Norbert Kratchmer, 45, was born and raised on the family farm near the town of Reward, south of Unity, which has been in the family since the 1930s. He now owns and operates a mixed organic grain farm with cattle.
Norbert is proud of the 17 acres of hybrid Poplar and Siberian Larch that he planted as part of a reforestation pilot project several years ago. Previous plantings of shelter belts have thrived and provided food and shelter for many birds and small animals.
Norbert loves nature and encourages wildlife to use his farm as part of their habitat. Since he has become chemical-free he has noticed an increase in the population of frogs in his ponds and he is confident that foxes, deer, antelope, rabbits, and owls have appreciated the change as well. He has found that his crops have not suffered but have improved in response to the elimination of chemical fertilizers and herbicides.
Farming has increased Norbert’s awareness of the potential problems that genetically modified (GM) foods pose and believes that GM foods should be labeled to ensure consumers have a choice. Norbert feels strongly about the right of farmers to be able to save, trade and use their own seed. He is greatly concerned about the increasing control multinational corporations are gaining over all aspects of the food production and distribution network. While these types of concerns may impact him more as a farmer trying to raise natural foods, ultimately he believes these issues will affect everyone.
Norbert believes that the Green Party is the only political party that is serious about food safety and environmental concerns. He also believes in green, safe, alternative methods to energy production such as wind, solar power, geothermal, and bio fuels.
