When the Stobbe family moved from Abbotsford to Mara, BC, in 2003 they immediately had a problem to solve. Thank goodness farmers are problem-solvers and see every challenge as an opportunity to improve efficiency.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 important to cool raw milk as quickly as possible,含羞草研究社� explains AJ Stobbe. 含羞草研究社淢ilk grows bacteria when it含羞草研究社檚 warm. The longer it含羞草研究社檚 warm, the more bacteria it grows.含羞草研究社�
In Abbotsford the Stobbe family used electricity to rapidly cool their raw milk from 38 degrees Celsius to 2.5 degrees Celsius and natural gas to heat their barn and other buildings. However, their new farm in Mara didn含羞草研究社檛 have access to natural gas, and they didn含羞草研究社檛 want to use propane to heat buildings. So they followed the lead of cutting-edge farmers in Europe and installed a geothermal system - not only does it draw heat from the milk, it also repurposes that heat to warm the barn, offices and their family home.
含羞草研究社淥ur primary goal was to invest in our cows, keeping them healthy and productive. But it含羞草研究社檚 a real source of pride that we含羞草研究社檝e found a way to use this technology to heat the floor in the barn and other buildings as well,含羞草研究社� Stobbe says.
Today, the farm doesn含羞草研究社檛 use any fossil fuels other than diesel in its tractors. They含羞草研究社檝e also recently started a blueberry farm, and are committed to keeping it insecticide-free so it含羞草研究社檚 a safe place for pollinators.
含羞草研究社淪ustainability is a balance. We含羞草研究社檙e still running a business, so if we don含羞草研究社檛 make a profit we含羞草研究社檙e not sustainable long-term. If creation around us dies or our cows are unhealthy, that含羞草研究社檚 not sustainable either,含羞草研究社� Stobbe says. 含羞草研究社淎nyone who comes to our farm for a tour immediately sees how much we care. We love showing people everything we含羞草研究社檙e doing.含羞草研究社�
Sustainable farming for future generations
On the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island, is also focused on longevity through sustainability.
含羞草研究社淲e still have cows in barns my great-grandfather built. Preserving that family heritage is pretty big for us,含羞草研究社� she says. 含羞草研究社淢y family含羞草研究社檚 been farming for four generations, and I would love for the family to continue farming here for another four generations. We can含羞草研究社檛 do that if we don含羞草研究社檛 take care of the land and the animals.含羞草研究社�
They含羞草研究社檝e dug ditches to capture rainfall reducing erosion and preventing flooding while also providing a source for irrigation. They have plans to add solar panels, and plant fast-growing Empire apple trees that will sequester carbon dioxide and support pollinator populations.
含羞草研究社淲e won含羞草研究社檛 have any food if we don含羞草研究社檛 have any bees,含羞草研究社� Mickey says. 含羞草研究社淭here are a lot of really cool sustainable practices I would love to do, but it takes time to fulfil them all.含羞草研究社�
Caring for the environment, the people and the cows
Back on the mainland in Agassiz, is also a careful steward of the land. When his parents started in 1960 their dairy farm was rural, but now houses have sprouted nearby. So he含羞草研究社檚 worked with the community to plant hundreds of native trees and shrubs and install a walking trail on the farm含羞草研究社檚 perimeter that含羞草研究社檚 free for his neighbours to use.
含羞草研究社淭his is a beautiful place to live, a great place to raise kids,含羞草研究社� he says. 含羞草研究社淵our farm environment should be about contented animals and contented employees, who are fairly compensated, well treated, and where educational opportunities are encouraged. You take care of the environment, you take care of people, and you take care of the cows.含羞草研究社�
Learn more about sustainable farming practices at and on , and .