The National Farmers Union has chosen nine Ontario Farms to join the 40 Canadian farms to be featured in its Depth of Field films about farming.
They are:
Rooted Oak Organic Farm a family-run operation in North Augusta. It is owned and operated by Nikki and Stuart Oke. They use the principles of agroecology to produce a variety of vegetables they sell through community supported agriculture (CSA) and farmers markets in the Ottawa, Kingston, and Augusta regions.
Kitchen Table Seed House is owned and operated by Kathy Rothermel and Annie Richard. They grow certified-organic varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers for seed over three acres and two separate fields on Wolfe Island.
Black Sheep Farm is an agroecological farm, run by Brenda Hsueh and Skyler Radojkovic. They raise sheep on pasture, using intensive managed grazing, to maximize the soil building effects of ruminants, while producing meat and fibre from grass and sunlight. They want to see farming become the climate crisis solution it should be, building soils, sequestering carbon, being a moisture sponge, increasing biodiversity, all while feeding people without exploiting themselves or the people they work with.
Meeting Place Organic Farm is a woman-owned and farmed by the second generation of McQuails in a sustainable, environmentally conscious manner. They aim for more than regenerative agriculture with their grass-fed and finished Ontario beef, pasture-raised pork, organic chicken and certified organic apple orchard. They believe in the importance of building strong local communities and being good stewards of the land and animals they tend. Theirs is an entirely organic farm.
Pfenning’s Organic Vegetables has been proudly growing certified organic vegetables since 1981. Located between New Hamburg and Baden, the farm now stretches over about 700 acres. Although best known for carrots, the family also grows more than 40 other varieties of vegetables: leafy greens, brassicas, squash and root veggies. Respect and care is at the heart of everything they do. Jenn Pfenning is NFU president.
Kenli Herefords & Apiary of Selkirk is run by Ken and Lisa Bassindale . They employ a mix of conventional and ecological practices to raisep purebred polled Herefords.They keep approximately 25 female cows on 50 acres of rotational pasture from May to November. The Bassindales have also been raising honey bees for more than 10 years and sell KBee’s Honey. They’ve also recently taken up raising pastured chicken. They farm an additional 400 acres of cash crops, including hay, wheat, soybeans and corn. Their farm is chemical free and uses cover crops to nourish the soil.
Ga Gitigemi Gamik (We Will Plant Lodge) is envisioned as an ecological centre on a permanent Indigenous-stewarded site on Manitoulin Island where women and 2SLGBTTQQIA+ people can work on the land together in a 12-week immersion program that will help them (re)learn ancestral agricultural methods lost to colonization. The documentary provides insight into the farm's efforts to revitalize traditional agricultural knowledge, emphasizing the importance of cultural sustainability in farming.
Lucky Bug Farm is a one-quarter-acre ecological market garden operating on rented land 25 minutes from Kitchener-Waterloo. Lucky Bug Farm relies on interplanting and minimal tillage to build soil health and run a productive ecological market garden. They buy organic seeds as much as possible, use organic potting mix and do not use synthetic amendments, sprays or fertilizers.
Ottawa Valley Farm to Fork are the ultimate farm-to-table party animals. They whip up gourmet goodies straight from the land: grass-fed beef turned into sausage rolls, and organic potatoes transformed into pierogi. They have Scottish Highland cattle, dairy goats, and free-range chickens. They’ grow organic vegetables and heritage crops. They aim to be a sustainable farm producing “scrumptious” food with help from local employees.
