Advisory Service

EFAO aims to foster farmer-to-farmer knowledge sharing. Through our Advisory Service, we are striving to provide practical and responsive information to farmers, while building a sense of support among members.

Phone or Email Advisory Service is available to all EFAO members who have specific questions concerning ecological farming practices that can be addressed by phone or e-mail.  For more complex issues members can use the On-Farm Advisory Service, and visit the Advisor’s farm, or have the Advisor come visit their farm. Phone Service is free. Fees apply for On-Farm Service (see rates below.)

Click here for a list of EFAO Advisors.

How it works

Questions can be submitted via this online form or over the phone (519-822-8606.) Once your request is received, EFAO staff will consult the list of Advisors and make arrangements to put you both in touch. We will do our best to ensure you receive a reply within 1-4 business days (depending on the time of year, and the nature of your request.) 

If you are not yet an EFAO member, please visit the registration page to become a member before you access the Advisory Service.

Advisory Service Rates*

Phone/Email Advisory Service (For up to 45 min.)
Fee: Free for current EFAO members

Visit to Advisor Farm (For up to 3 hours)
Fee: $40

Advisor Visit to your Farm (For up to 3 hours)
Fee: $100**

3h of Advisor’s time (i.e. soil test analysis and phone consultation)
Fee: $40

*All rates are subsidized by EFAO.

**Travel beyond 150km round-trip will result in an additional fee of $0.45/km + $15/hour for Advisor travel (rounded up to the nearest half hour.)

Advisors are paid by EFAO per hour of their time.

Topics our Advisors specialize in:

• Soil Health and Management
• Compost
• Small Scale Heritage Grains
• Market Gardening & Vegetable CSA’s
• Pastured Livestock (Poultry, Pigs, Sheep, Cows)
• Draft Horses
• Ecological Fruit Production
• Field Crops
• Vegetable Seed Saving
• Organic Certification Process, and Organic Standards
• Pest Management
  
• Equipment, machinery, and irrigation
• Season extension
• Business planning
• And more!

If you have a question about something that does not fall into these categories, please email advisor@efao.ca and we will do our best to connect you with an Advisor.  If you’re seeking phone/email advisory, be sure to keep your questions specific and tailored to something that can be answered within the 45 minute allotted time.

Disclaimer: EFAO Advisors are farmers we trust and feel have a lot of experience and knowledge to share. They may not be able to solve your problem, or answer all of your questions. EFAO is not liable for damages of any nature resulting from the advice shared by Advisors.