Have you ever imagined the city of your child’s future? Is it full of organic gardens? From July 28th to August 1st, eleven children aged 11 to 14 participated in COG’s first Youth Farm Apprenticeship Camp.
The camp took place both in Ottawa and at Alpenblick Farm, a 320-acre (130-ha) organic farm in Ashton, a 20-minute drive from the city. The camp, an initiative of COG-Ottawa’s Growing Up Organic Project, is designed to foster an interest in agriculture among the next generation.
|“Small gardens can transform urban landscapes into vibrant and bountiful green spaces.”|
For the first two days, the participants walked the streets of Ottawa absorbing the richness of urban food production. The children observed the variety of community gardens around Ottawa. Brianna Aird (age 14) was inspired by the number of different vegetables people can grow in their front yards. Small gardens can transform urban landscapes into vibrant and bountiful green spaces. Container and rooftop gardening provide other great opportunities for urban gardening. The unused soil of public spaces, like boulevards, vacant lots and alley ways can be reclaimed through “guerrilla gardening” which revitalizes empty land.
Touring creative front gardens, the campers learned that art and the natural landscape are inseparable. Barbara Cuerden, the camp’s artistic advisor, notes how children form habits of caring, and how this is expressed in gardening, “Kids get involved in place and space and bring their sensitivity to it.” In fact, the theme of the camp could have been “reclaiming agriculture as a place of care” where care is taken to grow plants and raise animals with love.
Barbara Cuerden is writing her M.A. thesis at the University of Ottawa on COG’s Growing Up Organic program. With her guidance, the campers transformed an empty parking space into a place of beauty with a linden seed ball spiral. From the tree to the earth, the seed pods became magic in the hands of the children. In front of their eyes, the shape of a spiral appeared on the pavement.
The campers learned how dependent we are on large-scale agriculture, and how vulnerable that may make us. They watched the movie “The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil,” which described how Cuba moved from oil dependency to sustainability by developing thousands of small organic farms and urban gardens. The group discussed how the global food supply crisis can be alleviated through organic farming and how diverse cultures can contribute a wealth of knowledge to the process.
At Alpenblick Farm, the campers and volunteers built an outhouse and dug the hole for it, with the guidance and tools of farmers Robert Oechsli and Petra Stevenson. They fed goats, made goat cheese and cooked over an open fire.
Robert and Petra have practised organic farming since 1971. They sell their meat and cheese at the farmer’s market in the town of Stittsville and accept phone orders at their off-grid farm. Robert explains the significance of the camp for him, “It’s an opportunity to teach children to have a healthier lifestyle.” From Petra’s perspective, the camp is unique in its capacity to provide a safe, loving and creative environment for the children.
|“We look to children to take a spade to the concrete and create a concert of life.”|
The campers shared their outdoor space with goats, sheep, a pig and a pony. As Petra points out, “Whatever freedom the animals had, the children had,” as they could safely gather wood and play in the pond. The group also took day trips to visit the Forest Dew Honey Apiary, and Riverglen Biodynamic Farm, where they weeded and picked vegetables.
Eamonn Cuerden-Conboy, one of the lucky campers, says it was the best summer camp he had ever been at. Volunteer Eleanor Gerson says the most memorable time was “the few days spent at Alpenblick Farm, helping to do some of the chores (like milking the goats and making cheese) and learning more about how to take care of the animals.” Her only wish was that the camp could have been longer.
Community support enabled a successful and enjoyable camp experience. St-Anthony’s Catholic Elementary School generously donated office space, and two students from Notre Dame Catholic High School were hired for the summer through a provincial program. Also, the red apron, a community-oriented
catering business, hosted a cooking workshop. Young local musicians helped raise funds.
Neighbourhood Activities Group, COG’s partner and contributor to the camp, provided advertising and space for the camp. Paul O’Donnell, the group’s director of recreation says, “Everyone there had something to teach and something to learn.” According to Paul, the camp was geared to “promoting local farmers and really trying to awaken people to what we have right in our own backyards.” The conscious feeling of connection between the campers and the community was one of the camp’s most rewarding aspects.
In terms of both food and community spirit, the sense of connection fed all levels of the children’s development. For Erin Cummings, the camp leader, the most valuable part of the program is the friendships formed between the kids. They share common interests, but may have very different ways of seeing the world.
Lynda Hall, the Growing Up Organic project coordinator, says that there was so much interest in the program that two camps will be offered next summer.
So much of our art, culture, community, native species, children and peoples are threatened by poverty, ignorance and lack of conscious care. It’s time to remember what brings us peace of mind and sustains our hearts. It takes beauty, love, passion and inspiration to shape the future and redesign our communities. We look to children to take a spade to the concrete and create a concert of life. What can help the spirit more than the sounds of children laughing, enjoying fresh food, cooking and sleeping outside?
These are stressful times we live in, both in cities and in rural areas. The fragile state of our food and spaces demands adaptation that is positive and creative. We are all used to fleeing to the country for a break from the city. How do we create cities that are themselves healthy and rejuvenating? Programs like the Youth Farm Apprenticeship Camp connect the farm, city, youth, adults, art and culture so that cities of the future may become healthy, sustainable and creative spaces for children.