August 2014
[Submitted by Debra Muenz, General Manager, North Simcoe Community Futures Development Corporation]
Nathan McCosker believes deeply in that old adage, "you reap what you sow".
Driven by a passion to grow nutritious, honest food, McCosker and his wife, Melissa, bought a farm in Waubaushene and began planting the seeds that would, over time, provide food for his family year-round. They knew their baby, 10 Fold Farms, would take time to nurture.
And it has taken some time – and a lot of hard work. This is not a farm where pesticides are used or where seedlings are rushed and cultivated with heavy machinery. It is a market garden where McCosker employs sustainable gardening practices and his own organic growing methods, to create high-quality fruits and vegetables that have become highly sought-after.
“We originally started growing food for ourselves, but then some friends wanted to buy some of our vegetables,” said McCosker.
That spawned a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, in which customers make an up-front investment and then pay a monthly fee, for which they receive a box of farm-fresh produce each week.
“That became really popular and we soon had 60 families participating,” said McCosker. “Our customers were people like us, who were really passionate about the quality of food and who believe in the family farm. It’s really a great model.”
During this same time, the McCoskers made a tactical decision to begin breeding pigs to add meat to its menu of offerings. In keeping with their philosophy, they purchased a rare, premium Berkshire sow to breed. And unlike industrial farms, these pigs are not pent up and fed slop.
“The pigs are not warehoused; they run free on the farm and in the forests, feeding on acorns,” said McCosker. “The taste is dramatically different than store-bought pork. Our customers love it.”
In fact, selling the free-range bacon, pork chops, ham, sausages and ground pork has become a significant part of the business. In addition, the McCoskers' Shitake and Oyster mushrooms have become increasingly popular.
“Our Shitake mushrooms are grown in our woodlot, on old logs, pulling nutrients from the soil … they’re beautiful, phenomenal-tasting mushrooms,” said McCosker. “They’re also a super food, with anti-cancer and anti-aging properties.”
Those mushrooms are mostly sold to area restaurants – an important part of the enterprise. In addition, McCosker has also developed salad greens that restaurants love. “These might have dozens of different vegetables and may not even include lettuce,” he says with pride. “They just explode with flavour. They have to have that level of quality to command a price that’s worthwhile.”
As you may be able to tell, McCosker is a dedicated farmer, but he is also a businessman with one eye always focused on the bottom line.
“I have a Business Degree and understand the business side,” he said. “These days, you have to be a businessman first. What we’re trying to do is develop a sustainable and ethical model of farming that is financially sustainable. And we’re doing it.”
He said they couldn’t have done it, however, without the help of the North Simcoe Community Futures Development Corporation, one of several federally-funded Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) in the Western Ontario Community Futures Development Corporation Association.
“They gave us a loan to help us get started, to build a geodesic all-season greenhouse and to buy farm equipment,” McCosker said of the CFDC, which offers a range of programs and services supporting community economic development and small-business growth. (For more information, visit wocfdca.com.) “Banks would have just laughed at us … but the (CFDC) understood what we were doing. They were really progressive.”
Buoyed by that success, the McCoskers have recently branched out, launching the Georgian Bay Permaculture Institute to develop teaching programs and research sustainable farming methods specific for the local area. In addition, they are spearheading a new initiative called Georgian Bay Local Foods – an online farmers’ market and local food hub.
“Basically, it’s an online store,” he explained. “We find farmers who have high quality, sustainably grown and raised products, and link them directly with consumers. It’s a way we can all sell more and improve the diversity of what we can offer.”
It’s proven so popular, that plans are in the works to expand the program to Barrie and Orillia. While that’s good news, he said he will not forget what has underpinned the success.
“We have built momentum and we have developed a good awareness of our story, and we have really loyal customers,” said McCosker. “We value their confidence and will do everything we can to continue to earn their trust by staying true to our roots.”
For more information, call 705-538-9929, visit 10foldfarms.com, check out their Facebook page, or follow them on Twitter at @10foldfarms.
