“A football team requires a good quarterback to win, but without a receiver to catch the ball the team will never score, and without blockers in the front, the quarterback will not even have the time to attempt a pass. Each position needs the other to succeed.”
Those are the words of Rosthern Junior College High School principal David Epp, as he reflects on the concept of ‘socios de cultivo’ (partners in cultivation) that has inspired him since he learned about it on the 2016 Foodgrains Bank educators learning tour to Nicaragua.
It stemmed from a memorable visit with Don Sinfinario, a Nicaraguan project participant who demonstrated how his thriving farm and new agricultural techniques (such as planting different crops beside each other) were helping him feed his family of 12.
“Covered in mud and sweat from his daily labour, Don gave me a glimpse of God’s kingdom in a new way… this idea that things grow to their greatest potential in the midst of diverse ecosystems applies to us as well,” says David. Now working as principal at the Saskatchewan school, David is dedicated to instilling in students the desire to engage in both local and global food systems.
This spring, Rosthern’s grade 10 students participated in a two-part learning experience, meeting with Foodgrains Bank and MCC Saskatchewan representatives to witness the benefits of conservation agriculture at the local farm of Nathan and Evan Janzen, and visiting Okanagan Gleaners in B.C. to pack nearly 30,000 lbs of surplus food.
Learning about the process of supporting local farmers in countries overseas made “all the pathways it takes” to ensure success evident, says student Lanae Martens-Funk.
“The grain goes through many different people and organizations until it reaches its final destination (in the form of money or support). It’s surprising to me how many people are needed for this operation to work, but when I look at it from farther away, I can see the community that all these people have formed. This community shares a passion for helping others and that is really powerful.”
The visit to the Janzen farm taught Lanae about the significant amount of wheat that can be grown on a field, and how much wheat is needed to fill a bag of grain.
RJC High School grade 10 student Eli Ens is pictured above, inspecting the planting depth of wheat seeds. (Photo: RJC)
Eli Ens, another grade 10 student, agreed it was an interesting experience. “We learned about the whole farming process, from seeding in spring, to finding the best market price for a crop. The Janzens also spoke to us about their work with Grow Hope and the wider efforts of Foodgrains Bank to help with food security.
“A surprise for me was how interconnected everything is. When we were talking with the Janzens they mentioned that they are one of about six or seven farms across the province that are part of Grow Hope. That is a lot! Local farms like the Janzens are making a tangible difference for people around the world.”
“While we were at the farm, as well as at the Gleaners, it was apparent how much work and time goes into food production and conservation,” says Eli. “That made a large impact on me. Farmers work crazy hours, getting about three hours of sleep for months on end. They have to weather wind, hail, drought, and pests that could ruin their crops. All of this work has one purpose, which is that consumers like me can have food available at all times.”
The visit made Eli reconsider his perspective on food waste, as he was surprised to learn approximately 2.2 million tonnes of food are thrown out by Canadian households every year.
“On a more personal level, this is something that I think about a lot,” he says. “Instead of just chucking a loaf of bread that is a bit stale, what goes through my head is, “how much work went into getting this to me?!” This sort of mentality is something that I hadn’t really thought about before these experiences, and I really think that it is a valuable thing to be considering.”
