Falls Brook Centre
Falls Brook Centre is a sustainable development educational and training centre, located in Knowlesville, New Brunswick. This non-profit centre has been in operation since 1993 and works in four core program areas, including organic agriculture, coordinated by Andrea Berry. This program has local, national and international scope, with projects taking place on-site, in the local community, and with partner organizations around the world.
Falls Brook Centre has 2.5 acres of on-site organic gardens, where a variety of vegetables, herbs, small fruits, apples, and flowers are grown. These products are mainly for their own consumption and for their largely internal CSA; however, some of their products can be purchased at the Saturday market in Jacksonville and the Perth-Andover market.
“Organic farming is the first step to creating a sustainable food system,” says Andrea. To her, and those at Falls Brook Centre, there is really no other choice than to farm organically, as they have a firm belief in the principles.
Falls Brook Centre is certified with OCIA-NB, and has been since 1999. Andrea says that being certified is a great way to ensure that production and practice are raised to meet a certain standard. She also feels certification allows Falls Brook Centre to share the ins and the outs of the practice with others, including volunteers, organic farm apprentices, international organic agriculture interns and staff. The biggest challenge for the gardens at Falls Brook Centre is the short growing season, with approximately 90 days - from the full moon in June, until the end of August or beginning of September.
“Consumer education is one of the most important aspects of promoting and educating about organics,” says Andrea Berry, referring to the education outreach at Falls Brook Centre. The centre also believes that working with the schools is very important, as children and youth are critical to making informed choices about what they eat and how they live.
To help create more meaningful hands-on education, Falls Brook Centre has developed the Organic Apprenticeship Program. Part of this program includes offering monthly workshops for apprentices, farmers, and others who are interested. Andrea has been overwhelmed by the amount of positive response in these - evidence that there is great need for this type of education.
Internationally, Falls Brook Centre connects with other organizations working to promote and support the organic industry such as IROAM, Soil Association and COHAPAZ in Honduras. International interns (young Canadian professionals) spend some prep time at FBC learning about the hands-on application of organic agriculture, certification and policy development and then head overseas to expand their education and career experience. Not only does this create a link with groups working around the world, but also builds the skills and interest of youth around organic agriculture.
Falls Brook Centre has many plans for the future. It would like to continue to help people in their community to access to local organic products, including connecting local producers with local consumers. Ultimately, Andrea says “Falls Brook Centre would like to do whatever is possible to help support the next generation of farming”.
To learn more, visit www.fallsbrookcentre.ca
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