Indigenous Food Forest Program

How did this program come about?

The Indigenous Food Forest Program developed from engagement with Indigenous communities by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) about the existing Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program. Feedback from engagement participants included an interest in adapting the program to include food forests as an eligible practice. 

Discussions over the past year between OMAFA and EFAO established that EFAO would  provide Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program funding to build on recent collaborations with Indigenous farmers and land stewards, and the organization’s experience in supporting food forest stewardship. This funding will support the establishment of food forests.  

Indigenous Food Forest Program Goals:

• • • Reduce financial barriers to establishing food forests.
    • Support Indigenous farmers, growers and land stewards in bringing their food forest visions to life for the benefit of the next seven generations.
    • Support project planning in a way that complements existing farm planning tools and reflects food forest values and Indigenous knowledge.
    • Create a shared learning space – the Food Forest Learning Circle – where participants learn together and from Indigenous knowledge holders.
    • Foster a sense of long-term stewardship – helping farmers, growers and land stewards see their projects through decades, not just seasons.

Indigenous Food Forest Program Values

• • • Respect for Indigenous Knowledge: Honouring Indigenous ways of knowing and land-based teachings as foundational to the program.
    • Stewardship & Responsibility: Treating land as a living system we are responsible for, ensuring decisions support ecological health for generations.
    • Equity & Accessibility: Support Indigenous farmers and communities in accessing the tools and resources they need to grow thriving food forests.
    • Collaboration & Relationships: Building strong relationships between farmers, communities, and knowledge keepers – rooted in reciprocity and trust.
    • Transparency & Accountability: Fair, open, and consistent processes for funding, teaching, and evaluation.
    • Resilience & Regeneration: Supporting farming systems that restore biodiversity, improve soils, and adapt to climate change.

Anticipated Impacts

Ecological:

• • • Improved soil health, biodiversity, and pollinator habitat.
    • Increased resilience to drought, pests, and climate change.

Cultural & Social:

• • • Strengthened Indigenous food sovereignty and intergenerational knowledge transfer.
    • Reconnecting communities with land-based practices.

Economic:

• • • Diversification of farm income streams through perennial crops.
    • Reduced input costs over time through regenerative practices.Systemic:
    • Creation of a replicable model for funding and education that could inform future programs across Turtle Island.
    • Demonstrating the value of integrating Indigenous knowledge with ecological farming practices and science.

How is the Indigenous Food Forest Program funded?

The Indigenous Food Forest Program is funded in part by the Governments of Canada and Ontario under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year, federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

EFAO has developed this pilot program and is responsible for decisions about how funding is distributed. 

All funding recipients will come together in a shared, online learning space focused on food forest design, planting, and long-term care between February – November 2026. 

Through mentorship and knowledge sharing with teachers and fellow participants, recipients will be supported throughout the planning and establishment of their projects.

The Indigenous Food Forest Program is open to those who are:

• • • Indigenous (First Nations, Métis Nation or Inuit), and
    • Are currently growing food (or plan to grow food) for more than personal/family use (i.e for sale or community use), and 
    • Are committed to participating in the Food Forest Learning Circle – a series of monthly online, knowledge-sharing meetings with other funding recipients to learn together and from Indigenous knowledge holders about the establishment and care of food forests, and to develop a food forest project plan.

To be eligible for this program:

• • • Food forest projects must be planted between Jul 15th 2025 – Dec 31st, 2027
    • All project-related costs must be paid between Jul 15th 2025 – Dec 31st 2027

Note: Funding is limited and demand may exceed available resources. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee funding. 

What costs are eligible for funding?

Community Projects

Costs of establishing a food forest, including:

• • • Costs of site planning, such as mapping, soil tests, consultation.
    • Site preparation costs like earth moving, grading of land, soil preparation, equipment rental.
    • Costs of soil, soil amendments and fertilizers, mulch.
    • Costs of plants, trees, shrubs.
    • Costs of small tools and equipment (up to a maximum of $1,000 per year).
    • Season extension equipment (small scale protective structures that are required for the success of a food forest project)
    • Irrigation supplies, rainwater collection systems.
    • Electric fencing (up to a maximum of $3.50/m of installed fencing with a standard (plug-in) fence energizer or $6.50/m of installed fencing if using a solar fence energizer. 
    • Permanent fencing to a maximum of $18.00/m. 

Third party service provided required for implementing a Food Forest, including:  

• • • Site preparation services,  
    • Soil erosion control contractors,  
    • Tree and shrub planting specialists,  
    • Seeding/planting specialists,  
    • Professional foresters and other qualified tree and shrub expert advisors,  
    • Soil testing services, water quality testing services,  
    • Rainwater collection and passive water system design professional  services,  
    • Geographic mapping experts, and  
    • Other specialists necessary for the establishment of a food forest may be eligible at the discretion of EFAO.

 Contribution towards salary costs needed for staff to implement the food forest project.

Cost for events related to establishing a food forest, such as workbees, community events, etc. including:

• • • Costs to rent a facility up to a maximum of $2,500.00 per event;  
    • Catering Costs for events, excluding alcoholic beverages, up to a maximum of $45/person/day, including taxes and gratuities.

Costs to develop resources for the food forest project, including translation services to Indigenous languages; and  

Costs for signage at project locations, including costs for third party service providers for translation services to Indigenous languages; and

Honouraria to compensate Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers. 

*Other costs necessary for the establishment of a food forest may be eligible at the discretion of EFAO.

Individual Projects

Costs of establishing a food forest, including:

• • • Costs of site planning, such as mapping, soil tests, consultation.
    • Site preparation costs like earth moving, grading of land, soil preparation, equipment rental.
    • Costs of soil, soil amendments and fertilizers, mulch.
    • Costs of plants, trees, shrubs.
    • Costs of small tools and equipment (up to a maximum of $1,000 per year).
    • Season extension equipment.
    • Irrigation supplies, rainwater collection systems.
    • Electric fencing (up to a maximum of $3.50/m of installed fencing with a standard (plug-in) fence energizer or $6.50/m of installed fencing if using a solar fence energizer. 
    • Permanent fencing to a maximum of $18.00/m. 

Third party service provided required for implementing a Food Forest, including:  

• • • Site preparation services,  
    • Soil erosion control contractors,  
    • Tree and shrub planting specialists,  
    • Seeding/planting specialists,  
    • Professional foresters and other qualified tree and shrub expert advisors,  
    • Soil testing services, water quality testing services,  
    • Rainwater collection and passive water system design professional services,  
    • Geographic mapping experts, and  
    • Other specialists necessary for the establishment of a food forest may be eligible at the discretion of EFAO.

*Other costs necessary for the establishment of a food forest may be eligible at the discretion of EFAO.

What costs are not eligible for funding?

• • • Any project cost incurred before July 15th, 2025 or after December 31st, 2027. 
    • Infrastructure costs associated with the development, construction or improvement of physical structures within a Food Forest for the purpose of community gathering, cooking, etc.  
    • Any cost that will be funded or reimbursed by other funding organizations.
    • Any cost associated with lobbying the Province, including Ministries, agencies and organizations of the Government of Ontario or Canada, including departments, agencies and organizations of the Government of Canada;  
    • Any cost that is not necessary for the successful completion of the Project;  
    • Any cost associated with filling out an application for funding;  
    • Any cost for goods or services provided by Canada, including other departments and agencies of the Government of Canada;  
    • The cost of goods, services or both acquired directly or indirectly from other persons that are not Arm’s Length from the Recipient that include any mark up for profit, return of investment or overhead unless approved by the Province in writing prior to those costs being incurred.
    • Any other cost not listed as eligible above.

Funding recipients will be reimbursed for 100% of eligible project costs, as outlined in a signed agreement with the recipient.

Funding through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership is usually provided through reimbursement; however, EFAO is able to provide funding upfront with the following provisions:  

• • • Funding recipients meet with an EFAO staff person to develop a project budget and payment schedule plan, and
    • Funding is provided by EFAO 2-months ahead of project purchases being made by the recipient, and 
    • Five percent (5%) of the payment for project costs are held back until proof of purchases are submitted to EFAO by the recipient.

Alternatively, recipients can pay for project costs up front and then submit proof of purchase to EFAO for reimbursement.

The Indigenous Food Forest Program Selection Committee, made up of EFAO staff and Indigenous partners, is looking forward to reviewing applications and learning about your food forest goals and ideas. 

For Community Projects, the Selection Committee will prioritize food forest projects that:

• • • Will have a significant impact on Indigenous communities
    • Are ready to plant within the project timeframe and have:
      • • Chosen a site/space for the food forest
        • Defined goals for their food forest project
        • Demonstrated community support/buy-in
        • Identified someone who can take the lead on food forest implementation and maintenance
    • Have a high likelihood of long-term continuity and viability
    • Have a high need for funding
    • Represent different regions of Ontario (i.e. some projects in each region where possible)
    • Have a thoughtful budget that reflects project goals

For Individual Projects, the Selection Committee will prioritize food forest projects that:

• • • Will have the greatest impact on Indigenous individuals (and their families)
    • Are ready to plant within the project timeframe and have:
      • • Chosen a site/space for the food forest
        • Have clear goals for their food forest project
        • Have the capacity to implement their food forest project 
    • Have the highest likelihood of long-term success and viability
    • Have the highest need for funding
    • Represent different regions of Ontario (i.e. some projects in each region where possible)
    • Have a thoughtful budget that reflects project goals

Successful applicants will be notified in January 2026.