I was living and working in Toronto in 2010 when an opportunity to change direction arose. I spent two years researching, planning, volunteering before finally making the decision to hit pause on my career in the big city, and step into the unknown and pursue an organic farming internship. This blog includes photos as well as observations and analysis of this self-directed internship ~ pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages ~ and thoughts on why the benefits of small-scale market gardening, local food production, a circular economy, seed-saving, the 8 Rs, conservation of species and natural spaces are still radical ideas in Ontario.
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| Photo: Coriander seeds bought as spice germinated in my garden, sun-dried tomatoes, zucchini in a hand-made solar dryer |
I have thought marketing was 'ick' and so I do it badly, or not at all. In 2012, two people I had met during the summer internship turned me from "friend" into customer on Facebook. A fellow farmer I enjoyed interacting with became "Ottawa Gardener" and I became a follower more than a friend. This was an early example of how social media was celebrated for enabling us to "sell to the world", but, in doing so, commodified our relationships.