IMPROVING AGRI-FOOD DIVERSITY AND RESILIENCE IN THE NORTH – La Belle Vie Farm

[L’article en français suit ci-dessous] La Belle Vie Farm is a fourth generation, family farm located in St. Charles, Ontario committed to biodiversity and ecological farming.  Owners, Tara Hamilton and Denis Turcot have been growing organic haskap, for more than a decade, harvesting approximately 6000lbs a year.  Haskap, also known as Honeyberry, is a nutritionally dense berry boasting more antioxidants …

BLOSSOMING FRESH CUT FLOWERS IN THE NORTH 

[L’article en français suit ci-dessous] Demand for locally grown cut flowers is growing, and Ontario’s local cut flower industry is growing alongside it.  The floriculture industry is divided into bedding/spring plants, potted flowering/foliage plants, and cut flowers.  The flower industry in Ontario accounts for $800 million in sales and half of that gets shipped to the United States.    Ontario flower …

Boosting Northern Ontario Seed Production

[L’article en français suit ci-dessous] The climate crisis and rising grocery store prices are increasing uncertainty for consumers. This situation is driving more and more people to grow their own food and plant native plants to restore ecological habitats. Concurrently, farmers in the north are becoming more invested in seed cultivation due to its potential environmental benefits and market need.   …