Join EFAO for a day in Prince Edward County that’s not to be missed! Three fabulous EFAO farms will open their doors for a tour in late July. Join us for one, two or all three stops!

The afternoon will kick off at Fiddlehead Farm, where farmers Heather and Stephanie will walk you through their operation from seed to CSA bin. They’ll share notes on the simple, inexpensive DIY farm building options that have gotten them through their first fourteen years of farming and dreams of next steps. During an in-depth farm tour, they will also share about learning from mistakes, keeping curiosity alive, and continually improving their systems – a framing that has led to greater satisfaction in farming for themselves, the team, and their customers.

Return to Earth farm is the second stop, where participants will have a behind-the-scenes tour of their rotational grazing systems for farm-raised lamb, pork, poultry and rabbit. Owners Ben and Kate will also talk about their maple syrup production, homemade soaps, and other value-added items.

At the final stop for the day, participants will start with a farm raised and made dinner at Paper Kite Farm. Following a shared meal, Farmers Hans and Judy will give a farm tour of their diverse multi faceted farm and the ecological production practices they employ. The tour will include a conversation about and look at production of their value-added products, on-farm camp operations, and aspirations for a more secure local food system.

Participants can participate in one, two, or all three farm tours. Entry to Paper Kite Farm includes a dinner ticket. Please note that there is some travel time between each farm, and participants will need to arrange their own transportation from farm to farm.

Schedule

12:45pm – Arrive at Fiddlehead Farm (978 Fish Lake Rd, Demorestville)

1:00-3:00pm – Tour at Fiddlehead Farm

3-3:30pm – Travel to Return to Earth (1418 County Road 8, Picton)

3:30-5:30pm – Tour at Return to Earth

5:30-5:45pm – Travel to Paper Kite Farm (212 County Road 16, Milford)

5:45-7:45pm – Light dinner and tour at Paper Kite farm

7:45pm – Departures

Parts of this event are presented in partnership with Farmers for Climate Solutions and with funding support from the On-Farm Climate Action Fund. Find additional resources on the FaRM Learning Hub.

Fiddlehead Farm is a 10 acre market garden in Prince Edward County, producing food ecologically since 2012. With the CSA at the core of what they do, Stephanie and Heather have built up the farm to be a viable small business, feeding 250 families year round with a small but mighty crew. Over the years they have worn many hats, learning along the way, and are happy to share their experiences.

Return to Earth is a family-owned and operated farm located just minutes outside of Picton in beautiful Prince Edward County. Situated on a 38-acre property made up of grassland and forest, farmers Ben and Kate use regenerative farming techniques to sustainably and responsibly raise animals. They provide eggs and pasture-raised meats – including chicken, turkey, lamb, pork, and rabbit. Their animals are rotationally-grazed and fed native diets supplemented with produce from their organically-grown vegetable garden. Their goal is to provide consumers with access to a healthy, ethical, and sustainable source of locally-grown food while also providing a fair wage to the farmer.

Paper Kite Farm sits on the shores of Black River in Prince Edward County, on the traditional territory of the Anishnaabeg, Wendat and Haudenosaunee Peoples, neighbouring the Kanien’keha:ka community of Tyendinaga. Farmers Judy and Hans, alongside their children, grow vegetables that reflect their Chinese and Hmong heritage. After running a hotel and cafe in Montreal for a decade, the pandemic prompted them to pursue their dream of homesteading. They grow with regeneration always in mind, and raise chickens and sheep on pasture, all for sale to the local Prince Edward County market. Hans and Judy’s goal is to build a deep connection with the land and the community, and build resilience between the two.