Join us for a tour of Ignatius Farm’s small plot agriculture program. We will walk through the 3 acres of community gardens, the community orchard, and visit small plot tenants. We will stop at three tenant plots to hear about their businesses, how they got started and how this model works for them. Businesses will range from vegetable production, willow production, and native plant propagation. Please dress for the weather. The ground may be wet/muddy and the wind can be very chilly in the open areas.

Bring your own picnic lunch and then enjoy one of two hands-on workshops on site in the afternoon. Workshop details available here:

Building Biodiverse Growing Systems with Eramosa Herbals

Soil Health in the Orchard with Matt Soltys of The Urban Orchardist and Meaghan Mechler, PhD in plant agriculture 

About the tenant farmers:

Origin Native Plants is a dedicated native plant nursery specializing in the cultivation of over 265 different species of locally sourced native plants. Their focus includes providing plants and trees suitable for prairies, meadows, woodlands, wetlands, and various ecological restoration projects. In addition to their native plant offerings, they also specialize in native edible gardens, providing a diverse selection of fruit-producing trees, bushes, flowers, and medicinal herbs.

Piccolo Farm Organics (PFO) is owned and operated by Steve D’Alimonte & Lisa Lopez. On a quarter of an acre, PFO aims to demonstrate that by using non-mechanized and regenerative farming methods, food can be flavourful and healthy to both people and planet. PFO is also a celebration of heritage by showing that culturally specific vegetable varieties from around the world can and should be grown locally. PFO primarily grows Italian varieties of vegetables or vegetables commonly used in Italian cuisine. They also offer focaccia, pasta and sauces made with ingredients grown on the farm.