About
- Looking for a farm in:
- Ontario
- Number of years farming:
- 6-10 years
- Farming experience
- I have practical farming experience (including work as a farm intern or employee)
- I have studied agriculture at a post-secondary institution
- Agricultural products:
- Herbs
- Livestock
- Seeds, seedlings or nursery stock
- Vegetables
- Planned marketing strategies:
- Wholesale
- Commodity markets
- Farmers markets or farm stand
- Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
- Restaurant sales
- Land needed:
- 1 acre or less
- 2-5 acres
- 5-10 acres
- 10-25 acres
- Facilities and equipment:
- Housing
- Irrigation capacity
- Irrigation equipment
- Greenhouse
- Agricultural machinery
- Cold storage
- Processing facilities
- Planned farming practices:
- Certified organic
- Ecological production, but not certified
Overview
Update: I am not looking for 2021, but I am happy to network with other farmers. A 2022 start is a real possibility. My name is Alex. My journey in farming started 6 years ago with a certificate course in sustainable agriculture at Fleming College in Lindsay. Since then, I have apprenticed, worked as farm hand, and have now just concluded my third year as a farm manager. I have always worked on small organic farms located between Peterborough and Guelph, which cultivated between 2 - 7 acres of mixed vegetables and with minimal livestock (although I have worked briefly but intensely with cattle, chickens, and pigs in the past). These farms have always used apprentice or intern labour, so I am well familiar with that model. Note: I will not work as an apprentice any more, as I am past that stage. I have regularly used a variety of small farm equipment. I strive to continually improve my knowledge as a farmer. I also have two seasons of experience in no-till market gardening. I am currently employed as an organic gardener and winemaker. I have a preference for work opportunity with available accommodation. While individual land ownership is financially out of my reach (mainly because I continue to work on farms?), but I am interested in co-ops or other cooperative farm models, business partnerships, or employment that can provide housing (or home a tiny home, for example). I am playing the long game here, so I am happy to start a discussion on a project that will take time to get off the ground. I am more prepared for market garden farming than some of my past farm mentors were when they started. I strive to be an asset to any farm that I am a part of. I look to authors such as J.M. Fortier, Conor Crickmore, Curtis Stone, and Ben Hartman for guiding principles. I also look forward to expanding my knowledge into fruit production and other perennial foods. Working part time off farm (in a collective of people who may also have other income streams) to lessen the labour and financial burden of farming seems to make sense to me. What do you think? Please e-mail me at alexmvecchio@gmail.com in addition to using this site. Good luck out there, and keep your chin up!
Experience
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Partner(s)
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Farm Vision
Running a market garden, of a scale that can support the number of people involved.
Relationship with Farm Owner
farmer owned cooperatives business partnerships work as an employee