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27 MBiz May 2014 A partnership between conservation areas and neighbouring communities can be an economic marriage made in heaven, one where both partners realize the blissful benefi ts of a co-operative relationship. That's the kind of partnership the Riding Mountain UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (RMBR) has forged with its surrounding communities. RMBR executive director Valerie Pankratz says the UNESCO designation grants international recognition of efforts to balance conservation initiatives with sustainable development and to reduce human impact on the area. A unique convergence of three biologically diverse eco-systems (boreal forest, mixed-wood forest, Prairies and their wildlife), the reserve includes Riding Mountain National Park as the core protected area, with 15 surrounding rural municipalities as an area of co-operation. Pankratz says there are many benefi ts for the communities. "Biosphere reserve ensures environmental, social and economic sustainability in the region by encouraging people to do the best they can with good information and minimum impact in the area," she says. "It also highlights the distinctiveness and uniqueness of an area and fosters a sense of place for residents, and visitors as well." That distinction and RMBR programs help to attract visitors and support the local economy. For example, a program called At the Farm Gate (ATFG) was established in 2009 as a showcase for producers and artisans within the reserve. Pankratz says the market started as a one-day affair with just a few vendors and has grown to 25 tables. One vendor stood out from the fi rst day. "Wes Huyghe from Little Path Farm came with some lovely butternut squash, so he did a cooking demo. And it was pretty funny because the pan he was using only had three legs. But the smell that fi lled the hall was amazing. He gave free samples and he sold every single butternut squash that he had brought." Huyghe runs a vegetable market garden on two acres in the Little Saskatchewan River Valley. He primarily markets his produce through the Minnedosa Farmers' Market and the Red Barn Market in Onanole, but he's been able to extend his client base through ATFG markets that are typically held in late May and late September. "These are times of year when most other farmers' markets are not on yet or already through their season, and it provides a good opportunity to feature different items from the farm, like transplants in the spring, and winter squash and storage vegetables in the fall," he says. ATFG helps to foster connections between growers and consumers and has allowed Huyghe to make new friends and customers — opportunities that can be limited for small rural producers. "Valerie and the biosphere have really opened a door for us to get our products out there." Frans and Erna Kracher started their 350-acre Freefi eld Farm in Inglis in 2006, after selling their farm in Austria. They decided to focus on local markets and become certifi ed organic. In addition to growing a wide range of fruit-bearing trees and shrubs — including apples, cherries, plums, hazelnuts, haskaps, raspberries and Arctic kiwis — the Krachers are shifting to oats and oilseeds such as golden fl ax and camelina (a source of omega-3 and omega-6 oils) for their new cold-press oil production. And they devote one third of their land to wildlife and native plants, a move that was inspired by ATFG. "I was able to get information about growing different native prairie plants and buy seed," Erna says. "It's very important for us to keep or enhance biodiversity." She says sustainable communities need to have healthy, organic, locally produced food. ATFG gives the Krachers a chance to meet people, tell them about the farm and its products, get feedback and stay connected. "We would like the customers to become aware of this fragile ecosystem. We would like to invite them to become part of a sustainable way of living," she says. "We are sure if we take care of Mother Earth, she will take care of us." For information on RMBR and its range of programs, see www.rmbr.ca. M I D W E S T MIDWEST HAMIOTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MINNEDOSA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEEPAWA & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIVERS & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WASAGAMING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEW & NOTEWORTHY >> Genesus Genetics has announced that it's opening a pork production facility in — where else? — Hamiota. The Canadian Centre of Gene Transfer is a boar stud facility that will make use of a boar barn and lab that have been sitting vacant. Genesus Genetics is the world's largest high-health producer of purebred registered breeding stock. It produces fresh and frozen semen for domestic and international artifi cial insemination. The Hamiota facility will be able to produce 483,000 doses each year. >> Neepawa is hosting veteran CTV news anchor Lloyd Robertson and his wife Nancy during the 2014 Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries 55 Plus Games in June. Events coordinator Lyle Watson invited Robertson to be the guest speaker at the athletes banquet at Yellowhead Centre on June 18. The games, which are coordinated by the Active Living Coalition for Older Adults in Manitoba, run from June 17-19 and feature everything from table games to pickleball and track events, along with demonstration events such as disc golf. Neepawa hosted the games previously in 2005. Biosphere special reserve: Whole grains, goats and apples are among the natural delights on offer from Freefi eld Farm. Wes Huyghe (right) produces a wide variety of produce, including carrots and butternut squash, at Little Path Farm. Photos courtesy of Freefi eld Farm and Little Path Farm MBiz_spring2014.indd Sec1:27 MBiz_spring2014.indd Sec1:27 5/14/14 8:27:31 AM 5/14/14 8:27:31 AM

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