The role of Cultivate Cochrane is to inspire, educate and encourage folks to grow their own food locally.  In modern times, we have access to more types of fruits and vegetables in all seasons than almost any other time in history. So why would we bother growing our own? There are many reasons. Today we focus on health: that of individuals and of the planet itself. 

Let’s start with nutrition and fertilizers.  Most folks agree that a healthy diet should include lots of fruits and veggies, but not all fruits and veggies are the same. One reason is the common approach to fertilizing. Typical large agricultural operations often rely on mineral fertilizers. Mineral fertilizers focus on NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium).

However, other minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and sulfur are all needed, too. After a while, the soil can become depleted of all but NPK. Also, excess chlorides (from the potassium compounds) build up in the soil and prevent proper calcium uptake by plants. As a result, food from the store may be less nutritious than what we grow at home or forage from uncontaminated wilderness areas.

Nutrition is also affected by soil health, which in turn is affected by monoculture. Monoculture is a commonly used agricultural method in which plants are grown as a large single variety crop, often repeatedly in one area. When the same crop is grown in the same area year after year, specific insects and diseases are attracted and begin to thrive. Plants other than the crop are deemed nuisances.

Typically, our solution has been pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. These kill not just the pest but also other plants, animals, insects and soil microorganisms that are all dependent on each other.

Biodiversity is necessary for a healthy planet. Without it, we end up with relatively empty produce and polluted, dead soil that can blow or wash away easily. The natural balance gets disrupted and that impacts other areas of the food web (interconnected and overlapping food chains in an ecosystem).

In contrast, soil that has been fed organically and not treated with poisons is full of billions of fungi, bacteria and invertebrates. These work together with plants to help them grow and absorb a wide range of nutrients. Our produce is more nutritious when the soil is healthy.

More people are becoming conscious of soil health.  Canadian pesticide use in 1994 was 31% of households with a lawn or garden, but dropped to about 19% from 2013 to 2021 (Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2021).

Nutrition is also affected by the timing of harvest. Most produce in grocery stores is harvested at least a week before purchase. It might not even be ripe yet. Nutrient levels begin to go down as soon as produce is picked.  Costly refrigeration is often necessary. Produce is usually treated with sprays, waxes, etc.

All these steps add to the cost and environmental impacts. Flavor also suffers. When food tastes bad, it gets wasted. Nearly 60% of all produce in Canada is tossed every year, and of that, 32% was edible (Second Harvest, Ontario, 2023). All this drives up prices and prevents people getting enough produce in their diet. Almost 11% of Canadians are occasionally or often unable to afford enough healthy food.

In contrast, if we grow and harvest our produce ourselves, we are more likely to eat it right away. We get better nutrition, better taste, and the satisfaction of growing what we eat. We are also much more likely to appreciate produce and make it a bigger part of our diet. 

Our health and that of our planet are also affected by where the food is grown. About ⅔ of all produce eaten in Canada is imported (US International Trade Administration, Canada Agricultural Sector, 2021).  It is not just exotic things like oranges, but also things like tomatoes that we could grow easily here. Importing is a bad habit that relies on cheap labor abroad and cheap oil for transportation. It also requires lots of packaging and refrigeration. 

The world is changing. Importing the bulk of our produce is no longer sustainable. Locally grown food is a better answer. It uses less packaging and transportation.  Excess can be shared, traded, frozen, canned, or dehydrated. On top of that, home gardeners are more likely to compost. We feed the soil with produce that is past its peak and plant parts that can’t be eaten. The balanced nutrients feed the plants that feed us. 

While starting a garden may seem challenging, particularly in our unique growing conditions, it is well worth the effort. Cultivate Cochrane is here to help.  We have learned a whole lot about successful strategies for growing food in this region and we would love to share them with you.  Please stop by the Passive Solar Roller when it’s out and about. Speak with our knowledgeable staff and volunteers.  We offer gardening workshops and publish articles and videos. 

We really look forward to growing together with you!