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About Us
History:
Even though Mike Rabinowitz was raised on the sidewalks of New York City, he has always been interested in growing vegetables. Soon after Mike finished graduate school in developmental psychology, he and Melba moved to Seattle where they bought their first land This is where Mike first used a hoe and later bought a tiller. In 1970, they moved to New Orleans with two toddlers. Here, they bought land in Mississippi a few hours away, where they cleared bushes and briars to make places for planting fruit trees and roots for grapevines. In 1975, Mike accepted a position on the Psychology Faculty, Memorial University because he and Melba felt Newfoundland seemed like a good place to raise young children. Early on, while looking for land, they visited the luscious flower and vegetable gardens of colleagues, John Evans, a biologist and organic gardener and Jon Lien and his wife, Judy, who were already successful organic growers. At the Lien farm, they saw shoulder high rhubarb and gardens flowing with squash, beans and peas. This set them on the path to organic farming.Melba has fond memories of sitting on the back of the mule behind her older brothers as they rode past apple and peach trees, the family garden, the barns, clover fields and pond where she learned to swim. This regular ride past her grandfather's house was to take lunch to her Dad who was working in the lower fields on the family farm in Tennessee. Frank Whitesides left before daylight to feed the animals and get ready for the day, often returning back to the house after dark. During farming season, lunch under the oak tree beside the waiting Farm-All Tractor might be the only time of day she would see her father. These memories also include the struggles of farming and how her brothers, like her Dad, eventually had to work off the farm to support their families. All continued to keep animals and farm "on the side" because they loved farming. Like her family, she had farming in her bones. Although she went to University right out of high school, she often fantasized about living on a farm and being able to look past blue checked curtains, framing the kitchen window to the fruit trees, clover fields, thriving gardens and open fields where her children played.
Mike and Melba started looking for land in all the surrounding areas outside the city of St. John's, from the Goulds to Ocean Pond, Paradise, Middle Cove and Torbay. Over a year past. Finally, they found a piece of land in Portugal Cove on Churchill Road, overlooking Conception Bay. Mike had studied the micro-climates and knew this area was several degrees warmer than most of the surrounding areas. Although it was only l l/4 acres, it was adequate to build a house and begin a family garden. They bought the land the day they saw it and began removing the sod for a garden in the front yard soon after the sale closed. This was the summer of 1976. When the house was finished the following summer, they moved their young family from St. John's, literally, ready to put down roots in Newfoundland. Soon afterwards, they bought the Graveley walk-behind tractor which is still used today. The rest is truly the history of the Organic Farm.
Land and Soil Condition:
There were no huge rocks or boulders in the meadow in the front of the house which is part of the original Churchill farm. However, when the ground was opened up, it had no organic matter and was what might be referred to as a dust bowl. The area on the South side of the house, which was the warmest, was dumped with many feet of hard pan dirt, gavel and boulders left as a results of building the house and septic field. After prying out boulders, most of which were a two man job, using pry poles, the process of soil building began. Mike says that in Eastern Newfoundland, it takes at last three years to build soil, sufficiently rich in humus to support the growth of healthy vegetables.Management:
Mike and eldest son Louis hold the vision and oversee the over-all development and planning for the farm. They act as consultants. Louis mostly does observation and development, but when things fall behind he jumps back into the labor. The farm employs 2 full time people with 2 -3 additional employees during the summer as well as several causal workers, whose work is primarily that of hand weeding. A permanent general manager is being sought nation-wide, to assist with over-all development of buildings, infra-structure and the day to day management.Soil Building Materials:
There are many soil building methods. We were lucky enough to have several fields that were left over from a previous farming operation many years ago. Some of these fields had Sod 12 inches thick, mainly at the bottom of a sloped meadow. We immediately turned all the sod over, and spread it evenly to the top of the sloped field. This was then sprinkled with Limestone (the key ingredient needed for most NL soil). This sod may take awhile to break down, so if you don't have a tiller, you best 'Mulch' it with something. This can be hay, grass, leaves, etc... or hard-wood chips if you balance it with a nitrogen source. This will help decompose the sod and weeds (valuable humus). If you have little or no sod... you'll mainly need Peat Moss, Compost, and Limestone. Planting beneficial Cover Crops (Clover, Oats, Vetch, Peas, Buckwheat, Rye etc.) in the areas you don't use, will thicken the soil with humus and add nitrogen once you till them under. Other products may increase the fertility of this mix such as Fishmeal, Shrimp/Crab Meal, Kelp, Composted Manure, Worm Castings etc.Productivity:
By the early 80's, the family was already giving away more vegetables than they could use, so a trade in vegetables began with local stores as well as bartering with friends. The gardens were featured annually on the Newfoundland Gardening show with visuals of Mike walking through the gardens of large, healthy beets, averaging four or five lbs. Each year the amount and variety of vegetables increased, and friends and other growers came back year after year to keep up with what was happening. A neighbor claimed she made six pints of pickled beets from one beet. Eventually our planting, over came our weeding abilities. But with many new methods, and the right employees, we may regain control! See the Bartering page for our 'Weeding for Veggies' program :-) We are also expanding into a drying operation to reduce wastage and prolong product availability.Secrets of Organic Farming:
Weeding! Unless you're like Louis and enjoy it... weeding is a major time consumer. You should Mulch as much as possible, this will hold back weeds and conserve ground water. Insect Control also requires special tactics. This may involve a repellant such as Neem Oil, a soap such as Castille, or a barrier like Floating Row Cover. You may also purchase beneficial insects! This may be quite fun to watch. We use Lady Beetles and Parasitic Wasps. Another secret use is 'Compost Tea' as a foliar feed/protection. This involves well rotted compost mixed with water, and strained for a sprayer, be sure to not let the mixture sit too long as it is alive and needs oxygen.The W-Factor:
In Newfoundland, the Weather is unpredictable through out the season. It might snow in June or frost in September, or both. This is the main reason the farm has gone to more greenhouse production during the past few years. Many years ago, the farm tried vegetable row cover, a covering to protect the brassicaes from the cold and cabbage moths, with great success. The farm still uses this method extensively and have introduced it to other growers in the area. We also use working tables with hoops that support plastic or row cover, for added protection, and Coldframes, built with discarded windows.Experiments:
Learning By Doing. The farm always takes an experimental/comparative approach to growing, by keeping notes, comparing varieties, timing and growing methods. An example is the second meadow. On one plot, the soil was removed; on the other, the sods were turned under. The soil development, water retention and plant growth was compared in the two plots. The evidence was clearly visible. On the soil enriched with sods, the lettuce was greener and taller.Seed Selection:
Selection of Seeds and Plants and Seed Saving. One of the greatest challenges is obtaining a selection of organic and untreated seeds and plants for the 'Short' growing season. Many years ago, the farm started ordering seeds from West Coast Seeds in Vancouver because they specialize in growing for cooler climates. West Coast operates an experimental/demonstration garden. Mike and owner Mary Ballon, talk frequently about varities which might do well in our climate. During the past few years, there are more and more suppliers who sell organic seeds for cooler climates. We order seeds from a variety of suppliers, including some of the smaller seed companies in the Atlantic provinces. However, each set of seeds must have a test trial on the farm, for at least one season. If the test trials show resilient, productive seeds, we will not only use the seeds again for the farm, we will bring them in for resale at the Organic Farm Garden Store. During the past two years, Louis is refining his way of working with our own seeds and plants. He is now expanding the seed saving circle by collecting seeds from many kinds of vegetables, herbs, berries, bushes, and trees. Mike is also interested in cross-breeding and developing his own seed.Organic Certification:
The farm is certified by the Organic Crop Producers and Processors of Canada (OCPP). Now know as OC/PRO. Certification is under constant change, and a more national/international standard is being put together as we speak. Inspection happens once a year, by qualified professionals.Breaking Even:
The farm has never made a profit, in fact, Mike and Melba take loans to help provide employment. Each year, the operation becomes a little more efficient in some areas, but most people know that running an organic farm is very labour intensive. The work not only includes soil preparation, seeding, planting, transplanting, weeding, watering, and harvesting, but also packaging, labeling, accounting and logging everything. Except for capital expenses, the labour costs make up 85% of the over-all costs; much of this is for the wages of casual employees, involved in hand weeding. The main concern is that the operation does not bring in sufficient money to pay adequate wages to the permanent, experienced employees. Although the farm was is not breaking even yet, Mike still enjoys the challenges of "growing on the rock."Market:
The main output is a 'The Organic Veggie Coop", a buyer's club or Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program where members pay an annual membership for vegetables throughout the season. Extras are sold to local restaurants, a couple of grocery stores, and a wholesale herb contract with a supermarket chain. The CSA provides us with working capital to start the season. Membership is however limited to 70.Expansion and Development:
The farm has opened up a new acre for development of a tree farm.We are working on U-Pick berry patches that will include Alpine Strawberries, Raspberries, Gooseberries, Currants, and Josta Berries.
A new irrigation system is underway, involving a Steri-light ultra-violet water filtration system.
A food processing facility is on the drawing board.
Thoughts of an old-age home, are being entertained by Louis.
Composting in a variety of methods is under development. Including large off-site projects.