4 FOCUS - JULY 2019 170 Casimir St., Port Perry 905-985-0715 • www.overridgefireplace.ca MAKE OVERRIDGEYOUR ONE STOP SHOP! Fireplaces, Furnaces, A/C, Barbecues Overridge Fireplaces is your local Napoleon expert. BBQ PROMO ON NOW! Hatha and Kundalina Yoga Studio in the heart of Port Perry. All levels welcome. Come and explore the beautiful tradition of yoga to help heal the body, mind and soul. 905-259-7897 241 Queen St., Port Perry back entrance (behind Brittany & Bros) phaseyogacorp@gmail.com NOW OPEN YOGA CORP. https://m.facebook.com/phaseyogacorp/ The couple owns 160 acres, and rent another 50. While you might assume that land would be readily available, but Karen says that’s not always the case. “It’s challenging, as a small farmer, to find enough land to make it profit- able. Some farms have been sold over time, and the new owners don’t nec- essarily want tenants. “Limited acreage means it’s diffi- cult to achieve the economies of scale you need to turn a profit. You can’t afford to be too large or too small. That’s why our farm needs to be self-sustaining.” A portion of their strategy is what Dennis terms “farm-direct.” “Some of our products – lamb and bird seed are two examples – we sell directly to consumers. That way, the buyer gets a locally-produced item, and helps to support his or her neighbour. “We look at our operation as ‘semi- retail,’ doing the value-added work of middlemen ourselves. And at the same time, we enjoy getting feedback directly from our customers, and making changes based on those. That can only help the business.” The direct connection benefits con- sumers as well. “The average person may not know a farmer personally, but farm- ing sometimes reaches the news in negative ways,” Dennis says. “But those short conversations can get rid of misinformation. We want people to know that we’re responsible in car- ing for our animals and in respecting the environment as we work the land. “The message we can send with direct contact is that the business of farming has evolved along with soci- ety and its values.” While many of the variables in the business are beyond the farmer’s control, regulation has been effective in smoothing others. “Each commodity has its own governing Board,” Dennis explains. Yellowlees (continued from page 3) Just nosing around, Smoky, a Newfoundland Pony, hangs out with the gang. Karen introducing us to one of the many ewes. Lamb and pork chops! Ready to go! Karen and Dennis have two stocked freezers on site. ...................... Please turn to page 6