“A lot of people are suffering through this economy. It’s nice to see people supporting local businesses. It’s great,” he says. The Kent Farm is still 100 per cent run by family, which is something Kent plans on maintaining for as long as he can.“It’ll always be a family affair,” he explains. In fact, Kent has journals, which were kept by his grandfathe and passed down through generations, which hold the history of the farm.

The Oshawa farmers market takes place every Friday from May to October, states Charley Wellings-Gray, who is the assistant marketing director at the Oshawa Centre. Strawberries, raspberries, apples, corn, tomatoes, peppers, squash, flowers and baked goods can be seen from miles away when the market is in full force.“There are a bunch of community groups that are educating people about eating local produce,” Wellings- Gray explains of the recent celebration hosted at the farmers market.

“There is face painting and Joan Kerr is teaching people how to make recycled paper.” Kerr is the director general for the Foundation for Building Sustainable Communities.“It’s really easy and fun,” she says of making the paper. Kerr was conducting her lessons in front of a backdrop of old appliances – ones that don’t use energy like those today do.“People are using all kinds of energy when you don’t need to,” she explains holding an old-fashioned eggbeater.

“If people do just one or two of these things every year, the problem will be solved.”