It is with some hesitation that I disclose the name of my organic farmer. If she gets too busy, I imagine, she’ll no longer have time for our chats, in which I drink in her common-sense wisdom and wealth of knowledge. If she gets too popular, her prices might go up. If she gets too big, she might lose touch with her organic roots and offer up food that is organic by definition but not necessarily by principle.
But I’m compelled to let the world know, largely because the world deserves to know. Needs to know.
So, as I sit here awaiting her weekly delivery of organic meat (I’ve ordered strip loin steaks, pork tenderloin and Canadian bacon this week) and organic produce (sweet potatoes, broccoli, red onions and whatever else she’s harvested), I’m prepared to offer up my supplier.
Angela Wisnoski is her name and she lives not far from me in the rich agricultural belt of Southwestern Ontario. She’s been farming for years and was organic long before it was the trendy thing to be. She simply understood that food should be grown and eaten within the rhythm of the seasons. That animals should be free of hormones and antibiotics. And should be pasture-raised, grass-fed and humanely slaughtered (yes, I’m aware that “humane slaughter” is something of an oxymoron. Let’s just say relatively speaking….).
The result is meat that tastes unbelievably good. My kids notice the difference. My formerly-sceptical husband notices the difference. And I, a former vegetarian, notice the difference.
What’s more, she delivers. And estimates note that for every delivery vehicle, five cars are taken off the road, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
I’m frequently asked whether she’s expensive. And she’s certainly more expensive than what you’d pay at a conventional grocery store. However, because we eat far less meat (and enjoy what we eat far more), the actual amount we’re spending on meat has stayed pretty much the same. We’re eating considerably more produce – and organic is more expensive, but not prohibitively so.
So…I give it up to you. Use it wisely.
Angela Wisnoski, 519-232-9150.