Farmland Ownership: Opportunities, Connections and Answers

Seeking non-farming owners of farmland!

Farms at Work is inviting registrations for a Farmland Owner Workshop, designed for non-farming owners of farmland. Hear from a range of knowledgeable speakers and network with organizations who can help you!

This is  a hybrid event: Connecting in person is always the best! But if you can’t make it we still want to see you – register to participate online.

Topics to Expect

  •     Why is every acre of farmland important?
  •     Farm Business Registration, Property tax and your farm
  •     Finding and keeping a great farm tenant
  •     Farm Insurance
  •     Environmental stewardship of your farmland
  •     Funding opportunities and other resources
  •     Long term options for your farmland

Help us address the topics you are most interested in! Please complete our Farmland Owner Survey in addition to registering for the workshop.

Register for in-person and online participation here: https://3common.com/event/farmland-ownership-opportunities-connections-and-answers/690b7bf691721e9a0cba9e85

Alpacas for Fibre and Agritourism

Alpacas for Fibre and Agritourism

  • Location: Wanderlight Alapaca Experience: 874 Lynch’s Rock Road. Douro Dummer
  • Time: Friday. November 28th: 2:00pm – 4:00pm
  • Questions? Email Education@Farmsatwork.ca

How do you raise alpacas for optimum fibre production? How do you incorporate agritourism into your farming operation? Come with your curiosity and questions!

Join Wanderlight Alpaca Experience, Averegan Farms and Farms at Work for an afternoon exploring the breeding, care and delight of alpacas. This hands-on tour will include time connecting with the Wanderlight Alpacas, and is geared toward farmers and business owners but open to folks of all interests and ages.

Tour Highlights

  • Care and Health of the Alpaca Herd
  • Genetics and Breeding of Alpacas
  • Shearing, Fibre Processing and Sales
  • Adding Agritourism to your Farm

***Online ticket purchases are preferred, but registration onsite at the event will also be available. Please arrive by 1:45 for in person registration.

Some alpaca products will be available for purchase.

About the Hosts

Donna Simmonds of Averegan Alpacas has been breeding and showing alpacas and processing alpaca fibre for 20 years. From breeding decisions, crias, shows and day-to-day care all the way to shearing and sorting the gorgeous fleeces and processing them into the softest yarns for our alpaca products – she loves it all and is excited to share her expertise.

Katie Maitland founded Wanderlight Alpaca Experience in 2020 to connect guests with the joy of alpacas, the beauty of her family farm and a glimpse into agriculture. Since then over 5000 people have visited Wanderlight, learning about alpacas, nature and farm life. From inspirational stories to practical matters of insurance, marketing, and booking, Katie is ready for your questions!For over a decade, Farms at Work has been supporting the growth of resilient thriving farms that contribute to food security across east central Ontario and working to support farmers, new entrants, and farmland owners through education, mentorship, and research.

1.5 acre Market Garden Tour – Cold Spring Organics

About this event:
Can you grow 105 varieties of organic produce on 1.5 acres? Do the numbers work?

Join Cold Spring Organics and Farms at Work for an evening exploring organic vegetable production, permaculture principles, regenerative agriculture, community collaborations and protecting threatened species. Whether you’re a seasoned grower, new to farming, or a food enthusiast, don’t miss this opportunity to connect with local food production and gain practical insights for your journey in agriculture.

Tour Highlights
Organic Vegetable Production: Learn about the certification process with CSI for the Canadian Organic Standards (COR) and how to grow healthy & nutritious chemical-free food without synthetic fertilizers.
Permaculture Practices: Find out how permaculture design mimics self-sustaining ecosystems in nature by holistically integrating crop, water, and wildlife management to build resilience & adaptability for the long-term health of the land.
Regenerative Agriculture: Learn about how Cold Springs’ regenerative agriculture methods restore & strengthen soil health and the ecosystem it supports.
Protecting Threatened Species: See how safe spaces are created for threatened bird species around the farm.

Community Collaborations: Hear about how Cold Springs engages with their community.

About the Host

Glen Young decided to become an organic farmer so he could make a difference. He wanted to teach his children where food comes from and cultivate their palates to value wholesome, nutritious foods. He wanted to help build a better future – for his family & for our planet.

Farms at Work is a charitable organization working to protect healthy, active farmland across east central Ontario. For over a decade, Farms at work has been working to support farmers, new entrants, and landowners through education, mentorship, and research.A tour of Cold Spring Organics - 1.5 acre market garden

Pasture Walk, Local Dinner, and Learning Stations at Heritage Cattle Company

Sponsored by Sunderland Co-op, Heritage Cattle Company and Peterborough County Dairy Producers. Proceeds will be donated to local agricultural charities – Peterborough County 4H and Farms at Work.

Date: Wednesday, September 10th
Time: 4:00pm-7:30pm
Location: Heritage Cattle Company
Address: 690 Scriven Road, Otonabee-South-Monaghan

Tickets: $20 online, $25 at the door (4H members free as always)
Join Farms at Work, Peterborough County 4H and Sunderland Co-op for a memorable night of local food and knowledge sharing.
This is an OSCIA approved Knowledge Sharing Event in the Rotational Grazing Systems category.

Schedule of Events:
4:00-5:30 pm – Pasture Walk

  • Meet the Heritage Cattle Company Farmers Aaron and Ben MacDonald
  • Rotational Grazing Systems with Tim Campbell, Pasture Specialist – Sunderland Co-op
  • Alternative Parasite Control with Derek Stanley – Merck Animal Health

5:30-6:15 pm – Local Supper sponsored by Sunderland Co-op and prepared by SKH Catering featuring:

  • Pulled beef from Heritage Cattle
  • SKH’s famous potato salad
  • Milk from local dairy farms (Kawartha Dairy)
Note:  Bring your own plates and cutlery!! Bring lawn chair(s) if you wish.

6:30-7:30 pm –  Information Stations

  • Cattle Handling Systems with Kloosterman Equipment
  • Pasture Nutrition with Elliott Stripp (Ruminant Nutritionist) & Ashley Ferren( Ruminant Feed Consultant) – Sunderland Co-op
  • Ask the Vet with Dr. Greg Aitken DVM of Peterborough Veterinary Services

Thank you to partners Sunderland Co-op, Heritage Cattle Company, Peterborough County Dairy Producers, Peterborough Veterinary Services, Merck Animal Health, Wallenstein Feed & Supply and the OSCIA
If you have questions please email Katie at education@farmsatwork.ca

Growing Grapes in the Kawarthas – A Tour of the Cheeky Duck Vineyard

Join Farms at Work to learn about growing wine grapes in the Kawarthas. What impact does the soil have? How do you choose appropriate varieties of grapes?  Bring your questions!

Cheeky Duck cultivates delicious wine in a respectful and harmonious way with their surroundings. Their 5-acre vineyard is home to Vidal, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Baco Noir, and Marquette varietals of grapes. Sustainability is woven into every part of the business. They are dedicated to being eco-friendly and carbon-neutral and their vineyard is a haven for butterflies and bees. Lively runner ducks assist with grazing and pest control. Additionally,they use vine pruning as an energy source during the winter.

What to Expect

A guided tour of the Cheeky Duck vineyard to learn about establishing, maintaining, harvesting and creating wine from grapes grown here at the edge of the Canadian Shield. Our host will share the vineyard’s sustainability practices. Sample their perfect blend of exceptional taste and sustainability with an optional wine tasting to end the tour.

Farm Tour Details

Location: 1786 Young’s Point Road, Lakefield

Date and Time: Thursday, July 31, 2025, 4:30pm
Tickets: $20 tour only
              $48.25 tour and wine tasting (19+ hosted by the Winery)
(Use the “Reserve Your Spot” button at the top of the page to buy your tickets)

Have the full experience with a dinner reservation! Michelin-trained Chef Josh Keepfer is a passionate supporter of local farmers, using locally sourced ingredients to create unforgettable culinary and beverage excellence.

Support Farms at Work with a donation:

A Passion for Food Innovation – Tour the Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre with Farms at Work!

Show your Love for Local food, and join Farms at Work for a tour of the Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre. OAFVC is a unique food manufacturing facility in our region, helping food entrepreneurs and farmers bring Made in Ontario products to market. The OAFVC is designed, built, and staffed to be a launchpad for food entrepreneurs moving into the next phase of business growth. Their production support provides access to safe, clean, food manufacturing spaces and qualified staff. Clients join their network of food entrepreneurs and industry supporters whose unique experiences and resources help the OAFVC drive opportunities for innovation that benefit all. The OAFVC is host to a wide range of equipment geared to innovate, scale-up, and advance food processing for clients. With a dedicated team excited by innovation and passionate about entrepreneurship, the OAFVC has successfully helped launch 175 food businesses and brought nearly 550 new Made in Ontario products to market between 2018 and 2025.

What to Expect
A guided tour with the manager of the Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre while it is in operation. We will finish our food innovation experience by sampling a few of the over 550 Made in Ontario products made by local food entrepreneurs and farmers at the OAFVC.

Spaces are limited, so sign up today to secure your spot!

Tour the Future of Farming with Farms at Work – Meet OZ, the In-Field Robot – and More!

About this event:
Vertical hydroponic farming, an in-field multifunctional robot, biodigesters, freeze driers and aquaculture – all in one morning! Durham College is sharing their passion for innovation, sustainable agriculture, and strengthening local food systems with us and you are invited!

Our first stop is The Barrett Centre in Ajax. They are Durham College’s dynamic new urban farm and hub of innovation in urban agricultural practices, research, education and training. Home to:

  • market garden & flower ranges,
  • hoop houses,
  • apiary,
  • indoor Growcer vertical farm

A 20 minute drive will bring us to The Whitby Campus Urban Farm. It is considered a living lab, where students have the ability to experience hands-on learning. Our tour will include:

  • market gardens and greenhouses
  • indoor farm and aquaponic growing areas
  • freeze driers
  • Biodigester
  • A demonstration of Oz , the autonomous weeder

The Oz, from Naio Technologies, is a multifunctional robot that assists in arduous and time consuming tasks – hoeing, weeding, making furrows, seeding and is 100% electric.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to see agricultural innovation in action.
Tickets: $20 (Durham College does not charge a fee. Tickets cover organizing costs at Farms at Work)

Let’s Get Canning with Nourish!

Join Nourish (on-line) to learn the basic skills needed to safely can your harvests (or purchases from local growers!) to help the taste of summer last all winter long!

We will review seasonal recipes step-by-step, learn safe water bath canning techniques and talk about other ways in which harvests can be preserved. We will open with a tip, and demo a quick technique and then leave the session open to questions!

Wednesdays at 6pm:

August 19th – You can Pickle that!

August 26th – Tomatoes – Salsa, Sauces & More

September 2nd – TBD based on seasonality and participant feedback!

Once registered, participants will receive a zoom link on the afternoon of the workshop.

Register Now

Growing Resilience: 5 part Gardening Series

Nourish project is hosting a 5-part on-line workshop series will help you reap abundant harvests today (no matter your garden size!) while planting for a more sustainable tomorrow!

Moved on-line from earlier workshop offered in the spring that had to be cancelled. Workshops will be offered on a secure zoom format

.