The Research Symposium is an online gathering where EFAO members share their findings and insights from the 2026 research season.

This year you will hear about multi-farm trials with the Living Lab – Ontario, including:

• No-till potato using deep mulch
• Plant available nitrogen from cover crops
• No-till winter squash with mulch

Along with farmer-led research projects focused on:

• Molokhia, flax and eggplant variety trials
• Wool as a mulch
• Dry bean, broccoli and zinnia screening trials
• Ecological thistle control methods
• Fish hydrolysate efficacy

Free admission to the research symposium is included with a pass to the 2026 EFAO Conference. You can also register here.

The New Farm Centre, 10AM – 11AM

The New Farm Centre is a Regenerative Organic Certified farm and non-profit near Creemore, Ontario. We are a working farm, producing salad greens, cucumbers and other vegetables, as well as pasture-raised poultry, pork and cattle. Our food is distributed to restaurants and Good Food Organizations across Southern Ontario.

On this tour, visitors will get a behind-the-scenes look at the infrastructure and equipment that support our farm operations, including our wash shed and cold storage facilities, harvest equipment, Rovabarn solar-powered chicken tractor, shipping container chicken brooder, and e-collar system for managing cattle. Explore the tools and systems that help put regenerative agriculture into practice.

Fiddle Foot Farm, 10AM – 11AM

Fiddle Foot Farm is a biodynamic farm in Mulmur operated by Graham Corbett and Amy Ouchterlony. They grow a wide variety of vegetables without the use of any synthetic chemicals, artificial fertilizers or genetically modified organisms. After 14 years of attending farmers’ markets and running a Summer CSA, in 2022 the farm shifted to better align with balancing their whole life with their farm goals. They now operate a Fall and Winter CSA and online farm store as well as a spring seedling sale. Join Amy and Graham for a glimpse into the farm as they enter the winter season. Tour the very full storage facilities and the fall/winter wash/pack house.

Good Family Farms, 11:30AM – 12:30PM

Good Family Farms is a 600 acre working farm in Meaford, Ontario, where Grey County rolls toward Georgian Bay. The Good family works this land together: raising the animals, growing the feed, and selling what the farm produces from the store at the end of the lane and delivered to many surrounding areas. They raise heritage cattle, pigs and chickens and rotate fields from crops back into pasture for two or three years at a time. The cattle eat grass and forage, never grain. The pigs live outdoors and are moved through the bush and forest. The hens cross the pasture in mobile coops and are fed peas, oats and barley grown and ground right at the farm. Join Mitch for a tour of the farm and insight into operating a larger scale regenerative operation.

Fiddlehead Nursery, 11:30AM – 12:30PM

Fiddlehead Nursery is a permaculture plant nursery in the Beaver Valley, near Collingwood, Ontario. We specialize in edible, perennial plants, and design low-maintenance, productive gardens. We carry many delicious and rare perennial vegetables and salad greens, as well as berry bushes, fruiting vines, fruit trees and nut trees. We offer consultations for garden designs, and host tasting tours of our extensive and ever-expanding demonstration gardens. We also host workshops on designing low-maintenance edible landscapes, plant propagation and using rare edibles in the kitchen.

Saugeen First Nation, 10AM – 12:30PM:

Join us for a knowledge-sharing visit to Saugeen First Nation to learn about its Community Garden, including how it provides free food to community members in need, strengthens connections to the land, and supports long-term food sustainability. We’ll also hear about the vision for the Mashkiki Gitigaan food forest, its importance to the community, and the broader work underway to build food sovereignty. A harvest lunch will be served on site. Space is limited.

Conference attendees will be asked to RSVP for tours before the conference. The tour at Saugeen First Nation has limited space, but the others can accommodate many attendees. Watch for an RSVP form sent to all registered attendees starting the week of November 9.

Join us for a conference lunch featuring local, seasonal, ecologically-produced ingredients. Lunch will be available for all attendees registered for a Tuesday pass and those returning from Regional Tours.

Times are a little rough out there – every single thing you are purchasing is more expensive. You may feel that you’ve reached the highest price point you can reasonably expect to get in the market. So now what? Let’s look methodically at all the areas of your business where we might be able to squeeze out more profit. Ellen will provide a guide to systematically look at what levers you have to pull as you steer towards higher profitability: Grow more, Sell more, Grow better, Labor efficiency, Pricing. This workshop is intended for experienced growers and it will be interactive – we will brainstorm specifics in each “lever”. (Less experienced growers are welcome to attend and listen in!)

ELLEN POLISHUK

Oak Savannas are the most diverse and productive temperate ecosystems on Earth. They represent Nature’s perfect template for the design and management of regenerative farms and ranches in North America. In this workshop, we will learn savanna history and ecology and how they were the basis of a regenerative ecological food system for Indigenous peoples for millenia. We will then discuss the necessity of becoming keystone species and the tools and techniques we can use today to design our farms and ranches to mimic these ecosystems in ways that are both ecologically regenerative and economically viable.

This session is offered in partnership with the Farmers for Climate Solutions Farm Resilience Mentorship Program (FaRM) and is an an OSCIA-recognized Knowledge Sharing Event (KSE) for farmers with On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) projects in the Rotational Grazing Category.

PETER ALLEN

What does Indigenous food sovereignty mean for how we grow, harvest, care for, and share food, and for our relationships with the land and each other?

Led by Dawn Morrison (Secwépemc), founder and curator of the Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty (WGIFS), this interactive workshop introduces the four key principles of Indigenous food sovereignty and their connections to farming, land stewardship, and community wellbeing.

Drawing on the From the Ground Up Indigenous Food Sovereignty Toolkit, Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants will reflect on their relationships to land, food, and community, and on the different roles each of us can play. Dawn will share photographs and stories from WGIFS’s work on the ground and in their garden.

Please note, the WGIFS methodology is described more as intra-active pegagogy than interactive, because it teaches from the baseline understanding that our agency (the ability to act and respond to our own needs for food) comes from within a system of relationships, rather than from an individualistic approach.

DAWN MORRISON

Managing organic field crops takes a long-term learning approach to success. Factors like developing rotations, making decisions around tillage, crop protection, and improving soil health are all different in organic systems compared to conventionally – or even ecologically – raised crops.

Join this panel of organic farmers to hear about what decisions, skills, and approaches have allowed them to find long-term success in orgnic field crops. Rob Wallbridge (CCA-ON specializing in organic management) rounds out the panel with a professional advising perspective. We’ll hear presentations from the panelists, followed by Q&A from the moderator and plenty of time for open discussion and one-on-one problem solving. Dive deep into making organic field crops work for you.

Speakers: Farmers & CCA-ON specializing in organic production

Gather with other conference participants on Tuesday evening to reconnect and chat over a casual welcome dinner. Tickets are available for purchase in advance.

Dawn Morrison has spent decades shaping how Indigenous food sovereignty is understood and practised across these lands, through the Wild Salmon Caravan, the Indigenous Food and Freedom School, and her work to dismantle structural racism in the food system.
In this evening keynote, Dawn reflects on what it means to decolonize and Indigenize “regenerative” agriculture. She’ll speak to a simple, powerful idea: Indigenous peoples have always practised regenerative food systems, long before the word existed.

Keynote is open to all conference attendees, even without the purchase of a Tuesday dinner ticket.

DAWN MORRISON

Whether you’re staying overnight or arriving early, start your day off right with a buffet breakfast specially prepared for conference guests. Advanced purchase of tickets is required.

In this keynote presentation Anishinaabe and Irish scholar Mkomose (Andrew Judge, PhD) will offer insights into holistic frameworks found within Indigenous cultural knowledge, specifically knowledge related to his Anishinaabek Ancestors. Throughout the presentation audience members will learn how threats to this knowledge are directly resulting from current and impending climatic changes and the corresponding forest degradation in Canada’s 8 forest types. Throughout this presentation Mkomose will offer insights into strategies for improving both ecosystems and cultural connectedness through the restoration of ethnobotanical teachings found within Indigenous cultures.

ANDREW JUDGE

Light refreshments are available.

A more intimate, conversational session. Dawn explores social positionality and cultural safety: how where we stand shapes how we show up in relationship with Indigenous growers, communities, and land.
She’ll also open up a question many Indigenous farms are living with right now: labour and human capacity. Who does the work, how is it sustained, and what kind of support actually helps? Open to everyone, and especially valuable for farmers, organizations, researchers, and funders who want to support Indigenous food sovereignty in ways that are respectful, accountable, and non-extractive. Bring your questions. In conversation with Celeste Smith.

DAWN MORRISON

Come learn how Peter Allen integrates cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry into a regenerative ecosystem that provides a livelihood for his family at Mastodon Valley Farm in Southwestern Wisconsin. He will share practical tips and techniques on creating economically viable grazing systems that enhance biodiversity, grow topsoil, sequester carbon, and offer enhanced resilience to drought and flooding.

This session is offered in partnership with the Farmers for Climate Solutions Farm Resilience Mentorship Program (FaRM) and is an an OSCIA-recognized Knowledge Sharing Event (KSE) for farmers with On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) projects in the Rotational Grazing Category.

PETER ALLEN

Everywhere you look the literature and media are telling us that being a diversified operation is a well worn path to success. Yes, And you can take it so far that you actually aren’t very good at anything, and you certainly can’t keep track enough to find out. Let’s dig into diversification – are there other ways to achieve the resilience that it promises without making yourself crazy with too many details?

ELLEN POLISHUK

No matter how you slice it, cucumbers are a staple crop for market gardeners. Join OMAFA crop specialist, Elaine Roddy and a panel of growers to dive into how to grow great cucumbers and extend the harvest season to make the most of this important crop. We’ll cover topics such as variety selection, pruning and trellising, pest and disease management and greenhouse vs. field production. Come equipped with your burning cucumber questions!

MICHAEL FRASER		ELAINE RODDY

We hear from many farmers in our community that they got into growing food because they want to make a positive difference in the world. Farming is hard work, it takes up more time and energy than exists, and yet we still feel inspired by EFAO members who find ways to go above and beyond growing food to being actively engaged in giving back to the community — directly with food supports and through advocacy efforts.

Hear from a panel of busy farmers who work to find (imperfect) balance between their responsibilities on the farm and dedication to their community.

JOSH SUPPAN

JENN PFENNING

JESSEY NJAU

Join us for a conference lunch featuring local, seasonal, ecologically-produced ingredients.

Let’s catch up after a busy season! Grab your lunch and join us for some in-person time, build community, relax, share stories, challenges and laughter with new and old friends. For current / former / aspiring farmers, food growers or producers and land stewards. Look for our tables with signage in the ballroom.

Celebrate the release of The Profitable Farmer: Strategic Business Planning for Profit, Purpose, and Quality of Life (co-authored with Julia Shanks).Dan will share the stories, insights, and lessons behind the book to define what true farm profitability looks like beyond just the bottom line. Pull up a chair for the reading, bring your questions, and pick up a signed copy!

This workshop will share a practical seven step strategy for restoring ecosystems based on wisdom found within several Indigenous civilizations across Turtle Island with emphasis on the pre-contact food forest designers of Southern Ontario. Upon completion of this workshop participants will gain baseline awareness of many critical factors and strategies related to implementing Indigenous knowledge based land restoration strategies, on varying scales, and in varying habitat types. These strategies can move individuals and communities closer to establishing viable foodscapes and lead to ecological recovery that benefits all relations. Working in groups, participants will have the opportunity to develop and present a preliminary plan that considers the seven steps and gain feedback regarding considerations in moving closer to becoming food sovereign.

ANDREW JUDGE

For producers taking a hard look at scaling up pastured poultry production and wanting to ensure the margins make sense. Hear the experiences of a panel of farmers who participate in the Artisanal Chicken Program through the Chicken Farmers of Ontario, raising between 600-3000 birds per season. We will discuss infrastructure needs from brooding to grow out, models of managing birds on pasture, a breakdown of input costs from feed to butchering, where and how farmers are marketing their birds and the biggest challenges that threaten the profitability of pastured poultry on not such a small scale.

NATHAN KLASSEN

KATRINA MCQUAIL

DAVE KRANENBERG

If you don’t know where you want your farm to go, you won’t get there. Join Dan to build a clear, actionable 5-Year Farm Plan built on the four essential pillars of farm success: grounded finances, strategic sales, a balanced team, and efficient production. Turn your long-term vision into a profitable reality.

DAN BRISEBOIS

Consistently growing quality head Brassicas (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower) in Ontario is challenging. Even leafy Brassicas like kale or mustard greens can be difficult. This workshop will focus on cultivar selection and some production requirements to set you up for success. A large portion of the workshop will be focused on properly identifying unfamiliar pests and pathogens and what management strategies can be implemented to prevent and/or manage future outbreaks from occurring. Join us as we dig deep into the main pests that hindered Brassicas in Ontario in 2026 and how you can slow them down in 2027.

TRAVIS CRANMER

Presenters will discuss tried and true and trending cut flower varieties, including annuals, perennials, spring flowering bulbs and other speciality flowers. Discussions will include where to source, particular market uses (farmers market, special events etc) and things to consider when adding these blooms to your production.

AMY KITCHEN

GILLIAN GRIFFIN

Light refreshments provided.

(This is a continuation of the 1:30 PM – 3 PM session. Participants are encouraged to attend both sessions.) This workshop will share a practical seven step strategy for restoring ecosystems based on wisdom found within several Indigenous civilizations across Turtle Island with emphasis on the pre-contact food forest designers of Southern Ontario. Upon completion of this workshop participants will gain baseline awareness of many critical factors and strategies related to implementing Indigenous knowledge based land restoration strategies, on varying scales, and in varying habitat types. These strategies can move individuals and communities closer to establishing viable foodscapes and lead to ecological recovery that benefits all relations. Working in groups, participants will have the opportunity to develop and present a preliminary plan that considers the seven steps and gain feedback regarding considerations in moving closer to becoming food sovereign.

ANDREW JUDGE

E-collars offer a promising new tool for farmers to manage grazing on pasture with flexibility and adaptability. The use of E-collars has a number of benefits including allowing for frequent grazing rotations, excluding livestock from sensitive environmental areas, eliminating the need for fence installation and repair and improved tracking for herd health. Hear from farmers in the beginning stages of introducing E-collars into their operation about overhead costs, training livestock to the collars, animal welfare, and unique opportunities as well as new challenges this technology presents. Information about grants available to farmers interested in introducing E-collars to their farms will also be available at this practical session.

This session is offered in partnership with the Farmers for Climate Solutions Farm Resilience Mentorship Program (FaRM) and is an OSCIA-recognized Knowledge Sharing Event (KSE) for farmers with On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) projects in the Rotational Grazing Category.

AMBER DYCK

BELINDA BOWMAN

STEVE MARTIN

SARAH MARTIN MILLS

Great varieties don’t happen overnight—they’re seasons in the making! Join farmer-plant breeders for a behind-the-seeds look at the twists, turns, happy accidents and hard-won successes of farmer-led plant breeding. These growers aren’t just breeding for their own farms—they’re helping grow a whole new generation of vegetable varieties for Canada’s ecological farming community! Through stories from EFAO breeding projects and CANOVI, Canada’s national organic vegetable breeding initiative, discover how farmers are developing crops with better flavour, beautiful colours, greater resilience and the traits that matter most to ecological growers. From promising crosses and evolving landraces to surprising setbacks and delicious discoveries, we’ll explore the creativity, collaboration and persistence behind every new variety. There may even be a chance to put your taste buds to work! Whether you’re already saving and selecting seeds or just curious about giving plant breeding a grow, come discover how farmers are sowing the seeds of a more resilient, delicious and farmer-driven food system.

MICHELLE DANG

MANISH KUSHWAHA

EKOW STONE

Sweet potatoes are a popular crop for consumers but require some finesse to grow them productively and profitably in our climate. Learn from a panel of farmers successfully growing sweet potatoes across Ontario. We’ll explore how to select suitable varieties, propagate or source good slips, decide on a production system, and cure tubers for successful storage.

HEATHER COFFEY

KATE GARVIE

Ryan, Reid and Andrew have all run their own mixed vegetable farms and appreciate that mechanizing tasks means improved income, less uncomfortable work and happier crews. This team now works together at Thiessen Tillage advising and equipping Canadian farmers. They will discuss the ideal steps to layout a farm to accept mechanization as well as a framework to evaluate which tools will be best suited for your farm. Drop by to hear about many tool successes as well as some tools that never should have been bought.

RYAN THIESSEN

REID ALLAWAY

ANDREW BUDGELL

All are invited to wander the Trade Show, connect with other conference attendees and taste some sweet potato varieties. This year, we’ll be tasting and observing sweet potato varieties grown by the teams at Heartbeet Farm and Fiddlehead Farm.  Attendees will have the chance to make observations and discuss characteristics like flavour, texture and colour.

Join us for a community seed exchange that celebrates our shared relationships with seeds, stories, and the land. This gathering welcomes growers, gardeners, and seed stewards to connect, share seeds, and strengthen the networks that sustain our farms, gardens, and communities.
Participants are invited to bring true-to-type (non-hybrid, non-GMO) seeds to trade or share. Seeds from plant breeding projects are also welcome!

There are two ways to participate:
Host a sharing table: Bring your seeds to share in person, along with any stories, growing notes, or knowledge connected to them. This is also a great opportunity to share seeds from your breeding projects and get them into the hands of other growers. This was such a popular part of last year’s exchange that we’re making more room for sharing tables this year!

Contribute to the community sharing table: Bring seeds to leave for others to take home and grow. Please label your seed packets clearly with:
Seed name and variety (or breeding project/population name)
Year and region of harvest
Your name, farm, or community
Any growing notes, special characteristics, or information about ongoing selections (optional)
Whether you’re bringing seeds to exchange, looking for something new to grow, or simply curious about seed saving, everyone is welcome. Come share seeds, swap stories, and make connections with fellow growers and seed stewards!

A delicious buffet-style banquet meal highlighting local ecological growers and seasonal ingredients. A true celebration of the incredible bounty produced by the EFAO community!

Join us for an evening of recognition and gratitude as we honour the people who move ecological farming forward. We’ll begin by presenting the annual Constantly Curious Awards, celebrating two of EFAO’s most dedicated farmer-researchers whose research, leadership, and commitment have strengthened the farmer-led research program and our shared body of knowledge.

We’ll then turn our attention to celebrating the International Year of the Woman Farmer. Attendees will be invited to take some time with at their table to each reflect and share about an inspirational woman in agriculture and add her name to a recognition wall. A few members of the community will also share to the group stories about the women who have shaped their lives, farms and the agricultural community in Ontario.

Whether you’re staying overnight or arriving early, start your day off right with a buffet breakfast specially prepared for conference guests. Advanced purchase of tickets is required.

Founded in 2005, Tourne-sol is a certified organic farm on the outskirts of Montreal. We grow mixed vegetables for a 700-member CSA program as well as seed crops for our farm-based retail seed company. As one of the first farms structured as a workers’ co-operative in Québec, our co-op has grown from 5 worker-owners to 11. Join us as we share the evolution of our farm and CSA program, and highlight our favourite tools that have allowed us to successfully collaborate and farm collectively over the last 20 years.

EMILY BOARD

FRÉDÉRIC THÉRIAULT

AMIYA SELIGMAN

RENÉE PRIMEAU

Light refreshments available.

Join TourneSol Cooperative Farm for a conversation about how their CSA program has evolved since its beginnings in 2005. From marketing and member sign-ups to pick-up systems, logistics, and production planning, the discussion will explore how the farm has adapted its approach over two decades of growing for its community. Come away with practical insights, lessons learned, and ideas for evolving your own CSA program to meet the changing needs of your farm and members.

THE FERME TOURNESOL TEAM

What if the wildfire crisis isn’t just about hotter, drier summers, but also about how we’ve managed our forests? From glyphosate use in forestry and the suppression of Indigenous cultural burning to decades of fire management policy, the decisions we make about land have lasting consequences. Join Andrew and Ben to explore how colonial policies and forestry practices have shaped today’s wildfire risks, and how Indigenous fire stewardship offers a different way forward. With wildfire smoke reaching farms across Ontario, this conversation connects forest health to agriculture and asks what ecological farmers can do to support healthier, more resilient landscapes.

BEN KRAWEC

ANDREW BASE

Build confidence and develop effective strategies for meeting with elected representatives and government officials about the policies that matter to you, your farm and your community. This practical, interactive workshop, led by a trusted and experienced government relations professional will explore how to prepare for meetings, communicate key messages, build productive relationships with decision makers, and make clear policy/program requests, using real-world examples including new entrant policy work.

JOSHUA MATTHEWMAN

MANISH KUSHWAHA

Helen, Valerie and Lindsey will weave together history, current supply chain conditions and research to share a yarn about wool as mulch! Helen will share about how mulching with waste wool is a historical practice with more recent research interest by the sheep industry. Lindsey will share her experience of interacting with the wool industry to make her wool mats, the benefits of using wool, and her trial of wool mats and waste wool at Silver Creek Nurseries. Lastly, Valerie will share results from a group of three farms that trialed wool as a mulch in 2026 with the Farmer-Led Research Program and share other relevant research she came across in preparing for her trial.

VALERIE PALDA

LINDSEY WEBER

HELEN KNIBB

Tips and techniques from a panel of fruit tree experts on how to restore health to your orchard. With a focus on apple trees, but applicable to other fruit trees as well, learn how to assess the health of fruit trees and implement techniques for enhancing productivity. Dive into how to nurture the understory for optimal soil health, different pruning techniques and timing, and troubleshooting pests and diseases in the orchard. Bring your fruit tree questions and come ready for a practical session on ecological orchard management.

ZACK MUMA

MEAGHAN MECHLER

JULIE LAMBERTS

Join us for a conference lunch featuring local, seasonal, ecologically-produced ingredients.

This informal lunch gathering is a unique opportunity for seed growers, on-farm breeders, and anyone passionate about seed work to connect face-to-face. Whether you’re a seasoned grower or just starting out, this meet-up is a chance to learn from each other, celebrate the joys and challenges of seed saving, breeding, and production, and discuss the vital role we play in building resilient seed systems. Let’s enjoy a shared meal, foster lasting connections, and support one another in cultivating high-quality, diverse seeds to meet the needs of our communities! Grab your lunch and look for the labelled tables in the ballroom. Folks interested in also attending the Meet-up for 2SLGBTQIA+ Farmers and Land Stewards are welcome to drop by both spaces over the lunch hour.

Welcome all 2SLGBTQIA+ farmers, farm-workers, ag enthusiasts and anyone who lives and works at the intersection of queerness, food and farming! Grab your lunch and come meet other queer and trans folks, chat about farming, and have fun. This is a casual, unstructured time to make connections with other farmers,ofr anyone who identifies as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Folks interested in also attending the Seed Growers Meet-up are welcome to drop by both spaces over the lunch hour.

Join fellow CSA farmers for a roundtable conversation to reflect on the past season and share hopes, plans and priorities for the season ahead. Together, we’ll explore the challenges and opportunities facing CSA farms, identify the support farmers need from EFAO, and discuss how we can strengthen our work through shared knowledge and experience. Come ready to connect, exchange ideas, and discover how we can support one another in growing stronger CSA communities.

Growing seed for a seed company can be a rewarding way to diversify a farm business and contribute to a stronger regional seed system. But what does it actually take to grow seed commercially, and how do relationships between farmers and seed companies work?

Join experienced Canadian seed producers and seed company owners for a practical look at the business of contract seed growing. Through real examples, photos and tools from their own operations, speakers will explore how seed contracts are structured, how pricing and payments work, and what companies expect when it comes to seed quality, cleaning, germination, yields, certification and communication throughout the growing season.
We’ll also discuss what makes a good partnership, what happens when a crop doesn’t go as planned, and the opportunities and challenges facing contract seed production in Canada.

Whether you’re already growing seed commercially or curious about where your farm might fit, this interactive session will help you better understand the economics, expectations and relationships involved in growing seed for seed companies. There will be opportunities for questions and connections, although participating companies are not necessarily seeking new contract growers at this time.

DAN BRISEBOIS

KIM DELANEY

Farming in a time of climate change brings numerous added challenges, not the least of which is navigating farm health and safety in extreme weather. Wildfire smoke and extreme heat top the list, with other events such as storms and floods not far behind. Join this practical, farmer-led session to discuss how to develop and use/implement health and safety plans for farms and farmworkers in this climate context, how to mitigate health and safety concerns where possible, and how to make work planning decisions in difficult circumstances. This session doesn’t purport to know all the answers, but it will create a space to talk through practical realities and health impacts. The goal of the session will be to create a shareable resource that farmers can use as a template for health and safety plans on their own farms, and to build a stronger culture of farmer health and safety in rapidly changing conditions.

ELENA POTTER

VALERIE PALDA

ARNEST SEBBUMBA

JENN PFENNING

Join the mulch party as Jesse and Reid share how they utilize cover crops and other mulches on their farms. They will share the techniques they use for their different scale vegetable operations and the equipment and techniques that make it happen. They will describe how these practices integrate into their overall nutrient management on their farms and contribute to their soil health.

This session is offered in partnership with the Farmers for Climate Solutions Farm Resilience Mentorship Program (FaRM) and is an OSCIA-recognized Knowledge Sharing Event (KSE) for farmers with On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) projects in the Cover Crop Category.

REID ALLAWAY

JESSE WAY

Across Indigenous communities, young people are finding ways to reclaim connections to land, language, culture and one another. Join Lak Williams and Quinn Meawasige for a conversation about youth-led cultural revitalization and the importance of creating spaces to learn, harvest, practise traditions and build community on the land. Drawing on their experiences with grassroots organizing, Anishinaabemowin revitalization, food sovereignty and land-based learning, Lak and Quinn will explore the opportunities and challenges of this work, the relationships that sustain it, and what it takes to carry Indigenous knowledge and practices forward for future generations.

LAK WILLIAMS

QUINN MEAWASIGE

Light refreshments available.

This panel will be a valuable opportunity to get details on the projects, policies, and advocacy work being done by various agricultural organizations in Ontario. Come to this session for information about what’s going on and how you can engage.

You’ll here from: Jodi Koberinski (Canada Organic Growers), Erica Shelley (Organic Ontario), Genevieve Marquis (National Capital Commission), Aube Giroux (CBAN), Jess Tong (NFU-O)

For women farming at midlife and beyond, aging brings changes that rarely get talked about: perimenopause and menopause, shifting energy and recovery, and changes in memory, focus and mental stamina, all while the work stays physically and mentally demanding. After years of early mornings and long seasons, many of us are rethinking how we farm, scaling back, or considering a different path altogether.

Join us for a women-centred round circle with plenty of space to share challenges, realities and strategies for farming into this next season of life, and to learn from one another’s experience.

Whose land are we farming, and what responsibilities come with being here? Join Oneida seedkeeper and traditional agriculturalist Celeste Smith to explore how treaties, colonial settlement and Indigenous land dispossession have shaped agriculture in Ontario. Together, we’ll consider what it means for farmers to be part of ongoing treaty relationships and how we can move beyond land acknowledgements towards meaningful action, reciprocity and respect for Indigenous sovereignty. In a hands-on exercise, each participant will find the treaty their own farm sits on and leave with a clearer sense of the relationships and responsibilities that come with it. Whether you’re just beginning this learning or have been engaged in this work for years, this session offers space for ecological farmers and allies to reflect, learn and deepen their commitments.

Please bring a phone or laptop and your farm’s location: a civic address, or better, the township and lot and concession number from your deed or property tax bill. Those older survey descriptions are what the treaty records use. If you don’t farm, bring the address of land you garden, rent, work on or grew up on.

CELESTE SMITH

Ecological farmers strive to work in harmony with ecological cycles, including many insect pals. But what do you do when there are aphids eating your lettuce?! In this session, a cadre of growers will share their insect strategies, from the specific to the holistic and with an eye to how these strategies fit into the bigger picture of ecological farming. Each speaker will share one or more techniques they are using to support flourishing crops while minimizing insect pressures.

KRISTINE HAMMEL

FIANNA DIRKS

RENÉE PRIMEAU

JASON LEMAY

Murray will walk you through the basics of preventative maintenance on your farm.  From small engines to tractors and beyond, this session will cover the basics of keeping your equipment running better and longer, with less downtime and lower maintenance costs.  The last 30 minutes will be a Q&A so bring a picture or video of your problems and together we will find solutions.

MURRAY THIESSEN