Thank you for joining us for the 10th Annual EFAO Conference: Watersheds!

 

 

 

Trade Show

Local Line

NFU-O

CBAN

Acti-Sol

Ecocert

Neudorff

Carolinian Canada

Fiddlehead Farm

Lower Thames Conservation

Multi Shelter Solutions

DuBois Agroinovation

Wild Craft Permaculture

Farmers For Climate Solutions

Ontario Farmland Trust

Harvest Impact by 10C

Fleming College – Sustainable Ag Tech

National Capital Commission

High Mowing Organic Seeds

Growers & Co.

Ignatius Farm New Farmer Training Program

Great Lakes Institute

Orisha

E&F Sauder

ALUS Middlesex

Interested in becoming one of 25 exhibitors at the trade show? There’s still space! Review the 2023 Sponsorship Package and contact events@efao.ca for more information!

Sponsors

Pfennings

Pfennings

Gold Sponsor

E&F Sauder Sales and Service

E&F Sauder Sales and Service

Gold Sponsor

Yorkshire Valley Farms

Yorkshire Valley Farms

Silver Sponsor

High Mowing Organic Seeds

High Mowing Organic Seeds

Silver Sponsor

Agricultural Wellness Ontario

Agricultural Wellness Ontario

Silver Sponsor

Heartwood Farm and Cidery

Heartwood Farm and Cidery

Bronze Sponsor

Farmers for Climate Solutions

Farmers for Climate Solutions

Funder

Bauta Family Initiative

Bauta Family Initiative

Funder

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Review the 2023 Sponsorship Package and contact events@efao.ca for more information!

2023 Carrot Cache Innovation Prize

Enter to win!

The Carrot Cache Innovation Prize is back for its 10th year at the EFAO Conference! A $1,000 prize will be awarded for innovative, low-cost solutions to planting, harvesting, and managing food grown on an Ontario urban or rural organic farm. Farmers can share proven, creative ways already in use on-farm to build financial and environmental sustainability.

Submissions will be shared with attendees of the 2023 EFAO Conference, who will have the chance to vote for their favourite on-farm innovations. The winner will be announced at the conference.

Do you know someone who is too humble to nominate their innovations? You can nominate a fellow farmer-innovator. We’d love to see any tried-and-tested innovations — like that of Scott Sigurdson of Indian Creek Orchard Gardens, whose compost drop spreader was the most appreciated innovation in 2022!

 

The deadline to submit an innovation has now passed!

 

Additional Conference Information

Child Care & Family Room

Free childcare is available for kids 12 and under from 8:30am to 12:00pm, and 1:30pm to 5:15pm on both conference days. Payment is only required for childrens’ meals.

Kid’s Lunch (12 and under): $18
Youth Lunch (13-18): $35

Kid’s Banquet Dinner (12 and under): $27
Youth Banquet Dinner (13-18): $55

Please indicate interest in child care and kids’ meals when you register. Payments can be made at the conference registration desk.

We are looking for individuals with childcare experience who are interested in volunteering for a half day in the childcare room, in exchange for a half day conference pass (+lunch). Please contact events@efao.ca.

Conference Bursaries

In order to make the conference 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. Not attending the conference but interested in sponsoring a farmer to attend? Donate today!

Hotel Rooms

Rooms at the Four Points by Sheraton have been blocked at a special conference rate of $145 for one king bed, or $155 for 2 queen beds. All room bookings include a hot buffet breakfast.

Room rates are based on single occupancy – for additional guests, a charge of $19.49 per day will be added for breakfast.

Call the hotel and book before Oct. 30th to reserve the special rate! Mention that you are attending the EFAO Conference. (1 519-681-0600).

Rooms will be released to the public on Oct. 31st and may sell out. To guarantee a room, book before Oct. 30th!

Youth Rate

Youth ages 13 to 18 who wish to attend conference sessions can register for the conference at a 50% discount on member early bird rates: $122.50 for a full conference pass and $65 for a single day pass.

Wednesday Banquet Dinner:

Kids (12 and under) – $27

Youth (13 to 18) – $55

To register as a youth please contact us for more information.

Meals

Conference meals will feature food donated and provided by EFAO members and other local ecological farmers and food providers. You don’t want to miss the Wednesday Banquet Dinner! A delicious meal, musical entertainment, and good conversation with new and old friends.

EFAO has reserved the Kent Room for use during meal times (lunch Nov 29, dinner Nov 29th, lunch Nov 30th) with the purpose of offering a space with a HEPA filter to attendees who need to take extra precautions against viral illnesses. This room has a capacity limit of 15 people. Therefore, EFAO asks that folks accessing this space only use the room for time needed to eat, in order to allow more space and time for others to use the room. Please contact us or visit the registration desk if you have any questions.

Live Music & Dancing

After the Wednesday Banquet Dinner, join us for some lively upbeat music with the Kumao Latin Band, a nine piece salsa band from Hamilton that loves bringing Latin American music to events and communities! Many of the band members have been playing together for over 20 years.

If you’re keen to get your feet moving, you’re invited to join a salsa dancing lesson! Dance instructors Julie and Rafael will teach us a few steps, while Carlos Velasquez, Danny Castro and their musical friends provide the latin rhythms that inspire us to move. This will be a beginner-friendly dance experience, and tons of fun for young and old!

Acessibility Info

Please contact us if you require any accommodations in order to participate in the Conference, or have any medical conditions (for example, severe allergies) you would like EFAO and/or the hotel staff to be aware of. Please note that although EFAO strives to make the Conference accessible, it may not be possible to accommodate all requests.

Although wearing a mask is no longer mandatory, you are always welcome to do so, as it remains a strongly recommended practice by public health authorities to reduce the transmission of respiratory illness, including COVID-19, especially when symptoms are present. EFAO will continue to follow all public health guidelines.

The conference venue, meeting rooms, hotel, and other on-site facilities are all physically accessible. For accessibility details, scroll to the bottom of this page. To confirm specific accessibility features and services, please call the hotel at +1 519-681-0600.

Please see Meals for details of mealtime accommodations for those wishing to take extra precautions against viral illness.

Ride Sharing

In an effort to help you find a ride to the conference, reduce emissions from transportation, and save money on gas, we’ve created a public spreadsheet where you can post your ride or that you are looking for one.

We urge any and all members who are driving from a distance to consider offering a ride! Make a new friend, save some money, and reduce emissions 🙂 It’s a win – win – win.

Partners

Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security
Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security
Canadian Organic Growers
Canadian Organic Growers
Fair Finance Fund
Fair Finance Fund
Local Food and Farm Co-ops
Local Food and Farm Co-ops
National Farmers Union - Ontario
National Farmers Union - Ontario
OSCIA
OSCIA
Ontario Woodlot Association
Ontario Woodlot Association
Organic Council of Ontario
Organic Council of Ontario
Regeneration Canada
Regeneration Canada

Register

Registration is now closed.

EFAO Member Rates

Single Day Pass | Nov. 29th

$140
  • Access to 18 conference sessions, keynote, and trade show on Nov. 29th.
  • Includes buffet lunch featuring food from local ecological farms.
  • Includes access to the online Farmer-Led Research Symposium, Nov. 27th
  • Optional Banquet Dinner – $55

Single Day Pass | Nov. 30th

$140
  • Access to 18 conference sessions, keynote, and trade show on Nov. 30th.
  • Includes buffet lunch featuring food from local ecological farms.
  • Includes access to the online Farmer-Led Research Symposium, Nov. 27th

Standard Rates

Members save $65 on a full conference registration! Learn more about EFAO Membership.

Single Day Pass | Nov. 29th

$175
  • Access to 18 conference sessions, keynote, and trade show on Nov. 29th
  • Includes buffet lunch featuring food from local ecological farms
  • Includes access to the online Farmer-Led Research Symposium, Nov. 27th
  • Optional Banquet Dinner – $55

Single Day Pass | Nov. 30th

$175
  • Access to 18 conference sessions, keynote, and trade show on Nov. 30th
  • Includes buffet lunch featuring food from local ecological farms
  • Includes access to the online Farmer-Led Research Symposium, Nov. 27th