Blog Category: Guides

Forrest Farm: the Path to a Successful Micro-Dairy

Posted by Kat Roger on September 21, 2023

ABOUT FORREST FARM Eight years ago, Amanda and Ewan Forrest launched their dream of making beautiful, lovingly-crafted cheese in Salmo, B.C. Like everything else on Forrest Farm, Amanda and Ewan’s cheese is hand-made and mindfully packaged with minimal plastic and gorgeous presentation in mind. They make several varieties of sheep and goat cheese, featuring a fantastic Chevre, the classic lactic goat cheese. Each cheese has a unique shape and size to bring out its best flavour characteristics and stays true to the traditional European-style artisanal cheese. With the launch of the dairy operation to the delight of local consumers, Amanda … Continue reading Forrest Farm: the Path to a Successful Micro-Dairy →

Soil Testing: How to Interpret Results and Calculate Fertilizer Needs

Posted by Andrew Adams on February 23, 2023

One fundamental piece of agriculture is the soil. Soil, being composed of billions of organisms with their complex relationships and nutrient exchanges. It can be a bit overwhelming to understand it all and nor do I claim to. At a minimum, basic understanding of some of the relationships and nutrient exchanges is however, a critical piece in any agricultural endeavor. Wondering how to achieve optimal soil health? Read on to learn more about how to sample, test, and interpret soil tests for your farm. If the law of conservation of mass and energy holds to be true, then we can … Continue reading Soil Testing: How to Interpret Results and Calculate Fertilizer Needs →

Could have should have would have: Three things farmers wish they would have known when they started.

Posted by Andrew Adams on February 10, 2023

Could have should have would have Hindsight is always 20:20 right? You never know what you should know until you’ve crossed the river of learning and experience. Most of us learn by trial and error and in fact it’s often one of the best teachers as you learn both sides of the coin. When we began farming in 2010 and then started our own farm in 2011, I was 27. I had grown up in rural Kansas with a family hobby farm, a BSc in Agricultural Sciences, and worked as a forest ecologist. With my experience and education I thought … Continue reading Could have should have would have: Three things farmers wish they would have known when they started. →

Employees wanted: Hiring that special 1.3% of the population

Posted by Andrew Adams on January 26, 2023

It’s the deep of winter and many of us farmers are finalizing crop plans. We’re also looking at our labour needs on our farm for the season, so I thought I would share thoughts and tips for addressing your labour needs on your farm. We’ve yet to enter the age of the Jetsons, though we are getting closer every day. Until the day comes when automation and robots do most physical labour, the human power component of a farm is integral to its success. I’d rather see the human component in agriculture continue and only become better in terms of … Continue reading Employees wanted: Hiring that special 1.3% of the population →

Aiming for the stars within: Setting goals and benchmarks on the farm

Posted by Andrew Adams on January 18, 2023

Creating a trajectory for achieving a personal/farm business goal feels like what I imagine Mario feels like when he attains a “star” in the OG Mario Brothers game for Nintendo. You are bright, flashing with energy and moving quickly while avoiding obstacles and tactically knocking over Koopa troopas and Goombas (risk) in pursuit of your raised flag pole. It’s exhilarating. As we begin a new turn around the sun, many folks have set their new year resolutions – and if you are a farmer, you have likely analyzed last year’s data and begun crop planning for the upcoming season. Creating … Continue reading Aiming for the stars within: Setting goals and benchmarks on the farm →

Below the snow: What plants can tell us when we can’t see the soil

Posted by Andrew Adams on December 16, 2022

Sitting there at your computer desk, easy chair or couch, dreaming of starting your own farm in the depths of winter? Let me share some tips and tricks, which you can use when you find that dream property covered in snow and want to know what’s below. Sometimes winter is the only time of the year when there is time to go exploring land. When you live in a region that has snow for six months or longer, you can’t let the snow keep you from walking over potential properties for your farming adventure less they get gobbled up before … Continue reading Below the snow: What plants can tell us when we can’t see the soil →

How to Make a Boot Dip to Prevent Infectious Diseases in Livestock

Posted by Michalina Hunter on May 18, 2022

Boot dips can reduce the spread of infectious diseases among farm livestock. Avian Influenza, for example, can be transmitted from bird to bird by feces, dust, and dander. Humans can facilitate the spread of the virus by unintentionally tracking these materials from farm to farm on their shoes. A boot dip is a disinfectant foot bath used to kill disease-causing organisms on footwear, used to prevent the spread of livestock diseases. A boot dip may be a good idea for you and your staff to use before you enter your brooder or chicken coop as a way to prevent diseases … Continue reading How to Make a Boot Dip to Prevent Infectious Diseases in Livestock →

How to Reduce Plastic in Agriculture

Posted by Rachel Spruston on May 02, 2022

Plastic is widely used in agriculture for weed suppression, packaging, seed starting, and more. However, studies show that plastic can disrupt soil health, stunt plant growth, and leach from soils into aquatic environments. Here we dive into the issue of plastic in agriculture, and showcase Canadian farmers who’ve found alternatives. The phrase ‘plastic pollution’ is more likely to bring to mind heartbreaking photos of remote Pacific Ocean beaches littered with plastic or wildlife trapped in six-pack rings than images of earthworms and soil profiles. While marine plastic pollution tends to get the most attention, and for good reason (a recent … Continue reading How to Reduce Plastic in Agriculture →

How to Support New Farmers in Alberta

Posted by Michelle Lam on March 16, 2022 4 Comments

Do you want to continue the conversation? We’re looking for people to advise us on the next steps to support new farmers in Alberta. Reach out to Alex at alex@youngagrarians.org.

How to Apply for Farm Grants in Canada

Posted by Rachel Spruston on January 17, 2022 15 Comments

As a new farmer, access to capital in the early years of operation, or during periods of significant change such as farm transition or expansion, can be a challenge. The good news is, there are many farm grants for beginning farmers in Canada, and we’ve compiled a list of some of our favourites below, as well as tips for applying. This post was inspired by and based on the generous expertise of Andrew Rosychuk of Rosy Farms, a regenerative haskap farm in Alberta and a speaker for our Business Bootcamp. Over the course of his farming career Andrew has become … Continue reading How to Apply for Farm Grants in Canada →