Guelph Organic Conference: Not your Average Garden Variety Trade Show.
I had no idea what I was in for when attending the Guelph Organic Conference. As a total novice gardener (my green thumb still wrapped in the biodegradable plastic it came in). – I wasn’t sure what to expect. I mean the 70’s kitsch architectural décor stormed back memories of the force fed science fairs I attended as a kid but this apprehensive flash-black was quickly quashed when I was swept away booth after booth by interesting and intriguing presentations. It was obvious that this was more than just a trade show… it was a philosophical movement with a totally new way of thinking about life...but the must have first stop would have to be THE FOOD!
It had EVERYTHING from home stewed soups to exotic nuts (+1 if you include me!). AND THE SWAG! Creamy sample yogurt delights from Stonyfield Farms, a virtual snackage-grab-bag from Nature’s Path, crispy wheat free-gluten-free-practically-for-free cassava crackers from Craquelins. I even snagged a sample bottle of Schafer Liquid Fish fertilizer that nary carried a whiff of eau de walleye and fit snuggly into my purse. It was a smorgasbord of fun stuff that brought back the better memories of the old CNE back when tasters meant a mouthful that kept you coming back for more.
And yet beyond the trade hocking of fabulous wares was a vast network of community minded organizations and sellers that were there to help you every step of the way. From organic seed sellers like The Cottage Gardener out preserve our delicate heirloom past to associations that enlisted internship opportunities or negotiated land for burgeoning farmers like Everdale-Organic Farm. It even went beyond Product Distributors interested in selling, if someone didn’t have something they’d point to the booth down the way or recall from the cobwebs of their mind someone somewhere who could somehow help. I mean Wow!
Everywhere you turned at the Conference support could be found, sometimes reaching beyond the norms of a typical gardening show. From sprouting your own greens initiative through Organic Botanic to growing your own compost with the fastidious worms of Cathy’s Crawlers; do it yourselfers had plenty of non-hands on help. Even environmental construction found a home with ecological building ideas from the Ontario Straw Bale Building Coalition or you could find new empowerment with alternative energy though Windfall Ecology Centre. Heck there was even a way to consciously and environmentally deal with pests. PESTS! With Greenleaf Pest Control. Who knew you didn’t have to kill yourself trying to eradicate others!?!
Yes, what I thought was going to be a ½ hour blow through turned out to be a 3 hour adventure that I will definitely be going back to with bigger bags, better shoes and something I had never really considered owning before…A hope for the future.