⌘ MAINTAINING RATHER THAN CHANGING ⌘

Through readings and discussions in my Rural Geography course, the challenges associated with labelling rural and all that is encompassed within the overall impression of rural can be recognized. Today, during our final lecture, and within our discussion, we concluded that there is subjectiveness that exists when we attempt to define rural.

Within the classroom discussion a question was brought up that prompted me to write this post. Why are we trying to change rural towns? From this question, change is understood as the promotion of community connectedness, the implementation of necessary infrastructure (hospital, school, fire station etc.), and other factors that allow rural communities to thrive.

I struggled with this question because I don’t feel as though
change is being forced on rural communities. Rather, communities are looking for ways to maintain their lifestyle, not only for themselves but also for their offspring. This reasoning all comes from my own personal experience. Williamstown, where my parents settled down, and where I grew up, was being threatened due to the possibility of the local schools closing down. The school closures would deter families from living in the area, and initiate a snowball effect of events that ultimately would result in a ghost town.

There are many cases across Ontario, just like Williamstown, where these towns are becoming unsustainable due to changing job markets or the closing down of businesses/institutions that are critical for a sustainable community.

By understanding what is necessary for a sustainable rural town, we can then help communities that are declining. We can recognize the factors that are necessary to strengthen the community and implement or explore options that will work to help locals to live in the community that they envisioned for themselves. Some individuals have lived in a rural area for decades and with the changing job market for instance, and/or budget cuts that are leading to school closures, the rural lifestyle of these locals is being threatened.

I’ve been saying “we” a lot. We can recognize the factors necessary, and we can help communities that are struggling. But who’s we? Well, we are the individuals that understand the scope of the issues that exist in many rural areas across Ontario. We are the individuals who recognize the importance of rural towns, and therefore respect the decisions of citizens who choose to live a rural lifestyle and to also expose their children to a rural lifestyle.

By understanding the factors that make a healthy rural area, small changes or enhancements can be made in order to maintain the rural community that many Canadians value so much. So rather than thinking that we are looking to change rural towns in Canada into something that isn’t rural, we should be viewing it as how we are working to maintain the towns that have successfully functioned up until now.

One initiative that is working to maintain sustainable communities across Ontario is the Smart Growth & Rural Planning Initiative. It accounts for economic, social and environmental factors and aims to facilitate discussions and implement unique development, depending on the individual circumstances of the community.

This initiative is one of many projects that are specifically working to maintain what we understand to be a successful rural community. And hey, if this is a way for rural areas to become more sustainable, that’s a plus in my books because I strongly value rural communities, and would someday love the option to be able to settle down in a sustainable, small town.

 

⌘ 6 SIGNS YOU’RE IN A RURAL TOWN ⌘

While exploring the rural Ontario towns of Millbank and St. Jacobs on a university outing I was able to enjoy and experience the quirks of small town living. Below are 6 signs that you’re in a rural town, followed by a few other thoughts I have following the fieldtrip.

          1. Silence

Although there are still sounds that resonate through the towns, there is a sense of silence that can be appreciated when you leave the big smoke. Or rather, a lack of the constant buzzing that we become numb to in the city. Rural Ontario is instead filled with the sounds of the wind whirling, or the odd car grumbling through, or even horse hooves from the horse and buggy’s that are clip-clopping by.   

          2. Stares

When you’re the “fresh meat” in small towns, locals notice. They also are not afraid to slow down to a crawl to check out what all the commotion is about. Even if that commotion is just 11 university students and their professor, roaming through town. So don’t be alarmed the next time you’re getting a stare down by farmer Joe/Jane – it’s a right of passage in rural towns.

          3. Open space

One common reason people leave the city for a weekend away to a small town or to their cottage during the summer is to be able to enjoy the beautiful open space that Canada has to offer. The drive to our rural town locations consisted of rolling hills and picturesque old barns. The open space is so refreshing and I definitely caught myself staring out the window like I was in a sad music video. There’s something about the open space that is mesmerizing and so peaceful. 

          4. Pie

Okay, so this may not be a completely accurate sign that you’re in a rural town but the pie from Anna Mae’s Bakery in Millbank is a staple of the town and too good not to include in my post! Also, homemade baking seems to be a theme of many rural towns that I have visited, although it would be a stretch to say that all rural towns offer it (definitely a bonus though!).

          5. Travel time

I was surprised by how long it took to get out of the city of Guelph. In order to get to rural towns, make sure you take into consideration travel time. With that being said, keep in mind the lack of public transit that exists in these towns. With open space comes travel time and with a low population density comes a lack of public transit and the necessity of having your own car (or the time and willpower to bike).

          6. Farming

Finally, within rural Ontario, farming constantly surrounds you. From the tractors rolling through town to the fields as far as the eye can see. It’s something we can become very disassociated with, living in the city, and yet a very familiar sight in rural areas.

While visiting these towns I was reminded of the beauty that lies within rural gems like Millbank and St Jacobs. From the open space, to the silence that I often miss when I’m in the city, there are so many things to appreciate in rural towns. With that being said I was surprised by the size of St Jacob’s. It would be a stretch for me to consider it a rural area. It challenges my understanding of what rural is, as I wouldn’t consider St. Jacobs a full-blown city but it’s also not rural either.

Therefore, my list mostly refers to Millbank and towns that are similar to it, which encapsulates my definition of rural. Regardless, there are so many towns like Millbank across Ontario that share many similarities including the 6 signs I’ve mentioned above.

Reference

GoogleMaps

⌘ THIRD WORLD RURAL ⌘

I started to think about how I perceive rural areas, and for the most part I have a shared vision with my classmates and other people that I know, of what rural looks like. A quick Google image search can summarize my thoughts. The search shows a lot of open space, a low population density and thriving vegetation (which I have touched on in a previous post). There are agricultural practices shown, including beautiful rolling fields and pastures filled with livestock.

I associate rural areas with families that are living prosperously that are able to liberally provide for themselves and their families. These families don’t have to ever worry about famine, war, unstable markets, or extreme unpredictable weather conditions.

What I’ve described above is the First World image of what rural is. This definition cannot be associated with all rural areas on the planet. However, this is what many people in North America would describe when they talk about a rural area. But, this isn’t the case for everyone. Living in rural areas in the Third World is much different than how we visualize living in a rural area in North America. Once again, a quick Google image search was able to provide a look into what rural living is like in poorer countries.

The driver behind the differences between rural areas in First and Third World countries is associated with economic disparity. This comes in the form of both economic and social struggles.

The lack of economic and social stability, combined with poor climates for thriving agriculture can lead to a pretty harsh place to live. On top of this, access to healthcare is another huge issue third world, rural areas face. This is a challenge that is comparable to isolated rural areas in North America. It does not matter where you live, if you don’t have access to medical attention and the associated resources, then you’re in trouble. In South Africa, rural children are 77% more likely to be underweight than children living in urban settings. The same stat would not apply to children living in rural areas in Canada.

We were asked the question in class at the beginning of the semester, what does rural mean to you?, and immediately my classmates and I associated rural with Canada and our experiences and surroundings. For many of us, rural is perceived as a getaway to a slower paced environment. For others it was unknown territory that was daunting, in a sense.

As I stop and reflect, our understanding of what rural is, is the polar opposite to that of populations living in Third World, rural areas. In many cases Third World, rural areas are desolate landscapes, with struggling farmers working to scrape by to make a living. Families lack essential resources that vary from efficient health care to proper soil and environmental conditions to be able to harvest crops.

It is so important to acknowledge and be aware of the subjectiveness that is associated with the word rural. Although in many cases we associate rural with positive connotations that exist in the First World, there are conflicting perspectives. What one person perceives as rural can be completely contradicted by another individual’s view.

⌘ FIRST TIME FARMER ⌘

Want to start a farm but don’t have millions of dollars to fork up, or the prospect of a family farm that is going to be passed on to you? Well, then this is the blog post for you! I dug deep to determine if even I, a 2o something year old university student could become the new modern day farmer Jane.

Through classroom discussions, I was intrigued with the challenges that new farmers face in their attempt to establish efficient and profitable farms. It troubled me to think that if I wanted to become a farmer that the odds were against me. Even if it were my calling in life to become a great cattle farmer or cash cropper – would I ever be able to get there?

Although I’m from a rural area that has a dominant agriculture and farming presence, I am far from an expert in the field of farming (farming pun 1). With that being said, I have been surrounded by it most of my life, so I have my own perception of what farming is, and the challenges associated with the trade. When I picture what a successful farm looks like and how it is run, I see a well-established business that is operated by large families that go back multiple generations. In my area these family-run farms are mostly executed in a way that will allow for future generations to continue their traditions in order to take over the business. So, how can I become a farmer when these aspects of a successful farm are lacking in my life?

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs was very clear that starting a farm takes planning. This includes establishing whether or not farming is actually what you want, or if it is the romanticized view of farming that really interests you; understanding the legislation and requirements necessary for starting the farm you’re interested in; and creating a business plan in order to be successful. Once you’ve established a plan, the next steps are to put this plan into play, which requires a lot of money. With more digging I came across the Canadian Agriculture Loan Act Program (CALA) which is a federal program provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada that will give you up to a $500,000 dollar loan to first time farmers.

These planning suggestions and funding opportunities seemed like the answer to how I could start my sweet life of farming, but with further reading I discovered the reality of start-up farming. Although the CALA program can provide up to a $500,000 dollar loan, this money doesn’t really get you very far when you break it down. The machinery and infrastructure alone required for livestock and cash cropping exceeds this amount so it would be unrealistic to dive into this type of farming without expecting to be in a lot of debt (and I already know the woes of student debt so I’m going to avoid this).

Unfortunately, even with the available funding and planning advice it is unrealistic to think that you can just jump into a large-scale farm operation with a lack of funds, knowledge, infrastructure and experience (the nerve!). This brought me to the conclusion of my exploration into becoming the next farmer Jane. Rather than large-scale farming, the solution may include starting small, niche farming / specialty farming, farmer’s markets and learning as I grow (farmer pun 2). Niche farming includes growing herbs, hops, specialty fruits and vegetables (and endless other hipster fuelled crops), which could be a successful start-up opportunity that could lead to eventual growth into a medium sized operation.

My advice to individuals with their hearts set on becoming a large-scale farmer would not be to give up, but rather to be resourceful and take advantage of the funding opportunities and planning techniques. It is possible to start small and build your way up to becoming a well-established farmer but it takes a lot of time, effort and money to get there. Unfortunately, there is no 3-step plan to becoming a successful farmer.

For me, large-scale farming is out of the picture, but small-scale niche farming is a viable option that I would seriously consider in my future. Farmer Jane’s unite!

⌘ URBAN BEEKEEPING ⌘

I am taking a beekeeping course and my dad is a beekeeper so I have bees on the mind a lot lately, which has lead me to write this post.

A thought came to mind when I was thinking of all of the available space and resources that makes beekeeping so efficient and necessary in rural areas – but what about in the city? Do urban apiaries exist? And if so, what are some of the challenges that they face living in a concrete playground?

Rural apiaries are necessary in several cases in order to provide pollinating services for the success of countless crops including many fruits, vegetables, nuts and coffee to name a few. But without these bountifully available crops in the city, I wonder whether beekeeping is even a viable hobby in more densely populated areas?

Google was very helpful when I was on the hunt for some answers regarding urban apiaries! I was very surprised to discover that beekeeping in the city is relatively common and is continuing to grow in popularity! The city is actually being considered as an oasis for bees because the colonies are not experiencing stresses from being exposed to agricultural pesticides. An article I read talked about how hotels are actually creating apiaries on top of their buildings and using the honey they produce in their hotel and/or harvesting fruit and vegetables for their restaurants. Kind of great if you ask me!

Although urban beekeeping has its benefits there are also some disadvantages. Multiple stresses can threaten urban hives including a lack of foraging and food resources for bees as well as legislation such as the Ontario Bees Act, which legally restricts beehives to be within 30 meters of a residence. What it comes down to is that people don’t want hundreds of thousands of bees buzzing around their homes (especially if they have children or allergies). Another challenge with this newly growing trend includes overcrowding apiaries, swarms of bees leaving their initial area and feral colonies setting up homes in places where they are not wanted and therefore need to be removed (they are wild after all!).

There seems to be a lot of negative impacts that may indicate that urban apiaries are not a viable option, but I think that if they are appropriately executed that it is a great thing for cities to pursue. Not only does it promote the improvement of declining bee populations by expanding the number of apiaries that exist but it can provide great pollinating services to businesses looking to provide locally sourced food.

Urban beekeeping can provide a taste of rural living, even if it is on the top of a high-rise building. Hopefully this trend will continue to grow!