WE ARE WHAT
WE EAT!

Michael Reid and Jennifer Foote

In today’s age of high technology, rapid communications and fast food it is refreshing to accomplish something, which takes us back to our roots. One such thing is Lunar Rhythm Gardens, a small, multi-acre part of Scugog, which grows only natural foods.

Jennifer Foote and Michael Reid, two people in their early twenties who care about our environment and the way we live, started the concept three years ago. The project covers six acres of cultivated land and is seeded with all natural food where health and the environment are the priority. The model is actually similar to the communes of the sixties (for those of you who remember), minus the work and the love-ins.

The concept is simple, yet amazing. Residents of the area can purchase a share in the farm. Jennifer and Mike do all the work and each week from June to October the shareholders reap the rewards.

For only $275 for the season, two people will receive enough vegetables each week to enjoy many hearty and healthy meals. Vegetables such as, peas, corn, spinach, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and beans, will grace your table all summer long.

Jennifer and Mike have arranged drop off points in Port Perry, Lindsay and Bowmanville or you can go to the farm and pick up your produce. Larger shares are available at greater savings.

Jennifer was born on the family farm near Yelverton, and loves the life.

For a number of years she was involved in logging with horses, a process which makes use of horses to remove trees rather than heavy machinery. Today Jennifer lives and helps run the family farm as well as sharing the work for Lunar Rhythm Gardens. She starts her day around 4:30 and enjoys every minute of life on the farm.

Michael, born near Waterloo, has also been involved in farming all his life. He has worked across Canada on farms as far away as BC, but now lives here and spends his time sharing the work with his business partner, Jennifer.

Although at this point only the vegetables are for sale, Jennifer and Mike are also taking orders for Christmas turkeys, all of which, of course, are naturally fed. Their cattle and other livestock receive the same treatment and although it is much more time consuming to farm this way the results are fantastic. The food is superior, healthier and seems to taste better as well.

Mike explained their products are not organic, but natural. To be certified as organic there has to be a marketing process in place, which will allow a third party retailer to prove the food was grown organically. Instead, these two entrepreneurs have opted for natural growing, a process similar to organic, but where they only sell to end users not mass markets.

“We want to keep our process simple, so we do not have huge mark-ups and do not have to rely on third parties, where we might lose control of the quality,” Mike explains.
Looking over the fields and inside the green house made me appreciate what went into the process. For more information or investing in a share of some really natural produce, visit their website at www.lunarrhythmgardens.wordpress.com.

The next time you see a sign which reads “If you ate today, thank a farmer” think of Jennifer and Michael. Two people who are doing their share to make our world a lasting place to raise our children.

By Jonathan van Bilsen
Focus on Scugog