Aguilar speaks from experience. The 49-year-old Salvadoran refugee knew only organic farming as he was growing up in his native country. Today he manages the Earthshare Agricultural Cooperative of Central Americans, Ltd., an organic gardening project located east of Winnipeg, near Anola. 

Years ago, when Aguilar became a pharmacist in El Salvador, he learned of the distinctly nonorganic practice of treating plants with a "glue spray" to control pests. Consumers who wanted to get the pesticide off literally had to boil the produce and throw away the water. Even then, Aguilar didn't like the idea of putting poisonous chemicals on garden produce. When he fled to Winnipeg in 1983, he soon realized pesticides were the norm in North America. Aguilar's response while still a student in Food Sciences at the University of Manitoba was to put together a proposal for a market garden that would serve two purposes: provide Winnipeggers with organic produce and create jobs for his fellow Central American refugees. The Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council accepted the proposal, and the provincial government kicked in a startup grant. In the spring of 1993, the Earthshare Cooperative was born. 

Being a co-op, Earthshare's members assume part of the risk. They buy their shares before the growing season begins, with no guarantee that they will receive any produce if nature doesn't cooperate. But so far, they've been well rewarded. For a $240 full share (usually enough for a family of four) or a $140 half share, all members have received 12 to 13 weekly drop-offs at eight locations spread across the city. As well, a "U-Pick" of the end-of-season leftovers has become part of the co-op's annual celebration party. 

Earthshare provides an abundance of organic vegetables. Lettuce, radishes, spinach, chard, and green onions are the first to appear in late spring or early summer. Then come green beans, carrots, beets, zucchini, potatoes, corn, tomatoes, eggplant, turnips and other late-harvest vegetables - a total of 23 to 25 varieties. Fruit has yet to make it onto the menu, for lack of a permanent garden where trees can be planted. But that may change if the co-op can be assured of a long-term lease or buy its own land. Earthshare also hopes to diversify some day by selling free-range chickens and homemade jams.

Even in hard times, the co-op has been a success. When a severe frost hit the garden last June, failure was averted when another market gardener and two churches donated seedling plants. Earthshare's five full-time workers and ten casual helpers had to work overtime, but the garden was saved. 

"We plant our seeds in the spring," reflects Aguilar, "and pray for a good harvest. At the end of the summer we always have a celebration at the garden to say thanks for what we have received from the land. We play music, dance, and eat lots of good food." And so, sometimes, do Winnipeg's poor. Whenever there are extra helpings - as when members neglect to pick up their weekly drop-off - the bounty is shared with Winnipeg Harvest, Agape Table, and Crossroads.

As we mentioned last summer (see left), anyone can become a shareholder in Earthshare and receive a healthy load of fresh, local organic produce every week of the growing season for a price that usually combines good value with good deeds (. . . jobs for Central American refugees, leftover or surplus food for hungry Winnipegers). 

According to Nation, Earthshare team spirit this winter has generated "a lively and informative little newsletter" called El Rabano Picante (the hot radish). And the idealistic co-op now has a retired shareholder named Pat Armstrong manning the phone line (888-5298) full time, ready to field questions from prospective shareholders and send out brochures and a complimentary radish – uh, newsletter – upon request.