Blog Category: Alberta

JOB: Calgary, AB – YYC Growers, Customer Care and Marketing Intern

Posted by Michalina Hunter on May 16, 2022

YYC Growers and Distributors Cooperative Inc. in Calgary, AB is seeking a Customer Care and Marketing Intern! ABOUT YYC Growers and Distributors Cooperative Inc. YYC Growers and Distributors’ purpose is to connect farmers with urban customers by gathering and distributing locally grown food through a system that regenerates our environment and community and supports the local economy. We provide our fresh, nutrient-rich produce directly from farms to customers through a weekly subscription service, a thriving online farmers’ market and physical farm stands. We offer home delivery and have ~16 pickup locations throughout the Calgary metropolitan area in addition to Airdrie, … Continue reading JOB: Calgary, AB – YYC Growers, Customer Care and Marketing Intern →

JUNE 1, 2022: ONLINE – Solar Installations on the Farm

Posted by Michelle Lam on May 04, 2022

You’re invited to a free webinar on Solar Installations on the Farm. It’s well-known that Alberta has some of the best potential for solar power in all of Canada. It’s also common knowledge that installing solar panels on your property can drastically reduce electricity bills.  In addition to these benefits, a solar installation can also be an upgrade that pays for itself, protects your farm from rising energy costs, increases your property value, all while protecting the environment for future generations.   It’s getting harder and harder to ignore solar energy so Richard Fleck of KCP Energy is back to talk … Continue reading JUNE 1, 2022: ONLINE – Solar Installations on the Farm →

Meet Your Future Farmers – 2022 YA Apprenticeship Program

Posted by Michelle Lam on May 03, 2022

We have an exciting bunch of fresh faces joining us for the 2022 Young Agrarians Apprenticeship Program across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba! Please join us in welcoming this new cohort of aspiring regenerative and ecological farmers. What is the YA Apprenticeship Program? Our apprenticeships are a full immersion program that puts you into the heart of running a farm business, day in and day out. Our carefully selected family of farm mentors have diverse expertise and skill sets – their farm philosophy is guided by a holistic framework that recognizes the connectedness of the land and people. Although farm activities … Continue reading Meet Your Future Farmers – 2022 YA Apprenticeship Program →

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 →

MAY 4, 2022: ONLINE – Biochar, Compost, and Agroforestry

Posted by Michelle Lam on April 20, 2022

You’re invited to a free webinar on Biochar, Compost, and Agroforestry. Biochar is a charcoal-like substance that is made by burning organic material from agricultural and food wastes. It is a technology that is showing promise in improving soil quality, reducing waste, and even producing energy as a byproduct. But what exactly is biochar and what is it made of? Join Young Agrarians and Rural Routes to Climate Solutions (RR2CS) to learn about some exciting developments in Biochar in Alberta. Rob Lavoie of AirTerra will be joining us to talk about AirTerra’s plans to build a large-scale commercial biochar production … Continue reading MAY 4, 2022: ONLINE – Biochar, Compost, and Agroforestry →

ALBERTA: We’re hiring! Young Agrarians Digital Storyteller

Posted by Alex on April 13, 2022

Young Agrarians is partnering with Organic Alberta to hire a New Farmer Digital Storyteller in Alberta. Are you a creative communicator and talented storyteller? Would you enjoy working with people who grow food from diverse walks of life? If you’re passionate about local food systems, love working to bring out the best in others and are savvy with social media then we would love to hear from you.  Region & Scope: Alberta, Part-Time Contract Position Contract duration: May 2-August 31, 2022 Deadline for Applications: 12 pm MT Thursday, April 21, 2022 ABOUT YOUNG AGRARIANS AND ORGANIC ALBERTA Young Agrarians (YA) … Continue reading ALBERTA: We’re hiring! Young Agrarians Digital Storyteller →

APR 13, 2022: ONLINE – Cover Crop Custom Blends

Posted by Michelle Lam on March 18, 2022

Topic: Cover Crop Custom Blends Date: April 13th at 1:00PM Presenter: Kevin Elmy Cost: FREE Join Young Agrarians and Rural Routes to Climate Solutions to learn all about the steps and thought processes when designing cover crop blend creations for your farm. This webinar will go over how to create blends to improve water infiltration, suppress weeds, minimize erosion, improve soil nutrient availability, build organic matter, and reduce insects or disease. We will also learn how soil texture, salinity, existing trees, grass, or sloughs, other natural and introduced features, and current plants and weeds affect your custom cover crop blends. … Continue reading APR 13, 2022: ONLINE – Cover Crop Custom Blends →

How to Support New Farmers in Alberta

Posted by Michelle Lam on March 16, 2022

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.

Reflections from the Apprenticeship Program – Josephine Junas-Grant

Posted by Kolby Peterson on March 01, 2022

Josephine Junas-Grant apprenticed at The Homestead in Goodfare, Alberta. One year turned into two, and Jo started her own floral enterprise. She shares her experience through an original song, accompanied by Pebbles the dog and melodic background munching by goats. Josephine is now living and farming with Maryann Borch at Good Note Community Farm, near Leduc, Alberta. Lyrics are below. I arrived in early spring time When the ground was bare Worked each inch of soil Planting seeds with care … Rained through the month of June Drenched us to the bone Trudging through the morning chores While kicking at … Continue reading Reflections from the Apprenticeship Program – Josephine Junas-Grant →

How This Farmer Brought Back the Meadowlark: Using Regenerative Practices to Restore Farm Ecosystems

Posted by Alex on February 24, 2022

Don and Marie Ruzicka recently retired after more than 35 years of farming. During their time at Sunrise Farm in central-eastern Alberta on Treaty 6 land, they transitioned from conventional to regenerative farming by altering their farming practices, protecting riparian areas, planting trees, and restoring grasslands. In the process, they witnessed incredible changes in the ecology of their farm. Don shares the story of how they used regenerative practices to restore their farm ecosystems. EARLY DAYS It would be a mistake to suggest that my wife Marie and I began farming with the knowledge of how the importance of the … Continue reading How This Farmer Brought Back the Meadowlark: Using Regenerative Practices to Restore Farm Ecosystems →