About
- Looking for a farm in:
- Ontario
- Number of years farming:
- 3-5 years
- Farming experience
- I have practical farming experience (worked as a farm intern / employee)
- Other
- I have practical farming experience (including work as a farm intern or employee)
- Other experience
- Agricultural products:
- Field crops (grains or beans)
- Vegetables
- Hay or forage crops
- Fruit/berries/grapes
- Planned marketing strategies:
- Farmers markets or farm stand
- Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
- Restaurant sales
- Land needed:
- 25-50 acres
- 50 acres or more
- Facilities and equipment:
- Housing
- Greenhouse
- Fencing
- Processing facilities
- Planned farming practices:
- Ecological production, but not certified
- Other
- Certified organic
Overview
I'm a building science engineer working as a consultant with specialization in climate change adaptation for buildings. My wife is an adjunct professor in evolutionary ecology working in landscape conservation. I'm also wrapping up my doctorate at the University of Victoria, but we have moved to Kitchener-Waterloo in summer 2021. We're looking to start (or continue) a homestead with a strong research/experimental focus for climate resilience and sustainable agriculture, which we hope to share our findings through appropriate venues. We both intend to continue practicing in our professions part-time. I've been a farm-hand on a CSA for a number of years and have been spending the previous two years learning draft-horse techniques at a local horse barn. My wife has been working with horses for the previous 20 years. The philosophy I've learned from my previous farming mentors is that we should look to farms as not separate from nature, but as part of the broader network. What we do has impacts that extend far beyond the property line. Therefore, we need to ensure our farming practices leave as light of a foot-(or hoof)-print as possible.
Experience
I have experience in construction and engineering, basic soil-science, and project management. My wife is an expert in land conservation, handling large animals, and business experience. We both have strong scientific backgrounds in research and the scientific method.
Partner(s)
My wife and I will be partners in crime. She's has her doctorate in ecology and is working on landscape conservation. She has over 20 years of experience working with horses and other large animals.
Farm Vision
I envision a sustainable farm, where almost everything that is needed to keep the farm running can be grown on the farm. We're hoping to grow our own grains, hay ,and root veg to keep horses or other limited livestock, and use the draft horses for, ideally, no-till methods on our fields. A large market garden, fed by composted horse manure, serviced by honeybees, and using chickens for pest control, will be the core of the activities within our current plans. However, we're very much open to set a new course.