Growing Seed to Support Your Market Garden Workshop and More!
Save the Date: Growing Seed to Support Your Market Garden
Tuesday, July 26
9AM – 12PM
Location: Chick-a-biddy Acres, 5009 County Road 2, RR3, Hastings ON, K0L 1Y0
Price: $20
Chick-a-biddy Acres has a long history in the farming community in the Kawarthas, as one of the first CSAs in the region 17 years ago. This year, Sherry Patterson has added a new aspect to her highly successful operation, trialing different varieties of squash and peppers and producing seed for Seeds of Diversity Canada and The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security. If you’ve been considering integrating seed crops as part of your market garden operation, for sale or for on-farm use, you will be interested in learning how Chick-a-biddy Acres is meeting the challenge.
Stay tuned for more information and for the chance to register! Also keep an eye out for information on a second seed-harvesting and cleaning workshop in September.
This workshop is hosted by BFICSS and Farms at Work.
Women's Institute Invests in Future Farmers
Farms at Work would like to thank the Women’s Institute Peterborough District for their generous donation of $960. The Women's Institute's contribution will support Farms at Work's mentorship programs which allow beginning and diversifying farmers to gain hands-on experience in their area of interest. Programs are currently offered in sheep farming, beekeeping and maple syrup production, and have provided valuable skills to close to 60 producers in east central Ontario over the past four years.
To learn more about the donation and its significance to the Women's Institute's agricultural roots, click here.
Other Opportunities
Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program (SARFIP): Now available for 2016!
The OSCIA has announced that SARFIP will be running again in 2016! This program provides financial support to producers who are enhancing farm habitat for species at risk across the province. Eligible projects range from livestock exclusion fencing to protect habitat, to improved stream crossings, tree planting and specialized habitat structures. Ontario farms can receive up to $20,000 from SARFIP for 2016 projects that directly or indirectly benefit species at risk (SAR).
The SARFIP 2016 Brochure provides full program details and can be downloaded from the OSCIA website: www.
Ontario Maple Syrup Producers' Association Summer Tour & AGM
July 14 - 16
This summer maple syrup producers in east central Ontario have the rare opportunity to attend the OMSPA Summer Tour and AGM right close to home at Trent University, Peterborough! This three day event includes a tour of local operations, numerous seminars, exhibits of equipment for your operation, and opportunities to network with other producers.
Farms at Work is excited to be presenting on July 15th with information about our Maple Syrup Production Mentorship. We look forward to seeing you there!
For more information, please visit: www.omspa.ca/events
GM Alfalfa Seed Sold in Eastern Ontario in 2016
The sale of GM alfalfa seed in Canada has been a divisive issue for farmers. In 2016, seed has been sold to farmers in Ontario. For those wishing to become more informed, please refer to the links below:
This link takes you to the detailed proceedings of a workshop held in Kitchener in 2012 where the topic was canvassed by a wide range of speakers.
www.cdnseed.org/
This link takes you to the Coexistence Plan developed and approved for eastern Canada. It sets out Best Management Practices for producers using GM alfalfa seed, to attempt to ensure that producers of conventional and organic alfalfa (and the purchasers of those products for feed) are not economically impacted by cross-contamination.
It's not too late to complete the 2016 Census of Agriculture online!
Farms at Work encourages farmers to complete the 2016 Census of Agriculture as fully and accurately as possible. Census data helps ensure that policy decisions are made based on accurate information – locally, provincially and federally. Ontario farmers can save time by filling out the Ag Census online. To do so, you will need to enter the 16-digit secure access code located at the top of your letter or on your census questionnaire received through the mail.
Click here to complete the Ag Census online.
Job Opportunity: Community Harvest Market Facilitator
Community Harvest Kingston (CHK) is hiring a Community Harvest Market Facilitator to coordinate and facilitate the weekly Community Harvest Market (CHM) and related events. This position recruits, supports and works directly with volunteers, vendors, entertainment, and related organizations to deliver successful, engaging events that promote increased community access to healthy, locally-produced food. See full job description by clicking here.