A local chicken-rental program hopes to peck away at food insecurity.
Sharon Kennie, of Oro-Medonte, had a busy morning talking to visitors at the Orillia Fairgrounds Farmers’ Market about Rent the Chicken, a program that aims to bring humans and chickens closer.
The business was birthed out of the fact that we live in a cold climate and people want to know where their food is coming from, she said, explaining the concept to a market goer.
“It’s a turn-key service,” said Kennie, talking about one of the packages the business offers. “You get to take home two chickens at $500, and you get 12 to 14 eggs a week.”
There are many other advantages to this, she added, as the chickens eat the bugs, and their waste is completely organic.
But can be allowed to roam freely in the yards?
“You can let them roam around on your property,” said Kennie. “They’ll come back to the coop at night. You just have to make sure they’re in there before you lock up for the night.”
Kennie takes the chickens back when winter begins.
Linda Kranich seemed sold on the idea.
“I think it’s fantastic,” said the Severn resident. “I like the idea that they’re so tame. I always thought chickens were sort of a wild animal, difficult to look after.”
Her friend, Suzanne Prosser, said she loved the idea.
“I don’t have to buy the chickens,” said the Orillia resident. “I can rent them, and I can get eggs.”
Even if it seemed like the chickens were in the spotlight at the market, people also browsed other items, such as maple syrup, bread, pies, honey, baked goods, and crafts.
“We come out here every other week,” said Kranich. “I come out here for the repeat products, like the honey and micro greens.”
She was happy to see those who had brought their crafts to the market especially for this weekend, as the market put a focus on artists and artisans.
“This is my first time at this market,” said Victoria Harbour resident Victoria Topley, who creates one-of-a-kind notes, cards, journals and tags using recycled materials. “It’s all good. The sales have been good, but I wish there were more vendors.”
Fellow artisan Gillian Stillinger was also attending the market for the first time.
“It’s nice. It’s very friendly,” said the Orillia resident. “The atmosphere is very good.”
Stillinger said her crafts, hand-knit blankets, take about three hours or more to create and she finds people may not realize how much effort goes into it.
“But there’s a revival in creating crafts by hand,” she said.
The market may have been slow during winter, said Nadia Pruett, a member of the organizing committee, but they have big plans for summer.
“This year, we’re implementing a junior farmers program,” she said. “There will be a dedicated instructional leader who is going to teach children about agriculture and the environment.”
In its start-up year, the program will take on 20 participants, who will be able to complete hands-on tasks and learn about where their food comes from.
“We’re (also) doing our second Farmer’s Lunch,” said Pruett. “Melanie Robinson, our board member, will come up with a three-course meal using ingredients that come from market vendors.”
The lunch is open to the public and 70 tickets at $30 each are available for purchase.
Lastly, Pruett said, the market will also have an add-on called the Farmers’ Flea, which will give vendors a chance to resell used products or do direct sales.
Information about these events and more can be found on the market’s Facebook page.
