COOKSTOWN GREENS

Cookstown Greens ecologically grows specialty organic produce: salad greens, microgreen seedlings, unique vegetables with unusual colours, edible flowers, fancy garnishes, flavourful heirloom tomatoes, and colourful high Brix heritage root vegetables. They are featured at many critically acclaimed Toronto and Ontario restaurants and hotels, have fed every US president since Reagan, Canadian prime ministers and the Rolling Stones! Be ready to explore the grounds and taste a wide variety of produce straight from the fields and/or freshly prepared by the farmers themselves - you won't believe the spectrum of flavour!

www.cookstowngreens.com

EVERDALE

Everdale is a non-for-profit organic farm and environmental learning centre.  It accessibly demonstrates the enormous promise of sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and alternative building methods.  There are 150 acres of certified organic land including 15 acres of vegetables and 20 acres of grain. Poultry, pigs, sheep and other farm animals are raised.  They feature a sustainable model home that demonstrates straw bale construction; renewable and natural non-toxic materials and finishes; solar and wind power systems; rainwater catchment systems; home automation and energy-efficient appliances; grey water system and composting toilet and perma-culture landscaping.

everdale.org

WHEELBARROW FARM

Wheelbarrow Farm is located an hour northeast of Toronto on 10 acres of rolling field and forest. They grow mixed organic vegetables and raise heritage breeds of pigs on pasture. They use ecological growing practices including mulch, cover crops, hand tools, compost, and animal tractors.  Their mission is to build an environmentally sustainable farm that participates in the struggle for a more just and equitable society. Their food is available through CSA membership, farmers' markets, restaurants and the Karma Coop.

www.wheelbarrowfarm.com

HARMONY ORGANICS

Harmony Organics The name "Harmony" aptly describes the philosophies and management styles at Harmony Organics. Their goal is to sustain the family farm and promote a healthy balanced lifestyle for all. Organic farming is often referred to as "working in harmony with nature" and they aim to maintain this delicate balance in every way possible. Cold winter days are spent resting in the barn on a luxurious bed of fresh straw. The cows are treated as though they were members of the family.

www.harmonyorganic.on.ca

HOCKLEY VALLEY ORGANIC HONEY FARM

Located within the protected boundaries of the Niagara Escarpment, Hockley Valley Honey Farm is operated by a couple of dedicated artisan beekeepers. The apiaries are strategically located in the most remote areas within Hockley Valley to ensure bees forage in pristine, uncontaminated wildflower meadows.

Their efforts have been rewarded with many trophies and first prize ribbons.

Much research and some good old-fashioned mentoring have enabled them to develop the desired environmentally friendly practices, producing pure, raw gourmet honey.

Dedication to natural practices, a unique location and a high level of skill in handling bees and extracting honey have achieved their recent organic certification.

Join us on this unique trip to learn more about the importance of bees to the human race, the basics of bee keeping, a delicious lunch with honey on the menu and a chance to get up-close and personal with the busy bees.

hockleyhoney.com

KAWARTHA ECOLOGICAL GROWERS

Kawartha Ecological Growers is a collective of small-scale family farms in the beautiful Kawartha Lakes district. We call this the 3-in-1 trip because we will be visiting 3 different farms involved in the KEG group.

The day starts at The Old Tin House which features naturally grown herbs, vegetables and flowers. You won’t believe how much food can be grown in a small space. Next stop is lunch at Elm Tree Garden. Our last stop is the Norman Zehr Family Farm. This is a local Amish Farm with an impressive farm stand where you can pick up some fresh local produce before we head back to the city!

The Old Tin House is a non-certified organic farm producing cut flowers, & specialty vegetables such as Canadian garlic & baby fennel, heritage tomatoes, gourmet salad greens, and fresh herbs.  We are ecologically sensitive and raise all our produce on good clean soil.  When you visit you will have the opportunity to “cut-your-own” flowers from our beautiful garden and sample produce and herbs.  We’ll explain our farming methods and offer you an opportunity to ask lots of questions about everything from composting to crop rotation to “how do I?”.  The garden will be in full swing and waiting for you to explore.  We look forward to showing you our dream come true.

kawarthaecologicalgrowers.com

ORGANIC WINERY TOUR

Arouse your inner sommelier on our new organic winery tour. This trip takes you into the Niagara Wine region to two very different organic operations.

Our first stop is Frog Pond Farm, a quaint but ambitious winery. The only certified organic winery in Ontario that is committed to 100% organic wine. Relax and stroll around the biodiverse frog pond before or after trying a few samples of their unique wines.

Only a few minutes down the road is Southbrook Winery located in it’s impressive LEED certified building. Here we will sip wine and dine on homemade stone baked pizzas prepared by Treadwell Restaurant.

This is going to be a great day out of the city and into organic vineyards! Let us take care of the details and driving so you can relax and enjoy.

www.treadwellcuisine.com
www.southbrook.com
www.frogpondfarm.ca

ALL SORTS ACRES

Following the mantra of "Grow where you are planted" All Sorts Acre is a 1.18 acre piece of property just outside of Guelph. It sits next to conventional farm fields, a creek, and wild areas. They have forest gardens, pasture, and annual gardens. The animals they have on the smallholding include sheep, goats, a pig, and many chickens. They sell eggs, chicken, lamb, preserves, herbs, and produce from the farm gate.
Their influences include biodynamics, biodiversity, nature awareness, permaculture and Emily Carr. Emily Carr wrote a book called the House of All Sorts about her struggles as a painter.  It recalls everything she did to fund her dream of being an artist and painting her vision of the Canadian landscape. Her House of All Sorts was a boarding house where she did laundry, cooked, bred dogs, made pottery, hooked rugs, and taught art lessons. She was a permaculturist ahead of her time.

allsortsacre.ca

AVALON ORCHARDS

Avalon Orchards is an organic u-pick apple orchard located in Innisfil, Ontario. They have been pioneers in the growing of naturally disease resistant varieties of apples such as Nova Scotia Spy, Liberty, Freedom, Redfree, Prima and Nova Scotia Macintosh appropriate for the organic growing. These varieties are naturally immune to apple scab and other diseases making it easier for them to grow organically. 

With the initial goal of establishing a sustainable organic operation, they planted the first 700 trees in 1988, and now have 10,000 trees at various stages of production. Both their apple growing and cider pressing process have been certified organic for several years with Pro-Cert.

The orchard is located in a beautiful rural s etting with spectacular views of the countryside and woodlands. You are welcome to wander through the orchard and explore the woodland trails to see the beaver in the creek and the great blue herons standing stilt-legged at the pond. 

www.avalonorchards.net

ROWE FARMS FIELD TRIP TO HARLEY FARM

Rowe Farms is a local meat, poultry and fresh foods store committed to quality with a conscience.

Following the tradition of Dr Ken Rowe in 1967, this farming cooperative has banded together as Rowe Farms to increase accessibility to the general public. Their products are raised locally, right here in Ontario by dedicated men and women who are conscientious farmers.

This trip is partially subsidized by Rowe Farms. It includes a tour of Harley Farms near Peterborough ON, a BBQ lunch and a 10% discount card for any Rowe Farms shop location. Pick up location is the Rowe Farms shop in the Annex.

www.rowefarms.ca

MICHAEL SCHMIDT'S GLENCOLTON FARM

Glencolton Farm is a biodynamic and organic operation promoting organic produce and raw milk. Nestled in the hills of Grey County the farm was established in 1983 and has since been a hub for farmer training, biodynamic education, musical and artistic exhibitions and farm tours. More recently the farm has become famous for its legal battles around the distribution of raw milk. Michael has been defending himself and our rights to have a choice and a part in the control of our food system. 

This Field Trip will include a tour of the farm operation, lunch fresh from the farm, a group work project/work-bee, an intro to biodynamics workshop and will end with an opportunity to bring in the cows and observe the milking process. The tours and workshops will be lead by Michael himself, members of his family and his farm team. 

www.glencoltonfarms.com