'Locavores' driving Yukon grassroots food production

MoreYukoners are taking an interest in growing backyard veggies and raisingtheir own chickens, according to an agricultural expert.

"People want to see local food," said Randy Lamb, acting director of Yukon's agricultural branch, during an interview with A New Day.

Lamb says "locavores" are creating a demand for more community gardens, courses and workshops.

Resources for aspiring greenthumbs, farmers

The Energy, Mines and Resourcesseed library, located inWhitehorse'sElijah Smith building, has opened for its second season. Similar to a book library, Lamb said people can "borrow" up to 10 packets of vegetable, flower or herb seedsfor free. They are encouraged to harvest some of the seeds from their plants in the fall and return them to the library.

The agriculture branch has also been hosting and organizingworkshops on cattle health, raising chickens and beekeeping.

"We're covering the whole wide range of interests, from our working producers all the way to the backyard gardeners," Lamb said.

More bees please

Lamb said there's a lot of interest in beekeeping locally, which Don Mark can attest to.

Mark, who'sbeen keeping bees since 1981, said heis frequently contacted by people interested in beekeeping. Mark has had up to 22 hives at a time, but now he's down to five;each of which can produce up to 90 kilograms of honey in a good season. He said it could be possible to make a living frombeekeeping but most Yukon beekeepers are hobbyists.

"I guess I can be considered a hobbyist now," he said. "It's just in my blood and I like doing it."

Beekeeping is nothing new in the Yukon. Around the time when Mark got his first hive in the '80s, Lamb said there was a two hectareapiary located near downtown Whitehorse, where the Canadian Tire and Walmart are now.

Lamb said one of the factors driving the return to grassroots food production isthe territory's local food strategy,currently in draft form.

Warmer winter means longer growing season

Yukon's winters are getting warmer, which could be favourable for farmers, at leastin some respects.

Lamb said the growing season has gotten longer over the last 50 years.

"We're also seeing an increased capability of growing grains in Yukon, which is great when it comes down to poultry, beef, different types of livestock," he said.

"Part of this is just to be aware of what's going on and being ready to adapt where necessary."

With files from A New Day.