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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260923T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260923T150000
DTSTAMP:20260821T181700Z
CREATED:20260723T194108Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260821T181700Z
UID:55388-1790157600-1790175600@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Small Grains Celebration - Central
DESCRIPTION:Join us to celebrate the culmination of five years of EFAO’s Small Grains Program\, including interactive reflection\, sharing outcomes from the Program (including Adaptive Nitrogen Trials results)\, a presentation from an expert speaker\, and a delicious lunch together. \nIn September\, we’ll host three regional celebrations open to all\, each at a different brewing company\, some of which are owned and operated by EFAO farmer members! \nExciting new research — Opportunities to engage and provide your perspective — Door prizes & cold drinks! \n \nThe Central edition of these celebrations has the added bonus of taking place at a brewery owned & operated by EFAO farmer members! Visit this beautiful venue\, enjoy beverages connected to ecological farming practices & chat with us about all the great things grain can do! \n \nSpeaker: Dr. Kari Dunfield – Efficient Nitrogen Use in Wheat: New Research \nKari Dunfield is a Professor of Soil and Environmental Microbiology at the University of Guelph\, and has been studying soil biology in Ontario agricultural systems for over 20 years.  She has degrees in Microbiology (BSc) from U Calgary and Plant Science (MSc) and Soil Science (PhD) from U of Saskatchewan.  She has been awarded an Ontario Early Researcher Award\, and Canada Research Chair for her work investigating microbial communities and microbial processes driving the global processes that help support life on Earth.  Kari is the Editor-in-Chief for the Canadian Journal of Microbiology\, Past-President of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists and Co-Executive Director of Soils@Guelph\, a knowledge mobilization and outreach initiative where she shares her passion about the importance of soils with the public. \nAgenda: \n\n10:00 – 10:30AM   Arrivals & Surveys\n10:30 – 11:00AM   Small Grains Program Outcomes\n11:00AM – 12:00PM   Brainstorm Activity\n12:00 – 2:00PM   Lunch & Presenter Dr. Kari Dunfield\n2:00 – 3:00PM   Brewery Tour & Celebration\n\nThese events are open to everyone and are offered with the support of the Weston Family Foundation through EFAO’s Small Grains program.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/small-grains-celebration-central-2026/
LOCATION:Goodlot Farmstead Brewing Co.\, 18825 Shaws Creek Road\, Alton\, Ontario\, L7K1L3\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Field Day,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/Norm-Field-Day-4-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260922T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260922T170000
DTSTAMP:20260916T153740Z
CREATED:20260914T160813Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260916T153740Z
UID:55998-1790089200-1790096400@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Exploring a New Enterprise: Small Flock Poultry
DESCRIPTION:Thinking about adding poultry to your farm? What does it really take to get a small flock up and running? Join Nathan Klassen of Nith Valley Organics for a practical conversation about starting a poultry enterprise. We’ll explore start-up costs\, infrastructure\, day-to-day realities\, and some of the challenges you may encounter along the way. \nThis event is run in collaboration with Ignatius Farm. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants. \nIf you live in northern Ontario\, you are welcome to attend this webinar series free of charge – please use the coupon code POULTNORTH.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/small-flock-poultry-2026/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/chickens2_400.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260922T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260922T173000
DTSTAMP:20260901T125819Z
CREATED:20260811T143246Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T125819Z
UID:55505-1790082000-1790098200@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Veggie Talk at County Left Farm & It's Giving Farm
DESCRIPTION:Join us in September at two incredible EFAO member farms just north of Toronto! \nThe day will start at County Left Farm where Angelina and Kyle have been growing high quality produce together since 2020. Participants will have the chance to see first-hand how their intensively-managed 1.5 acre area supplies enough produce for two Toronto-area farmers markets and a CSA program. They’ll share how thoughtful production planning\, crop rotations\, and strategic cover cropping help build soil fertility\, improve productivity\, and make the most of every square foot. Participants will also hear the story of securing a long-term lease in Rouge National Urban Park and about their vision for the farm’s future. \nFollowing the visit at County Left Farm\, participants will travel the short distance to It’s Giving Farm\, where Ekow Stone\, Fianna Dirks and their team will welcome us to their 7-acre farm at the northern edge of Rouge National Urban Park. Since establishing the farm in 2023\, they’ve been growing diverse vegetables for two Toronto farmers’ markets while continuing to grow and build their ecological farming operation. \nThrough EFAO’s Farmer-Led Research Program\, Ekow\, Fianna\, and their colleague Michelle have explored regional plant breeding and variety evaluation\, asking how crops can be better adapted to local conditions\, ecological farms and the communities they serve. \nParticipants should be able to see Michelle’s zinnia trial in full bloom and learn about her work with the East Coast multi-coloured carrot population through the Canadian Organic Vegetable Improvement Network (CANOVI). Depending on the season\, there may be carrots to examine and taste. Ekow will also share a multi-year project to breed an early\, productive and disease-resistant okra for Southern Ontario\, with plants—and hopefully pods—to see. \nThroughout the tour and visit\, they’ll share how research fits into their farming practices\, share some of their past and current trials\, discuss lessons learned\, and explore how farmer-led experimentation can support more resilient and productive ecological farms like theirs. \nAgenda: \n12:45pm – 1pm – Arrive to County Left Farm (5293 York Durham Line\, Pickering) \n1pm – 3pm – Tour and conversation at County Left Farm \n3pm – 3:15pm – Travel to It’s Giving Farm (1469 Concession 2\, Uxbridge) \n3:15pm – 5:15pm – Tour and conversation at It’s Giving Farm \n5:15pm – Departures \n  \n\nThis event is hosted in partnership with the Farmers for Climate Solutions’ Farm Resilience Mentorship Program (FaRM). This event is an OSCIA-recognized Knowledge Sharing Event (KSE) for farmers with On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) projects in the Cover Cropping Category.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/veggie-talk-2026/
LOCATION:County Left Farm\, 5293 York Durham Line\, Pickering\, Ontario\, L0C1A0\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Field Day
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/IMG-20260810-WA0003-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260922T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260922T150000
DTSTAMP:20260821T181212Z
CREATED:20260723T193209Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260821T181212Z
UID:55382-1790071200-1790089200@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Small Grains Celebration - West
DESCRIPTION:Join us to celebrate the culmination of five years of EFAO’s Small Grains Program\, including interactive reflection\, sharing outcomes from the Program (including Adaptive Nitrogen Trials results)\, a presentation from an expert speaker\, and a delicious lunch together. \nIn September\, we’ll host three regional celebrations open to all\, each at a different brewing company\, some of which are owned and operated by EFAO farmer members! \nExciting new research — Opportunities to engage and provide your perspective — Door prizes & cold drinks! \n \nSpeaker: Dr. Dave Hooker – Sustainable Nitrogen management in wheat: New Research \nDr. Hooker is a field crop agronomist at the University of Guelph\, Ridgetown Campus\, where he manages many field-based trials including the 30+ year long-term rotation trial. His research aims to achieve a greater efficiency and sustainability of corn\, soybean\, and wheat production using an applied systems hypothesis-driven approach\, through a better understanding of interactions among genotype\, environment\, and other crop response factors and input variables. \nAgenda:  \n\n10:00 – 10:30AM   Arrivals & Surveys\n10:30 – 11:00AM   Small Grains Program Outcomes\n11:00AM – 12:00PM   Brainstorm Activity\n12:00 – 2:00PM   Lunch & Presenter Dr. Dave Hooker\n2:00 – 3:00 PM   Celebrate\n\nThese events are open to everyone and are offered with the support of the Weston Family Foundation through EFAO’s Small Grains program.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/small-grains-celebration-west-2026/
LOCATION:Red Barn Brewing Company\, 20466 Lagoon Road\, Blenheim\, Ontario\, N0P1A0\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Field Day,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/IMG_0269.CR2_-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260917T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260917T160000
DTSTAMP:20260916T181227Z
CREATED:20260724T150549Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260916T181227Z
UID:55402-1789639200-1789660800@efao.ca
SUMMARY:A Flower-filled Field Day in Grey County
DESCRIPTION:Join Amy Kitchen of Sideroad Farm and Annabel Por of Twig and Brindille Flower Farm in Grey-Bruce county for a flower focused day hosted in collaboration with Grey Bruce Flower Growers and the Local Flower Collective. \nWe will start the morning with Amy and Patrick Kitchen at Sideroad Farm\, where they have farmed with their family for 13 years. Amy will lead a tour of their flower production that supplies their markets\, DIY events and wholesale florist buyers at the Local Flower Collective and the Grey Bruce Flower Growers. They also have a robust organic vegetable production\, raise pastured chicken and pork\, and have an active on-farm store. Her tour will include a look at her current production systems and crop rotations (including cover crop strategies to boost productivity)\, and a conversation about lessons learned and scaling different types of production. \nFollowing the tour\, participants can enjoy their packed picnic lunch before travelling to Twig and Brindille. \nIn the afternoon we will visit Twig & Brindille Flower Farm for a contrasting take on cut flower farming on a smaller scale. Annabel Por has been farming her 3 acre parcel since 2020 and practicing no-till techniques since the beginning. She will touch on the challenges and successes of running the farm as a one woman operation with over half of the production area growing perennials.  We will conclude the tour with a hands-on floral activity. \nAgenda for the day: \n10:00-10:10AM: Welcome and introductions\n10:10AM– 12:00PM: Tour with Sideroad Farm (805092 Sideroad 25\, RR3\, Markdale)\n12:00PM – 12:45PM: Bring your own picnic lunch at Sideroad Farm\n12:45PM – 1:15PM: Travel to Twig and Brindille Flower Farm (423475 Concession 6\, Markdale)\n1:15PM – 3:15PM: Tour and activity at Twig and Brindille Flower Farm\nThis event is also 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 Crops Category.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/flower-filled-field-day-2026/
LOCATION:Sideroad Farm\, 805092 Sideroad 5\, Markdale\, Ontario\, N0C1H0\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Field Day
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/1000004387-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260915T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260915T150000
DTSTAMP:20260821T182657Z
CREATED:20260723T143050Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260821T182657Z
UID:55370-1789466400-1789484400@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Small Grains Celebration - East
DESCRIPTION:Join us to celebrate the culmination of five years of EFAO’s Small Grains Program\, including interactive reflection\, sharing outcomes from the Program (including Adaptive Nitrogen Trials results)\, a presentation from an expert speaker\, and a delicious lunch together. \nIn September\, we’ll host three regional celebrations open to all\, each at a different brewing company\, some of which are owned and operated by EFAO farmer members! \n \nExciting new research — Opportunities to engage and provide your perspective — Door prizes & cold drinks! \nThis Eastern event is special because the venue is partly owned and operated by Ivan MacKinnon\, past Small Grains Program participant. \nSpeaker: Dr. Andrew Burt – Breeding for Climate Resilience in Wheat \nAndrew Burt is a Research Scientist in spring wheat germplasm enhancement at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)\, where he has worked since 2014. Based in Ottawa\, he leads the Spring wheat breeding program for Eastern Canada\, focusing on yield\, agronomic traits\, fusarium head blight resistance\, and end-use quality. While rooted in conventional variety development\, his program is increasingly shifting toward upstream trait discovery and germplasm development to support long-term genetic improvement. Andrew develops and refines field- and lab-based screening strategies\, integrating molecular tools to improve the efficiency and precision of selection. Prior to leading the Eastern program in 2018\, he headed the Hard Red Spring wheat program for the Northern Prairies. He holds a Ph.D. in plant breeding and genetics from the University of Guelph and has broad experience researching specialty traits\, disease resistance\, and developing novel germplasm in corn and dry beans. \nAgenda \n\n10:00 – 10:30AM   Arrivals & Surveys\n10:30 – 11:00AM   Small Grains Program Outcomes\n11:00AM – 12:00PM   Brainstorm Activity\n12:00 – 2:00PM   Lunch & Presenter Dr. Andrew Burt\n2:00 – 3:00PM   Brewery Tour & Celebration\n\nThis field day is offered with the support of the Weston Family Foundation through EFAO’s Small Grains program.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/small-grains-celebration-east-2026/
LOCATION:MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company\, 1915 Lennox and Addington County Rd 22\, Bath\, Ontario\, K0H1G0\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Field Day,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/IMG_1964-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260912T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260912T173000
DTSTAMP:20260724T143655Z
CREATED:20260717T135855Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260724T143655Z
UID:55342-1789218000-1789234200@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Rotational Grazing in Ottawa Valley with Dobson's Grassfed Beef and Opeongo Springs Homestead
DESCRIPTION:Join two fantastic farms to learn how their rotational grazing and environmental stewardship practices intersect in the holistic management of their farms. \nBob Dobson has spent nearly 50 years planting trees on his family farm near Cobden. What began as a memory of trees providing shade on a farm laneway has grown into a passion for reforestation\, and influenced his farming practices along the way. Bob and his partner Eva manage Dobson’s Grassfed Beef\, which currently has about 50 head of cattle but over the years has had as many as 400. Their farm management practices include restoration of a riparian buffer to protect water quality\, solar watering systems to keep cattle out of the creek\, rotational grazing\, and planting up to 1000 trees each year – adding up to over 40\,000 trees planted and counting. Participants will hop on a wagon and learn how for this farm\, environmental stewardship\, human and animal health\, and food production are inextricably linked through their ecological practices. \nOpeongo Springs Homestead came to rotational grazing from the other end of the farming spectrum\, purchasing their farm outside of Eganville and taking over a herd of 20 Texas Longhorn cattle just four years ago. They have since grown their herd to 54. Natalie and Kyle emphasize sustainable and ecological grazing practices – including rotational grazing and silvopasture – ethical treatment of animals\, and local\, healthy food production. They recently received Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) funding to improve their rotational grazing system. With this funding\, they added a solar powered water trough that moves with their herd and temporary fencing materials\, all of which will be included in the tour. These allow them the flexibility to move their herd more frequently\, giving pastures more time to recover. The organic matter in their pastures is extremely low\, but in the short time they have been rotational grazing in this location\, they have seen it improve. \nThe tour will also include a look at their recent addition of pigs to their grazing system\, who are working hard to clear an overgrown area to become additional pasture\, and highlighting this farm’s emphasis on matching animals to environments that suit their needs while also improving the land. In addition to their livestock\, visitors will have the opportunity to visit their self-designed one of a kind (and beautiful!) barn and farm store. \nDriving time between the two farms is approximately 35 minutes. Participants are responsible for their own transportation. \nTicket price includes participation in both tours and light refreshments. \n\n12:45PM – 1:00PM: Arrive to Dobson’s Grassfed Beef\, 1907 Snake River Line\, Cobden\n1:00PM – 3:00PM: Farm tour at Dobson’s Grassfed Beef\n3:00PM – 3:45PM: Travel to Opeongo Springs Homestead\, 2290 Opeongo Road W\, Eganville\n3:45PM – 5:30pm: Tour at Opeongo Springs Homestead\n5:30 pm: Departures\n\nThis event is offered in partnership with the Farmers for Climate Solutions’ Farm Resilience Mentorship Program (FaRM) is an OSCIA-recognized Knowledge Sharing Event (KSE) for farmers with On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) projects in the Rotational Grazing Category.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/rotational-grazing-ottawa-valley-2026/
LOCATION:Dobson’s Grassfed Beef\, 1907 Snake River Line\, Cobden\, Ontario\, K0J1K0\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Field Day
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/texas-longhorn-square.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260909T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260909T150000
DTSTAMP:20260811T141711Z
CREATED:20260811T140030Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T141711Z
UID:55489-1788948000-1788966000@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Field Day with Urban Fresh Produce
DESCRIPTION:Join EFAO for the third field day in our farmer-led policy jam series at Urban Fresh Produce in Ottawa with farmer Chadwick Lewis! \nUrban Fresh Produce is a family-run urban farm growing organic vegetables on land rented from the National Capital Commission. Founded by Farmer Chadwick who is originally from Saint Lucia\, the farm is rooted in food security\, cultural celebration\, and community connection\, growing a broad range of veggies alongside culturally significant crops such as okra and callaloo. \nThis field day will offer a practical look at what it takes to build a farm business through alternative land access pathways\, from incubator farming to public land leases. Participants will learn about Chadwick’s farming journey\, vegetable and seedling production and crop rotations including cover crops\, CSA and farm stand sales\, community-building events\, and the realities and rewards of farming with a growing family. \nAfter the farm tour\, participants will have the opportunity to join an on-farm work bee\, followed by lunch and a facilitated policy jam. Together\, we’ll explore what farms like Urban Fresh make visible about public land access\, urban agriculture\, food security\, farm viability\, cultural crops\, and the supports new and small-scale farmers need to get established and stay farming. \nThis field day is open to farmers\, aspiring farmers\, growers\, land access advocates\, food systems workers\, community members\, and anyone interested in urban agriculture\, public land\, food security\, cultural foodways\, and the future of small-scale ecological farming. \nPlease come prepared with closed-toe shoes\, weather-appropriate clothing\, sun protection\, a water bottle\, and work gloves if you would like to join the work bee. \nSchedule \n10:00 AM – Arrival and welcome at Urban Fresh Produce \n10:15 AM to 11:15 AM – Farm tour \n11:15 AM to 12:00 PM – Hands-on group work bee \n12:00PM to 1:00PM – Lunch provided at Urban Fresh Produce \n1:00 PM to 2:15 PM – Facilitated policy conversation and workshop: From public land to public good \n2:15 PM to 2:45 PM – Group reflection and key takeaways \n2:45 PM to 3:00 PM – Closing and departures \nAbout Urban Fresh Produce \nUrban Fresh Produce is a family-run urban farm in Ottawa led by Chadwick Lewis. Originally from Saint Lucia\, Chadwick has been farming since 2015 and founded Urban Fresh Produce in 2021. The farm grows organic vegetables and seedlings\, serves local communities (CSA and farm stand sales)\, and is rooted in food security\, cultural foodways\, and community connection. Chadwick’s farming journey includes incubator farming and now farming on public land rented from the National Capital Commission\, with his wife Paula and three children. \nThis event is offered in partnership with the Farmers for Climate Solutions’ Farm Resilience Mentorship Program (FaRM).
URL:https://efao.ca/event/urban-fresh-produce-2026/
LOCATION:Urban Fresh Produce\, 1757 Woodroffe Avenue\, Nepean\, Ontario\, K2G1W2\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Field Day
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/Urban-Fresh-Produce-farm.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260824T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260824T130000
DTSTAMP:20260614T153439Z
CREATED:20260614T153439Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260614T153439Z
UID:54875-1787572800-1787576400@efao.ca
SUMMARY:August Seed Growers Meet-Up
DESCRIPTION:The Seed Growers Meetup is an informal lunchtime gathering for farmers\, seed growers\, plant breeders\, and anyone curious about saving seed. It’s a space to connect with others working with seed\, share what’s happening on your farm or in your garden\, and talk through the questions and ideas that come up throughout the season. \nEach meetup is shaped by the people who join. Conversations often range from practical seed production topics—like crop planning\, isolation distances\, population sizes\, and seed cleaning—to broader discussions about seed systems\, breeding projects\, and the challenges and opportunities growers are navigating. \nWhether you’ve been producing seed for years or are just starting to explore it\, you’re warmly welcome. Bring your lunch\, your questions\, and your seed stories as we learn from one another and strengthen a community of growers working to produce diverse\, high-quality seed.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/august-seed-growers-meet-up-2026/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Virtual Meet-up
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/1-13.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260821T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260821T140000
DTSTAMP:20260819T194005Z
CREATED:20260614T155222Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T194005Z
UID:54880-1787306400-1787320800@efao.ca
SUMMARY:St Francis Herb Farm & Facility Tour
DESCRIPTION:Please note that this event is nearly full. When registering above\, if the event is full\, you will be directed to add your name to a waitlist. \nThe recipient of numerous industry awards\, St. Francis Herb Farm (SFHF) is known and loved by many for their production of high quality plant medicines. However\, few are aware that they are a homegrown Ontario brand\, nestled amongst the rolling hills\, rocks\, forests\, and rivers of the Madawaska Valley\, with a long history of organic farming and holistic herbalism. \nSince 1988\, SFHF has been family owned and operated\, and a proudly Canadian business. For over three decades\, SFHF has cultivated the land and nurtured their knowledge to bring the power of the plant to the world. In 2021\, they built a 33\,000 square foot processing facility in Barry’s Bay – Canada’s largest dedicated plant medicine facility. Now operated by Caitlin and Paul Rivett-Carnac\, SFHF is committed to growing herbs ecologically\, and sourcing high quality raw materials from Canadian ecological growers. \nJoin this tour for a rare behind the scenes look at St Francis Herb Farm’s plant medicine facility as well as its recently re-established (2022) herb farm. Interested and qualified producers may be able to sell their herbs to the business\, so bring your contact cards and questions for the opportunity to have a conversation. \nTour price includes an indepth tour of the farm and facility\, conversation\, and lunch by Seed and Stone Farmstead. After lunch\, there will be an optional work bee on the farm\, where participants will have the opportunity to work alongside SFHF team members and other farm participants for hands-on learning and connection. As a thank you\, those who participate in the work bee will receive a discount at the SFHF farm store. \nThis tour\, lunch and work bee are designed for farmers\, but community members are welcome and encouraged to join as well! \nFor the tour: \n\nMuch of the tour will take place outdoors\, so please dress for the weather and bring what you need to learn and enjoy!\nKids 16 and under\, with an accompanying adult\, are welcome to join for the tour at no charge. Please note that anyone under 16 is not permitted in the processing facility\, so won’t be able to join for that portion. The group will be split in two for the tour\, so there are options to trade-off and take turns.\nNote that participants will need to adhere to some requirements in order to tour the inside of the facility (such as wearing clean close toed shoes). These requirements will be sent to registrants in advance of the tour.\n\nFor the work bee: \n\nParticipants should wear closed-toed shoes and bring sun/weather protection and work gloves.\nThese tasks will be physical and may require bending\, lifting\, etc. We can work together to find ways for all to participate as they are able to\, but may be somewhat limited.\n\n  \nAgenda \n10:00am-12:00pm – Farm and facility tour \n12:00-12:45pm – Catered picnic lunch and socializing \n12:45-2:00pm – Work bee
URL:https://efao.ca/event/st-francis-herb-farm-2026/
LOCATION:St Francis Herb Farm\, 50 Lane Street\, Barry's Bay\, Ontario\, K0J1B0\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Field Day
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/St.-Francis-Herb-facility-square.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260820T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260820T153000
DTSTAMP:20260724T143746Z
CREATED:20260714T154443Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260724T143746Z
UID:55321-1787220000-1787239800@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Field Day on Manitoulin Island at Three Forks Farms & Martin Farms
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an in-person field day featuring tours of two outstanding farms on Manitoulin Island. \n  \nWe will start the morning at Three Forks Farms – a certified organic farm owned and operated by Peggy Baillie and Eric Blondin. Since establishing their farm in Northern Ontario\, Peggy and Eric have been committed to producing high-quality food while caring for the land\, supporting biodiversity\, and helping build a strong local food system. The farm produces a wide range of vegetables and raises chicken for direct sale to customers in northern Ontario. \nThe day will begin with a tour of the farm and gardens\, where Peggy and Eric will share how they work with the land and the changing seasons to produce healthy\, nutritious\, and high-quality food. We will also visit the on-farm store and learn how direct farm-gate sales have shaped their operation. \nBiosecurity Notice: All participants will be required to complete a boot wash at Three Forks Farm before the farm tour. \n  \nFollowing the tour\, participants can enjoy their packed picnic lunch at Three Forms Farms before travelling to Martin Farms. \n  \nIn the afternoon we will visit Martin Farms\, which is owned and operated by the Martin family (Jim\, Birgit\, Nick and Alex) and is dedicated to producing exceptional beef while caring for both their cattle and the land. On the farm\, they raise both traditional grain-fed and grass-fed beef and their approach is the same for both: a great breeding program for their cattle\, dry-aging their beef\, raising cattle as naturally as possible\, and being very picky about quality control. Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour to see how these practices are implemented on the farm\, tour their pastures and learn how they manage feed and pastures to produce high-quality beef. \n  \nAgenda for the day: \n10:00 am – 12:00 pm: Farm tour at Three Forks Farms. \n12:00 pm – 12:50pm: A lunch break will take place between tours. Participants are encouraged to bring their own picnic lunch to eat at Three Forks Farms. \n12:50pm – 1:30pm: After lunch\, participants will drive to Martin Farms (approximately 36min drive) \n1:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Tour of Martin Farms. \n  \nFunding support for this event has been provided by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario. \nThis event is also offered in partnership with the Farmers for Climate Solutions’ Farm Resilience Mentorship Program (FaRM) is an OSCIA-recognized Knowledge Sharing Event (KSE) for farmers with On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) projects in the Rotational Grazing Category..
URL:https://efao.ca/event/field-day-manitoulin-2026/
LOCATION:Three Forks Farms & Martin Farms\, 9 Douglas Road\, Gore Bay\, Ontario\, P0P 1H0\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Field Day
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/1454522217.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260817T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260817T130000
DTSTAMP:20260724T175938Z
CREATED:20260724T175938Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260724T175938Z
UID:55408-1786968000-1786971600@efao.ca
SUMMARY:New & Young Farmer Meet-up: Mid-season burnout
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a casual online meet-up for new and young farmers in Ontario\, hosted in collaboration with Ignatius Farm! This is a chance to connect\, share experiences\, and have an honest conversation about one of the toughest parts of the growing season: mid-season burnout. \nThe conversation will be facilitated by Ignatius Farm’s Education Coordinator Lisa Conroy and EFAO’s Rav Singh\, who previously ran her own farm\, Shade of Miti. They will help guide the discussion while making plenty of space for participants to share their own stories\, challenges\, and ideas. \nWe’ll chat about what burnout can look like\, how to plan for it before it hits\, ways to manage it when you’re in the middle of the season\, and strategies for staying motivated through to harvest. Whether you’re feeling energized\, exhausted\, or somewhere in between\, you’re welcome to bring your questions\, ideas\, and experiences. \nThere won’t be any formal presentations—just a relaxed space to learn from one another\, build community\, and leave with practical insights and a few reminders that you’re not farming alone. \nA Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/new-farmer-meet-up-aug-2026/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Virtual Meet-up
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot-2026-07-24-at-1.49.57 PM.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260812T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260812T180000
DTSTAMP:20260806T200329Z
CREATED:20260428T132113Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T200329Z
UID:54339-1786550400-1786557600@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Summer Orchard Pruning with Ignatius Farm
DESCRIPTION:Did you know that summer is an excellent time to prune your fruit trees? Besides the general reasons to prune for height\, structure\, and airflow\, summer pruning is excellent for ensuring enough direct sunlight reaches fruit\, and decreases potential disease pressure. This hands-on workshop will teach you how to decide what to cut and when as well as pruning best practices. Facilitated by Matt Soltys\, the Urban Orchardist. \nThis New Farmer Training series is run by Ignatius Farm in partnership with EFAO.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/in-the-field-summer-pruning/
LOCATION:Ignatius Farm\, 5420 Hwy 6 North\, Guelph\, ON\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Field Day
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/apple-blossom.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260812T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260812T130000
DTSTAMP:20260603T175445Z
CREATED:20260603T115429Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260603T175445Z
UID:54792-1786528800-1786539600@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Research Trials at the Trent University Research Farm
DESCRIPTION:Join farmer-researcher and former EFAO staff member Dillon Muldoon at the Trent Farm Research Centre on August 12th. See research in action\, tour the Trent Market Garden\, learn more about the Society for Ecological Restoration’s native plant nursery and see the tepary beans project\, part of Growing Indigenous Food for All of our Futures. Following the tour and research trial discussion\, participants are invited to stay for an optional potluck lunch. Bring a dish to share and your own plate and cutlery\, and enjoy a picnic together. \nField trials will include: \n\nEFAO: no-till landrace Maxima squash\nEFAO: no-till potatoes\nEFAO: efficiacy of wool as mulch\nEFAO: PAN network\nTFRC: spring cover crops for fall brassicas\nTFRC: V6 alternative fertilizer formulations for field corn\nCANOVI trials\n\nFarm tour 10:00AM to 12:00PM\, optional potluck lunch 12:00PM to 1:00PM
URL:https://efao.ca/event/trent-university-research-centre-2026/
LOCATION:Trent University Research Farm\, 2805B Pioneer Rd.\, Peterborough\, Ontario\, K9J 6Y1\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Field Day
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot-2026-05-26-at-9.23.40 AM.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260810T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260810T160000
DTSTAMP:20260804T155713Z
CREATED:20260614T160100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260804T155713Z
UID:54887-1786356000-1786377600@efao.ca
SUMMARY:From the Field to the Policy Table with Brilliant Meadows Farm and SARN Farms
DESCRIPTION:There is no single path into farming. Join EFAO for a two-site field day with Brilliant Meadows and SARN Farms to explore what helps small-scale ecological farms take root\, adapt\, and thrive over time. \nThe day will begin at Brilliant Meadows\, where participants will tour a regenerative mixed farm producing pasture-raised meats and Chinese diaspora vegetables in the rolling hills of Mono. The tour will offer a practical look at livestock integration\, adapting seeds for the Ontario climate\, market gardening\, farm infrastructure\, climate-minded practices\, and the work of building a farm ecosystem over time. \nAfter lunch\, participants will travel to SARN Farms’ latest growing site at Whole Village Eco Farm in Caledon. Arnest will share how he is expanding from urban farming at Downsview Park into an additional shared-land site\, adding more root vegetables\, diversifying the farm’s offerings\, and building new possibilities for his farm business. \nParticipants have the opportunity to take part in a hands-on group work bee and then gather for a facilitated conversation and workshop. Drawing on the different pathways of Brilliant Meadows and SARN Farms\, we’ll explore what practical supports help farmers get established\, grow carefully\, stay on the land\, and build stronger local food economies. \nThis field day is open to farmers\, aspiring farmers\, and anyone interested in new farmer pathways\, land access\, community food systems\, culturally meaningful crops\, regenerative farming\, urban agriculture\, shared farming spaces\, and the future of small-scale ecological farming. \nParticipants can take part in one or both farm tours. Entry to the Brilliant Meadows portion includes lunch. Please note that there is approximately 30–35 minutes of travel between Brilliant Meadows and Whole Village Eco Farm\, and participants will need to arrange their own transportation between sites. Please come prepared with closed-toe shoes\, weather-appropriate clothing\, sun protection\, a water bottle\, and work gloves if you would like to join the work bee. \nSCHEDULE \n10:00AM – Arrival and welcome at Brilliant Meadows Farm \n10:15AM to 11:45AM – Farm tour with Brilliant Meadows \n11:45AM to 12:30PM – Lunch provided at Brilliant Meadows Farm \n12:30PM to 1:15PM – Travel to Whole Village Eco Farm \n1:15PM to 2:15PM – Tour of SARN Farms at the Whole Village site \n2:15PM to 2:45PM – Hands-on group work bee \n2:45PM to 3:45PM – Facilitated conversation and workshop: From land access to long-term farm viability \n3:45PM to 4:00PM – Group reflection and key takeaways: What should EFAO and its members bring into future advocacy? \n4:00PM – Closing and departures \nHost Farms\nBrilliant Meadows \nBrilliant Meadows is a regenerative mixed vegetable and livestock farm in Mono run by Shiying Lu with help from her partner\, Jason\, and her family. Established in 2022 on 48 acres\, the farm produces pasture-raised meats and organically grown Chinese diaspora vegetables. Shiying first fell in love with farming through an internship in 2016 and has since built her skills through apprenticeships\, mentorship\, arboriculture\, equipment work\, and years of farm-building before moving into full-time farming. \n  \n  \nSARN Farms \nSARN Farms is founded by Arnest Sebbumba\, who brings more than 15 years of farming experience from his upbringing on his family’s farm in Kayunga\, Uganda. Initially based at Downsview Park in Toronto\, SARN Farms produces fresh\, sustainably grown vegetables for local communities through CSA boxes\, farmers’ markets\, and local delivery. The farm’s expansion to Whole Village Eco Farm in Caledon adds a second shared-land site and supports a wider range of crops.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/brilliant-meadows-sarn-farms-2026/
LOCATION:Brilliant Meadows Farm\, 935418 Airport Road\, Mono\, Ontario
CATEGORIES:Field Day
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/brilliant-meadows-1.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260728T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260728T130000
DTSTAMP:20260614T153210Z
CREATED:20260614T153210Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260614T153210Z
UID:54871-1785240000-1785243600@efao.ca
SUMMARY:July Seed Growers Meet-Up
DESCRIPTION:The Seed Growers Meetup is an informal lunchtime gathering for farmers\, seed growers\, plant breeders\, and anyone curious about saving seed. It’s a space to connect with others working with seed\, share what’s happening on your farm or in your garden\, and talk through the questions and ideas that come up throughout the season. \nEach meetup is shaped by the people who join. Conversations often range from practical seed production topics—like crop planning\, isolation distances\, population sizes\, and seed cleaning—to broader discussions about seed systems\, breeding projects\, and the challenges and opportunities growers are navigating. \nWhether you’ve been producing seed for years or are just starting to explore it\, you’re warmly welcome. Bring your lunch\, your questions\, and your seed stories as we learn from one another and strengthen a community of growers working to produce diverse\, high-quality seed.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/july-seed-growers-meet-up-2026/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Virtual Meet-up
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/1-13.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260715T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260715T153000
DTSTAMP:20260713T141950Z
CREATED:20260614T152517Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260713T141950Z
UID:54861-1784109600-1784129400@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Growing on Shared Ground at Lawoti Farms and Carabao Fields
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a field day at Five Haystacks Farm with neighbouring farms Lawoti Farms and Carabao Fields! These two small-scale ecological farms share rented land and infrastructure while building distinct farm businesses rooted in cultural foodways\, fresh vegetables\, and plenty of hands-on problem solving. \nThe day will offer a practical look at what it takes to farm side by side on a shared site: navigating small land bases\, coordinating infrastructure\, building markets\, adapting crops\, and balancing farm work with the other realities that make small-scale farming possible. \nAt Lawoti Farms\, participants will learn about market development\, value-added products\, and crop choices\, including the Dalle hot peppers used in Surendra’s popular hot sauces and achars. The tour will explore how a small farm can grow through serving farmers’ markets\, restaurants\, wholesale buyers\, CSA customers\, and culturally connected food communities. \nAt Carabao Fields\, participants will learn how Jienezza and Steve are growing Southeast Asian crops and adapting seeds for this climate as part of EFAO’s Seed Mentorship program. Their tour will highlight human-powered ecological farming\, soil care\, crop planning\, DIY infrastructure and equipment maintenance\, and the practical work of bringing culturally significant fresh vegetables to local eaters\, while balancing the demands of a growing family. \nAfter the tours\, participants can lend a hand and learn practical skills through a group work bee\, then gather for an on-farm lunch provided by EFAO. In the afternoon\, we’ll hold a facilitated conversation on strengthening support for new and small-scale farmers\, including what would help farmers get established\, stay on the land\, and build more resilient local food economies. \nThis field day is open to farmers\, aspiring farmers\, and anyone interested in land access\, new farmer pathways\, cultural crops\, community food systems\, and the future of small-scale ecological farming. \nThis is a full-day field day\, but participants are welcome to attend for part of the day. Lunch is provided by EFAO. Please come prepared with closed-toe shoes\, weather-appropriate clothing\, sun protection\, a water bottle\, and garden gloves if you would like to join the work bee. \nSCHEDULE \n10:00AM – Arrival and welcome \n10:15AM to 11:45AM – Farm tour with Lawoti Farms and Carabao Fields \n11:45AM to 12:30PM – Hands-on group work bee \n12:30PM to 1:30PM – Lunch (provided) \n1:30PM to 2:45PM – Facilitated conversation and workshop: Strengthening support for new and small-scale farmers \n2:45PM to 3:15PM – Group reflection and key takeaways: What should EFAO and its members bring into future advocacy? \n3:15PM to 3:30PM – Closing and departures \nLawoti Farms is operated by Surendra Lawoti at Five Haystacks Farm in Campbellville. Surendra began farming as a way to reconnect with his Nepali roots and share culturally significant foods with local communities. He runs the farm while also working as a photography professor at Ontario College of Art and Design University\, offering a real-life example of how some farmers build farm businesses alongside other careers and income streams. \n  \nCarabao Fields is a human-powered ecological farm led by Jienezza\, with support from her husband Steve on infrastructure setup and equipment maintenance. Prior to farming\, Jienezza worked in the financial industry for 10 years as a senior analyst in risk management. In 2022\, she worked on a farm for a year to learn the trade before building Carabao Fields at Five Haystacks Farm.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/lawoti-farms-carbao-fields-2026/
LOCATION:Five Haystacks Farm\, 2425 Reid Sideroad\, Campbellville\, Ontario\, L0P1B0\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Field Day
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/avif:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/37c19b_f96d4897ab7a4b648ecf2faed4b3e477mv2.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260707T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260707T133000
DTSTAMP:20260706T145412Z
CREATED:20260513T215558Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T145412Z
UID:54462-1783418400-1783431000@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Hoop House Growing with The New Farm Centre & Multi Shelter Solutions
DESCRIPTION:The New Farm Centre (NFC) has been a hub of regenerative growing and educational gathering for over 20 years. The Centre is the first vegetable farm in Canada to be Regenerative Organic Certified\, the highest standard of regenerative practice in the world. At this field day\, participants will join the NFC team for a first-hand look at their vegetable and livestock production\, and hear how they share about their regenerative growing practices with other farmers and the broader community. \nThe tour will culminate with an in-depth look at the New Farm’s hoop house production. Participants will see first-hand how they set-up to grow approximately 30\,000 organic cucumbers each year\, for sale through wholesale and retail channels. In addition to the NFC team\, Norm Eygenraam of Multi-Shelter Solutions will join the group to share his nearly 50 years of experience in hoop house sales and support. Using the New Farm’s structures as examples\, Norm will be able to offer perspectives and considerations on structure\, set-up\, costing and more. Participants are encouraged to bring their questions about their own hoop house needs. \nIf you’re considering establishing or upgrading your indoor growing\, this field day is for you! \nFollowing the tour\, participants will gather for informal conversation over a catered lunch in the New Farm’s on-farm kitchen and community gathering space.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/new-farm-multi-shelter-solutions-2026/
LOCATION:The New Farm\, 9783 Sideroad 6 & 7\, Nottawasaga\, Creemore\, Ontario\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Field Day
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/Copy-of-FFC-2023-958-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260706T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260706T123000
DTSTAMP:20260630T235552Z
CREATED:20260603T030204Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260630T235552Z
UID:54784-1783332000-1783341000@efao.ca
SUMMARY:No-till Mulch at Nith Valley Organics
DESCRIPTION:Nathan and Aleta Klassen from Nith Valley Organics invite you to their Plattsville farm where they grow certified organic vegetables and raise pastured livestock. They are also long-time participants in the farm-led research program and have hosted trials of grafted tomatoes\, red carrots and\, more recently\, no-till mulching methods using woodchips in potato and winter squash crops. \nFollowing the tour\, participants are invited to enjoy their own picnic lunch together as a group. \nFunding for the project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada under the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program and by the following partners: Beef Farmers of Ontario\, Dairy Farmers of Ontario\, Grain Farmers of Ontario\, Ontario Federation of Agriculture\, Ontario Pork and Ontario Sheep Farmers. The project is coordinated by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association. \nThis event is also offered in partnership with the Farmers for Climate Solutions’ Farm Resilience Mentorship Program (FaRM).
URL:https://efao.ca/event/nith-valley-organics-2026/
LOCATION:Nith Valley Organics\, 936754 Blenheim Rd\, Plattsville\, N0J 1S0\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Field Day
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/image0-1-1.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260629T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260629T203000
DTSTAMP:20260629T190938Z
CREATED:20260617T141219Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260629T190938Z
UID:54911-1782759600-1782765000@efao.ca
SUMMARY:June BIPOC Farmers Network Meet-up
DESCRIPTION:Due to low registration\, the June BIPOC Farmers Network Meet-up has been postponed until later in the summer. See you at our next meet-up!
URL:https://efao.ca/event/june-bipoc-farmers-network-meet-up/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Meet-up
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/BIPOC-Farmers-Network1-1-e1776799836789.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260624T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260624T130000
DTSTAMP:20260608T114048Z
CREATED:20260608T114048Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260608T114048Z
UID:54833-1782302400-1782306000@efao.ca
SUMMARY:June Seed Growers Meet-Up
DESCRIPTION:The Seed Growers Meetup is an informal lunchtime gathering for farmers\, seed growers\, plant breeders\, and anyone curious about saving seed. It’s a space to connect with others working with seed\, share what’s happening on your farm or in your garden\, and talk through the questions and ideas that come up throughout the season. \nEach meetup is shaped by the people who join. Conversations often range from practical seed production topics—like crop planning\, isolation distances\, population sizes\, and seed cleaning—to broader discussions about seed systems\, breeding projects\, and the challenges and opportunities growers are navigating. \nWhether you’ve been producing seed for years or are just starting to explore it\, you’re warmly welcome. Bring your lunch\, your questions\, and your seed stories as we learn from one another and strengthen a community of growers working to produce diverse\, high-quality seed.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/june-seed-growers-meet-up-2026/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Virtual Meet-up
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/1-13.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260621T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260621T190000
DTSTAMP:20260513T212417Z
CREATED:20260513T212012Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T212417Z
UID:54452-1782055800-1782068400@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Farm Tour & Potluck at Aldergrove Farm
DESCRIPTION:Aldergrove Farm is run by Michael Fraser with help from his family and their wonderful seasonal staff. For more than 10 years\, Aldergrove Farm has practiced intensive market gardening\, selling their organic vegetables through two Toronto farmers markets and to select restaurants. \nJoin us for a tour of Aldergrove Farm and a first-hand look at how they grow organic vegetables and cut flowers for market on less than twelve acres. Participants will get a first-hand look at their production systems and hear about their story\, including some of the decisions and lessons learned over the past ten years. \nFollowing the tour\, participants are invited to stay for an informal potluck dinner to connect with other new and experienced farmers. Bring your favourite dish to share\, your own plate and cutlery.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/tour-potluck-aldergrove-farm/
LOCATION:Aldergrove Farm\, 211537 Baseline Road\, Mount Forest\, Ontario\, N0G 2L0\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Field Day
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot-2026-05-12-at-1.20.43 PM.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260618T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260618T150000
DTSTAMP:20260525T203304Z
CREATED:20260501T162305Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260525T203304Z
UID:54386-1781787600-1781794800@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Field Day at Franklin Farm: Trials\, Transitions\, and Trade-offs
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an afternoon at the Franklin farm as Tom shares the lessons from his early years of farming. \nLocated just five minutes from Lake Huron\, the 100-acre Franklin Farm consists of 50 arable acres\, 25 acres of pasture\, and a 25-acre riparian zone surrounding a creek and small waterways. Tom and Christine focus on managing the property’s diverse ecology with the help of a small cow calf herd and a 12-paddocks rotational grazing system. The arable acres are dedicated to growing organic grains and cover crops that continue to build the soil health across soil types that vary from heavy clay to sand. \nThis is a splendid opportunity to share insights into balancing a steep learning curve and a tight budget with a steadfast commitment to ecological health. \nCome dig into the nitty-gritty of small-scale farming\, including: \n\nThe Organic Transition: Navigating the organic certification process.\nRotational Grazing: Managing systems for cow-calf herds\, including fencing\, and water logistics.\nLessons in Cover Cropping: Discover what’s worked for soil health and what didn’t work for logistically.\nSmall-Scale Grains: Practical advice on marketing\, storage\, and choosing the right equipment without breaking the bank.\nKernza (Perennial wheat): Looking towards seed bulking for a future farmer-led research trial.\nOrganic No-Till soybeans: Find out how the first time planting soybeans into cereal rye is going.\nFarming for Biodiversity: Practical strategies for protecting Bobolink and Meadowlark nesting sites while maintaining a grazing rotation.\n\nIn the field: We’ll walk the fields to see the newly planted no-till organic soybeans\, check in on the winter wheat\, and observe the cow-calf herd during their early pasture rotation. \nGet a preview: Can’t wait for the field day? Hear more about Tom’s journey through his audio journal\, Great Big Farmer\, available on all major podcast platforms. \nThis field day is offered with the support of the Weston Family Foundation through EFAO’s Small Grains program and is an OSCIA-recognized Knowledge Sharing Event (KSE) for farmers with On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) projects in the Rotational Grazing and Cover Cropping Categories.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/franklin-farms-2026/
LOCATION:Franklin Farm\, 1462 North line\, Kincardine\, Ontario\, N2Z 2X4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Field Day
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/Grazing-bull-and-progeny-scaled-e1777652501677.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260617T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260617T200000
DTSTAMP:20260527T145734Z
CREATED:20260527T145734Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260527T145734Z
UID:54482-1781721000-1781726400@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Pride Picnic at Spiral Farm
DESCRIPTION:Gather at Spiral Farm for an evening Pride picnic! Get a tour of this human-scale market garden\, take in the beautiful scenery while enjoying some food\, & connect with your fellow QT-pies. This will be a laid back evening get together to build community & take it easy together. \nThere will be food & drinks on offer\, but please bring something to share if you can! Tables & chairs will be provided along with a shade tent for heat or rainy weather. Please bring a reusable plate\, cup and cutlery if you can (extras will be available). \nAccess Notes \nPull into the driveway for MacKay Farm. The parking lot is quite small\, so please carpool if you can. The field is about a 400m walk along the tractor path from the parking area. There is an outhouse on site with handwashing facilities\, and a couple of friendly farm dogs (please leave your own pups at home).
URL:https://efao.ca/event/pride-picnic-at-spiral-farm/
LOCATION:Spiral Farm\, 7259 Middlebrook Road\, Elora\, Ontario\, N0B 1S0\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Meet-up
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/reba-spike-Nen8JS4io6c-unsplash-scaled-e1779893645186.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260608T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260608T200000
DTSTAMP:20260603T132844Z
CREATED:20260512T192935Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260603T132844Z
UID:54446-1780941600-1780948800@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Queer Rural Living in Ontario
DESCRIPTION:Through work connecting with 2SLGTBQIA+ farmers\, farm workers\, ag enthusiasts\, homesteaders and land stewards\, EFAO has discovered there may be more cool queer pals living in rural spaces than one might think. As folks with identities\, genders\, families and relationships that don’t fit into binary\, heteronormative categories\, the move to the country can be complicated. \nThis event brings together panelists to speak from lived experiences as queer and gender-diverse folks who have moved rurally to pursue their farming\, homesteading and land stewarding dreams. They’ll share candidly about the challenges and the beauty of queer rural life. We’ll save some time for questions\, audience sharing and discussion after our panelists present. \nPanelists may reflect on questions such as: How will I find a place I can afford to live? Will I be safe? Will I make friends? How do I access affirming medical care? How can I connect with community and the land? \nThis event aims to spotlight 2SLGTBQIA+ voices. Allies are welcome and encouraged to attend\, but please consider holding onto your questions or comments until community members have had a chance to speak. You’re always welcome to follow up with EFAO staff after the event if there wasn’t time for your question or comment to be addressed. \nSpeakers\n \nMaureen Bostock & Elizabeth Snyder\nElizabeth and Maureen have been together for 44 years. During that time we farmed in northwest British Columbia and since 2003 in eastern Ontario\, retiring in 2017.  We grew certified organic crops\, with a focus on vegetable production since we moved east. We started Queer organizing in Terrace in the 1980s and successfully won a human rights case against the City of Terrace in 2002.  We have always believed that being visible as queer people is the key to social change. Since moving to eastern Ontario we continued to organize with Elizabeth still being active with Queer Connection Lanark today. \nPhoto by Kat Sylvester \nKrys McGuire & Connor McCollum\nKrys discovered his love of growing food through the happy accident of living in a collective house with a backyard in Toronto and being underemployed for a summer. He went on to complete two seasons of internships on ecological farms before running a small farm business selling pastured pork & poultry for a half dozen years. Having shifted his focus to growing food on a personal level and ‘cultivating’ local queer community\, he now co-hosts the annual Maynooth Pride Festival\, alongside his partner Connor\, and many other local queers and allies who pitch in to make this celebration of rural queer pride a community-building event. \nConnor is a Queer Trans man living and growing food in “Gaynooth” Ontario. He moved here 17 years ago from Toronto after attending a Pride party of a couple hundred queers and allies in the middle of the woods\, complete with a bagpipe-led parade around a pond and fireside Irish music session. The healing power of walking in the woods\, listening to birds\, feeling the seasons change\, stacking wood with friends and campfire sing-a-longs sealed the deal for putting his roots down in this gay little town. For the past 3 years he and his partner Krys have been hosting the annual Pride party in Maynooth. \nJess Tong\nJess (she/they) is a first-generation\, queer farmer who has familial roots in China\, Hong Kong\, Singapore and Scarborough\, ON. After studying agriculture\, they worked on several farms throughout Ontario. Alongside their partner\, they started and operated a small market-garden that sold at Farmers’ Markets\, a Food Co-op and through a small CSA program. They have experience leasing land\, growing via incubatorships as well as purchasing/stewarding (and losing) farmland. Currently\, Jess works as the Land Access & Outreach Coordinator with the National Farmers Union of Ontario. They come into this work with the intention of building meaningful relationships with the land\, nourishing community connections and uplifting intersectional food sovereignty movements. These intentions are grounded by the past and present work already being done by amazing communities beyond them.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/queer-rural-living-in-ontario/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Virtual Meet-up
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260608T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260608T131500
DTSTAMP:20260521T161908Z
CREATED:20260513T213407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260521T161908Z
UID:54458-1780920000-1780924500@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Pasture Renovation: Meet-up with Ken Laing
DESCRIPTION:Join longtime EFAO member Ken Laing of Orchard Hill Farm for this quarterly meet-up. This time\, he’ll host an insightful discussion about his proven strategies and hard-earned lessons on boosting pasture production. He will dive into his personal experiences\, sharing the why\, how\, and benefits of renovating pasture land and how to enhance this with rotational grazing strategies. Following Ken’s short presentation\, there will be lots of time for questions and discussion among participants. \nThis event 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. \n  \nIn 1979\, after Ken Laing graduated from the University of Guelph’s horticulture program\, he and his wife Martha started farming near St. Thomas\, ON. Orchard Hill Farm has produced a wide variety of small fruit\, vegetable and field crops organically since 1989. In 2020\, Orchard Hill Farm became the horticultural site for Living Labs (an Agriculture and Agri-food Canada program) in co-operation with the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario [EFAO]. The goal was to develop no-till strategies for organically grown vegetables.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/pasture-renovation-meetup-2026/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Virtual Meet-up
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260606T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260606T150000
DTSTAMP:20260501T160629Z
CREATED:20260501T160442Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260501T160629Z
UID:54374-1780750800-1780758000@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Soil Health in the Orchard
DESCRIPTION:Soil is the foundation of everything we grow. Come learn practical tests and techniques to understand and improve your soil\, and how fertility management strategies differ between annual and perennial crops. We’ll discuss how to take and interpret different types of soil tests\, how to calculate amendments\, and how our management techniques affect soil life and plant health. \nThis on farm workshop will be led by Matt Soltys of The Urban Orchardist and Meaghan Mechler\, PhD in plant agriculture and offered in partnership with Ignatius Farm. \nEarlier in the day\, participants have the opportunity to join us for a morning tour of the Ignatius Farm Small Plot Agriculture program.  Learn more and register here.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/soil-health-orchard-2026/
LOCATION:Ignatius Farm\, 5420 Hwy 6 North\, Guelph\, ON\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Field Day,Workshop
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260606T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260606T120000
DTSTAMP:20260526T222533Z
CREATED:20260501T155857Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260526T222533Z
UID:54369-1780740000-1780747200@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Ignatius Farm Small Plot Tour
DESCRIPTION: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. \nBring your own picnic lunch and then enjoy one of two hands-on workshops on site in the afternoon. Workshop details available here: \nBuilding Biodiverse Growing Systems with Eramosa Herbals \nSoil Health in the Orchard with Matt Soltys of The Urban Orchardist and Meaghan Mechler\, PhD in plant agriculture  \n  \nAbout the tenant farmers: \nOrigin 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. \nPiccolo 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. \nMarnie Lee McCourty is planting willow for weaving into baskets and caskets.  Her hope is to weave caskets with families and folks at end of life (or long in advance) so that they can have their wishes of Green Burial be met and a meaningful experience of emotion\, creativity\, purposefulness\, and memory is created. Willow grows in the Spring\, dances in the Summer\, goes to sleep in the Fall and is harvested in the Winter.  Enjoy the seasons of willow as you walk down the lane.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/ignatius-small-plot-2026/
LOCATION:Ignatius Farm\, 5420 Hwy 6 North\, Guelph\, ON\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Field Day
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260527T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260527T130000
DTSTAMP:20260421T163718Z
CREATED:20260421T163718Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260421T163718Z
UID:54302-1779883200-1779886800@efao.ca
SUMMARY:May Seed Growers Meet-Up
DESCRIPTION:Join the May Seed Growers Meet-Up! \nThe Seed Growers Meet-Up is an informal lunchtime gathering for farmers\, seed growers\, plant breeders\, and anyone curious about saving seed. It’s a space to connect with others working with seed\, share what’s happening on your farm or in your garden\, and talk through the questions and ideas that come up throughout the season. \nEach meet-up is shaped by the people who join. Conversations often range from practical seed production topics—like crop planning\, isolation distances\, population sizes\, and seed cleaning—to broader discussions about seed systems\, breeding projects\, and the challenges and opportunities growers are navigating. \nWhether you’ve been producing seed for years or are just starting to explore it\, you’re warmly welcome. Bring your lunch\, your questions\, and your seed stories as we learn from one another and strengthen a community of growers working to produce diverse\, high-quality seed.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/may-seed-growers-meet-up/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Virtual Meet-up
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260526T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260526T203000
DTSTAMP:20260421T193829Z
CREATED:20260421T193829Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260421T193829Z
UID:54329-1779822000-1779827400@efao.ca
SUMMARY:May BIPOC Farmers Network Meet-up
DESCRIPTION:Join the May BIPOC Farmer Meet-Up  \nJoin us for a friendly gathering for farmers\, aspiring farmers\, farm workers and food justice workers who are Black\, Indigenous and people of colour. The focus of this meet-up will be northern food sovereignty\, building on conversations from the Nyéléni Forum and global food sovereignty movements. How does that work grow through our own farms\, communities and relationships? \nWe will also learn about free and accessible digital tools to help create a permaculture map of our growing spaces. The format will be relaxed and conversational. We’ll have an opening reflection\, followed by a short presentation / discussion and Q&A. This is a space to listen\, reflect\, and connect. As always\, feel free to bring a question you’re curious about. \nLooking forward to gathering!
URL:https://efao.ca/event/may-bipoc-farmers-network-meet-up/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Meet-up
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