Farm and fable at the Thurlow Community Centre

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By EMC News

EMC Events - Dr. Peter Andree teaches political science with emphasis on environment and agriculture at Carleton University. He completed his PhD in the Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University.

Peter will present his research in Australia and how these lessons may be relevant to agriculture in Ontario. Australian farmers are experimenting with new markets and approaches: selling directly to end users and certified niche markets, organics, and selling exotic meats (kangaroo, venison) and free-range chickens. There are many emerging "alternative" marketing approaches, and these allow farmers to meet a mix of economic, environmental and social goals. All involve challenges and new learning skills.

Peter will outline the challenges to Aussi farmers, such as the drought of the last decade and the devastation it caused in wheat growing areas. Photos of Australian agriculture, especially in the State of Victoria, will illustrate the presentation.

Dr. Jennifer Davis teaches English and First Nations Studies at Bayside Secondary School in Quinte West, has completed her doctorate in Education at Queen's University, and also runs Firefly Lane Farm, a goat operation. Her talk is about what the land teaches us, and the value of using stories from the land in character education for students. These stories are told by people who live on the land. Audio and video highlights will accompany the presentation.

Jennifer's research incorporated audio and video recorded stories told by local generational farmers, others who have settled in the area in the last 20 years, and Mohawk people living on the Tyendinaga Territory. Each story is rich in detail about what the teller has learned and how each has grown through living with the land. The learning revealed through the rich fabric of every story has been viewed through the lens of the character traits that are part of curriculum development for students in this county.

This evening talk is part of the Winter Speaker Series hosted by the Hastings Stewardship Council< www.ontariostewardship.org/councils/hastings/>.All are welcome to attend, free of charge on Thursday, February 23, at Thurlow Community Centre, 516 Harmony Road, north of Belleville at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Jim Pedersen at 613-478-6875 or .