Go behind the scenes at two fabulous EFAO farms in Eastern Ontario this August!

The tour begins at Rutabaga Ranch, where farmer Jaymie will give a full tour of her market garden, modeled after years of working with Jean-Martin Fortier. She will discuss mother-led farming with her little one in tow, and share about some of the nuances in her experience farming with family. She will also discuss her popular farmstand and Rutabaga Ranch’s outstanding marketing, two of the things that she feels set them apart.

Participants will then travel to Rooted Oak Farm and be provided with a grilled farm-to-table lunch from Flat Earth Farm. After lunch, Rooted Oak farmers Stuart and Nikki will lead participants on a tour focused around their unique land access journey, from co-purchasing property with friends to the ongoing construction of their house. They will share about how they have scaled their infrastructure to meet their business needs and evolved their farming practices over time. They will discuss their journey building their farm and infrastructure from empty land to its current set-up and capacity – including building a house this summer. Finally, they’ll talk about their cover crop rotation, one of their key practices in soil building and stewardship.

Participants can participate in one or both farm tours, with a discounted rate for both. Entry to Rooted Oak Farm includes a light lunch. Please note that there is about 35 minutes travel between each farm, and participants will need to arrange their own transportation.

Schedule

9:45am – Arrive at Rutabaga Ranch

10am-12pm – Tour at Rutabaga Ranch 10842 Kirker Rd, Brinston

12-12:45pm – Travel to Rooted Oak Farm 9226 Branch Road, North Augusta

12:45-1:30 – Lunch at Rooted Oak Farm

1:30-3:30pm – Tour at Rooted Oak Farm

3:30pm – Departure

Rutabaga Ranch is a small-scale, biodiverse vegetable farm located in Brinston, Ontario on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg People. The farm offers CSA shares, preloadable farmers’ market gift cards, and a well-stocked farmstand, and they sell to local restaurants and partners. Farmer Jaymie prioritizes regenerative agricultural practices that support soil life and carbon sequestration, while producing nutrient dense, healthy food for her customers. She says, “We hope to cultivate the idea that having a family farmer is as important as having a family doctor.” Customers praise both the quality of their veggies and the farm team’s joyful attitude. Check out their website and Instagram for some groovy marketing inspiration!

Rooted Oak Farm is a Certified Organic vegetable farm located in North Augusta. Farmers Nikki and Stuart Oke are inspired by the principles of Agroecology and strive to nurture the land and their community using practices that put the environment first. ​Utilizing a combination of modern and efficient technology as well as traditional farm philosophy, Rooted Oak Farm uses ecologically sustainable systems and practices in the understanding that true sustainability is not just financial but includes the environment, quality of life and stewardship of the land. The farm implements a long rotation, with about 5-6 acres in veggie crops each year and using cover crops as a way to build soil, break pest cycles, aid in weed management and always have cover on the soil to reduce erosion. They offer customizable CSAs to customers in Eastern Ontario and sell at several farmers markets in the region.

Flat Earth Farm is pleased to offer farm-to-table lamb sausages from The Sheepdog Grill at this event. Phil & Denise see The Sheepdog Grill as an extension of Flat Earth Farm, part of an experiment they’re calling Mixed Farming 2.0. Their food trailer is certified annually for food production by the health unit, allowing them to transform meat—from the lambs and sheep raised on the farm—into elite, gourmet products. They use the whole animal, including the choicest cuts, to make the ground meat that is the basis of their sausages and burgers, and then take the show on the road so that they can serve these indulgences fresh off the grill, in different locations across the Ottawa Valley.