Liberty Way Farm in Dundas is focused on producing high quality, nutrient dense food through organic and regenerative farming practices. To do this effectively, they have invested in greenhouse technology using an Orisha system. “Greenhouse technology” may conjure many images for farmers and growers, but there are no robots on this farm!

Liberty Way uses their greenhouse technology wisely to automate aspects of greenhouse care such as watering, humidity, and temperature management. The main benefits are that their system:

• saves them considerable time and money;
• frees up their capacity as farmers to focus on the parts of the job they enjoy the most and those that need their skilled attention;
• has remote access and phone alerts, which have prevented more than one incident of greenhouse disaster and crop loss due to staff absenteeism;
• effectively manages humidity to reduce proliferation of powdery mildew; and
• allowed their greenhouses to stay in the optimal range for crop health and production – even in the shoulder seasons and during swings in weather conditions.

Come out to Liberty Way Farm to learn the factors they considered when investing in their greenhouse systems and how these efficiencies support a strong business model. Farmer Jeff Varcoe will tour the system, demonstrate it in action, and explain his return on investment thus far.

If you are considering potential investments in greenhouse infrastructure and technology, and the business case for how technology can support small-scale, regenerative farms, this field day is for you. Participants are welcome to pack a lunch to enjoy onsite after the formal tour is finished.

Reminder: EFAO members can access a 10% discount with Orisha!

About the hosts

After they had each experienced immense personal tragedies, Jeff Varcoe and Krystal Wall started Liberty Way Farm in 2021 as a way to live out their personal values, and give back to the community that had supported them. Liberty Way Farm is today a 21-acre working farm with over 30 varieties of organic vegetables, herbs, fruits, and nut trees. Their on-farm fruits, veggies, grass-fed beef, pastured pork, honey, plus additional locally-sourced goods are sold on-site at the Liberty Way Farm store. They also attend 3 farmers markets (Burlington, Ancaster, and Aldershot) on a weekly basis.

Liberty Way Farm is based on the sound principles of regenerative agriculture using permaculture design and holistic management, conserving natural resources, limiting the carbon footprint, growing and eating local foods, hiring from the local community, and trying to make the world a better place to live. Their vision is to nourish the mind, soul and the body in a toxic-free environment that educates its members about the importance of regenerative farming practices. Liberty Way Farm provides the community with a place to connect with the land, the soil and their food source.

In order to make our training and community building events accessible to all farmers and future farmers in Ontario, EFAO strives to reduce financial barriers for registration by using a Pay What You Can model. To register please complete this form!