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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260225T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260225T140000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251125T210812Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251216T160459Z
UID:53274-1772020800-1772028000@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Cost of Production: Time to Level Up
DESCRIPTION:If you don’t know what it costs you to grow one single thing\, you are not really running your farm as a business! You cannot price your products\, or make financially sound business decisions without understanding your full cost of production. Ellen Polishuk of Plant to Profit will walk participants through how to calculate your cost of production for farm products\, and explain why it matters for decision making. Glen Young of Cold Springs Organics will provide working examples of his own cost of production and how he uses that data to make production and pricing decisions on his farm. \nIf you are a farmer or aspiring farmer in the north\, please use code COST26 to register for free! \nEllen Polishuk is a biological farm consultant and teacher. Ellen worked for 25 years as one of three owners of Potomac Vegetable Farms (PVF). She managed the Loudoun County location where they cultivated 20 acres of land using organic practices: 10 acres of vegetables and herbs\, 10 acres of soil building crops. PVF in total attended six farmers markets\, had two roadside stands and served a 550 member CSA in the Washington DC metropolitan area. In 2010\, while still farming\, Ellen started her consulting business\, working with local growers and land owners to develop fertility and production systems. She retired from farming in mid-2017 and now coaches farmers on production practices\, labor management\, soil testing and fertilizer recommendations\, and marketing. She also works with families and non-profits to assess their land resources for possible agricultural enterprises. \nFor many years she has presented workshops at conferences and meetings around the country on numerous agricultural topics including: composting\, marketing\, weed control\, farm business management\, soils and fertility\, and labor. She has worked closely with the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG) to develop and present Growing Farm Profits\, a two day intensive workshop to educate growers and service providers on how to keep records\, how to use them to analyze farm profitability\, and how to change management strategies to increase farm profits. You can learn more about her at Plant to Profit. \nThis webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario. \n \n  \n  \nAbout Ellen Polishuk\nEllen is a biological farm consultant and teacher. Ellen worked for 25 years as one of three owners of Potomac Vegetable Farms (PVF). She managed the Loudoun County location where they cultivated 20 acres of land using organic practices: 10 acres of vegetables and herbs\, 10 acres of soil building crops. PVF in total attended six farmers markets\, had two roadside stands and served a 550 member CSA in the Washington DC metropolitan area. In 2010\, while still farming\, Ellen started her consulting business\, working with local growers and land owners to develop fertility and production systems. She retired from farming in mid-2017 and now coaches farmers on production practices\, labor management\, soil testing and fertilizer recommendations\, and marketing. She also works with families and non-profits to assess their land resources for possible agricultural enterprises. For many years she has presented workshops at conferences and meetings around the country on numerous agricultural topics including: composting\, marketing\, weed control\, farm business management\, soils and fertility\, and labor. She has worked closely with the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG) to develop and present Growing Farm Profits\, a two day intensive workshop to educate growers and service providers on how to keep records\, how to use them to analyze farm profitability\, and how to change management strategies to increase farm profits. You can learn more about her at Plant to Profit. \nAbout Glen Young\nGlen Young is the owner of Cold Springs Organics\, a certified organic vegetable farm in Port Hope\, Ontario\, serving customers from Cobourg to Toronto through a thriving CSA program\, farmers’ markets\, and prepared foods. Drawing on a professional background in information technology and business process design\, Glen has developed practical\, data-driven systems to track farm costs\, measure profitability\, and streamline operations—bridging ecological farming values with sustainable business management. \nAt Cold Springs Organics\, Glen applies detailed cost of production analysis to guide crop planning\, pricing\, and decision-making\, and implements high-tech labour tracking and farm automation tools such as Zapier to save time\, improve accuracy\, and increase profitability. Passionate about knowledge sharing and committed to a future with many successful small farms\, he combines hands-on farming experience with technical expertise to help other farmers adopt efficient\, scalable\, and resilient systems.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/cost-of-production/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/money.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260224T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260224T170000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251208T191459Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T191459Z
UID:53402-1771945200-1771952400@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Vegetable Crop Disease Management
DESCRIPTION: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. \nIf you live in northern Ontario\, you are welcome to attend this webinar free of charge – please use the coupon code DISNORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission. \nAll 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. \nVegetable Crop Disease Management\nIdentifying and managing plant diseases can be tricky. Join us for this introduction into what plant diseases are\, how to identify them\, and what you can do to prevent and control them. A recording of this webinar will be available. \nSpeaker: Katie Goldehar\, Pathologist – Horticulture Crops\, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture\, Food and Agribusiness \n  \n  \nThis webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/disease-management-2026/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/Subtitle.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260224T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260224T130000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20260119T165745Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260119T165745Z
UID:53662-1771934400-1771938000@efao.ca
SUMMARY:February Seed Growers Meet-up
DESCRIPTION:Join the February Seed Grower Meetup!  \nFebruary sits right on the edge between winter reflection and spring anticipation. While the fields are still quiet\, seed growers are deep in planning mode — reviewing notes\, refining crop plans\, ordering seed\, and making decisions about which varieties to grow out and save seed from in the coming season. \nThis informal lunchtime Seed Growers Meetup is a space to connect with other growers and seed-curious folks and share where you’re at in the process. Whether you’re finalizing crop plans\, thinking through isolation distances and population sizes\, preparing for seed starts\, or juggling questions about capacity and scale\, bring your questions\, observations\, and half-formed ideas. \nTogether we’ll talk about what’s shaping growers’ seed plans this year\, how decisions are being made about varieties and grow-outs\, and what questions are coming up as we move closer to spring. We’ll also share updates on upcoming seed-related events\, opportunities to get involved\, and ways to support one another in the months ahead. As always\, the goal of this meetup is to learn together and support one another in growing a wide diversity of high-quality seed in the quantities growers need. \nBring your lunch\, your seed stories\, and your curiosity. Growers of all experience levels — from long-time seed producers to those just starting out — are warmly welcome. \nLet’s gather\, compare notes\, and keep strengthening our seed-growing knowledge together.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/february-seed-growers-meet-up/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Virtual Meet-up
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/IMG_1458-scaled-e1768841693379.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260219T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260219T170000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251208T185713Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T185749Z
UID:53387-1771513200-1771520400@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Weed Management
DESCRIPTION: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. \nIf you live in northern Ontario\, you are welcome to attend this webinar free of charge – please use the coupon code WDNORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission. \nAll 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. \nWeed Management\nWhat are some common weeds and how do we manage them on a farm? This webinar will introduce the importance of managing weeds\, the basics of weed identification\, and various preventative and reactive control measures. A recording of this webinar will be available. \nSpeaker: Mike Smith\, Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Agriculture \n  \n  \nThis webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/weed-management-2026/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/IMG_3285.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260218T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260218T140000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251126T164530Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251126T164530Z
UID:53268-1771416000-1771423200@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Pathways to Profitability: Tracking Farm Labour
DESCRIPTION:Most farmers did not start growing food because they love record keeping. However\, the only way for farm businesses to be viable in the long run is to have a solid understanding of their farm’s income and expenses. Labour tends to be the largest and most variable expense on specialty crop farms\, and learning how to track it is essential for determining which crops are profitable and where change may make the biggest difference. \nCome hear farm viability specialist and labour tracking expert John Hendrickson lay out the why and how of tracking labour on the farm. He will offer a range of strategies and tools that can help make the task achievable and purposeful. Farmers will also share their experiences tracking labour using both high and low tech methods\, offering a range of possibilities to choose what suits your farm. Participants will leave equipped with the tools to accurately track labour to help make accurate and useful cost of production calculations\, as well as the motivation and mindset to start doing this in an intentional way. \nThis webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario. \nIf you are a farmer or aspiring farmer in the north\, please use code PAPR26 to register for free! \n \n  \n  \n  \nAbout John Hendrickson\nJohn Hendrickson coordinates research and training programs in organic and sustainable specialty crop production\, marketing\, and profitability at the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His work focuses on the economics and profitability of fresh market vegetable farming. He is particularly passionate about farm viability as it relates to farm scale\, livelihood\, labor\, and equipment. \n  \n  \n  \n  \nAbout Glen Young\nGlen Young is the owner of Cold Springs Organics\, a certified organic vegetable farm in Port Hope\, Ontario\, serving customers from Cobourg to Toronto through a thriving CSA program\, farmers’ markets\, and prepared foods. Drawing on a professional background in information technology and business process design\, Glen has developed practical\, data-driven systems to track farm costs\, measure profitability\, and streamline operations—bridging ecological farming values with sustainable business management. At Cold Springs Organics\, Glen applies detailed cost of production analysis to guide crop planning\, pricing\, and decision-making\, and implements high-tech labour tracking and farm automation tools such as Zapier to save time\, improve accuracy\, and increase profitability. Passionate about knowledge sharing and committed to a future with many successful small farms\, he combines hands-on farming experience with technical expertise to help other farmers adopt efficient\, scalable\, and resilient systems.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/pathways-to-profitability-labour/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/latevegjuly-10.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260217T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260217T143000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251210T191952Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T142010Z
UID:53432-1771333200-1771338600@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Northern Latitudes: Sourcing and Saving Seeds from Similar Climates
DESCRIPTION:Latitude is one of the strongest drivers of climate and seasonal photoperiod (day length). Together\, these factors shape which crops can thrive in a region\, when they should be planted\, their potential yield\, and—most importantly for seed growers—whether a variety can reliably complete its full seed-to-seed cycle. Seeds originating from regions with similar latitudes in Europe and Asia are therefore often well-adapted to Canadian conditions. \nFor seed growers in northern climates\, understanding where a seed comes from—geographically\, genetically\, and culturally—is essential. Yet sourcing seeds from abroad can also bring practical\, agronomic\, and logistical challenges. \nIn this webinar\, three farmers will share how they obtain seeds from comparable northern latitudes and the stories behind the varieties they steward. \n\nAndrew Still and Sarah Kleeger (Adaptive Seeds\, Oregon) will reflect on their Seed Ambassador travels through Russia\, Latvia\, Lithuania\, Switzerland\, Denmark\, and Romania more than a decade ago.\nTheo Wiederkehr (Carrick Seeds\, Ontario) will demonstrate how he navigates the NordGen gene bank and discuss his deep interest in grey peas.\nHeather Ramsey (Umi Nami Farm\, BC) will explain her farm’s motivations for sourcing seed from Japan and what they appreciate about varieties from Watanabe Seed.\n\nWhether through traveling and exchanging seeds\, purchasing from foreign seed companies\, or accessing public gene banks\, participants will gain insight into sourcing and growing seeds from similar latitudes—and\, just as importantly\, into how knowledge\, traditions\, and cultural foodways travel with seed.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/northern-latitudes/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/1-07b0cf6a-scaled-e1765394074346.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260217T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260217T140000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251125T192324Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260112T172115Z
UID:53238-1771329600-1771336800@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Are you Overly Diversified? Enterprise Analysis (Part One)
DESCRIPTION:Farmers are stressed about SO MANY DETAILS. You wear SO MANY HATS. Let’s look at how diversifying can hinder\, rather than help you do any one thing super well. \nEllen Polishuk will walk you through the basics of Enterprise analysis: getting costs and incomes by enterprise (flowers versus vegetables versus events for example). Then\, how do we think about Overhead (hey\, what’s that?) and how to spread it across your enterprises.  We will consider factors such as what enterprises bring in the most income (cash flow!)\, Net income (hey\, let’s make a profit!)\, as well as resource use\, climate stability and markets. And\, we won’t forget to address which enterprises bring you joy or sorrow\, and other lenses through which to analyze how worthwhile an enterprise is to your farm. This is part one of a two part session – Participants are strongly encouraged to register for part two as well. \nDo you track your income and expenses by enterprise? Email cassie@efao.ca if you would like Ellen to use your farm as a working model for this session\, and receive live coaching and support from a farm business expert. This opportunity is first come\, first served. \nIf you are a farmer or aspiring farmer in the north\, please use code ENTN26 to register for free! \nThis webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario. \n \n  \n  \n  \nAbout Ellen Polishuk\nEllen is a biological farm consultant and teacher. Ellen worked for 25 years as one of three owners of Potomac Vegetable Farms (PVF). She managed the Loudoun County location where they cultivated 20 acres of land using organic practices: 10 acres of vegetables and herbs\, 10 acres of soil building crops. PVF in total attended six farmers markets\, had two roadside stands and served a 550 member CSA in the Washington DC metropolitan area. In 2010\, while still farming\, Ellen started her consulting business\, working with local growers and land owners to develop fertility and production systems. She retired from farming in mid-2017 and now coaches farmers on production practices\, labor management\, soil testing and fertilizer recommendations\, and marketing. She also works with families and non-profits to assess their land resources for possible agricultural enterprises. \nFor many years she has presented workshops at conferences and meetings around the country on numerous agricultural topics including: composting\, marketing\, weed control\, farm business management\, soils and fertility\, and labor. She has worked closely with the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG) to develop and present Growing Farm Profits\, a two day intensive workshop to educate growers and service providers on how to keep records\, how to use them to analyze farm profitability\, and how to change management strategies to increase farm profits. You can learn more about her at Plant to Profit.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/enterprise-analysis-1/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/allie-smith-1092451-unsplash-e1589468922302-2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260212T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260212T203000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251208T184815Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T185822Z
UID:53381-1770921000-1770928200@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Irrigation Basics
DESCRIPTION: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. \nIf you live in northern Ontario\, you are welcome to attend this webinar free of charge – please use the coupon code IRRNORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission. \nAll 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. \nIrrigation Basics\nAn introduction to the importance of irrigation on farms\, water stress on plants\, when to irrigate and how much. Participants can expect to learn about different irrigation options\, discuss troubleshooting and where to source parts. A recording of this webinar will be available. \nSpeaker: Brendan Grant\, Sleepy G Farm \n  \n  \nThis webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/irrigation-basics-2026/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/Irrigation-Pipes.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260212T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260212T133000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251125T195829Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251216T160917Z
UID:53250-1770897600-1770903000@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Applied Budgeting & Cash Flow
DESCRIPTION:Would you like to head into this season with a clear plan for your cash flow? Join author\, educator\, and entrepreneur Julia Shanks in this workshop-style webinar focused on creating a cash flow budget live while participants work along on their own numbers. This session is a Part Two to a session offered in 2024 – the recording of Part One can be viewed here. Participants are strongly encouraged to view the recording ahead of this upcoming session. \nThis is a working session. Participants are expected to work on their own cash flow budgets with the opportunity to have support and coaching through the process from Julia. This session will NOT be recorded. To make the most of this session\, please watch Part One\, and arrive ready to begin or update your annual cash flow budget. \nIn the live session\, Julia will work through real financials to create a cash flow budget. If you would like those numbers to be yours (and have Julia create your budget for you)\, please let us know when you register\, so you can be considered\, and we will send more details. This is a unique opportunity to have an expert support you directly with your budgeting process! \nAttendees can expect to go over the process of creating an annual cash flow budget to ensure they stay cash positive throughout their growing season. Julia will work step-by-step using a live excel spreadsheet to create a budget. Other topics addressed will include how to project expenses\, estimate revenue\, and account for debt service and owners draw. If these terms are a bit unfamiliar\, please watch the recording of Part One (link above) before participating.  Bring your questions and be prepared to work through your own numbers in this interactive session. Participants may not complete their own budgets\, but they will be able to see the entire process completed live from start to finish and have the opportunity to pause\, work on their own numbers\, and ask questions. This is a unique opportunity to receive live coaching and support from a cash flow and budgeting expert! \nIf you are a farmer or aspiring farmer in the north\, please use code BUD26 to register for free! \nThis webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario. \n \n  \n  \n  \nAbout Julia Shanks\nJulia Shanks brings a broad range of professional experience to her clients; from pilot\, to chef\, to serial entrepreneur\, she combines the practicality of an accountant with the creativity of a chef. Julia’s career started at the FAA as an aviation analyst\, and quickly took a turn into the culinary arts. Julia worked as a chef for 15 years\, launching several food businesses. After earning an MBA in entrepreneurship\, she taught graduate and undergraduate accounting at Babson College. As a business consultant and coach\, she supports owners of small- and medium- sized food and agricultural businesses to achieve and maintain financial and operational sustainability and also offers online training courses. Together with Brett Grohsgal\, she co-authored The Farmers Market Cookbook. Julia lives in Cambridge\, MA. She is also the author of The Farmer’s Office.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/applied-budgeting-cash-flow/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/stellrweb-djb1whucfBY-unsplash-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260210T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260210T170000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251208T172131Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260203T181414Z
UID:53375-1770735600-1770742800@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Cover Crops and Green Manures
DESCRIPTION: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. \nIf you live in northern Ontario\, you are welcome to attend this webinar free of charge – please use the coupon code COVNORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission. \nAll 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. \nCover Crops and Green Manures\nWhat is cover cropping and green manure? This webinar will answer these questions and discuss why they’re used in crop rotations. Learn how this practice can help increase soil health\, crop health\, and soil water retention. Hear from a market gardener how they have used cover crops in their vegetable crop rotation. A recording of this webinar will be available. \nSpeakers\nStephanie Vickers is the Soil Management Specialist for Horticulture Crops with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture\, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) based in Vineland\, Ontario. Steph works with growers\, industry\, and researchers to assess practices and technologies that improve soil management and crop production in all of Ontario’s horticulture sectors. Her current projects include trialing under-vine cover crops in commercial vineyards and cover cropping/intercropping options for organic garlic production. \n  \nMartina Schaefer is the founder and sole farmer at Spiral Farm\, a 1/4 acre market garden on rented land in Elora\, running a local CSA program. At this “human scale”\, Martina uses hand tools for just about everything\, including planting and managing cover crops and green manures. She’ll talk about choosing which cover crops to plant\, managing both winter-killed and terminated cover crops without machinery\, and will share some successes and failures she’s had over the past 9 seasons.\n \n  \n  \nThis event is offered in partnership with the Farmers for Climate Solutions’ Farm Resilience Mentorship Program (FaRM) and is a registered Knowledge Sharing Event with the On-Farm Climate Action Fund. Additional resources can be found in the FaRM Learning Hub. \nThis webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/cover-crops-and-green-manures-2026/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/wheat-cover-crop-square.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260205T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260205T170000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20260105T143217Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260126T143405Z
UID:53565-1770303600-1770310800@efao.ca
SUMMARY:An Introduction to Seedling Production and Greenhouse Management
DESCRIPTION: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. \nIf you live in northern Ontario\, you are welcome to attend this webinar free of charge – please use the coupon code SDLNORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission. \nAll 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. \nAn Introduction to Seedling Production and Greenhouse Management\nStarting your own seedlings can be challenging. Join this webinar to learn some tips and tricks to producing high quality healthy seedlings as well as good Greenhouse management techniques. Marcelle shares her experience growing seedlings for both her farm and her community. \nA recording of this webinar will be available. \nSpeaker: Marcelle Paulin\, Sleepy G Farm \n  \n  \nThis webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/seedling-production-2026/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/IMG_0347-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260205T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260205T143000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20260105T185719Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260105T185719Z
UID:53589-1770296400-1770301800@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Beyond the Bin: Understanding the Field Crop Seed System
DESCRIPTION: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. \nSeed 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. \nWe invite you to join us—with curiosity and care—as we shine a light behind the packet. \nBeyond the Bin: Understanding the Field Crop Seed System\nBin-run seed\, the portion of the crop that farmers save for next year’s planting\, remains an important part of most farm operations\, but there’s a lot more to the story of where our field crop seed comes from! In this webinar\, we’re turning our attention to field crops— like oats\, dry-beans\, and forages —to ask the question: \nWhere do our seeds come from? \nThis webinar will feature presentations from a public plant breeder\, a certified seed grower and an industry leader. The conversation will provide an overview of how the formal seed system works for different field crops and dig into some of the economic factors. From breeding and variety registration to certified seed production and distribution\, each step plays a critical role to supply farmers with high quality seeds. \nOur seed system also faces specific economic\, regulatory and technical challenges\, especially when it comes to supplying seeds that are regionally-adapted\, genetically diverse\, that thrive in organic and regenerative systems or are meant to supply local and specialty markets. \nWe will discuss the tradeoffs that farmers balance when saving or sourcing their field crop seed\, and explore how we can build more resilience into the seed system that is the backbone of Canadian agriculture. \nSpeakers: \nDr. Jamie Larsen\, AAFC \nHeather Kerschbaumer\, Golden Acre Seeds \nScott Shiels\, Grain Millers
URL:https://efao.ca/event/beyond-the-bin/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/20190809_094850-scaled-e1767639284171.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260205T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260205T133000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251125T201357Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251216T160748Z
UID:53255-1770292800-1770298200@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Managerial Bookkeeping
DESCRIPTION:“How do I make more money?” \n“Does it make sense to sell wholesale?” \n“Can I afford to hire employees?” \nYou have so many questions about your business. Believe it or not\, most of these questions are straightforward when you have a good record-keeping system. A good record-keeping system is more than just tracking your sales and expenses for tax day. It’s about knowing and tracking the important numbers for your business so you can improve profitability\, set goals\, and grow your business. In this workshop we’ll talk about the basics of recordkeeping (whether you use Excel or QuickBooks) and what you need to do to easily answer the questions you have about your business and financials. \nThis session will focus on managerial bookkeeping: how to keep good records and how to use those records to make decisions based on financial information from your farm. \nIf you are a farmer or aspiring farmer in the north\, please use code BOOK26 to register for free! \nThis webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario. \n \n  \n  \n  \nAbout Julia Shanks\nJulia Shanks brings a broad range of professional experience to her clients; from pilot\, to chef\, to serial entrepreneur\, she combines the practicality of an accountant with the creativity of a chef. Julia’s career started at the FAA as an aviation analyst\, and quickly took a turn into the culinary arts. Julia worked as a chef for 15 years\, launching several food businesses. After earning an MBA in entrepreneurship\, she taught graduate and undergraduate accounting at Babson College. As a business consultant and coach\, she supports owners of small- and medium- sized food and agricultural businesses to achieve and maintain financial and operational sustainability and also offers online training courses. Together with Brett Grohsgal\, she co-authored The Farmers Market Cookbook. Julia lives in Cambridge\, MA. She is also the author of The Farmer’s Office.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/managerial-bookkeeping/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260204T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260204T140000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20260105T191054Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260105T191935Z
UID:53594-1770206400-1770213600@efao.ca
SUMMARY:The Magic of Zapier for Farmers: Automate More\, Work Less
DESCRIPTION:How many hours per week do you dedicate to managing administrative tasks such as emails to customers\, onboarding new CSA members\, or following up on unpaid invoices? Do you ever think\, “There must be an easier way to do this!”? There is! \nJoin Glen Young from Cold Springs Organics to learn how you could be harnessing the power of automation to make your administrative life easier. Glen will teach farmers how to use free or inexpensive tools to automate a number of common tasks\, taking them off of your plate and freeing your capacity to focus on other aspects of your farm business. Glen will focus on Zapier\, an online tool that can automate a number of behind-the-scenes tasks. He will walk you through other farmers’ automation processes and show you how to build these processes for yourself. Leslie Moskovitz from Cedar Down Farms will provide a real life example of being supported with these automation processes. \nAbout Glen Young\nGlen Young is the owner of Cold Springs Organics\, a certified organic vegetable farm in Port Hope\, Ontario\, serving customers from Cobourg to Toronto through a thriving CSA program\, farmers’ markets\, and prepared foods. Drawing on a professional background in information technology and business process design\, Glen has developed practical\, data-driven systems to track farm costs\, measure profitability\, and streamline operations—bridging ecological farming values with sustainable business management. At Cold Springs Organics\, Glen applies detailed cost of production analysis to guide crop planning\, pricing\, and decision-making\, and implements high-tech labour tracking and farm automation tools such as Zapier to save time\, improve accuracy\, and increase profitability. Passionate about knowledge sharing and committed to a future with many successful small farms\, he combines hands-on farming experience with technical expertise to help other farmers adopt efficient\, scalable\, and resilient systems. \n  \nThis webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/the-magic-of-zapier-for-farmers/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260203T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260203T170000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251208T171401Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T190057Z
UID:53371-1770130800-1770138000@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Principles of Harvest and Post-harvest
DESCRIPTION: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. \nIf you live in northern Ontario\, you are welcome to attend this webinar free of charge – please use the coupon code HARNORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission. \nAll 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. \nPrinciples of Harvest and Post-harvest\nHarvest and post-harvest handling are critical steps to ensure good quality produce with optimal shelf life. Learn important tips on things like harvest hygiene\, timing\, and techniques as well as post-harvest handling\, cooling\, and storage. A recording of this webinar will be available. \nSpeaker: Peggy Baillie\, Three Forks Farm \n  \n  \nThis webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/principles-of-harvest-2026/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/firstharvest-9.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260129T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260129T170000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251208T170606Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T190129Z
UID:53367-1769698800-1769706000@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Field and Bed Preparation
DESCRIPTION: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. \nIf you live in northern Ontario\, you are welcome to attend this webinar free of charge – please use the coupon code FLDNORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission. \nAll 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. \nField and Bed Preparation\nBefore you can plant\, you need to prepare the soil. This webinar will discuss methods of field and bed preparation\, the dangers of over cultivation\, and innovative no-till options. Primary and secondary tillage equipment will be shown as well as smaller-scale and hand-tool options. A recording of this webinar will be available. \nSpeaker: Misha Shodjaee\, Verdant Fields Farm \n  \n  \nThis webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/field-and-bed-preparation-2026/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/Permabeds-e1725636716715.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260128T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260128T203000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20260126T225805Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260127T145048Z
UID:53727-1769626800-1769632200@efao.ca
SUMMARY:January BIPOC Farmers Network Meet-up
DESCRIPTION:Join the January BIPOC Farmer Meetup!  \nJoin us for a friendly gathering for farmers\, aspiring farmers\, farm workers and food justice workers who are Black\, Indigenous and people of colour. This meetup will focus on global farmer solidarity & agroecology\, and how local farming realities connect to global movements for food sovereignty\, justice\, and collective care. \nThe format will be relaxed and conversational. We’ll have a short opening reflection\, followed by a short presentation / discussion and Q&A. This is a space to listen\, reflect\, and connect. \nAs always\, bring a question you’re curious about – from Global farmer solidarity to getting started on rented land\, sourcing cultural seeds\, winter community events\, prepping new land or building high tunnels\, cultural crop planning\, and managing time and workload. \nLooking forward to gathering!
URL:https://efao.ca/event/january-bipoc-farmers-network-meet-up-2026/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Meet-up
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260127T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260127T170000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251208T165930Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260313T133524Z
UID:53363-1769526000-1769533200@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Soil Health
DESCRIPTION: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. \nSoil Health\nSoil is the foundation of growing healthy food. Learn the properties of soils and how to maintain and build soil health. We will discuss the types of soils and their attributes\, how to keep soils healthy and what activities contribute to degrading\, maintaining\, and building healthy soils. A recording of this webinar will be available. \nSpeaker: Sarah Larsen\, Research and Small Grains Programs Director at Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario \n  \n  \nThis event is part of EFAO’s Indigenous Outreach and Engagement Initiative\, which is supported by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture\, Food and Agribusiness. \n 
URL:https://efao.ca/event/soil-health-2026/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260126T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260126T130000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20260119T165027Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260119T170000Z
UID:53656-1769428800-1769432400@efao.ca
SUMMARY:January Seed Growers Meet-up
DESCRIPTION:Join the January Seed Grower Meetup!  \nJanuary is a quieter month in the fields\, but a busy one for seed growers’ minds. Despite the cold and snow\, the days are slowly getting longer\, and many of us are finishing seed cleaning\, checking germination\, organizing jars and envelopes\, and taking stock of what this year’s crops have taught us. It’s also a time when growers begin planning ahead — thinking about what local seeds to plant in the coming season and which crops might be grown out for seed. \nThis informal lunchtime Seed Growers Meetup is a space to connect with other growers and seed-curious folks and share where you’re at in the process. Whether you’re still threshing and winnowing\, reviewing notes from last season\, or starting to imagine 2026 grow-outs\, bring your questions\, observations\, and half-formed ideas. \nTogether we’ll talk about how seed cleaning\, storage\, and testing are going\, what lessons are emerging from the past season\, early thoughts and questions for the year ahead\, and upcoming seed-related events and ways to get involved. As always\, the goal of this meetup is to learn together and support one another in growing a wide diversity of high-quality seed in the quantities growers need. \nBring your lunch\, your seed stories\, and your curiosity. This monthly meetup is free for EFAO members and open to non-members. Growers of all experience levels — from long-time seed producers to those just starting out — are warmly welcome. \nLet’s gather mid-winter\, share what we’re noticing\, and keep building our seed-growing knowledge together.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/january-seed-growers-meet-up-2/
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/Seed-Enews-Header-square-1-1-e1768841985476.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260122T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260122T170000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20260105T134655Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260105T135621Z
UID:53557-1769094000-1769101200@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Identifying and Controlling Insect Pests
DESCRIPTION: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. \nIf you live in northern Ontario\, you are welcome to attend this webinar free of charge – please use the coupon code INSNORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission. \nAll 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. \nWeed Management\nUnfortunately we are not the only ones who find our crops tasty! There is a whole world of insects that find our crops delicious or a great home. This webinar gives you a basic understanding of the role of insects in agriculture and how to manage pests throughout the growing season.   \nA recording of this webinar will be available. \nSpeaker: Lisa Conroy\, Farm Educator at Ignatius Farm \n  \n  \nThis webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/insect-pests-2026/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260121T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260203T140000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251127T192757Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260115T142929Z
UID:53328-1768996800-1770127200@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Marketing Bootcamp: Strategies and Inspiration for Your Marketing Plans
DESCRIPTION:Two weeks\, two sessions\, one helpful coach to get your marketing plan in order for 2026! \nLed by Brent Klassen of Heartwood Farm & Cidery\, a supportive and experienced farmer and marketing coach\, this two part interactive learning experience is designed to help you overcome barriers and be inspired to create and implement an effective marketing strategy for your farm. Participants should have a strong sense of their products and markets\, but are looking to grow sales\, diversify marketing channels and grow their business. Farms of all types\, scales and product offerings will find these sessions helpful – including fruits\, vegetables\, field crops\, livestock and agritourism/on-farm experiences.  Only the first session will be recorded and shared\, but to make the most of this experience\, it is essential that participants attend both sessions live.  Registration for both sessions is included in event registration. \nJanuary 21 – Session 1: Learning and Inspiration \nIn the first session\, Brent will share marketing strategy case studies\, including plans\, implementation and results. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss ideas related to their own marketing plans. Participants will leave session one with a list of prompting questions to work on their own plans before session two\, with an opportunity to stay connected to coaches and peers by email. \nFebruary 3 – Session 2: Workshopping Your Ideas \nIn session two\, participants will have the opportunity to workshop their marketing strategies and ideas\, and receive feedback from their peers and coach in real time. Along the way\, participants will pick up helpful tips\, expert advice\, and tons of inspiration for creating effective marketing strategies. \nThis two-part workshop is for you if: \n\nYou run an established farm business and want to see it go to the next level\, with improved sales and marketing; or\nYour farm business sales aren’t performing to the level you want or need\, and you’re looking for support to troubleshoot and take your business and marketing up a notch; or\nYou have an existing farm business and are looking to embark on selling new products or services; or\nYou are starting a new farm business with a strong sense of your product(s) and market\, but want to workshop your ideas to get started on solid footing.\n\nThis is a unique opportunity to join a supportive learning environment with engaged peers and coaching. Leave with new ideas and inspirations and an actionable plan to strategically address your farm business’ 4Ps for 2026. If you’re looking for an opportunity to reboot or finesse your marketing plan just ahead of the 2026 season\, this is it! \nAbout Brent: \nBrent Klassen and his wife Val Steinmann produce grass-fed livestock\, orchard fruits\, maple syrup\, and\, of course\, craft cider\, on their farm in Erin. Prior to establishing the cidery\, Brent was the founding partner of two marketing firms: Blue North Strategies and Blue ID. Brent has also served on EFAO’s Board of Directors. \n  \n  \nThis webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario. \n \n 
URL:https://efao.ca/event/marketing-bootcamp-26/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Course
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260120T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260120T170000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251208T165217Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T190225Z
UID:53359-1768921200-1768928400@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Botany for Farmers and Gardeners
DESCRIPTION: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. \nIf 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. \nAll 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. \nBotany for Farmers and Gardeners\nThis 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. \nSpeaker: Angie Koch\, Fertile Ground Farm \n  \n  \nThis webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/botany-2025/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/Fresh-Peas-Botany-and-Genetics-e1631114083750.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260115T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260115T203000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251208T164355Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T193514Z
UID:53303-1768501800-1768509000@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Traditional Ecological Knowledge
DESCRIPTION: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. \nIf 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. \nAll 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. \nTraditional Ecological Knowledge\nThis 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. \nSpeaker: Celeste Smith\, Founder/Director of Cultural seeds and Ga Gitigemi Gamik \n  \n  \nThis webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.
URL:https://efao.ca/event/traditional-ecological-knowledge-2026/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efao.ca/wp-content/uploads/Corn-harvest-at-Abbotsford-Research-and-Seed-Education-Farm-demonstration-site-in-British-Columbia-scaled-1-e1727286528784.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260113T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260224T170000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251126T153045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260105T144539Z
UID:53229-1768316400-1771952400@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Introduction to Ecological Vegetable Growing with Ignatius Farm
DESCRIPTION:This webinar series is offered in partnership between EFAO and Ignatius Farm. Register for the whole webinar series at a discounted rate here or register for individual events by visiting efao.ca/events. \nIf you live in northern Ontario\, you are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code ECONORTH when filling out the registration form to receive free admission. \nAll Indigenous growers\, land stewards and community members are welcome to attend this workshop free of charge – please use the coupon code IND2026 when filling out the registration form to receive free admission. \n  \nIntroduction to Ecological Vegetable Growing with Ignatius Farm\nHave you been dreaming about growing your own vegetables? Whether you are starting a home garden\, community garden\, or a small market garden we will walk you through the important aspects to consider before you start. \nFeaturing experienced farmers in northern Ontario\, this webinar series is designed for new and beginning farmers in the north\, but all are welcome to join! \nWebinars are recorded to allow participants to watch on their own time. Recordings will be emailed to registrants after the event. \n\nTuesday Jan 13\, 3:00pm – 5:00pm: Introduction to ecological growing\nThursday Jan 15\, 6:30pm – 8:30pm: Traditional ecological knowledge\nTuesday Jan 20\, 3:00pm – 5:00pm: Botany for farmers and gardeners\nThursday Jan 22\, 3:00pm – 5:00pm: Identifying and controlling insect pests\nTuesday Jan 27\, 3:00pm – 5:00pm: Soil health\nThursday Jan 29\, 3:00pm – 5:00pm: Field and bed preparation\nTuesday Feb 3\, 3:00pm – 5:00pm: Principles of harvest and post-harvest\nThursday Feb 5\, 3:00pm – 5:00pm: Seedling production\nTuesday Feb 10\, 3:00pm – 5:00pm: Cover crops and green manures\nThursday Feb 12\, 6:30pm – 8:30pm: Irrigation basics\nThursday Feb 19\, 3:00pm – 5:00pm: Weed management\nTuesday Feb 24\, 3:00pm – 5:00pm: Vegetable crop disease management\n\n  \nIntroduction to ecological growing \nTuesday Jan 13\, 3:00pm – 5:00pm \n \nAre 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.   \nSpeaker: Lisa Conroy\, Farm Educator at Ignatius Farm \n  \nTraditional ecological knowledge \nThursday Jan 15\, 6:30pm – 8:30pm \n \nThis 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.   \nSpeaker: Celeste Smith\, Founder/Director of Cultural seeds and Ga Gitigemi Gamik \n  \nBotany for farmers and gardeners \nTuesday Jan 20\, 3:00pm – 5:00pm \n \nThis 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.   \nSpeaker: Angie Koch\, Fertile Ground Farm \n  \nIdentifying and controlling insect pests \nThursday Jan 22\, 3;00pm – 5:00pm \nUnfortunately we are not the only ones who find our crops tasty! There is a whole world of insects that find our crops delicious or a great home. This webinar gives you a basic understanding of the role of insects in agriculture and how to manage pests throughout the growing season.  \nSpeaker: Lisa Conroy\, Farm Educator at Ignatius Farm. \n  \nSoil health \nTuesday Jan 27\, 3:00pm – 5:00pm \n \nSoil is the foundation of growing healthy food.  Learn the properties of soils and how to maintain and build soil health.  We will discuss the types of soils and their attributes\, how to keep soils healthy and what activities contribute to degrading\, maintaining\, and building healthy soils.  \nSpeaker: Sarah Larsen\, Research and Small Grains Programs Director at Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario \n  \nField and bed preparation \nThursday Jan 29\, 3:00pm – 5:00pm \nBefore you can plant\, you need to prepare the soil. This webinar will discuss methods of field and bed preparation\, the dangers of over cultivation\, and innovative no-till options. Primary and secondary tillage equipment will be shown as well as smaller-scale and hand-tool options.  \nSpeaker: Misha Shodjaee\, Verdant Fields Farm \n  \nPrinciples of harvest and post-harvest \nTuesday Feb 3\, 3:00pm – 5:00pm \n \nHarvest and post-harvest handling are critical steps to ensure good quality produce with optimal shelf life. Learn important tips on things like harvest hygiene\, timing\, and techniques as well as post-harvest handling\, cooling\, and storage.  \nSpeaker: Peggy Baillie\, Three Forks Farm \n  \nSeedling production \nThursday Feb 5\, 3:00pm – 5:00pm \n Starting your own seedlings can be challenging. Join this webinar to learn some tips and tricks to producing high quality healthy seedlings as well as good Greenhouse management techniques. Marcelle shares her experience growing seedlings for both her farm and her community.\n \nSpeaker: Marcelle Paulin\, Sleepy G Farm \n  \nCover crops and green manures \nTuesday Feb 10\, 3:00pm – 5:00pm \n \nWhat is cover cropping and green manure? This webinar will answer these questions and discuss why they’re used in crop rotations. Learn how this practice can help increase soil health\, crop health\, and soil water retention. Hear from a market gardener how they have used cover crops in their vegetable crop rotation.  \nSpeakers: Stephanie Vickers\, Horticulture Sustainability Specialist\, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture\, Food and Agribusiness & Martina Schaefer from Spiral Farm \n  \nIrrigation Basics \nThursday Feb 12\, 6:30pm – 8:30pm \n \nAn introduction to the importance of irrigation on farms\, water stress on plants\, when to irrigate and how much. Participants can expect to learn about different irrigation options\, discuss troubleshooting and where to source parts. A recording of this webinar will be available. \nSpeaker: Brendan Grant\, Sleepy G Farm \n  \nWeed management \nThursday Feb 19\, 3:00pm – 5:00pm \n \nWhat are some common weeds and how do we manage them on a farm? This webinar will introduce the importance of managing weeds\, the basics of weed identification\, and various preventative and reactive control measures.   \nSpeaker: Mike Smith\, Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Agriculture \n  \nVegetable crop disease management  \nTuesday Feb 24\, 3:00pm – 5:00pm \nIdentifying and managing plant diseases can be tricky. Join us for this introduction into what plant diseases are\, how to identify them\, and what you can do to prevent and control them.  \nSpeaker: Katie Goldehar\, Pathologist – Horticulture Crops\, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture\, Food and Agribusiness \n  \n  \nThis webinar series is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario. \n 
URL:https://efao.ca/event/intro-to-ecological-vegetable-growing/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Course
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260113T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260113T170000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251126T155954Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T190423Z
UID:53298-1768316400-1768323600@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Introduction to Ecological Vegetable Growing
DESCRIPTION: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. \nIf 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. \nAll 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. \nIntroduction to Ecological Vegetable Growing\nAre 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. \n \nSpeaker: Lisa Conroy\, Farm Educator at Ignatius Farm \n  \n  \n  \nThis webinar is supported by funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario. \n 
URL:https://efao.ca/event/introduction-to-ecological-growing-2026/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Webinar
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260107T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260107T140000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251103T153727Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251103T153727Z
UID:53025-1767790800-1767794400@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Farmer-Led Research Program Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:It’s that time of year again—time to start shaping your questions and curiosities into research ideas!  \nEFAO research team will be holding open virtual office hours in December and January for prospective farmer-led research applicants to ask questions and discuss their applications. If you can not make these hours please feel free to schedule an appointment with one of our research team members. \n  \nContact for appointment at another time: \nSarah Larsen\, Research Director\, sarah@efao.ca \nRebecca Ivanoff\, Seed Program Manager\, rebecca@efao.ca \nJessica Gale\, Knowledge Mobilization Manager\, jessica@efao.ca
URL:https://efao.ca/event/reesarch-program-office-hours-2025-3/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Virtual Meet-up
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20251217T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20251217T120000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251103T153235Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251103T153235Z
UID:53021-1765969200-1765972800@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Farmer-Led Research Program Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:It’s that time of year again—time to start shaping your questions and curiosities into research ideas!  \nEFAO research team will be holding open virtual office hours in December and January for prospective farmer-led research applicants to ask questions and discuss their applications. If you can not make these hours please feel free to schedule an appointment with one of our research team members. \n  \nContact for appointment at another time: \nSarah Larsen\, Research Director\, sarah@efao.ca \nRebecca Ivanoff\, Seed Program Manager\, rebecca@efao.ca \nJessica Gale\, Knowledge Mobilization Manager\, jessica@efao.ca
URL:https://efao.ca/event/research-office-hours-2025-2/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Virtual Meet-up
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20251210T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20251210T140000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251103T152913Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251103T153809Z
UID:53018-1765371600-1765375200@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Farmer-Led Research Program Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:It’s that time of year again—time to start shaping your questions and curiosities into research ideas!  \nEFAO research team will be holding open virtual office hours in December and January for prospective farmer-led research applicants to ask questions and discuss their applications. If you can not make these hours please feel free to schedule an appointment with one of our research team members. \n  \nContact for appointment at another time: \nSarah Larsen\, Research Director\, sarah@efao.ca \nRebecca Ivanoff\, Seed Program Manager\, rebecca@efao.ca \nJessica Gale\, Knowledge Mobilization Manager\, jessica@efao.ca
URL:https://efao.ca/event/research-office-hours-2025-1/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Virtual Meet-up
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20251202T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20251204T170000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251022T232645Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251023T004830Z
UID:52900-1764664200-1764867600@efao.ca
SUMMARY:2025 EFAO Conference: Pathways to Prosperity
DESCRIPTION:EFAO’s Annual Conference draws farmers\, growers\, and food producers from across the food system for two days of intensive learning\, idea-sharing\, networking and celebration with good food and friends. With over 300 attendees\, the EFAO Conference connects you with people who care passionately about farming and food. \nThis year’s theme is inspired by the unique historical moment that we are all inhabiting: a time in which ecological farming is in some ways more mainstream than ever\, but in which economic circumstances\, world events\, and numerous other factors have combined to make many of us question the viability of food production as an occupation. This theme is also intended to reflect the truth that although the act of growing food in a way that acknowledges the entirety of ecology may be a very real challenge in this era\, there is still hope if we face these challenges collaboratively\, and that prosperity can come in many forms\, via many pathways. \nThis year’s program promises another wonderful event of over 35 sessions across three days. Join us for one\, two or all three days of the EFAO Conference! \nLearn more!
URL:https://efao.ca/event/2025-conference/
LOCATION:Four Points by Sheraton\, 1150 Wellington rd\, London\, ON\, N6E 1M3\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Conference
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20251201T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20251201T123000
DTSTAMP:20260503T214654
CREATED:20251027T152546Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251028T184834Z
UID:52929-1764581400-1764592200@efao.ca
SUMMARY:Research Symposium
DESCRIPTION:The Research Symposium is an online gathering where EFAO members share their findings and insights from the 2025 research season. \nThis year you will hear about multi-farm trials involved in the Living Lab-Ontario project\, including: \n\nNo-till potato using deep mulch\nPlant available nitrogen from cover crops\nNo-till winter squash with mulch\n\nAlong with farmer-led research projects focused on: \n\nLeaves as mulch\nPolycultures with cucumbers\nLandrace watermelon evaluation\nIntracanopy lighting for tomatoes\nLandrace maxima squash\nInterplanting with mushrooms\nLuffas growing methods\n\nFree admission to the research symposium is included with a pass to the 2025 Annual EFAO Conference. If you are interested in learning more and registering for this year’s gathering\, please visit the conference page.  \nIn order to make our training and community building events accessible to all farmers and future farmers in Ontario\, EFAO strives to reduce financial barriers for registration by using a Pay What You Can model. To register please complete this form!
URL:https://efao.ca/event/farmer-led-research-symposium-2025/
LOCATION:Online\, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants
CATEGORIES:Virtual Meet-up
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END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR