25. March 2010 by David.

The porcupine is back. Along with an ancient looking snapping turtle, he is one of the characters that makes a visit to Riverglen Farm once a year. Each spring, in March, he can be seen lurking around the hedgerows, looking for tasty young bark to chew on. One year he was in the drainpipe. Another year he was perched way high in a tree. The minuscule branch he was perched didn’t look strong enough to carry his weight, but it did. He could have been an over-sized Christmas Tree ornament.

This year the dog was the one who found him. Katut has been training to chase deer from the gardens. Chasing can be fun. Groundhogs, foxes, cats… Chasing porcupines is not fun. After a night of coaxing, wrestling and trying, we’ll have to see what the vet can do about this one.

They say a porcupine represents a sense of peaceful satisfaction. The porcupine moves a night, looking for tender, woody growth  to eat. He spends the day lounging in the sun in conveniently located tree tops. He is care-free and content. An encounter with a porcupine might insight a look into one’s own life. Take the time to stop and admire him. In the midst of spring fever, it may be healthy to let the beautiful day slip away once in awhile. If you’re too eager, an obsession over your work could lead to a painful stop.

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8. March 2010 by David.

Greetings, from a sunny and cheerful farm!

It is absolutely marvelous out here. A full week of sun has already begun to reveal patches of brown, yellow and even green! As much as we can all appreciate the warm weather, the chickens are extra happy. After two or three months of beeing cooped up (literally) they have started their daily excursions up and down the barnyard.

I hope this early thaw will help dry out the barnyard, which will make an early start to spring clean-up an easy task. And if this weather holds up there could even be crops in the ground by month’s end!

My thanks go out to all those who have already submitted their registration forms. The group is already more than half full, but there are still 2010 harvest-shares available. Joining a CSA is a great way to help sustain a local, sustainable food system in Ottawa.

My seeds are on their way, and the crop list this year is very exciting! I’m looking forward to a larger variety of hardy greens and herbs, more broccoli, more onions, multi-coloured salad tomatoes, almost all open-pollinated varieties of vegetables, and no conventional seed whatsoever.

2010 Registration Package

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3. March 2010 by David.

It appears that the province would like to hear from a variety of people - particularly people involved with farmer’s market operations, with regards to any changes taking place in the current egg regulations. Without reaction and encouragement to allow egg sales at market, they will not change a thing.  So please!  Write the province and convince them that it is just as safe to sell eggs from a market stall as it is from a farm gate.

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Proposed Egg Grading Regulation Under the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001

OMAFRA proposes to develop an updated egg regulation under the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001 (FSQA) to replace the current Regulation 724 - Eggs and Regulation 726 - Processed Egg under the Livestock and Livestock Products Act (LLPA). To minimize the food safety risk associated with the sale of ungraded eggs, the proposed regulation under the FSQA would continue to require grading of all eggs for sale in Ontario with the exception of those sold at the farm gate. Grading eggs ensures that cracked eggs, with a higher risk of Salmonella contamination, do not enter the human food chain without pasteurization. Grading or processing of eggs could only take place in federally registered egg grading and egg processing stations in accordance with the Egg Regulations and Processed Egg Regulations under CAPA.  Specific proposals include removing provincial requirements that are redundant in the federally inspected system; removing outdated requirements that no longer align with current industry practice; and retaining requirements related to food safety. There are some sections in both Regulations 724 and 726 that may or may not be useful to industry.

Please send written comments by March 5, 2010 to Mr. Patrick Thornton at patrick.thornton@ontario.ca or to 1 Stone Road West 2SW, Guelph, Ontario N1G 4Y2. Alternatively, comments may also be sent before March 5, 2010 to the notice of the Proposed Egg Regulation under the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001 on the Regulatory Registry, under current proposals. Comments received as part of this consultation process may be summarized and shared with other stakeholders during the development of a proposed regulation. Your comments will be considered in regards to drafting any proposed regulation but they will not necessarily be included. More information can be found at: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/policy/legislation/propeggreg.htmthe proposal to ensure we have a modern regulation for the fresh and processed egg sector that reduces barriers to innovation, reflects industry and government practices, and maintains food safety.

Mr Patrick Thornton,

I would like to thank OMAFRA for reaching out to the farming community in order to receive feedback on proposed changes to egg grading regulations.

I support OMAFRA’s efforts in creating a safe and efficient supply management system for commercial egg producers. However, I think the restrictions around the sale of eggs by smaller producers could be more flexible.

I believe small producers (under 100 birds) are perfectly capable of collecting eggs and selling them in a safe and hygienic manner. In addition to farmgate sales, we should be allowed to sell identified and sorted (although ungraded) eggs through a diversity of direct-marketing channels, including restaurants and farmer’s markets. It is a simple process to ensure clean bedding, daily egg collection, removal of cracked and deformed eggs, washing, and storage in a cool location.

The sale of eggs enables me to diversify my sources of income, cater to increasing demand for farm-fresh eggs, and financially support one important pillar of manure production for my vegetable gardens. Direct marketing is a simple, accessible and traceable sales method. Adequate support from OMAFRA will help take egg sales from under the table and make the whole process more enjoyable, profitable and safe.

Thank you,

David Burnford

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