Friends joined us on Monday for a trip to downtown Toronto. For the re-opening of the AGO or an evening show? How about pigs, sheep, cows and horses. Our friends have a small farm north of Kingston where they have - you guessed it - pigs, sheep, cows and horses, and some chickens and bees to boot. But they were keen to take in the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
The fair is a sprawling exhibition on the CNE grounds. I really enjoy the draft horses, the Percherons and Clydesdales and Belgians and Shires. Our friends have a beautiful and powerful pair of Belgians which we like to comb almost as much as they enjoy being combed.
The Winter Fair is an encouraging event, knowing that agriculture is a "tough go" in this province. It's hard for small farmers to make much of a living and we expect what are the lowest food prices in the world. Our friends augment their income with outside work. So we strolled around and looked at impossibly clean cattle and sheep in the show rings, shown by eager 4Hers. We saw honey produced on the roof of the Royal York Hotel, to offer an urban flavour to an event with a rural feel.
Several of the Old Testament religious festivals were related to agriculture. The Promised Land flowed with milk and honey. Jesus told down-to-earth parables which spoke of wheat and grapes and other produce. It's good to remember that our food is produced by someone, somewhere.
There were hundreds of school children at the fair, and they were obviously fascinated by the animals. What a wonderful aspect of their education.
What do you think we need to do to uphold the honourable occupation of producing food?
I think the relatively new trend of trying to eat produce grown locally, or at least from your region, is a very good way to encourage people to think about where their food comes from, who grows it and how it is grown.Eating foods in season, grown locally just makes sense. Although those strawberries from California and asparagus from Peru look awfully good in the grocery store in the dead of winter, they are often a big disappointment when is comes to taste.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a good day yesterday David. I think attending a fair at least once a year is a very good way to make us think seriously about the hard working folk who produce our food.
I know you visit Kingston's farmer's market,Shirley, one of many across the province.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to fruit and veg there are meat and eggs produced locally. Our friends let us know that our quarter of beef will soon be ready. I happened to see the calf in question being born two Mays ago. While this may seem rather grisly, I know Ugly Gus has enjoyed a pretty good life and the last time I saw him during the summer he was chasing around the hay feeder with another young 'un. These cattle have been organically raised and never spent time in a feed lot.
As a church family it was great when we went to the Coombes farm. The kids and adults alike had a lot of fun and much discussion about farm life and what food farmers create. It was a great experience for all.
ReplyDeleteActually, we saw a pen with Jim Coombes' sheep when we were at the Winter Fair!
ReplyDeleteJust back from Price's farm with local apples,carrots and brocolli. I do find it harder when winter hits and root vegetables and apples seem all that remain of Ontario's harvest.
ReplyDeleteThere is more than the root vegetables that remain of the harvest this time of year and through the winter, that is the wine that is locally produced. I know not really appropriate for our children but still locally produced.
ReplyDeleteI am very much trying to be a locavore and have just heard of where I can get eggs locally as well, which I will be doing. It does take a bit more time to get groceries this way but if one believes in it they will make it happen.
I heard a story on the CBC yesterday where urban communities are reverting back to having local shops, rather than the big box stores. This seems to be what more and more people are wanting. More food for thought....
Let's propose a toast to local wine! Any one that you would recommend Nancy? I know that the Prince Edward County wines from our area are getting quite well known and some have been highly praised by the CBC wine guy - Conrad Edgebick(sp?)
ReplyDeleteI personally like the winterapple spice avaialable from Archibald's orchards here in Bowmanville, however yesterday at the Royal a wine from Black Prince winery in Prince Edward county won best in the show, available at the liquor store for $15.95 according to the man who was interviewed on CBC. Sorry didn't get the name of the wine but I am sure it is on their website. http://www.blackprincewinery.com/
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