Ryan and Alida Smith and family have stewarded a 100-acre former crop/dairy/housed sheep farm near Belwood for the past 4 years into a diversified pastured animal operation with tree planting, forage diversification, waterlines, and permanent and temporary fencing added. They also co-own and operate Gara Design Build, formerly known as Gara Farm Buildings.  Join us at Belwood Hills Farm for a tour and conversation around Ryan’s pasture and silvopasture management and grazing protocol. He’ll also share about his Experimental Acres trial, a microgrant programme through the County of Wellington for farmer-led trials that aim to improve soil health and resilience to climate change. This year’s Experimental Acres project evaluates the strategic forage/shade potential of trees through silvopasture establishment/expansion.

This event is hosted in partnership with Wellington County’s Experimental Acres programme and with the Farmers for Climate Solutions’ Farm Resilience Mentorship Program (FaRM).