ÉCONOMIE / BUSINESS
Living Locally Fair attracts over 1300 year 90 booths were allotted. Horticultural Society members said the addition of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School’s new wing allowed them to sell more spots. Saturday. There were also representatives from many local non-profit organizations. A large number of attendees came from Ottawa. “Buy local is exploding,” said one of the attendees. “The food is better, fresher, supports local business and small business. The flavour and freshness is outstanding.”
Besides improving quality, buying local reduces fuel emissions. Information provided by the Hort Society stated the average distance from farm to fork for apples is 5925 km and buying locally can reduce emissions by 149 times.
C ANDICE V ETTER candice.vetter@eap.on.ca
RUSSELL | The Russell Horticultural Society’s fourth annual Living Locally Fair, a showcase for local producers, tallied its biggest attendance so far, with 1375 attendees, not including children, which is up almost 400 since last year. The fair has been popular since its inception in 2009 when it had 30 vendors. The next year there were 40, then 60 and this
Many local small producers don’t have a venue to market their goods in the winter and vendors stated being very happy to have this outlet at this time of year. Sales were reported to be brisk. Many vendors are also organic growers or produce in small batches and several also sell at the Metcalfe Farmers Market, which will be hosting their first spring market on Easter
photo Candice Vetter Kim and Sarah Herweyer, at their booth at the Russell Living Locally Fair on January 21, promote Russell Market Garden located on Concession Street. Besides selling locally Herweyers sell to Ottawa restaurants. “People think they can’t afford to buy some things they really like,” said Sarah Herweyer. “But everyone can afford to eat well. We sell any quantity and if someone wants to buy a sprig of dill or one beet or a large bag of potatoes they can.” Maintaining rare breeds crucial to non-commodity marketing
photo Candice Vetter
A Horticultural Society member announces the final talk of the day at the fourth annual Living Locally Fair held at St. Thomas Aquinas school in Russell on Saturday, January 21.
YOU ALREADY HAVE THE TOOLS TO SAVE A LIFE. WITH OUR HELP, YOU’LL BE ABLE TO USE THEM. Approximately 45,000 cardiac arrests occur in Canada every year. 85% occur in public places or private homes. Less than 5% survive. However, when defibrillation is applied with CPR in the first few minutes, it can dramatically improve the individual’s chance of survival by up to 75%.
C ANDICE V ETTER candice.vetter@eap.on.ca
Rare breeds are recognized in every species of livestock. On the critical list are five breeds of cattle, 11 horse/pony, four pigs, 15 sheep, one of goats, seven chickens, two ducks, two geese and six turkeys. In poultry critical means there are fewer than 100 breeding females. There are also lists of breeds considered endangered, vulnerable and at-risk. For more information on rare breeds visit www.rarebreedscanada.ca.
RUSSELL | Many small farm producers, including hobby farmers, are entering the non-commodity marketplace and forming successful commercial enterprises, and one of their strategies is maintaining rare breeds. Rare breeds are not bred to grow very large very fast, like most common breeds, but often retain improved characteristics, such as flavourful meat, easy birthing, good mothering instincts, robust health, or docile personalities. As a result they can be less trouble to raise and a more desired end- product by the consumer. Russell resident Lindley McPhail, secretary of Rare Breeds Canada, stresses the importance of maintaining biodiversity. A wide pool of genetic characteristics is more likely to produce disease-resistant animals, meaning less damage for the entire industry in an outbreak. In rare breeds, just like in mainstream livestock breeds, keeping track of specific bloodlines helps improve traits important to commercial production. Most breeders maintain their own herd records but both the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation and Agriculture and Agri-food Canada advise that registration, even of small herds, is a key part of animal improvement.
FREE CPR Skills & AED Awareness Event
Saturday February 4th, 2012 – Clarence-Rockland Saturday February 18th, 2012 – Hawkesbury Saturday February 25th, 2012 – Alfred-Plantagenet Saturday March 3rd, 2012 – Russell
Saturday March 24th, 2012 – Casselman Saturday March 31st, 2012 – Champlain
To register or obtain location details, please visit www.prescott-russell.on.ca or call (613) 673-5139, Ext. 226
photo Candice Vetter
Pam Heath, office manager of Rare Breeds Canada, discusses the importance of maintaining rare livestock breeds at the Living Locally Fair held in Russell on January 28.
Learn more at heartandstroke.ca/restart
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