Well, Hello There!

Hi, my name is Julia Ogrel and I am a co-op student currently working with Growing Up Organic. Let me tell you - it's one heck of a ride. In the three weeks that I have worked here, I got to do some of the craziest things that I have ever done; crazy things, but enjoyable things at the same time. It was certainly a little scary at first but, soon enough, it was like spending time with good friends.

I've met a lot of great people - like Lynda, Tracey, Steve, Diane, and Gabriel.

This is as much a learning experience as it is a working experience.



It is also quite a delicious experience.



I got to visit such a large number of organic gardens right in the city of Ottawa!



We worked hard to take care of the plants already growing there.




We also planted new plants for future visitors to enjoy...


... and we certainly didn’t forget to thank the person who takes care of the plants in our absence.



We thank you so much, Garden Gnome!

Other than visiting gardens, I also got to visit the picturesque Alpenblick Farm.



Which is beautiful both on the outside...


... and on the inside.



The farm is mostly woodland and pasture...


... but you can’t forget about the rather overgrown pond!



Robert and Petra raise cattle...



... sheep...



... and goats.



Just look at that beard!



Here’s a beautiful black one:



Of course, I cannot not mention animals like Elvis the miniature horse...


... Muffin and Licks...



... and the friendly canine.



The babies also deserve their own photos!




We ended up having so much fun with the animals:




Did I mention that the goats like playing peek-a-boo?




We all got to see Robert make cheese from the goats’ milk, using this complicated-looking apparatus:



It is used to squish the cheese curds into shape:



In the end, the cheese ends up looking like this, and is smoked:



Alpenblick Farm is certainly a place of fun and friendly faces.



I think that it is the perfect place to run a camp for organic agriculture and food!



Did I mention that I also got to help Tracey run an organic cooking workshop at the Youth Action Gathering at the MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre? Well, I did!

The centre is located in one of the most beautiful places that I have ever seen.



The Sierra Youth Coalition, who host the camp every year, were friendly and warm.



Tracey and I were prepared to cook...


... and everybody got right to it!







Finally, we got to devour our delicious creations, yum!



It was as much of a learning experience for me as it was for the camp's participants!

At the moment, I am helping Steve prepare for the camp that I will be helping him and Tracey run at Alpenblick Farm during the last week of August. We are going shopping for some of the non-perishable food tomorrow! Perhaps I will have yet another post ready then!

See you soon,

Julia

A little goodbye (for now)....

A photo of Orleans Childcare Centre garden. Boy, is it ever growing!

_____________________________________________________________________

In the span of 7 weeks, it is a little crazy to think of what has transpired. 

As a community, in 7 weeks, we’ve worked with 9 different schools to expand and build food gardens. 

We resurrected 12 garden beds from the previous year and created an additional 20  spaces designated for the purpose of growing food. 

Furthermore, we’ve worked with close to 100 kids and a few dozen community members including parents, neighbours, and Bridgehead staff.

 

That said, like our old friend Albert Einstein notes, “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.” Indeed, I cannot count the number of smiles, 

the number of times kids were amazed to see roots,

nor the number of times I had to tell kids (and adults!) that cutting a worm in half does not make two worms but rather just a dead one. One. 

I cannot enumerate the number of emails that helped to conspire and inspire new thoughts and ideas, the amount of coffee I drank, 

the number of handshakes, 

the number of helping hands along the way, 

nor the number of times when simple words of encourage kept the fire going.

Speaking of keeping the fire going, our dearest Tracey Guptil has signed on to continue with the programming aspect of the food gardens for the remainder of the summer and into the fall. She'll be working with each garden to bring out their potential as a community space. Yeah!!!

As I reflect about my time working with GUO, I realize that there are many things that could have been done differently, perhaps better. Still, I believe it was a perfect place to walk the talk, even if you first have to learn how to crawl. For me, it was a perfect place to unearth some real gems in people, places and communities. Moreover, it was a perfect place to learn that with every seed comes the promise of a flower. 

Thank-you to everyone who came out and shared their time with us. Until we meet again, take care.

Sincerely, 

Minh