Market_garden

Feature Article October 3

Feature Article October 3, 2001

LAND O'LAKES NewsWeb Home

Making a living from her market gardenby David Brison Thanksgiving, traditionally a time to celebrate the fall harvest, will be just another day at the Kingston Farmers Market for Titia Posthuma of Maberly. market_garden Titia trucks in organic vegetables from her market garden and greenhouse to Kingston every week from May 1 to December 1. In the peak of her growing season, she goes on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. She tapers off somewhat when she doesnt have as much produce, as happened this summer during the prolonged drought, but packing up her truck and getting to the market by 8:30 a.m. is a part of her weekly routine for seven months of the year. When she isnt at the market, she is busy planting, weeding, irrigating, mulching, ploughing, building and repairing fences, clearing more land, milking her goats, and attending to four pigs. During the winter months, she sorts seeds (gathered from her own plants, many of them heritage varieties) for the coming year, and plans next years crops. She is a busy woman - but whoever said that farmers dont work long hours? Titia believes in what she does. There are a set of ideas that motivate her and she doesnt need much of an opening to talk about them. However, she doesnt stop working to talk in fact her mind and body both seem to be constantly in motion. She thinks that fruit and vegetables (and meat too) taste better, and are better for you, if they are grown organically without artificial fertilizers and pesticides. In addition, she is convinced that the centralization of food retail outlets dictates what will be grown and how to grow it to the detriment of many consumers who want naturally grown food; also, that increasingly the impact of this big business control of agriculture is to drive the small farmer out of business. market_garden The Kingston market is a key to her farm operation. It enables her to get her food, in large quantities, to the people who want it and they certainly want what she has to offer. By the time she arrives at 8:15 or 8:30 a.m., and even before she has an opportunity to unpack her produce, the customers are lining up to buy. They wait patiently in line - no shuffling of feet or looking at watches - while she attends to each customer, most of whom she knows by their first names. They know that when it comes to their turn, they will get her sole attention, and most importantly, they are confident that she will have - and be able to find in the dozens of blue containers in her truck - something that they will savour. Elizabeth, a regular customer, summed it up: Titia is the bringer of the most exquisite culinary delights. Others said that they appreciated the quality, textures, and flavour of the food. Another spontaneously said, She is the best organic gardener that Ive ever purchased from. The average purchase per customer seemed to be about $15, and she must have made at least $300 in the first hour. Cost doesnt seem to be a factor customers seldom ask what something will cost until they are ready to pay. There is a large range of vegetables available green and purple beans, Bok Choy, Swiss chard, arugala, garlic, beets, carrots, potatoes, zucchini, cabbage, mixed greens ready for a salad, tomatoes, and many, many more. Many are available in several varieties - often heritage ones. She grows cucuzzi zucchini for Mario, an Italian customer, and usually has only one or two, which he picks up every week. The market is run by the city of Kingston, and is one of Ontarios oldest farmers markets. Last year, relationships between the city and the vendors became strained when the city, without consultation, leased the market space to a film company as a movie site. The vendors objected to having their market cancelled, formed their own association (the Kingston Market Vendors Association) and the filming was eventually moved elsewhere in the city. Since that time, relationships with the city have improved markedly. Wayne Hawley (who lives in Parham and reads The News) is the market clerk for the city. We meet monthly with the executive of the association (Titia is a member), and it has been very helpful. They handle a lot of problems before they get to us and the operation has been much smoother this year. In fact, this year attendance and revenue are both up from last year, said Wayne. market_garden Titia and Wayne both say that there is a need for new vendors and that those vendors who produce their own food (as opposed to purchasing it from wholesale food outlets) will be given preference. Vendors can start small. Titia herself started nine years ago with her then partner, Chris Petzold, selling only potatoes and maple syrup. There are still day spaces available for those who dont want to have a years lease. The vendors association has an informal network set up to welcome and help new vendors, so that what looks forbidding to the newcomer is made easier. I think that a lot of people have been squeezed out of farming, but would like to stay in. There are others like myself, who always wanted to farm, but didnt think it was possible. I think that farmers markets (Perth also has one) make it possible for many to stay in agriculture. I make a living, and love doing it. Furthermore, markets arent the only outlets for my produce. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has also worked for me. People pay me in advance, and I give them a basket of vegetables every week during the growing season. I also sell to Foodsmiths in Perth, said Titia. Titia has made it work for herself, and would like to encourage others to start market gardens - and perhaps join her in Kingston next year.