June News
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Svetec Farms gears up for a great season As I write, the hum of Big Blue, our tractor can be heard in the distance, even as cars whiz bearing travellers to a much needed cottage sojurn. Though summer may spell l-e-i-s-u-r-e to some, just ask our staff how busy life is on the farm! I think they might spell summer S-W-E-A-T-Y here at Svetec Farms! This week, our first sunny one in about six, the team has been racing to plant the transplants that were so lovingly nurtured from seed in our greenhouse, while two amazing gardeners are transplanting the next batch, and Paul is laying row upon row of beds, and still trying to get all those potatoe plants into the soil. Meanwhile, I have been busy preparing for our upcoming markets, trying to keep up with emails, messages ( sorry!) and preparing for our CSA which all begin around June 14th. Hmm, cottage life is looking rather dreamy right now! We do hope many of you have the opportunity to kick back with family over some Canadian waters, enjoy a campfire, and munch on smores. be sure to mark one of your leisure moments with a visit to the farm or our farm markets, that we may touch base after a long, cold winter and spring and celebrate the beauty of Canada in July together with wonderful you. Speaking of celebrations, we have quite a few planned, and hope to see you at some of them. Tomorrow, the Clarington Family Adventure Tour includes Svetec Farms as a tour destination, and we will be serving our famous burgers, as well as poutine, brownies and free lemonade for all who stop by from 10am-5pm. Paul is operating wagon rides and the team is offering face painting and tours to complete the event. We look forward to seeing you soon. Enjoy this amazing sunshine! With cheer, Farmer Paul and Jenny Svetec |
2011 Season, Here we come!|
Organic? Non-Certified? Transition? Pastured? A quick look at what these terms means to you: Organic - Something which is certified organic according to the National Standards for Organic Agriculture. Generally this means that an organic farm does not use traditional herbicides and pesticides on their land, however herbal remedies may be tolerated. A farm must be annually inspected and operate with organic practice for three years before being certified organic. Svetec Farms is currently seeking organic status. Non-Certified - This designates a farm which is not federally approved as organic but may operate according to organic standards. Svetec Farms ran an non-certified operation last year. Transition - This describes a farm which has complied to organic standards and is in process to becoming approved as an organically certified farm. Svetec Farms is in transition with Pro-Cert, a government-certified organic agency which inspects and then certifies farms in for organic status. Pastured - Cattle or fowl graze on grass hay fields as part of their daily experience. At Svetec Farms, our cattle and poultry are put on pasture and then moved on rotation to new pasture once that field has been grazed down. In this way, the animals enjoy fresh grass, fresh air, and healthy movement as part of their sustainable living experience. Grass-fed Beef - This is when cattle are fed grass exclusively. Some farms may claim to have grass-fed beef and still "finish" the cows off on grain, which is not natural to their diet. At Svetec Farms, our cattle graze on chemical free hay fields and then are sent directly to the butcher. No grain is given to our cattle from the time they arrive as heifer (girl) calves, until they leave. Free-Range - Free Range simply means the animal has some ability to move. Normally our chickens are roaming all over our property, but given the recent loss of sixty chickens by a pack of coyotes, they are penned on grass with about fifty feet of electric fencing until the hungry coyotes move north. |
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Upcoming Events at Svetec Farms: Mark your calendar; you don't want to miss these free events!
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In : Our Newsletters
Tags: events grass fed beef organic produce csa
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