Botany for Farmers and Gardeners
2026-01-20 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Toronto) | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
This webinar is part of the Introduction to ecological vegetable growing with Ignatius Farm webinar series offered in partnership between EFAO and Ignatius Farm. You can register for the whole series at a discounted rate here.
If you live in northern Ontario, you are welcome to attend this webinar free of charge – please use the coupon code BOTNORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
All Indigenous growers, land stewards and community members are welcome to attend this webinar free of charge – please use the coupon code IND2026 when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
Botany for Farmers and Gardeners
This webinar will provide an introduction to botany for gardeners, farmers, and foodies. Topics will include vegetable classification and why this is important, parts of a plant, and pollination. A recording of this webinar will be available.
Speaker: Angie Koch, Fertile Ground Farm

This webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge
2026-01-15 18:30 - 20:30 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
This webinar is part of the Introduction to ecological vegetable growing with Ignatius Farm webinar series offered in partnership between EFAO and Ignatius Farm. You can register for the whole series at a discounted rate here.
If you live in northern Ontario, you are welcome to attend this webinar free of charge – please use the coupon code TEKNORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
All Indigenous growers, land stewards and community members are welcome to attend this webinar free of charge – please use the coupon code IND2026 when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
Traditional Ecological Knowledge
This webinar will explore using traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) to understand how Indigenous People see the everyday connections in a living world, and why it matters for the health and future of the planet. Discover how respecting and incorporating traditional practices can lead to more resilient food systems and a deeper connection to the land we cultivate. A recording of this webinar will be available.
Speaker: Celeste Smith, Founder/Director of Cultural seeds and Ga Gitigemi Gamik

This webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.

Introduction to Ecological Vegetable Growing
2026-01-13 15:00 - 17:00 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
This webinar is part of the Introduction to ecological vegetable growing with Ignatius Farm webinar series offered in partnership between EFAO and Ignatius Farm. You can register for the whole series at a discounted rate here.
If you live in northern Ontario, you are welcome to attend this webinar free of charge – please use the coupon code ECONORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
All Indigenous growers, land stewards and community members are welcome to attend this webinar free of charge – please use the coupon code IND2026 when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
Introduction to Ecological Vegetable Growing
Are you wanting to grow your own vegetables but are not sure how to get started? Join this webinar for an overview of how to start growing vegetables using ecological principles. Topics will include the basics of getting to know your site, common tools, site preparation, planting, pest management, and harvesting. A recording of this webinar will be available.

Speaker: Lisa Conroy, Farm Educator at Ignatius Farm

This webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.

CANOVI heat tolerant lettuce trial: results and farm club
2025-11-17 13:00 - 14:30 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
This event is offered by the Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security along with partners across the country, including EFAO.
At the Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security, we work toward a future where farmers have the power to save, improve, and share the seeds they rely on. That means building a seed system rooted in genetic diversity, regional adaptation, and collective care.
Seed systems are complex—shaped by geography, labour, economics, policy, and culture. They involve trade-offs. No single model is perfect. This series is about holding space for nuance, highlighting under-recognized work, and building shared understanding of the systems that feed us.
We invite you to join us—with curiosity and care—as we shine a light behind the packet.
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This year marks the third and final season of CANOVI’s heat-tolerant lettuce variety trials! Growers across the country have shown strong interest not only in trialing lettuce, but also in repeating trials over multiple years to better understand how varieties perform in an increasingly unpredictable climate.
At this CANOVI Farm Club, we’ll share highlights from three years of trials from combining agronomic data, weather trends, and farmer experiences to paint a full picture of what we’ve learned. You’ll also hear insights from UBC researchers, a geospatial mapping specialist, and farmers who participated in the trials.
We’ll leave plenty of time for questions, discussion, and sharing your own trial results. Come ready to talk about which varieties worked best for you in your region.

Accessible Agriculture Project Overview & Feedback
2025-11-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
The Accessible Agriculture Project (AAP) is a new initiative the EFAO is developing alongside Accessibility Consultant Chris Lytle and the Centre for Community Based Research. The goal of the AAP is to learn about and test out how farming can become more accessible for workers with disabilities. AAP team members will host a one-hour webinar focused on building an agricultural sector that is inclusive of people with disabilities. At the webinar, we will overview the project plan and discuss the legislative context. We will also have a discussion and launch a short survey to help us learn from farmers who have experienced injury and accessibility issues.
In its early stages of development, the intention of AAP is to learn about how to make farming more inclusive and accessible as a means of livelihood for people with disabilities. Our aim is to compile evidence and information that will be of use to agricultural NGOs, farms, farmers, and varying levels of government. To do so, we hope to run accessibility workshops with EFAO members and have partnered with Heartwood Farm to explore innovative ways that accessibility can be reasonably implemented in a “pilot” project on-site. The intended outcome of this research is to build strategies for the development of accessible training, best practices, resources and practical work opportunities for people with disabilities. As a partner in this project, EFAO has been considering how farming communities can transform and be transformed by our evolving understanding of disability. The Centre for Community Based Research is also providing support as we develop the project and seek resources. As the project unfolds, we hope to include in the project other agricultural and educational organizations, technology firms, and groups that represent people with disabilities.

Facilitating Great (Farm) Team Meetings
2025-11-04 12:00 - 14:00 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
Meetings don’t have to be painful! Join this interactive session to learn how to plan, structure and run a team meeting that is effective, productive and joyful.
In this workshop, guided by Maddie Marmor, we will work through scenarios so that you leave equipped with practical skills to build morale and team cohesion on your farm. You will receive a template of how to run a meeting as well as tips and strategies to keep a meeting moving towards concrete and achievable next steps. Participants will gain insights from Nonviolent Communication practices, facilitation training, and other practical frameworks and strategies that support great teamwork and the efficiency that comes with solid communication. This session is back by popular demand after drawing a packed room at the 2024 EFAO conference. Even if you attended this session at the conference, the online venue and new attendees will make for continued learning and discussion.
Madeline Marmor is currently based in Tkaronto/Toronto and is a first generation, landless farmer, facilitator and Circle keeper. Having organized at the intersection of food, land, climate and justice for just under a decade, Madeline works with other movement witches, educators, farmers and community hosts to hold space for the emergence of a just, more equitable (food) future, which she thinks is completely possible, if not inevitable!

Behind the Packet: Open-Pollinated Seeds in Focus
2025-10-28 15:00 - 16:30 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
This event is offered by the Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security along with partners across the country, including EFAO.
At the Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security, we work toward a future where farmers have the power to save, improve, and share the seeds they rely on. That means building a seed system rooted in genetic diversity, regional adaptation, and collective care.
Seed systems are complex—shaped by geography, labour, economics, policy, and culture. They involve trade-offs. No single model is perfect. This series is about holding space for nuance, highlighting under-recognized work, and building shared understanding of the systems that feed us.
We invite you to join us—with curiosity and care—as we shine a light behind the packet.
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Open-pollinated (OP) seeds are foundational to seed sovereignty, climate resilience, and food systems grounded in place and culture. Valued for their adaptability, complex flavours, and the freedom they offer to save and share seed, OP varieties remain essential tools for farmers and gardeners navigating a changing world.
Yet behind every thriving OP variety lies a network of dedicated producers, often overlooked and under-supported. As seed companies increasingly pivot toward hybrid development and away from maintaining OP lines, many tried-and-true varieties are being lost. Meanwhile, the farmers and breeders who continue to steward these seeds—often informally or through grassroots networks—are not only preserving diversity but also creating the heirlooms of tomorrow.
Who is ensuring that high-quality OP seed remains available? What does it take—biologically, technically, and economically—to produce and maintain these varieties year after year? Why are so many of them disappearing, and what is at stake if they do?
In this webinar, we’ll explore the complexities and urgency of open-pollinated seed production today. From the hands-on work of seed growers to the systemic forces shaping seed availability, we’ll examine the barriers, possibilities, and values embedded in these seeds—and why their future matters to us all.
Speakers:

Lisa Mumm of Mumm’s Sprouting Seeds
Aaron Varadi of High Mowing
Edmund Frost (Common Wealth Seed Growers and Twin Oaks Seed Farm)

Exploring a New Enterprise Webinar Series with Ignatius Farm: Keeping Sheep
2025-10-23 18:30 - 20:30 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
If you live in northern Ontario, you are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code SHEEPNORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
All Indigenous growers, land stewards and community members are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code INDIG2025 when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
This webinar is part of the webinar series Exploring a New Enterprise with Ignatius Farm.

Webinar Description:
Have you been wanting to keep livestock? How about sheep! Join Brenda Hsueh as she talks us through starting a sheep farm, the challenges and benefits. Brenda and her family run Black Sheep Farm; an organic farm, raising sheep on pasture for lamb meat, fibre, and tanned lambskins. A recording of this webinar will be available.
Speaker: Brenda Hsueh, Black Sheep Farm, Chesley
Black Sheep Farm is an organic farm, raising sheep on pasture for lamb meat, fibre, and tanned lambskins. The farm was started by Brenda Hsueh in 2009, a Canadian-born Chinese woman, who left a financial career in downtown Toronto to start farming. Eventually, she met Skyler, from the farm around the corner, who took an interest in the sheep side of the farm and has been growing it ever since. Black Sheep Farm is an agroecological farm, prioritizing soil health, biodiversity, and social justice. The sheep are grazed on pasture using intensive managed grazing, to maximize the positive soil carbon capture benefits of ruminants, while producing food and fibre from something humans can’t eat, grass.

This webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.

Exploring a New Enterprise Webinar Series with Ignatius Farm: Starting a Value-added Enterprise
2025-10-21 15:00 - 17:00 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
If you live in northern Ontario, you are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code VALNORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
All Indigenous growers, land stewards and community members are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code INDIG2025 when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
This webinar is part of the webinar series Exploring a New Enterprise with Ignatius Farm.

Webinar Description:
Are you considering adding value added products to your inventory? Want to hear from farmers that have taken the leap? Join us for this panel discussion where we will hear from 3 farmers who produce value added products; what do they produce, how did they start out, and what advice would they give to those in the planning stages. A recording of this webinar will be available.
Panelists: Steve D’Alimonte, Picollo Farm Organics, Guelph; Xiaobing Shen, Long Road Eco Farm; TBA
Piccolo Farm Organics (PFO) is owned and operated by Steve D’Alimonte & Lisa Lopez in the backyard of their property in Guelph. 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.

In 2013, Xiaobing Shen and his then partner Jonathon Davies started Long Road Eco-Farm, a small, mixed, ecologically-run farm business raising livestock and growing specialty crops like ginger and garlic. Farm Sum Food is a key part of their business. They produce prepared peasant-style Chinese steamed buns, dumplings, and ferments with organically produced pork, eggs, vegetables and herbs from their farm, and sell at Memorial Centre Farmers Market. Farm tours, forest walks, and popular cooking classes are also part of their offering to the community.

This webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.

Exploring a New Enterprise Webinar Series with Ignatius Farm: Beekeeping 101
2025-10-16 18:30 - 20:30 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
If you live in northern Ontario, you are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code BEENORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
All Indigenous growers, land stewards and community members are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code INDIG2025 when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
This webinar is part of the webinar series Exploring a New Enterprise with Ignatius Farm.

Webinar Description:
Interested in beekeeping? Join Ron to learn about the basics of keeping bees, what you need to get started and some common challenges for beginners. A recording of this webinar will be available.
Speaker: Ron St Louis, Capital Bees, Ottawa
Ron is a member of Dokis First Nation in northern Ontario, currently living in Ottawa and operating his business, Capital Bees, at the Just Food Farm. He has been keeping bees since 2011 and teaching a hands-on, natural beekeeping program since 2015. He is a registered beekeeper and breeds bees to be resistant to pests and diseases and has been a member of the Ontario Resistant Honey Bee Selection program (ORHBS) since 2017.

This webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.

Exploring a New Enterprise Webinar Series with Ignatius Farm: Starting a Winter CSA
2025-10-09 15:00 - 17:00 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
If you live in northern Ontario, you are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code CSANORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
All Indigenous growers, land stewards and community members are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code INDIG2025 when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
This webinar is part of the webinar series Exploring a New Enterprise with Ignatius Farm.

Webinar Description:
Are you thinking about shifting to a winter CSA model? Hear from Marcelle and Brendan on how they started their winter CSA and how it was a game changer for their farm profitability. A recording of this webinar will be available.
Speakers: Brendan Grant & Marcelle Paulin, Sleepy G Farm, Pass Lake
Since 2010, Brendan and Marcelle have been operating Sleepy G Farm in Pass Lake, ON, 45km east of Thunder Bay. They grow 8 acres of Certified Organic vegetables and distribute through a 200-member CSA program in addition to wholesaling to grocery stores. Sleepy G Farm also produces eggs and beef as a complement to nearly year-round vegetables sales that are made possible by an on-farm winter vegetable storage facility. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how they have turned a 171 acre abandoned dairy farm in northwestern Ontario into a thriving, diversified farm business and the infrastructure they’ve put in place to support their operations.

This webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.

Exploring a New Enterprise Webinar Series with Ignatius Farm: Growing Indoor Mushrooms
2025-10-07 15:00 - 17:00 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
If you live in northern Ontario, you are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code MUSHNORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
All Indigenous growers, land stewards and community members are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code INDIG2025 when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
This webinar is part of the webinar series Exploring a New Enterprise with Ignatius Farm.

Webinar Description:
Are you curious about growing mushrooms indoors on a commercial scale? Ugly Barn Farms grows several kinds of mushrooms in their indoor facility, which is heated by renewable materials. Hear about how they got started and what it takes to grow mushrooms indoors. A recording of this webinar will be available.
Speaker: Ivan Vincent, Ugly Barn Farm, Markstay
Ugly Barn Farm is a small family farm based in northern Ontario and one of the first, year-round mushroom facilities in the north. At the Ugly Barn Farm, Ivan and Brittany specialize in gourmet mushrooms, cultivated in their mushroom growing facility, heated by renewable materials. They produce their mushrooms without the use of pesticides and source as much material locally as possible. They are also passionate in wildcrafted foods like blueberries, fiddleheads, spruce buds, and of course mushrooms!

This webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.

Exploring a New Enterprise Webinar Series with Ignatius Farm: Starting a Flower Farm
2025-10-02 15:00 - 17:00 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
If you live in northern Ontario, you are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code FLOWNORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
All Indigenous growers, land stewards and community members are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code INDIG2025 when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
This webinar is part of the webinar series Exploring a New Enterprise with Ignatius Farm.

Webinar Description:
Local and ecological flowers are a high valuable crop to grow and are more and more popular over the conscious consumers. Join us for this webinar where we discuss how to efficiently and successfully begin growing or add floral crops to your current production system, using ecological growing practices. A recording of this webinar will be available.
Speaker: Theresa Schumilas, Garden Party Flower Farm, St. Agatha Theresa owns Garden Party Flower Farm, a 4 acre specialty cut flower farm outside of Kitchener-Waterloo, where she has farmed organically for over 30 years. She completed her PhD in economic geography at the University of Waterloo in 2014, followed by postdoctoral studies in the digitization of food and farming systems, at the Laurier Centre for Sustainable Food Systems.

This webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.

Exploring a New Enterprise Webinar Series with Ignatius Farm: Growing Medicinal Herbs
2025-09-25 18:30 - 20:30 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
If you live in northern Ontario, you are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code HERBNORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
If you identify as an Indigenous grower, land steward or community member, you are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code INDIG2025 when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
This webinar is part of the webinar series Exploring a New Enterprise with Ignatius Farm.

Webinar Description:
Join Shabina as she shares her experience with growing herbs for medicine and tea. How is growing herbs different from vegetables, harvest and drying techniques, as well as tips and tricks she has found useful. A recording of this webinar will be available.
Speaker: Shabina Lafleur-Gangji, co-director of Seed, Soil and Spirit School, Guelph
Shabina is a mixed Indian, Persian, and French herbalist who has been involved in healing justice work last decade. She works to support people in reclaiming their traditional knowledge through their connection with ancestral plants and has used herbal medicine as a way to fundraise for movements for freedom and liberation. She holds an advanced diplomat from Humber College’s Traditional Chinese Practition and Acupuncture Program and is a graduate of the the School of Ayurveda and Panchakarma in Kerala and the Living Earth School of Herbalism. She has studied alongside herbalists such as Dr. Nadine Ijaz, Janette Cormier, Scott Reid and Janice Canning.

This webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.

Exploring a New Enterprise Webinar Series with Ignatius Farm: Pastured Poultry Production
2025-09-23 18:30 - 20:30 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
If you live in northern Ontario, you are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code POULNORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission. All Indigenous growers, land stewards and community members are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code INDIG2025 when filling out the registration form to receive free admission. This webinar is part of the webinar series Exploring a New Enterprise with Ignatius Farm.

Webinar Description:
Are you thinking of starting out with pasture raised poultry? Join Eric as he takes us through both the set up and day to day activities of pasture raised chickens as well as the business side of marketing and distribution. A recording of this webinar will be available. Speaker: Eric Blondin, Three Forks Farm, Gore Bay Eric Blondin and Peggy Baillie are the co-owners of Three Forks Farms, a certified organic farm on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. Since 2015, they have focused on growing organic vegetables, raising pasture-fed poultry, and developing regionally adapted seeds suited to Northern Ontario’s climate. Their farm operates with a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, community food security, and financial viability.With over a decade of experience in local food systems, Eric and Peggy have built a farm that extends the growing season using polytunnels and innovative crop planning. They sell their produce through on-farm sales, farmers’ markets, a CSA program, and wholesale partnerships with retailers and restaurants. Passionate about seed saving and regenerative agriculture, they continue to support local growers by providing high-quality seeds and knowledge to strengthen food resilience in the North. This webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.

Exploring a New Enterprise Webinar Series with Ignatius Farm: Pasture-raised Pork
2025-09-18 18:30 - 20:30 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
If you live in northern Ontario, you are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code PORKNORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
All Indigenous growers, land stewards and community members are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code INDIG2025 when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
This webinar is part of the webinar series Exploring a New Enterprise with Ignatius Farm.

Webinar Description:
Many consumers are drawn to the health benefits and premium quality of pasture raised meats – both excellent reasons to raise animals on grass. Join Josh for this discussion about how he got started and what it takes to successfully raise pasture pork. A recording of this webinar will be available.
Speaker: Joshua Noiseux, Evermeadow Farm, Cobourg
Joshua Noiseux is a philosopher ecologist with “boots on the ground”. After years in academia, studying the philosophy and political theory of ecology and agency, Josh put his PhD thesis on on hold to start Evermeadow Farm in 2020. He holds an MA in political and cultural theory and has worked in diverse trades, including gold exploration and arboriculture. Now a respected voice in the regenerative agriculture space, Josh has guest lectured at Ivey Business School, Trent and Queen’s Universities, and presented at numerous conferences and panels, including with the Ecologicial Farmer’s of Ontario (EFAO) and the National Farmers Union (NFU). Entering his 5th year at the helm of Evermeadow, Josh is looking forward to further actualizing his vision of landscape scale ecological restoration, and deepening community resilience through the marriage of environmental conservation and agricultural production.

This webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.

Exploring a New Enterprise Webinar Series with Ignatius Farm: Starting a Seed Production Enterprise
2025-09-16 18:30 - 20:30 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
If you live in northern Ontario, you are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code SEEDNORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
All Indigenous growers, land stewards and community members are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code INDIG2025 when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
This webinar is part of the webinar series Exploring a New Enterprise with Ignatius Farm.

Webinar Description:
Are you considering saving and selling seeds as part of your farm business? Hear how Peggy from Three Forks Farm got started and her advice on how to start a seed production business. A recording of this webinar will be available.
Speaker: Peggy Baillie, Three Forks Farm, Gore Bay
Peggy Baillie and Eric Blondin are the co-owners of Three Forks Farms, a certified organic farm on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. Since 2015, they have focused on growing organic vegetables, raising pasture-fed poultry, and developing regionally adapted seeds suited to Northern Ontario’s climate. Their farm operates with a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, community food security, and financial viability.With over a decade of experience in local food systems, Eric and Peggy have built a farm that extends the growing season using polytunnels and innovative crop planning. They sell their produce through on-farm sales, farmers’ markets, a CSA program, and wholesale partnerships with retailers and restaurants. Passionate about seed saving and regenerative agriculture, they continue to support local growers by providing high-quality seeds and knowledge to strengthen food resilience in the North.

This webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.

Seeds of Change: Discussion and Tour
2025-08-29 19:00 - 2025-08-30 16:30 | Multiple Venues
This event is hosted by Lakehead University’s Sustainable Food Systems Lab in partnership with the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario, Roots Community Food Centre, Superior Seed Producers, Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority, Lake Superior Living Labs Network, Understanding Our Food Systems, the Food Action Network of Northwestern Ontario, Gaia Organic Seeds, and Root Cellar Gardens.
Join local seed producers, researchers, and gardeners for part (or all!) of this 2-day event celebrating our community and collective ability to protect our seeds, grow food and community, and learn together.

Friday August 29, 7:00pm to 8:30pm: Local to Global Perspectives on Seed Sovereignty Panel Discussion (online, or in-person)
Join us for a roundtable discussion exploring the vital role that seeds play in food systems, culture, and sovereignty. Speakers will weave together stories, struggles, and strategies from across Ontario, Indigenous territories and global movements including the upcoming Nyéléni Food Sovereignty Forum. From the ground beneath our feet to international efforts for seed justice, this discussion connects diverse voices committed to protecting and reclaiming seeds and our food systems for future generations.
You are welcome to watch the panel in person at Roots Community Food Centre (450 Ft. William Rd, Thunder Bay) or join online! A Zoom link will be sent to all registrants.

Saturday August 30, 10:00am – 4:30pm: Field Tours and Watermelon Tasting (in person)
This Saturday event will begin at Roots Community Food Centre Lillie Street Garden at 125 Lillie St., Thunder Bay at 10:00am. Field tours will conclude at Root Cellar Gardens in South Gillies at 3:30pm. Return to Lillie Street Garden by 4:30pm. Please indicate when registering if you require transportation.
Join us for a day of celebrating and exploring what happens when diverse seeds and people come together. Learn about ongoing collaborative projects to grow various crops that thrive in our region and why this work is so important. See these adapting crops in three locations (Roots Community Food Centre’s Lillie Street garden, Lakehead University Agricultural Research Station, and Root Cellar Gardens). Be a part of the breeding process by tasting locally grown watermelons and helping select which seeds to save and replant next year.
Snacks will be provided, but participants are advised to bring a lunch and a water bottle. This event will take place rain or shine, so dress for the weather!

Also…find us at the Hymers Fall Fair on Sunday August 31 and Monday September 1, 2025! Stop by our booth to say “hi”, taste some watermelon and take one home, have your say in the collaborative adaptive breeding project. (Note: There is an admission fee of $10 to the Hymers Fall Fair.)

Land-Sharing for Resilient Communities Part 2
2025-04-17 14:30 - 16:00 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
All Indigenous growers, land stewards and community members are welcome to attend this webinar free of charge! Please use the coupon code LANDSHARE2 when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
Join us for this two-part webinar series with Jennifer Nobel, an experienced permaculture practitioner, ecological homestead designer, and land steward. Whether you are just starting to explore land-sharing or are seriously considering it as a pathway to land access, these sessions will provide valuable insights and practical guidance. Attend one or both—each session offers unique knowledge, but together they create a foundation for successful land-sharing arrangements.
Part 2: Legal Considerations, Design & Infrastructure, Finance, Security
As farmland prices soar and barriers to entry into agriculture increase, many aspiring farmers and land-based entrepreneurs are turning to land-sharing as a creative and viable solution. But while shared land arrangements can offer exciting opportunities, they also require careful planning to ensure long-term success.
In Part 2 of this two-part webinar series, Jennifer Nobel—author of the upcoming book Land-Sharing: A Beginner’s Guide—will dive into the practical and legal realities of land-sharing. Drawing from her own experience navigating bylaws, agreements, and alternative living solutions, Jennifer will provide attendees with essential knowledge to move forward confidently in structuring and sustaining land-sharing projects.
What You’ll Learn:
Legal Considerations – Key legal aspects of land-sharing, including bylaws, zoning, lease agreements, and cooperative structures.
Design & Infrastructure – Planning functional shared spaces, from housing to common-use facilities.=
Finance & Funding – Strategies for funding, structuring member contributions, and exploring alternative income streams.
Security – Ensuring fair agreements, legal protections, and a safe living environment for all participants.
Whether you’re in the early stages of land-sharing exploration or ready to take action, this session will equip you with the beginner knowledge needed to successfully navigate the complexities of starting and maintaining a land-sharing venture.

Jennifer Nobel is an experienced Metis permaculture practitioner, ecological homestead designer, and passionate land steward with over a decade of experience in studying, practicing, and teaching ecological living practices. Holding a degree in architecture, Jennifer initially pursued retail design, however, quickly realized fulfillment came from living on the land and designing land-based projects. In 2020, her family’s aspirations of owning an acreage were thwarted by the rising cost of land. Determined to make her vision a reality, Jennifer spent the last five years navigating complex bylaws, building codes, and alternative living solutions through land-sharing agreements. These experiences not only provided a low-cost way to live but also allowed her family to save up to purchase their own property. Having purchased some land, Jennifer is excited to offer others the same opportunities, sharing her wisdom on communal living, building vibrant communities, and generating extra income through land sharing.
This webinar is part of EFAO’s Indigenous Outreach and Engagement Initiative, which is supported by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness.

Greenhouse Lightning Talks: Northern Perspectives
2025-04-15 13:00 - 14:00 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
All Indigenous growers, land stewards and community members are welcome to attend this webinar free of charge! Please use the coupon code GREENHOUSE2025 when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
Greenhouses and high tunnels are critical tools for building food security and sovereignty in Northern communities. This webinar highlights the voices of Indigenous and Northern growers who are leading innovative greenhouse projects in challenging climates.
Organized in response to ongoing conversations from our Indigenous Growers Gathering and input from the Indigenous Engagement & Outreach Steering Committee, this session offers a platform to share practical knowledge, strengthen connections, and spotlight successful strategies for season extension in the North.
What to expect:
Greenhouse Lightning Talks: Northern Perspectives features three inspiring short presentations from growers across Northern Ontario, followed by a Q&A session. Each speaker will share their approach, challenges, successes, and how their work supports food sovereignty in their community.
You’ll hear about:

Practical greenhouse designs and technologies for northern climates
Real-life adaptations to cold-weather growing challenges
How greenhouses support community food programs and sovereignty
Lessons and advice for growers and communities looking to start similar projects

Schedule:

1:00 PM – Welcome & Introduction (Rachel, EFAO)
1:05 – 1:20 PM – Mnogin Greenhouse (Nipissing First Nation)
1:20 – 1:35 PM – Niigaaniin Greenhouse Project (North Shore Tribal Council)
1:35 – 1:50 PM – Three Forks Farm (Manitoulin Island, with Eric Blondin)
1:50 – 2:00 PM – Open Q&A

Speakers:
Niigaaniin Greenhouse Project
Led by the North Shore Tribal Council and involving eight First Nation communities, this project is revitalizing a former MNR nursery site with 16 greenhouses and 80 acres of farmland. With four greenhouses already retrofitted, the project aims to distribute fresh food locally and boost community resilience. In partnership with the University of Guelph, the project blends traditional knowledge with research-driven innovation.
Mnogin Greenhouse – Nipissing First Nation
Using advanced hydroponic technology, Mnogin Greenhouse grows leafy greens and herbs year-round with minimal land and water. The project enhances food security, supplies community programs, and supports local economic development — all while promoting Anishinaabe values of sustainability and care.
Three Forks Farm – Manitoulin Island
Owned by Peggy Baillie and Eric Blondin, this certified organic farm uses a 30’x120’ high tunnel to extend their growing season nearly year-round. With a strong focus on ecological practices, local food access, and seed sovereignty, Three Forks Farm plays a key role in regional food resilience.

This webinar is part of EFAO’s Indigenous Outreach and Engagement Initiative, which is supported by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness.

Build Your Own Air Pruning Beds
2025-04-14 18:30 - 20:00 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
In this webinar, participants will learn how to build their own simple and inexpensive air pruning beds with basic carpentry skills and equipment. These beds make it possible to grow hundreds of tree seedlings in small spaces with very low costs. Participants will learn the basics of collecting and storing tree seed, and step-by-step instructions for starting many tree species from seed or cuttings. The webinar will focus in particular on tree species that are valuable as livestock fodder or for fruit and nut production.
The knowledge gained in this workshop will allow participants to build their air pruning beds in the spring, summer, or early fall, in time for starting trees this fall.
Want to know more? Why air pruning?
Air pruning is a technique for developing healthy, fibrous, non-circling and non-girdling root structures in trees and plants raised in a nursery setting. Air pruning beds use air to prune and shape root systems. Trees and plants can be grown from seed, cuttings or root divisions while still preserving a healthy tap root and creating a highly-branched root structure characteristic of a tree or plant grown from seed in-place.

Air pruned root systems have a much higher survival and rate of thriving in comparison with pot-grown root systems. Air pruning beds also offer protection from pests, and support seedlings to grow faster and maintain healthy tap roots, which is important for survival in harsh environments and challenging to do in pot-grown trees. Trees grown in air pruning beds have a reduced need for staking, and have grown in healthier soil through improved drainage.

Meet the Speaker:
Kevin Barkhouse is a nature lover and a certified seed collector with the Forest Gene Conservation Association. For the past five years, he has been growing trees and shrubs from seed in his backyard nursery, focusing on native species. Through careful collection and propagation, he contributes to biodiversity and reforestation efforts by donating his trees to various planting projects. His hands-on experience and deep appreciation for the natural world make him a dedicated advocate for growing trees from seed.

Land-Sharing for Resilient Communities Part 1
2025-04-10 14:30 - 16:00 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
All Indigenous growers, land stewards and community members are welcome to attend this webinar free of charge! Please use the coupon code LANDSHARE1 when filling out the registration form to receive free admission.
Join us for this two-part webinar series with Jennifer Nobel, an experienced permaculture practitioner, ecological homestead designer, and land steward. Whether you are just starting to explore land-sharing or are seriously considering it as a pathway to land access, these sessions will provide valuable insights and practical guidance. Attend one or both—each session offers unique knowledge, but together they create a foundation for successful land-sharing arrangements.
Part 1: Community Building, Conflict Resolution, Governance & Structures, Traditions
With rising land prices and increasing barriers to entry in farming, many aspiring farmers and land-based entrepreneurs are looking for creative ways to access land. This entry-level webinar is designed for those curious about land-sharing and cooperative land access models. Whether you’re dreaming of a collective farm, an intentional community, or a shared land project, this session will provide the foundational knowledge needed to start strong.
Jennifer Nobel, author of the upcoming book Land-Sharing: A Beginner’s Guide, has spent the last five years navigating bylaws, building codes, and alternative living solutions to make land-sharing work. Drawing from her firsthand experience, she will explore:
Community Building – Fostering strong, collaborative relationships among land-sharers
Conflict Resolution – Practical tools for navigating challenges and maintaining harmony
Governance & Structures – Decision-making systems that support long-term success
Traditions & Culture – The role of shared values in strengthening land-sharing arrangements
Want to go deeper? This session lays the groundwork for Part 2, where we’ll take a practical look at the legal, financial, and security aspects of land-sharing. Learn more and register for Part 2 here.

Jennifer Nobel is an experienced Metis permaculture practitioner, ecological homestead designer, and passionate land steward with over a decade of experience in studying, practicing, and teaching ecological living practices. Holding a degree in architecture, Jennifer initially pursued retail design, however, quickly realized fulfillment came from living on the land and designing land-based projects. In 2020, her family’s aspirations of owning an acreage were thwarted by the rising cost of land. Determined to make her vision a reality, Jennifer spent the last five years navigating complex bylaws, building codes, and alternative living solutions through land-sharing agreements. These experiences not only provided a low-cost way to live but also allowed her family to save up to purchase their own property. Having purchased some land, Jennifer is excited to offer others the same opportunities, sharing her wisdom on communal living, building vibrant communities, and generating extra income through land sharing.
This webinar is part of EFAO’s Indigenous Outreach and Engagement Initiative, which is supported by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness.

Cover Crop Foundations, Tips & Tricks
2025-04-08 13:00 - 14:30 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
Join us as we dig into cover crops this spring. In this essential skills webinar, participants will learn how to select cover crop varieties and mixes based on your soil health goals, how and when to plant and terminate cover crops, how to incorporate cover cropping into your crop rotations, and more. Bring questions from your farm. This webinar is intended for vegetable farmers, but will be applicable to other farm types.
Jake Munroe is the Soil Management Specialist for Field Crops with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA). Jake has expertise in soil fertility, soil health, and cover crop management. Through on-farm trials, demonstrations, and presentations, he shares information with Ontario farmers on best management practices to improve soil management and crop production. His current projects include evaluating late-season cover crop establishment following corn and soybeans and managing cover crops on clay soils. Jake is a Certified Crop Advisor.

Stephanie Vickers is the Sustainability Specialist for Horticulture Crops with the OMAFA based in Vineland, Ontario. She works with growers, industry, and researchers to assess new practices and technologies that improve sustainable production in Ontario’s horticulture sectors. Her current projects include assessing the use of under-vine cover crops in commercial vineyards and cover crop/intercropping options for organic garlic production.

This event is 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.

Understanding Your Soil Test: Part 2
2025-03-25 13:00 - 14:30 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
Taking soil tests both for nutrients and biology are important management techniques so that ecological farmers can increase yields, improve crop quality, reduce weed problems and improve soil health. In Part 2 of this free Member Month webinar, Ken Laing will discuss what amendments and cover crops you might use to correct deficiencies you find from your soil testing. Learn more and register for Part 1 here.
Both webinars will be relevant to growers of all sizes.
This event is 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.
Ken Laing of Orchard Hill Farm has farmed with his wife Martha near St.Thomas since 1979 when he graduated from the University of Guelph with a B.Sc. in Agriculture. From 1979 until 1996 they produced pick-your-own fruit, and they transitioned to organic in 1989. From 1997 until 2017 they operated a CSA for up to 250 members. Pasture has been a part of their farm rotation for 44 years in terms of draft horses and more recently since 2015 also with cattle and custom grazing.

Stats 101: The Importance of Replication
2025-03-25 11:00 - 12:00 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
A basic understanding of some statistical terms and principles can go a long way toward making your farmer-led research experience (or just reading the research reports) more valuable!
If terms like “replication”, ”statistical significance” and “P-value” are confusing or meaningless to you, join EFAO’s research team to learn the basics of statistics relevant to on-farm, farmer-led research.
During this free Member Month webinar, we will walk through why replication matters in research, and how it allows us to estimate confidence around your results. We will also discuss how you can use simple statistical tests such as t-tests and analysis of variance with free online calculators.

Mushroom Cultivation for Diversified Farms
2025-03-20 12:00 - 13:30 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
Join this webinar to be introduced to a wide variety of different gourmet edible mushroom species and a range of cultivation techniques that can be easily integrated into your existing operational framework and landscape. A brief introduction to fungal anatomy, behaviour and ecological niches will also be covered to set the stage for a thorough understanding of the needs and requirements of fungi to perform at their best.
A few examples of these techniques and methods include the following:
– Inoculated blocks of mushrooms including oyster (Pleurotus spp.) and lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) can be grown inside of greenhouses and hoop tunnels in direct association with vegetable crops, allowing you to grow numerous crops in the same amount of space.
– Alternatively, shiitake (Lentinula edodes) and many other species including chestnut (Pholiota adiposa) can be cultivated on hardwood logs and allowed to mature and produce anywhere that adequate shade exists on site. Logs can take 8-12 months to mature before they start producing, but can yield mushrooms for 5+ years.
– Mushrooms can also be grown in buckets, tubs, beds of sawdust and wood chips, straw mulch and many other cellulose and lignin rich materials that have the potential to be generated onsite. These can be stored and grown out in locations on site that are otherwise not used or unproductive.
In general, mushrooms are a high value crop that are popular among chefs, cooking enthusiasts as well as vegetarian and vegan communities. The waste substrate material, rich in enzymes and metabolites as well as the mycelium of the fungi themselves, make a top tier soil amendment and can even be sold and marketed as ‘mushroom compost’ for an additional revenue stream.
Tom Nagy is a restoration ecologist with a passion for botany, sustainable agriculture, and mycology. Tom has experience working as a field botanist, environmental consultant and as a field and operations manager for a certified organic farm. In 2018, Tom began River City Mushrooms; a small-scale mycological interest project based in Winnipeg that focuses on cultivating an appreciation for edible and medicinal fungi as well as supplying the knowledge and tools necessary for a new generation of mushroom growing enthusiasts to flourish. Tom continues to advocate for a greater understanding of how we perceive, understand and develop relationships with the natural world by writing informative articles and conducting engaging public programs discussing native plant communities, organic agriculture, mushroom cultivation and wild foraging.

Small Grains Winter Webinar Series: Monitoring Progress Toward Ecological Grain Growing
2025-03-19 18:00 - 19:15 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
If you’re a farmer working toward the goal of ecological or regenerative grain growing, this session is for you.
When farms are working to connect their agricultural work to natural systems and ecology, traditional or conventional tools for assessing farming may not be helpful in informing future decisions.
Ruth will guide farmers to understand what parameters will be most helpful to understanding individual farm contexts, introduce options for monitoring key indicators to measure progress, and discuss what tools are available that are most applicable to regenerative/ecological farms.
Speaker:
Ruth Knight is a Professional Agrologist and Certified Crop Advisor with more than 20 years in independent consulting services for a variety of farming systems. Her experiences also include serving on the boards of the Maitland Conservation Foundation, Organic Council of Ontario and Agricultural Adaptation Council.
EFAO’s Small Grains Network is funded and supported by the Weston Family Foundation’s Soil Health Initiative.

Understanding Your Soil Test: Part 1
2025-03-18 13:00 - 14:30 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
Taking soil tests both for nutrients and biology are important management techniques so that ecological farmers can increase yields, improve crop quality, reduce weed problems and improve soil health. Join Ken Laing for this free Member Month webinar to learn how to take a soil sample, where to send it and help you understand the results when you get them back. You will leave with an understanding of what your nutrient and biological goals should be.
Join the second webinar where Ken will discuss what amendments and/or cover crops you might use to correct deficiencies you find. Learn more and register for Part 2 here.
Both webinars will be relevant to growers of all sizes.
This event is 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.
Ken Laing of Orchard Hill Farm has farmed with his wife Martha near St.Thomas since 1979 when he graduated from the University of Guelph with a B.Sc. in Agriculture. From 1979 until 1996 they produced pick-your-own fruit, and they transitioned to organic in 1989. From 1997 until 2017 they operated a CSA for up to 250 members. Pasture has been a part of their farm rotation for 44 years in terms of draft horses and more recently since 2015 also with cattle and custom grazing.

Small Grains Winter Webinar Series: Grain CSAs with Adagio Acres
2025-03-12 18:00 - 19:15 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
Many farmers are looking for ways to shorten supply chains, produce food for their local communities and capture a fair price for the investment they put into raising crops ecologically. With field crops, this can be especially challenging when standard models of marketing like CSA don’t apply. Or do they?
Come out to learn how farmers in Manitoba are working together to grow staple crops for their community through a grain CSA!
Amy Nikkel’s small organic farm, Adagio Acres, grows and mills hulless oats in the Interlake region of Manitoba. After selling oats primarily through retail and foodservice channels in Manitoba for about 6 years, they began to see gaps in the industrial food distribution system and began to devise a way to fill those gaps. Growing up without a farming background, the huge scale of prairie farming caught them off guard as they stepped into the world of food production.
Adagio Acres now runs an annual Grain CSA where the primary goal is to create a supportive consumer base for a network of small-scale grain farms and mills across the province, reduce food waste and food miles, and create a vibrant local grain community.

Crop Planning for Northern Ontario
2025-03-06 13:00 - 14:30 | Online, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
Are you a farmer, gardener, or community grower looking to make the most of Northern Ontario’s short and unpredictable growing season? Join us for an informative and practical webinar on crop planning in Northern Ontario, designed to help you navigate the unique challenges of farming in northern climates.
This session will cover key strategies for optimizing production, including:
• Selecting crops suited to northern conditions
• Succession planning to extend your harvest window
• Season extension techniques to mitigate early frosts and cold temperatures
• Software and tools to streamline your planning and record-keeping
This webinar is ideal for new and aspiring farmers, community garden managers, and anyone growing food in Northern Ontario. Whether you’re growing for market, community food security, or personal use, you’ll come away with valuable insights to help you plan and succeed.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain practical knowledge and connect with other growers navigating similar challenges.
About the speaker:
Eric Blondin and Peggy Baillie are the co-owners of Three Forks Farms, a certified organic farm on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. Since 2015, they have focused on growing organic vegetables, raising pasture-fed poultry, and developing regionally adapted seeds suited to Northern Ontario’s climate. Their farm operates with a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, community food security, and financial viability.
With over a decade of experience in local food systems, Eric and Peggy have built a farm that extends the growing season using polytunnels and innovative crop planning. They sell their produce through on-farm sales, farmers’ markets, a CSA program, and wholesale partnerships with retailers and restaurants. Passionate about seed saving and regenerative agriculture, they continue to support local growers by providing high-quality seeds and knowledge to strengthen food resilience in the North.
This webinar is part of EFAO’s Indigenous Outreach and Engagement Initiative, which is supported by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness.
