Laughing Radish’s Sustainability Measures…

At Laughing Radish, we take a holistic appraoch to sustainability. We are a business that cares for the environment, our staff, our neighbors (plant, animal, and people) and we are fighting to make a real difference in the world. We go above and beyond the organic certification criteria to take natural ecology into account. while priding ourselves in creating an abundant, holistically integrated system. In the following paragraphs we will explain exactly how we do this and what makes Laughing Radish so very special.

Organic

Laughing Radish uses 100% organic gardening practices… We do not use any artificial or synthetic fertilizer or pesticides. Our pest control methods include hand-picking, companion planting and growing strong, healthy plants that are able to naturally push through pest and disease pressure. All of our food is the cleanest, healthiest produce around. It comes straight from your garden, ready for you to eat!

Diversity

Our farm is a diverse, biodynamic habitat; diversity comes in many shapes, sizes and colours. You may notice your gardens contain multiple varieties of each vegetable crop, from purple tomatoes to red carrots. However, our farm diversity does not stop with our gardens-we encourage a large diversity of insects, pollinators and wildlife to share our spaces. We regularly see bunnies, birds and many butterflies which become a great learning lesson that your kids will love! Our goal is to mimic the diversity of a natural ecosystem as diversity is the key to resiliency in nature. Every part of our system has a role to play and interacts with each other to become strong, healthy and highly integrated. For example, if one element is lost (eg; poor sunflower germination due to drought), the other elements (various other native and planted flowers) can “pick up the slack” and keep our pollinators (and other biota) supported.

Soil Health

Soil health is something we take very seriously; its what makes or breaks our food quality! Plants, such as our beautiful Laughing Radish vegetables, herbs and flowers, as well as biota such as earthworms, fungi, and microbes, all use the nutrients in soil to grow and thrive. However, after cycles of growth and use, the soil nutrients get used up. We add compost and other organic amendments BEFORE the nutrients become depleted, keeping our soils healthy and happy.

We are a NO-TILL business, so all our gardens maintained using no-till/no-dig gardening methods. This allows the soil structure to be maintained and the insect habitats in the soil are protected.

Species at Risk

Laughing Radish has implemented initiatives to provide habitat for species at risk according to the recommendations of Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association. Some of our species at risk protection initiatives include habitat structures and enhancements (nesting boxes for bats and barn swallows) and the creation of a biodiversity enhancement plan.

Additionally, we understand that everything has a role in the ecosystem. Humane control methods, such as installing fences, trap crops and providing alternative (natural) food sources will be used when our wildlife neighbors such as bunnies, squirrels and groundhogs start to eat our gardens.

Limits Aware

We will always be aware of our limits; understanding how much we can take from the system without creating an environmental burden and causing a net depletion of the ecosystems fertility/resources. We will do this by monitoring our water consumption, routinely testing the soil for nutrient depletion and sustainably managing property resources.

Community Care

Community connection is an integral part of our ethics, we love our neighbors and want to support one another. We will work to bring members of our community together through encouraging connection to the Earth, to our health and to good food. We will also be a service to our community by teaching others how they too can make a difference. Our leadership is significantly more profound if we make space for our community members to rise and become leaders themselves, creating a ripple effect of inspiration and change. We will plan multiple events per year aimed at achieving these community building and educational targets.

We also want to ensure our Laughing Radish activities and programming is accessible to everyone in our community, regardless of one’s financial situation. We have a donation and fundraising program that aims to help make our food and services accessible to everyone. To learn more about how YOU can donate to this initiative, refer to the “Get Involved” Page.

Permaculture

According to Bill Mollison, one of its founding fathers, permaculture is, “The conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems.” It is a contraction of the words permanant + culture, signifying a cultural shift is required to truly create a sustainable agricultural system. Permaculture consists of both design principles, which allow you to create a holistic and sustainable farming system, as well as life principles that guide you to act with gratitude, compassion, and respect for the Earth and all of her residents.

The permaculture principles set forth by Mollison and Holmgren are the foundational guidelines for Laughing Radish’s ethics and operations.