Yukon Farmers

The past couple weeks I’ve been making an effort to establish some contacts with local (aka Yukon) farmers to source out chickens, pork and cheese. The challenge of eating ethical meat in the Yukon is that you need to plan. You can’t just swing by the farm and pick up some pork chops. You need to estimate how much meat you need and order now for the fall. 

There is a website for Yukon Farm Products and Services, which has a listing of the all the producers in the Yukon:

http://farmproducts.yukonfood.com/producers.htm

It has been quite useful and informative.

As I’ve mentioned before, the biggest thing missing in my life right now is ethically produced cheese. Vegan cheese does not cut it. And even if it did, it’s still highly processed. I’m just not into eating food that is parading around as another food when it is clearly not. Almond milk? No problem. It’s a decent substitute when used in a recipe along with other ingredients. I don’t generally sit down to drink a big glass. I do, however, wanna sit down with a big block of cheese. Vegan cheddar cheese? No. I’d rather eat no cheese at all than vegan cheese.

Luckily, in the Yukon we have the Lendrum Ross Farm. They grow a variety of organic vegetables but more importantly for me, they produce several varieties of goat cheese. I love goat cheese. I purchased some of their cheese last summer at the Fireweed Community Market in Whitehorse. It’s good stuff. 

I have to admit, I’m a little shy when it comes to talking to strangers. When I was a kid, my dad would strike up conversations with anyone and everyone and I always felt so awkward about it. Sending emails out to people I don’t really know? I mentioned to Marsha, “They’ll think I’m such a newb.” I don’t know anything about cheese making or raising animals. It’s like being a cheechako when you want to be a sourdough. These guys don’t have time for me. She quickly dismissed the notion. “Of course not! When new people contact them, it’s an opportunity for them to expand their market. Besides, they are doing something that they are passionate about so of course they want to share with anyone who is interested.” Makes sense... 

She was spot on. I sent out a short email to the folks at the Lendrum Ross Farm making general inquiries. Where I might be able to find their cheese in the off-season of the Fireweed Market? I had also heard that they offered cheese making courses so I asked about that.  

I had a response in the space of about 10 minutes. Brian, who wrote back to me, explained that they don’t have any cheese at the moment but produce cheese from May to December. He said that the first babies are about to be born so the milk will be flowing shortly and then the cheese shortly after that. He also told me about mozzarella making workshops instructed by their farming partner at Yukon College in Whitehorse. Then he invited me to drop in on my way to Whitehorse sometime and meet the goats. How rad is that? And to boot, when I wrote back thanking him and telling him that I was hoping to do the cheese course in a month’s time, he wrote to give me a heads up that they fill up quickly so I shouldn’t delay in signing up. 

I’m please to report that I’ll be making a special trip down to Whitehorse on May 4th to do the mozzarella workshop. I’m psyched. You know what that means... Pizza!

My second order of business: pork. Specifically: bacon. I’ve made my own bacon before but now I want to make my own ethical bacon!!! Not being aware of any pig growers in the Dawson area, I contacted Aurora Mountain Farm in Whitehorse. They grow cows, pigs, organic veg, chicken and grain among other things. I sent them a brief message inquiring about pigs and chickens. Again, same day response. They thanked me for my interest, told me a bit about their operation and let me know that they added my name to their mailing list and would be sending out all the details for the upcoming season shortly.

A couple days later, I was telling a friend about how I intended to order a pig from a Yukon farmer and she told me that there was someone in Dawson who was going to be raising pigs this year. Turns out, it’s my egg guy, Derrick Hastings! Actually, he's my seed guy too. A few weeks ago I bought some organic seeds from him through the Dawson Buy, Sell & Trade Facebook group.

Derrick and his wife, Katie are Dawson farmers. I’ve known them for a few years. They are super friendly, community-oriented, and of course passionate about what they do. They started out doing vegetables, then expanded to eggs and chickens and now they’re branching out to pigs. In addition, they makes a variety of teas, salves, sprouting kits, etc. I contacted Derrick right away. One pig, coming right up! 

There are so many reasons I’m excited about this pig and it’s not just the bacon. I am supporting local farmers. Because I actually know them, it feels very personal. I feel like I’m helping them expand their farm. I feel like I’m part of this exciting, new experiment that they are embarking on. I’m excited that I’m going to be able to go to the farm and experience the whole process of raising pigs and educate myself about exactly what that entails. I feel more connected to my food already.

This past weekend, the Dawson Community Garden hosted its 4th Annual Seedy Saturday. It’s an opportunity to meet with local growers, buy or exchange seeds and take in some presentations. I had been under the impression that the morning speakers were more geared towards farmers so I only went in the afternoon. Okay, let’s be honest. I was a little hung over so it was easy to talk myself out of the morning sessions. But anyways, I stopped by in the afternoon to touch base with Derrick about the pig and check out the event. I was stunned by the number of people there all sharing information, networking and socializing... In retrospect, I really wish I had gone for the whole day and fully participated.

You know, in this age of technology, internet, Facebook, it’s funny how unconnected you can still be. For example, even though I am Facebook friends with Derrick, I didn’t know that his farm, Full Circle Farm, had a Facebook group with a wealth of information regarding his operation and gardening and farming in general. Another example: I did not know until recently that there is a Dawson City Food Secure Advocacy Group that has been meeting over the winter and addressing food related issues in Dawson. Have I been living under a rock?

Anyways, I won’t beat myself up too much. This is all part of a process. If I look back at where I was a few weeks ago, I am so much more informed. Everything can’t happen instantly. I can just continue to keep learning and force myself to strike up conversations with anyone and everyone! 

Next on the agenda: Firm up my chicken numbers and get my order in.

Speaking of chicken:
Is the chicken local? -Here is the link to a hilarious clip from the show Portlandia! Lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErRHJlE4PGI