The European practice of hedgerows and hedge laying is slowly entering Ontario’s landscape. During a recent Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario webinar, Jim Jones, a British ecologist and hedge laying expert, explained how a managed hedgerow can fulfil several roles within agriculture. Why it matters: Managed North American hedgerows could provide a biodiversity and ecological […] Read more
Tag Archives Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario
Hedgerows enjoy potential new growth in Ontario
Living fence lines offer a plethora of biodiversity and ecological positives
On-farm trial aims to pin down flower seed isolation standard
Flower seed information is largely proprietary, unlike that for veggies
When even a $400 book about flower seed production failed to yield useful information about isolation distance for popular cut flower varieties, Kim Delaney knew she needed to dig deeper. Now, after three years of an on-farm research project through the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO), she’s starting to find answers. “With veggie seed […] Read more
Small grains in the mix can pay dividends
EFAO session explores benefits of having small grains in crop rotation
The benefits of adding small grains to a crop rotation were explored Dec. 1 in the first of a five-part series hosted by the Ontario version of the federally supported Living Labs Project. The “Innovations in Small Grains” session featured Ontario farmers Greg Vermeersch, Brett Israel and Joe Wecker and was co-hosted by the Ecological […] Read more
Organic seed synergies sustain diversity
Vegetable seed companies find growing demand during COVID
Producers and marketers of organic seed in North America set themselves apart from their conventional counterparts by sharing uniquely “synergistic” relationships, said speakers at a scaled-down, virtual version of the recent annual Guelph Organic Conference. “We’re all in this together,” said High Mowing Seeds commercial grower representative Aaron Varadi, during one of five in-depth sessions […] Read more
Urban farm fills niche while mentoring marginalized youth
The farm owner didn’t see herself reflected in agriculture and set out to change that
As a new urban farmer, Cheyenne Sundance is intent on growing more than just fresh produce. Sundance, who is mixed-race Black-identifying, saw a void in access to two things in her local farmer’s market – year-round fresh greens and diversity. So she decided to fill them both. Why it matters: Agriculture has not been a […] Read more
Soil’s processes need to be understood to build organic matter
Increasing soil health is a highly complex process tied to chemical and biological cycles
To understand the paradigm shift in the production of soil organic matter you’re going to have to dig a little deeper. “Soil organic matter (SOM) is intimately linked to soil health, to ecosystem health, to planetary health and it has influences on the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil,” Sarah Hargreaves, Ecological Farmers […] Read more
Yara executive touts fertilizer as greenhouse gas solution
Company believes more efficient production will avoid destroying forests for extra cropland, but other groups disagree
Fertilizer companies can do more good than bad when it comes to combatting greenhouse gases, according to Yara’s chief executive officer. Svein Tore Holsether said agriculture is responsible for one-quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. “On the one hand, that is a big challenge, but it is also a very big opportunity,” he told analysts […] Read more
Farmers pitched as climate solution providers
A new organization aims to bring attention to farmers’ role in climate change mitigation
A coalition of farm groups has launched a new national movement to promote the idea of farmers being a part of creating Canadian climate change solutions. The group, called, Farmers for Climate Solutions is currently made up of organic and environment-focused groups across the country, but aims to include more larger farm organizations, says Brent […] Read more
Animals seek food nutrition; humans could relearn how
EFAO speaker questions nutritional merits of food
When it comes to healthy eating, humans have a lot to learn, or relearn, from wild and domesticated farm animals. This “nutritional wisdom” has been a career-long research focus for University of Utah professor emeritus Fred Provenza. It was also a focus during three sessions he delivered at the recent sixth annual education conference of […] Read more
Ecological Farmers Association celebrates 40-years
Current president looks to a future of widespread acceptance
The Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO) marked its 40th anniversary during its annual educational conference in December in Belleville. But it is also looking ahead, as the ideas that it has espoused, regenerative farming and farm-level research and cooperation gain popularity. Why it matters: The EFAO has provided training and farmer-to-farmer networking for 40 […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
