New farming co-op enlists in local-food revolution

For Bob Fitzgerald, a member of the popular band Earthbound Trio and part-time hops farmer, three or four gigs a week isn't sustainable.

That's why Fitzgerald and three other farmers banded together in January to form a farmers co-op.

"We're a little anti-system," he said. "Not that we're radical punks or anything ... we always kind of say that we're starting a revolution. A quiet, peaceful, slow food revolution."

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The farming allows bassistFitzgerald time off from playing while keeping food on the table. But it's still notfinancially plausible, he said. The practice of growing hops really boils down to spending money all season to receive one big cheque at the end.

"Which is kind of difficult because you need to eat and survive," said Fitzgerald, whose property is near Sussex.

The idea for getting together with other farms to combine crops came in January, when Fitzgerald and a few farmers who live "alternative" lifestyles realized they already helped each other with farm work.

Theyjust decided to take it a step further.

Each farmer will get the profits from whatever of theirs is sold, althoughTatum Andrews, another member of the co-op, said there are plansfor joint projects.

They way it works is, if one farmerhas a big day ahead, they'll all organize to pitch in and cut down the workload.

The farmers meet regularly to discuss what can be improved and how they can better work together.

More diverse than big stores

They're also working together to sell what they grow. Instead of all going to a farmers market, only one will.

That way the group collectively can spend more time on their farms and produce more.

The goal is to cut out the middle man, Fitzgerald said.

Plans are in the works for a summer market, possibly in the Quispamsis area.

As for goods, Fitzgerald said the co-op will offer a more diverse array of produce and farm products than might be seen at a big-name grocery store.

All told, the farmers boast 56 types of vegetables, hops, medicinal plants and "wild foods."

Once people taste the difference, that's what gets them coming back.- Jamie Reynolds, farmer

"A mix of everything you could name," said Jamie Reynolds, another of the farmers.

"I find a lot of people have this conception that buying organic costs more. But if you get to know your farmers and go to your farmers market, you'll see the prices are on par if not better."

The four farms are spread out between Charlotte County and Kings County; from Kingston to past Sussex. The group has even cleared out 30,000 square feet ofFitzgerald's property to grow more vegetables.

Fitzgerald hopes that what he and his friends are doing will inspire others to choose local, healthy food, even in a small way, such asplanting a home garden.

Eating local

"The 100-mile diet works," he said. "It makes so much more sense to me to buy your vegetables from a guy you know up the road where they were grown."

Reynolds saidthere's something wholesome about helping your friendly neighbourhood farmer.

"It's just a good feeling, supporting local," Reynolds said. "Once people taste the difference, that's what gets them coming back. That's really why I do it, knowing how many families I'm supporting."

Fitzgerald knows this kind of farming isn't groundbreaking but said he hopes there's a space for more local, small-time farming in New Brunswick. It's hard to make it as a small farmer in the province and becoming a collective helps, he said.

Hewants to help ensure the health of his 11-month-olddaughter. It would be nice if she didn't have to go to a big store to enjoy the fruits of her land, said Fitzgerald.