Essays and Opinions

Farm data nerds, the day is finally here! Canada’s 2016 Census of Agriculture results have arrived—along with some interesting shifts in the sector. Here are some highlights of the good, the bad, and the promising: Farmers are getting older—and younger Farmers 55+ is the fastest growing age group, with the average national age of operators edging

The following article consists of excerpts from Agroecology in Canada: Food Sovereignty in Action published by the National Farmers’ Union. “Agroecology is much more than a set of technologies; it is a political and social system, a way of life, a form of resistance against corporate control of the food system, and quite simply the best

‘Feed the soil, not the plants’ is a great way of looking at the importance of managing soils for food production. Soils vary in diversity from one location to another, and require comprehensive management strategies for on-site nutrient recycling and long-term land stewardship. Healthy soils will grow healthy crops, and knowing what types of soils you

At the generous invitation of Sally Calhoun, owner of the Paicines Ranch, Sara Dent, BC Coordinator of Young Agrarians, Kelly Sidoryk of Holistic Management Canada and I (Young Agrarians Alberta Coordinator) were invited to participate in the Holistic Management International conference in California in October 2016. Representing both Young Agrarians and Holistic Management Canada, the experience provided an

Hosted by the Central Okanagan Food Policy Council (COFPC) The Purpose of this event was (1) to return research done in the community back to the community and (2) to launch the ‘Food Quilt’, a new movement to connect people and groups in support of food security in the Central Okanagan. On Thursday April 21,

By Charles Z Levkoe and Michael Ekers Originally published in the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario’s May-June 2016 newsletter, Volume 37, Issue 3. This article is the third in a series that describes the increasing numbers of non-waged interns working on ecological farms across Ontario.  As farmers welcome those seeking seasonal farm experiences as a way

Two farmy gents with insights about setting up a solid farm lease and managing the landlord/tenant relationship

by Keely Wohlgemuth of The Z Spread Farm, Organic Grain farmer at Wanham, Alberta Follow her blog at https://barefootonthefurrows.com/ or on Facebook facebook.com/thezspreadltd What a difference a year makes! We just finished spring seeding here and with the recent moisture we’ve found some time for rest and have been reflecting on how different this farm

By Michael Ekers and Charles Levkoe Originally published by Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario in Ecological Farming in Ontario, Volume 36, Issue 5. There are increasing numbers of interns, apprentices and volunteers working on small- and medium sized ecological farms across Ontario, but also across North America and Europe.  More and more, farmers are looking

By Sage Birley I grew up under the impression that people in the south didn’t care about the struggles faced by people in the North East of the province.  But my perspective was shifted while visiting Vancouver, when I found out Kristin Henry was willing to go on a hunger strike to stop the Site