gas at a much lower rate than the current market price. The company is cashing in on demand by selling its gas on the world market.

A recent edition of the Western Producer reported that 23 weeds were resistant to herbicides in Canada, 450 in the world. Pests are building up a major resistance to pesticides as well. With all these factors at work, it’s obvious that chemical agriculture as we know it will end soon. Some farmers have pre-ordered their fertilizer so they will be all right for this year, but no one can afford the $650 per tonne they will have to pay for fertilizer with present wheat prices of $3.20 per bushel and $5.50 per bushel of canola. Fortunately, about the only alternative is to go organic.

For several years here in Saskatchewan we have had one agricultural extension worker working part-time on organic agriculture. During the winter, organic farmers and gardeners attending a workshop in Moose Jaw were pleasantly surprised when they were advised by agriculture bureaucrats that there would be 19 agriculture extension people working full-time on organics.

Organic Strategies Work

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Source: alive #223, May 2001

Bio-Dynamic Agriculture
Rudolph Steiner's "Agricultural Course" came into being in Koberwitz Germany in 1924. It was the beginning of the development of the bio dynamic method which is now applied with the needed modification on all continent.

Mulch Time!
With the excitement of Christmas dying down, the avid gardener gazes out the window at the wintry scene, yearning for spring to arrive so he can get his hands in the dirt. Don't despair! There is a gardening chore that can be done at this time of year.

Indoor Winter Gardening
During the winter months, maintaining indoor plants can be as rewarding as outdoor gardening. The following are some rules to observe to help keep your houseplants healthy. Reduce fertilization. During the cooler temperatures and shorter days of the winter months, the growth rate of most houseplants slows.

Food Crisis
Farming is in a crisis, particularly here on the Western Canadian prairie. Everyone is calling it an economic or financial crisis in agriculture.

Organic Certification
Organic farmers need the help of food consumers to make the national organic certification program work. The consumer must challenge the quality of certified organic products to give them credibility.

Legislated Disease
Our government needs to pay more attention to the environment if it wants to improve the health of Canadians. Everyone says we have a health care crisis, but it is more than that.

Watching Weeds Grow
Weeds are an index of what is wrong, and sometimes what is right, with the soil. Or at least with the fertility program. In every field on every farm there are different soil types and each has a potential for producing certain weeds.

Take Back Control
Open Letter To: Right Honourable Jean Chrétien, Prime Minister Right Honourable Joe Clark, Conservative Leader Federal Opposition Leader, Mr Stockwell Day, Canadian Alliance Bloc Québécois Leader, Mr.

Prepare for Your Garden Now!
There's nothing more enjoyable for a gardener in January than curling up on the sofa with a hot beverage and perusing nursery catalogue.

Growing Winter Greens
Long before the first crops are available from local farms and gardens, many people are longing for fresh produce and it's possible, even in the depths of winter--right from your own kitchen counter! Sprouts..

A Call to Action Canada's Farmers in Crisis
Consumers, including farmers are an endangered species as they eat polluted food and live in a polluted environment. It's time to take action! Consumers need to have all farmers produce organic food in a clean environment..

Green Garden Fingers Go Organic
Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow? Well, your garden may not have silver bells and cockle shells, but you certainly can make it more environmentally friendly and safe to work in by trying your hand at organic home gardening.

Return Nutrients to the Soil
"About half the people admitted to Canadian hospitals are malnourished. Their situation tends to grow worse during and after their hospital stay.

Certifiably Better
Discovering foods labelled "organically grown" is getting easier all the time--finding out what has gone into the growing and preparation of these foods may not be as simpl.

Organic Agriculture Grows Up!
Organic agriculture is booming. The news drew cheers from participants at the 20th annual Guelph Organic Conference in Januar.

The Organic Transition
The Taylor family of Kenaston, Saskatchewan, is taking certified organic farming very seriously. They are demonstrating leadership in the industry and are helping to promote institutional change.

Low Federal Support for Organic Farming
On March 29, 2001, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien appointed a caucus Liberal Task Force on Future Opportunities in Farmin.

On the Road to Organic Certification

Organic Group Takes Up Arms
On Oct. 12, 2001, Arnold Taylor, president of the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate (SOD), announced the directorate's intention to take legal action against those responsible for introducing genetically engineered (GE) canola into Saskatchewan and to hold them accountable for crop losses and damages.

Sustainable Agriculture: Sustenance From the Soil
The industrialization of agriculture has brought many benefits to society and has helped to reduce hunger in a growing world population. However, the potential benefits were likely realized by the 1970.

The Greening of Government
Neil Sinclair, leader of the New Green Alliance Party of Saskatchewan, and seven other members from Regina and Saskatoon visited our research and demonstration farm on Nov. 24, 2001..

Alberta ORGANIC Wheat Project
Sharon Rempel, an organic crops and seed researcher working through a charitable organization, the Garden Institute of Alberta, is coordinating project funding for organic wheat and seed research for the 2002 growing season.

Sustainable Farming Ups Yields
The largest study ever of sustainable agriculture, commissioned by the British Department for International Development, concluded that sustainable farming has been the most effective way of raising farm yields in the past decade, with no-till farming being amongst the widely adopted forms.

What Is "Certified Organic?"
Organic food is in demand more than ever. Yet most people aren't entirely clear on what "certified organic" really means.

First Canadian Agricultural Research Farm Receives Organic Certification
The organic research and demonstration farm operated by the Back to the Farm Research Foundation at Davidson, Sask. is the first agricultural research farm or station in Canada to receive organic certification. We received our organic certification certificate on Jan.

Worm Power Composting Made Easy
"Worms make great pets. They're quiet and all they do is eat and reproduce. In fact, they eat their own body weight in food waste every day. Worms are a wonderful symbol of the power of one.

Guerrilla Gardening
Gardeners are a resourceful and determined lot. Even with a small plot of soil, a patio, balcony or windowsill, you can create a tiny garden that will bring you beauty and food.

Organic Granny Sets Example
Forty-six-year-old Janine Gibson of Steinbach, Man., is both a grandmother and an outstanding leader in the international organic farm movement. I am pleased to report she is also a consultant for our Back to the Farm Research Foundation.

IFOAM
The 14th Organic World Congress of IFOAM, called "Cultivating Communities," was held in the Conference Centre in little Victoria, British Columbia at the height of the tourist season! Anne Macey from Salt Spring Island, BC and chair of IFOAM 2002 said.

Agricultural Revolution in Germany
Could it happen here? For generations we have been duped to believe the million-dollar ad campaigns of myriad food moguls. We fell victim to the science of chemical colouring, food preservatives and taste enhancers-and never questioned the contents of bottles, cans and packages on the supermarket shelves.

Organic Wine
Organic wine? What nouveau decadence will they think of next, you wonder? But oenophiles (wine lovers) could tell you that chemical-free cabernet and pesticide-free pinot aren't new concepts at all.

A Christmas Gift: Help Heal Our Ailing Land
"We were made to believe that synthetic agrochemicals are the panacea to low yield and will end world hunger. But today, people of the world, especially those in developing countries, are still in abject poverty and acute hunger. More than two billion humans are malnourished, according to reports of the United Nations.

Eating Organic
"Pesticides on food? That's horrible!" My six-year-old, Benjamin, looked at me in disbelief. I had just explained that many of our fruits and vegetables were sprayed with toxic chemicals.

Movement in Organic Agriculture
The worldwide push for organic growing is gathering strength under the umbrella organization, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).

Year Of The Home Garden
Howard-Yana Shapiro, PhD, vice-president of agriculture for Seeds of Change, the largest certified organic seed company in the United States, says, "The key to the future of the world lies in gardening.

Companion Planting
When we fall in love, the phenomenon is referred to as "chemistry". So it is in the plant world. "Allelochemics" is a field of ecology that researches transmission of powerful chemical substances between plant species. Plant organisms "connect" and "communicate" either good vibes or bad.

Eating Organic
Eating organic is the surest way to avoid synthetic pesticides and genetically engineered foods, so shifting the diet to emphasize certified organic foods is important for all of us.

Short On Gardening Space?
You want a garden, but your space is limited: a patio, balcony, window box, windowsill, hanging basket or just indoor pot.

Reclaiming Control of Our Food Supply
She has visited villages in India where women have risked their lives to reintroduce local seed varieties, revitalize farming traditions and say "No to genetically modified food.

An Appetite for Flowers
Pick the blossoms from the stems, removing the parts that contain the pollen. Rinse them in cold water, remove the petals, and pat dry.Snip chive blossoms into your favourite vinaigrette recipe for added punch to your salads and marinades..

Summer Dreams
When winter keeps me out of the garden, I seek refuge inside, perusing the latest gardening books and dreaming of the upcoming gardening season.

The Gardener's Gold Rush
Many Canadian municipalities are expanding their organic waste diversion programs. Compost-savvy plant lovers are choosing instead to hang on to their humus, treasuring the properties of this rich, black soil.

The Dirt on Fertilizers
Walt Whitman said, "I bequeath myself to the dirt, to grow from the grass I love. Clearly that was before the invasion of chemical fertilizer.

Earthly Delights
The most important gardening tool is the human body. Proper body positioning, well-designed gardening gloves and tools, along with frequent rest breaks are the keys to healthy gardening.

Cultivating Beauty
We're surrounded by the pinks, yellows, and fragrant purples of summertime - and much of this comes courtesy of a green thumb. Unfortunately, that thumb might eventually sport a painful and unsightly callus or two.

The Art of Wild Harvesting
Individually, many of us have little ongoing direct experience with plant life. However, big business is quickly recognizing the huge profit potential in selling herbal medicine. At the very least we may say that herbal medicine is re-emerging as people discover its many positive qualities.

Starting Your Own Seeds
March is finally here, the month to start your own seedlings! Most seeds should not be started earlier as they will grow tall and lanky and may not survive. Read each seed packet to find when the best time is to start the seeds. The packets will also advise if the plant does not transplant well

Dazzle With Basil
Carnadians love basil for its tantalizing, pungent scent and flavor. To the ancient Greeks and Romans, the herb was a symbol of malice and lunacy. In other cultures the herb is associated with love rituals.

Prepare Your Soil Organically
Soil consists of 50 percent mineral solids (clay, silt and sand) and 50 percent water, air and organic matter. A good mixture of clay, silt and sand provides a well-structured soil. Clay soil is a dense soil; although quite fertile, it drains poorly and can turn to near concrete when dry.

Take Some Thyme
Thyme grows well in most climates and prefers a light, sandy, well-drained, dry soil in full sun. It is one of the easiest herbs to grow in containers on an apartment balcony, but is quite susceptible to root rot and fungal disease if grown in soil that is too moist or heavy.

Tasty Tubers
Why bother growing potatoes when they are so cheap at the supermarket and they store so well? The best reason is that by harvesting potatoes from your own garden you safeguard your health. Potatoes may cany residues of any number of pesticides. Another reason is that many potatoes now being sold are genetically engineered to produce a soil bacteria that kills pests such as the Colorado Potato Beetle.

Good News for Carnivores
It's pretty hard not to notice the growing number of organic products available to today's consumer. At one time the exclusive preserve of health food stores and farmer's markets, organic produce and, more recently, meat products are now taking up substantial shelf space in your local supermarket.

Wake Up Canada

The Dirt on Soil
An important part of gardening is getting to know your soil type and how to maximize it. Soil consists of 50 percent mineral solids (clay, silt, sand) and 50 percent water, air and organic matter. A good mixture provides a well-structured soil.

Life in the Great Indoors
Winter can be a challenging time for the plants in our homes. Dry air, temperature fluctuations, and reduced lighting send some indoor plants into a state of semi-dormancy. Others thrive in winter's feeble light, adding vibrancy to the indoor landscape while purifying the air in our homes.

UBC Farm
Nestled in the University of British Columbia's Vancouver campus on 40 acres of prime land is a well-kept secret: the city's last working organic farm. Since 2000, UBC Farm (landfood.ubc.ca/ubcfarm) has been a place to appreciate the connections between land, food, and people through both in-depth theory and hands-on experience.

From Garbage to Gold
When bacteria, fungi, worms, and insects break down organic material in the presence of oxygen, the result is compost. Also known as black gold, compost is the perfect ingredient for any soil. It lightens heavy clay and helps absorb moisture in even the sandiest of soils.

Say Goodbye to Unwanted Garden Guests
Gardeners need a supply of remedies in case unwelcome guests get out of hand. Before heading off to the garden centre, though, look to your pantry for solutions. Organic gardeners have long used home-made preparations to ward off unwanted insects and diseases.

Pulp Mill Sludge
For most of us, the thought of eating food grown in pulp sludge is unappetizing. But the BC Liberal government and the pulp and paper industry have teamed up to push new regulations that will allow the use of pulp mill sludge, fly ash, and mill waste water to be used as a "soil enhancement product.

Fruitful Fertilizers
Organic fertilizers have low solubility and rely on micro-organisms and organic-matter acids to release their nutrients. They actually activate microbial life, and their nutrients become available when the plants need them. Working slowly, organic fertilizers encourage long-term fertility rather than the immediate fertility that synthetic fertilizers provide.

From Pasture to Plate
Catch up with Doe Gregoire at the farmers' market in Cawston, BC, and this spunky pioneer in organics can tell you more than you ever wanted to know about her apples.

Canadian Organic Regulations
Federal regulators deliberate what may become Canada's first official set of national organic regulations. The question on many minds is, how? BC and Quebec do have provincial regulations, but for the past few years, industry leaders-from manufacturers, producers, and sellers to processors, farmers, and resellers-have offered time and input to advance the goal of national laws.

Our Palatable Planet
Author Michael Pollan is at the forefront of an increasingly popular movement of enlightened eaters and conscious consumers. This expanding movement has the power to transform our core values related to our food choices. According to Pollan, those core values are in serious need of revision, and changing our shopping and eating habits not only eases our conscience, it deepens our eating pleasure.

Organics Come to Hong Kong
Hong Kong, a magnet for gourmets and food lovers the world over, has been besieged by a number of food scares in recent years, and local demand for healthier food is growin.

Too Late to Save Family Farm
The family farm is going the way of the dodo, according to the University of Manitoba's economist Henry Rempel. He made the comment last year during a World Food Day panel discussion at the university organized by the faculty of agriculture and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

Irish Fighting--for Organics!
Irish organic groups have asked the Irish department of agriculture to set organic standards which exceed the European Union minimum. But the department wants to scrap current organic standards for more lax ones and now faces possible legal action from one of the groups.

Mulching Rules!
It's the time of year to add moisture, life and nutrients to your garden while keeping the weeds down. Mulching is your best answer. Mulch protects the soil from sunbaking and crust formation, which prevents water from soaking in.

Internet Organic Forum

Green Thumbs Up
Across the country the Canadian organic and herb scene is growing, with dedicated individuals, schools, stores and organizations all lending a hand. Here are a few initiatives that caught our eye and interes.

Other Green Files
Fresh organic fruits and vegetables can be more expensive simply because more hands are needed to grow the.

Feast of Fields: Support for Local Farming

Go Green at Your Computer Screen!

Organic Diet Cuts Pesticides in Kids

Food Labels Overhauled

In the works: California Dentists to Post Mercury Warning

New Canadian Organics Program

enviroment

Need three more reasons to go to alive.com ("Lobbying Letters") and print out your letter opposing the commercialization of genetically engineered wheat in Canada? 1.

Warming up means burning more

Tend your garden and your bones

To walk or to jog?

Breathe easier with cleaner cars

Broken Heart Syndrome

Say It with Organic Flowers

Eden Foods "Organic
Anyone unclear about the meaning of "organic can find clarity in any product bearing the Eden® name. From its beginnings as a natural food co-op to today's natural food giant, Eden's pledge has been "to deliver the safest, most nutritious, certified organically grown food that can be found.

Digging a Deeper Hole

Fall Into Composting

Coffee, Tea, or Chocolate
We all know that eating freshly grown, unsprayed food tastes better, but what about the tea and coffee that we drink or the chocolate that we wrap up for our loved ones on Valentine's Day? Is it superior because it's stamped with the word "organic?

Preparing Your Garden for the Growing Season
Preparing your garden in spring doesn't have to be complicated. Enjoy a sunny afternoon by donning your gardening gloves and taking these easy, basic steps for gardens big or small, perennial or vegetable. Your first step is to clear the clutter.

Homegrown Savoury and Sweet
In spring and summer, we enjoy the wealth of herbal diversity at our local produce market. Planting our own herbal gardens will not only provide us with fresh fodder for our summer meals but will also bless our home with aromatic scents.

Flourishing Florals
A tisket, a tasket, a beautiful hanging basket. Find these at your local nursery selling for top dollar or, with a little patience and imagination, you can create a fantastic arrangement of colours and scents to suit your garden decor.

Tilling Togetherness
Hot town! It's time to shake off the dust, bust out of your tiny-but-affordable apartment, and join the steamy chaos of summer in the city!

Going with the Flow
Watering is one of my least favourite garden chores. In the heat of summer, it is an interminable task, requiring hours of dedication and returning nothing but a day's reprieve from the constant threat of desertification.

September Spectacular
As the blooms of early summer fade, gardeners stave off shorter days and evening chills with warm floral displays. It can be the showiest time of year-when temperatures are less intense and the air is crisper.

Gardening By the Moon
The idea of gardening by the moon may elicit images of dancing naked around your blueberry bushes, asking goddesses for special favours. In fact, lunar gardening is actually based upon the moon's gravitational effect on the flow of moisture in soil and plants.

Which Comes First? Local or Organic?
As I bike home from the market with my local and organic products in hand, I feel good about supporting my community, reducing my environmental footprint, and "eating my view. Yet I still wonder, "Which comes first, local or organic?

Grooming Your Grounds
Natural lawn care is not simply a choice between good and bad gardening products. It is a philosophical shift to a new relationship with your lawn, working with, rather than against, the ecosystem of your garden.

Eigensinn Farm
Standing tall and living close to the land, Michael Stadtlander is a veritable giant in his field. As a chef, farmer, author, and multimedia artist, he is also one of Canada's leading culinary icons, pioneering a return to authenticity at Eigensinn Farm, just outside of Collingwood, Ontario.

Fall Garden Maintenance
As the days get shorter and the air develops a chillier nip, why do all the work yourself? Let Mother Nature help you take care of your garden.

Growing Their Own

The Organic Picnic
Eating alfresco surrounded by nature makes us realize how much we need to take care of our precious planet. We can start by packing an organic picnic—its positive impact can go much further than just the foods we choose.