BARN CAT CUTE, CUDDLY AND RODENTUNFRIENDLY AT ROBVALE SPECKLE PARK, MILTON, ON August 2025 REVENGE SAVING P5 | TALKING EGGSHELLS P7 YOUTUBE LEARNING P11 | MAGNIFICENT MANITOBA P16
LAURA HOY, EDGEWOOD CANADIANS - CANADIAN FILLY EDGEWOOD INFERNO LENNOX CANADIAN FILLY, MISS LENNOX
GROWING FOR CANADA I have been stacking up the reasons why small scale is the way forward for Canadian farming. One overwhelming reason is innovation. Those who lack resources or depend on themselves often innovate to survive and then to thrive. Learning through trial and error is powerful and on a small farm the results are immediate. No sending it up the flagpole for approval or RFP required. Solutions can be implemented immediately and deemed acceptable or in need of rework. This tried, true and tested knowledge is valuable to others big or small. In the July-August issue of Small Farm Canada magazine Matt Jones discusses trade war silver linings, such as the resurgence in “buy Canadian” as a significant and positive change for small farmers. One standout in terms of barriers for small farmers is the inordinate amount of resources and policy that is trade-based in Canada and some feel that needs to change. Sylvain Charlebois of Dalhousie University captured this well in a recent post titled Globalism Hangover: What Trump’s Trade War Got Right. “For Canada’s agri-food sector, the lesson is clear: striking a better balance between global commitments and national imperatives is overdue. We should not abandon multilateral cooperation, but we must stop anchoring policy to global agendas we have little influence over. Instead, let’s define what works for Canadians—what supports our farmers, protects our food security, and reflects our unique landscape—while keeping the broader global context in view.” 250 & UNDER Cover photo Victoria Robinson Robvale Speckle Park, Milton, ON IN THIS ISSUE August 2025 | Vol. 1 Issue 4 EDITOR Julie Harlow | 1-866-260-7985 ext 272 Julie.Harlow@SmallFarmCanada.ca ADVERTISING SALES 1-866-260-7985 Sales@SmallFarmCanada.ca DESIGN | Andrea Williams CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS Ashleigh Benedict | 1-866-260-7985 x252 Subscriptions@SmallFarmCanada.ca MARKETING & OPERATIONS Denise Faguy | Denise.Faguy@Farms.com PUBLISHER | Farms.com Canada Inc. PRINT: The print magazine for Small Farm Canada is published six times each year by Farms.com Canada Inc. Subscription rate for one year: $24.95 (+tax). Single copy price is $5.95. SUBSCRIBE NOW! DIGITAL: Small Farm Canada Lite is published 6 times each year, tandeming the Small Farm Canada magazine print issues. Contact Info@ SmallFarmCanada.ca for your free subscription. Your privacy is important to us. Occasionally we may send you information from reputable companies whose products or services we believe may be of interest to you. If you would prefer to have your name removed from the list, contact us at Info@SmallFarmCanada.ca. Contents copyrighted by Farms.com Canada Inc. and may be reprinted only with permission. Copyright © 2025 Farms.com Canada Inc. All rights reserved. ISSN 1710 4955 Acceptance of advertising does not constitute endorsement of the advertiser, its products or services, nor do Small Farm Canada, or Farms.com Canada Inc. endorse any advertiser claims. The publisher shall have no liability for the omission of any scheduled advertising. 90 Woodlawn Road West, Guelph, ON N1H 1B2 www.SmallFarmCanada.ca PROUD TO BE CANADIAN OWNED! We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. Get social with Small Farm Canada IN THE NEXT PRINT ISSUE: SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025 HOMESTEAD ISSUE Booking deadline: Friday, August 8, 2025 Ad material due: Friday, August 15, 2025 Homesteading anyone? Our readers are striving to be kinder and gentler to Mother Earth. They want ideas on how to waste less, conserve more, sustain, re-use and recycle. That is our focus this issue, extending to off grid living and other lifestyle decisions that fit. Jeff Carter is a proponent and focuses his stories in the Intensive Garden. 5 NEWS & NOTES CURATED BY JUSTIN CARROW SK anthrax, Green Revolution 2, revenge saving, rabies #s, AMR & manure 10 LANEWAY MAINTENANCE ARTICLE BY DAN KERR Short and sweet how to: maintain the street 20 JUST BREATHE ARTICLE BY HELEN LAMMERS-HELPS Stress busters for farmers. 22 KILLING TIME IN THE DEEP FREEZE BY DAN NEEDLES A cool story for hot times. TOP: VICTORIA ROBINSON | BOTTOM RIGHT: 37 NORTH FARMS | 2025 ALL CANADA SHEEP CLASSIC | BOTTOM LEFT: CCESTEP8- ADOBE STOCK Want the print issue? Subscribe here! 16 A LITE LOOK AT MARVELOUS MANITOBA 18 2025 SHEEP CLASSIC
4 August 2025 35 Howard Ave, Elmira 519-669-5500 NOLT’S COMPACT MULCH LAYER CROP CARE PICK ASSIST TAR RIVER ROTO TILLERS 41”-81” width In-stock 1. 3 & 5 row. Also a good selection of Seed Rollers and Replacement Parts. JANG PUSH SEEDERS We’re helping you grow with these great brands: Weeding, planting & harvesting with ease! GOOD FOR A TIGHT BUDGET SOLAR CHARGED CROP CARE SPRAYERS From 25-750 gallons. Also Specialty Sprayers. CALL US FOR A FREE VEGETABLE AND FLOWER GROWING SUPPLY CATALOGUE AZS BRUSHER Call with your fruit and vegetable washing needs.
5 www.SmallFarmCanada.ca TOP LEFT: BLUECOOLY - ADOBE STOCK | TOP RIGHT: TENSOR5PARK - ADOBE STOCK | BOTTOM: PAVLO SYVAK - ADOBE STOCK NEWS & NOTES REVENGE SAVING After years of “revenge spending” post-pandemic, our neighbours to the south have a new financial priority. As the Trump administration’s ever- changing tariff policy unsettles the economic outlook, increases retail prices and shakes up the stock market. That new priority is boosting their savings. New data indicates Americans are buckling down when it comes to their finances. The personal savings rate, or the percentage of people’s disposable income that they save, increased to 4.9 per cent in April from 4.1 per cent in January, according to a recent report by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. “Revenge saving” is trending after years of high inflation with the prospect of continued economic volatility. Source: marketwatch.com ANTHRAX IN SASKATCHEWAN Saskatchewan Agriculture is asking cattle producers to be on the lookout for anthrax. Infections from the bacterial disease caused cattle loss in the northwestern region of the province in early May. Anthrax is caused by the spore-forming bacteria Bacillus anthracis. The pathogen can survive in spore form in soil for decades while changes in soil moisture, either flooding or drying, can spur a buildup of spores on pastures. A related news release noted that spores can concentrate in sloughs and potholes, and risk of animal exposure rises when areas dry up and become accessible. Cattle are infected when they eat forage contaminated with spores. Ruminants such as bison, cattle, sheep and goats are also highly susceptible. It can be prevented with vaccination. The Saskatchewan government urges farmers in areas with a history of anthrax to vaccinate their herds annually. Source: Canadian Cattle Association INDIA’S SECOND GREEN REVOLUTION May 4, 2025, could be a significant day in the history of agriculture. On that day, Indian agriculture minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the release of two gene-edited rice varieties. India — a country of nearly 1.5 billion people — is committed to gene edited technologies and modern tools to improve crop production. “This is a golden opportunity for the agriculture sector…. These new varieties will play a leading role in heralding the second Green Revolution,” says the Indian agriculture minister. Ironically the father of the first Green Revolution, Dr. Norman Borlaug initially described the Green Revolution as a shortterm fix to head-off the imminent starvation of millions. Gene editing involves changing the genetic code of a plant with technology such as CRISPR-Cas9, a technique used to cut sections of DNA. The gene edited varieties will provide multiple benefits, says the government: • 19 per cent increase in yield. • 20 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. • Improved drought, salinity and climate stress tolerance. India’s decision to embrace gene edited crops has global implications, as the country is the world’s largest producer of rice. Source: Seed World
6 August 2025 TOP LEFT: HISTOCK - ADOBE STOCK | TOP RIGHT: JULIE HARLOW | BOTTOM: DREAM MAKER - ADOBE STOCK MANURE STUDY AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE ABRIDGED FROM THE STORY BY STEPHANIE SOUCHERAY Livestock manure around the globe is packed with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) that could threaten human health, according to a new study in Science Advances. The study was published by Chinese and US researchers, who sampled 4017 manure specimens from pigs, chickens, and cattle in 26 countries over 14 years. Overall, the researchers found a reservoir of known (2291 subtypes) and latent ARGs (3166 subtypes). The detections conferred potential resistance to 30 antibiotic classes. “This research shows that what happens on farms doesn’t stay on farms,” said James Tiedje, PhD, one of the authors of the study, to Michigan State University. “Genes from manure can make their way into the water we drink, the food we eat and the bacteria that make us sick.” The authors said their map could be used as a helpful One Health tool as countries battle antimicrobial resistance. “There’s been a global push to reduce antibiotics in agriculture,” said Tiedje. “Denmark and other European countries led the way by banning growth-promotion antibiotics years ago and they’ve seen lower resistance levels as a result. “The data from this study can help countries decide what’s most important for them to act on and where those efforts can have the biggest impact.” Source: ProMED-AMR SMALL FARM CANADA it’s a sign! RABIES BY THE NUMBERS Ontario is going batty with confirmed rabies cases in 2025. So far this year there are 18 confirmed cases of rabies in bats. The other species affected in Ontario included six confirmed cases of rabies in red foxes. 2024 contrasted with 2025 (24 cases YTD) and 2023 (56 rabies cases – mostly bats) with 91 total cases including a confirmed human case. The first human case since 1967. Since the beginning of 2025 Quebec has had 34 positive cases of raccoon rabies confirmed. This is a heavy year in Quebec with almost five times their total case count in both 2023 (five) and 2024 (two), with racoons alone. Quebec has also had rabies confirmed in red foxes (two), Arctic foxes (two), dogs (two) and bats (one). On the other hand, 2025 has been rabies free for Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories and Yukon. These five provinces/territories were also rabies free in 2024. In 2023 three of the five, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Yukon were rabies free. What about the West and New Brunswick? These provinces have the distinction of having a moderate number of rabies cases now and historically, usually related to a single species. Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency
7 www.SmallFarmCanada.ca FROM SCRAPS TO SPROUTS: SUPERCHARGE YOUR GARDEN SOIL ARTICLE AND PHOTO BY AMY HOGUE & FINN HOGUE Whether you are growing just enough for yourself in a small kitchen garden or enough for a CSA in an acre or more field, your soil needs help. Every year of harvest extracts essential nutrients from your soil, and without replenishment imbalances and deficiencies can be created. Using commercial fertilizer is an option not every small farmer wants to consider and while low tech options like adding compost or manure may be an easy way to add nutrients back into the soil, it is a shotgun approach to a microscopic problem. For a more targeted approach, consider these Waste Not suggestions that are of benefit to both the environment and your pocketbook. EGG-CITED ABOUT CALCIUM Anyone with laying hens will no doubt have an abundance of eggshells. These discards are often added to the compost pile, and while their value in compost shouldn’t be overlooked, they can also be of particular use for targeted soil enrichment. Eggshells contain magnesium carbonate and are extremely rich in calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate, with each teaspoon containing between 800 and 1,000 mg of calcium. Beyond mineral enrichment, eggshells also add structure when worked into the soil, making it lighter and less likely to compact. Unfortunately, eggshells can take a long time to decompose and it’s not unusual to add fully digested compost to the garden and still find intact shells. This is why eggshell powder is the perfect way to get small enough shells to begin decomposing in the soil, adding those much desired nutrients. Note that while any eggshell will do, be aware that farm fresh eggs are higher in magnesium and calcium than commercially-farmed eggs. HOW TO MAKE EGGSHELL POWDER: 1. Rinse your eggshells to remove any remaining egg. 2. Collect your eggshells in a large bowl until you have a substantial quantity. Since you have rinsed the remaining egg out of the shells, there shouldn’t be any odour. 3. Now the easy part: let them air dry! 4. Grind the shells with a mixer, food processor, coffee grinder, or mortar and pestle. 5. Work the eggshell powder into your soil to improve structure and boost calcium, magnesium and potassium levels. Eggshells can also provide pest resistance as a coating of crushed eggshells in the garden is said to help deter several pests, both large and small. BANANAS ABOUT POTASSIUM Canadians eat a lot of bananas, consuming on average 15 kilograms of bananas each year. That means we are throwing out or composting a lot of banana peels! Besides their flavour, there’s lots to like about using bananas as a natural fertilizer. Bananas are high in potassium (330 mg), calcium (22.8 mg), magnesium (29.6 mg), and phosphorus (11.2 mg). Potassium is a key element needed for plant photosynthesis, while potassium and phosphorus are both essential elements in fertilizer. Banana peels are also aphid resistant and when used in banana peel powder, promote healthy plant growth, improve fruit development and enhance overall plant vigor. While you could take the easy route and bury a composting banana peel in your garden, this could become problematic as composting bananas may attract insects. Instead, you can make banana powder, an easy to use, concentrated, slow-release organic fertilizer that is the ideal plant food. In case you are thinking about how much you DON’T want rotting banana peels sitting on your counter for days until you have gathered enough to process, don’t worry. You can save your banana peels one at a time in the freezer until you have enough. Tip: Take the time to cut off the stem and end piece before putting the peels in the freezer as it will make processing day that much easier. HOW TO MAKE BANANA POWDER: 1. When you have saved enough banana peels for a batch (around 15 to 20 banana peels) thaw the entire bag on the kitchen counter. 2. Chop your banana peels into small strips, about WASTE NOT TOP: AMY HOGUE AND FINN HOGUE
8 August 2025 NOW AVAILABLE AT SELECT ALDERGROVE, BC 3600 248TH ST GRIMSHAW, AB 5023 54 AVENUE INNISFAIL, AB 4303 - 50TH STREET THORHILD, AB 221 - 2 STREET VERMILION, AB 5013 - 51 AVENUE KELVINGTON, SK 211 1ST AVENUE WEST KYLE, SK 111 RAILWAY AVENUE MEADOW LAKE, SK 107 - 2ND AVE W REDVERS, SK HIGHWAY 13 EAST SWIFT CURRENT, SK 1150 CENTRAL N SASKATOON, SK 3310 8TH STREET EAST ARBORG, MB 253 MAIN ST CARMAN, MB 61 MAIN ST N LOCATIONS IN WESTERN CANADA two to three inches. 3. Lay them on a cookie sheet lined with tinfoil, then put into the oven on low with the door slightly open (make sure outer skin is facing down so that they don’t stick to the tray). 4. Bake until the banana peels turn black - not burnt. Once cooled they should be very stiff and snap when bent. 5. Grind them into a powder using a blender, food processor or coffee grinder. 6. Work the powder into your garden soil to boost its nutrients and support healthy plant growth. Make this powder in winter and store in an airtight container until gardening season, then work directly into the soil in areas that could use a potassium boost. Use organic bananas if possible, as conventionally farmed bananas contain pesticides. Each banana peel will make approximately one tablespoon of banana powder. RECYCLED SEEDLING POTS Die-hard gardeners often reuse pots over and over as a cost-saving and waste reducing tactic. When you run short you can visit your local reuse centre to find an abundance of pots just waiting for a new home. The risk of recycling previously used pots is you could be introducing disease to your garden. This can be especially risky with pots that come from large commercial gardening centres where disease can be rampant. The unsuspecting gardener could pick these up and inadvertently introduce a disease into their virgin organic soil. Don’t risk it! Instead, if you wish to use recycled containers, clean and sterilize them first, or consider one of these options: • EGG CARTONS: While handy, the small size of an egg carton cup means seedlings will need to be transplanted at least once before planting in the garden. They also can fall apart with repeated watering. • PLASTIC CONTAINERS: You can reuse any short plastic container (ie. yoghurt, cottage cheese etc.) as long as you add drainage holes to the bottom of the containers to allow for drainage. • NEWSPAPER POTS: You can pick up discarded newspapers from your local reuse centre or dump and use them to make your own plant pots using origami techniques. The only drawback is the newspaper degrades with repeated watering. • EGGSHELLS: Start your seedlings in half an eggshell and when it’s ready to plant in the garden simply bury the entire shell.
9 www.SmallFarmCanada.ca Dear Editor, While reading your March/April edition of your magazine I was reading “How to make eggshell powder”. In that article on page 11, it said that you could grind up your shells in a coffee grinder. I have tried this and the eggshells took the finish off the inside of the grinder. I wouldn’t recommend doing this in a coffee grinder. I just thought that you might like to know. - Audrey V., Deloraine, MB In the March/April 2025 issue of SFC, Waste Not featured how to “supercharge” garden soil. One idea was to grind eggshells, using a coffee grinder as shells can take a long time to break down. Audrey’s experience while unfortunate is a useful caution. Best to err on safety and crush shells by mortar and pestle or even a rolling-pin. - Julie We would like to thank readers for their letters in response to ‘From Scraps to Sprouts’ originally published in the Mar-Apr 2025 issue of Small Farm Canada magazine. We are re-publishing it here with the letters to give you the full story.
10 August 2025 DAN KERR MAINTAINS THE LANE ARTICLE BY DAN KERR There are three common gravels for the base, middle, and top layers of a laneway. Pit run gravel is the cheapest to purchase. It is all natural and usually has a smooth texture which prevents it from packing but allows for good drainage. Drainage is an important base layer function. “A” gravel can be used for both the mid and top layer. As a top layer, a bit of washout is to be expected using “A” gravel but generally it will settle down and create a good drivable surface. If you can afford it, a top layer of “crusher run” gravel with its crushed stone and sand mix will finish the job to a well compacted surface. NOT SO LUCKY If you’re like me and got stuck with a mess that you just want to fix to a tolerable level so the Boss will stop mentioning it every time she looks out the window...then “A” gravel is the choice. “A” gravel is the main ingredient for making concrete, is easy to source and relatively cheap. “A” gravel is also nice to work with. It is easy to move and compacts well after grading. It also keeps its shape for the most part. MAINTAIN THE LANE My Kubota B7200 came with a float position on the loader controls which has been a godsend for leveling. While in reverse, I hold the control in the float position. The loader weight holds the bucket on the surface while the pitch of the bucket will determine the amount of material to be dragged. I have tried to grade going forward with a less-than-desirable result resembling a wicked washboard or steps. EQUIPMENT I use a grader blade with a three-point hitch that can be adjusted to different angles of grade including a full 180-degree reverse push position. Driving ahead in this position with the three-point control in neutral will allow the blade to float. The blade can also be adjusted to pitch left or right to crown the surface. I also use a box blade three-point attachment that is a ‘U’ shape allowing an accumulation of material in the ‘U’ so it can be evenly distributed. They come with scarfers that can be dropped down to rough the surface for top dressing. Either of these would do the trick for lane maintenance and are fairly close in price. If your tractor does not have three-point down pressure like mine, then you may be looking to place some weights on the attachment to make it effective. Before investing in one I recommend having a close look at how this can be accomplished. I made a roller once upon a time and equipped it with a rack to hold concrete blocks which worked nicely. Easy to acquire and load and inexpensive. The main problem with using concrete blocks as weights, is that after you finish rolling, the blocks tend to get used for other tasks around the farm and you’re shortly left with an empty rack! PRACTICAL THE CHOICE If you are just starting out and have a tractor with no loader, then the grader blade may be your best choice. It offers the most versatility for snow plowing, leveling earth and grading your lane. If you have a loader, then the grader box may be a better choice as it offers more of a single pass to get the job done, especially if you have a long laneway. TOP: SERGEY- ADOBE STOCK | BOTTOM: SCOTTCHAN - ADOBE STOCK
11 www.SmallFarmCanada.ca TOP: SEON HWA - ADOBE STOCK | BOTTOM: MACROVECTOR - ADOBE STOCK BELDING HILL FARMS New Brunswick Belding Hill Farms is a small, fifth-generation family homestead in New Brunswick, where Luke and Jill and their family raise heritage livestock, grow their own food, and share their journey toward self- sufficiency and sustainable living on the land built by his great- grandfather. CANADIAN PERMACULTURE LEGACY Ontario Canadian Permaculture Legacy YouTube Channel is run by Keith, who documents his journey transforming a 2-acre property in Zone 5 Ontario into a thriving cold-climate food forest. His videos focus on permaculture design, soil building, biodiversity, self-sufficiency, and regenerative living, all with the goal of creating a sustainable, abundant future “one tree at a time”. COLD CLIMATE GARDENING Saskatchewan Jacqueline, a passionate gardener from Zone 3B in Saskatchewan, shares her journey of growing resilient gardens in one of the harshest climates—where winters dip to -40°C and summers bring intense heat. Her channel offers practical tips, creative DIYs, and inspiration for gardeners working with short seasons and challenging conditions. LEARNING WITH YOUTUBE Have you ever used YouTube to find a fix? From changing a headlight to planting instructions and birthing a goat, the wide variety of content is sure to offer learning opportunities to anyone with a device and internet connection. Content providers often facilitate learning by breaking down complex challenges into smaller more digestible lessons that help to enhance retention. Learners can go at their own pace and are able to rewind and revisit the content. Perhaps YouTube’s greatest attribute is the often-engaging nature of the audio-visual presentation, helping viewers with diverse learning abilities comprehend and practice their new knowledge or skills. If you weren’t sold before – YouTube is cost effective for both users and content creators. If you are interested in supplementing your learning on YouTube, here are just a few of the awe-inspiring YouTube channels that we have discovered. EDUCATION CANADIAN SMALL FARM YOUTUBE CHANNELS + Special USA Mention Cornell Small Farm
12 August 2025 Build a foundation to start a successful farm enterprise Term 1 is now available Learn at your own pace! Certificate of Specialization in Organic Agriculture Start your certificate online in 2025! Take advantage of courses being offered that can count towards a certificate, diploma or degree. 100% online Certificate in Sustainable Soil Management dal.ca/exl Drought Assistance for B.C. farmers Access to Feed Program supports farmers and ranchers experiencing drought and feed shortages by matching producers to available feed supplies. AgriStability offers low-cost whole farm protection and financial support for when operations face large income declines. Learn more and apply for supports: gov.bc.ca/AgDrought The Government of B.C. has supports available for farmers during drought. As water scarcity becomes more common, we’re working with B.C. farmers to provide tools to prepare, and financial assistance to help with recovery. Production Insurance helps producers manage the risk of crop losses caused by drought, hail, spring frost, excessive rain, flooding, and other risks.
13 www.SmallFarmCanada.ca CORNELLSMALLFARMS United States Cornell Small Farms’ YouTube Channel features educational videos that support small-scale, sustainable farmers covering topics like vegetable and livestock production, marketing, and farm profitability. It’s an extension of the Cornell Small Farms Program, which offers training, resources, and community-building to help beginner and experienced farmers thrive. FAIRLY ROOTED Ontario Fairly Rooted is hosted by Amber, a neurodivergent ecological gardener, forager, and maker living in rural Ontario. With her family of five, she shares their journey of reviving neglected property into a thriving homestead through gardening, food preservation, DIY projects, and seasonal living. FARM & FOOD CARE Ontario, Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island Farm & Food Care Ontario shares authentic stories from Ontario’s agriculture and food sectors, offering a transparent look at how food is grown and raised. Their videos aim to educate and connect consumers with the people and practices behind their meals. FARMER SPREADSHEET ACADEMY Quebec Farmer Spreadsheet Academy is a YouTube channel by Dan Brisebois that teaches farmers how to master spreadsheet tools and techniques to improve farm planning, record- keeping, and data management in a practical, hands-on way. He delivers practical and valuable tools for farmers for record keeping and to help guide management decisions. Dan Brisebois is also the author of the recently released book the Seed Farmer, available through his website https://danbrisebois. com/seedfarmerbook/. FIVE CANADIAN ACRES Alberta A personal look into gardening in a short-season, cold-climate setting in Alberta. Through seed-starting, garden tours, and seasonal tips, the channel inspires and educates viewers on how to grow food successfully in Zone 3 conditions. FRASER VALLEY ROSE FARM British Columbia Jason, based in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia, specializes in rose cultivation and offers tutorials on cut flower farming and gardening techniques. He also gives options for cultivation of shrubs and trees. The demonstrations are practical and informative. GARDENING IN CANADA Saskatchewan Hosted by Ashley, a soil scientist with a Bachelors in soil science, who brings scientific insight to everyday gardening challenges. Her videos focus on cold-climate gardening, seed starting, soil health, and plant care—making science approachable and practical for gardeners across Canada and beyond. HIDDEN SPRING FARM Ontario The Hidden Spring Farm YouTube channel documents the journey of a couple transforming a 90-acre Ontario homestead into a self-sufficient farm and unique farm stay experience, sharing stories of animals, gardening, DIY projects, and rural living. A barn cat ownership, raspberry/blackberry growing, turkey raising friendly channel. LIFE ON A MANITOBA FARM Manitoba Life On A Manitoba Farm is a thirdgeneration family farm channel sharing daily life, repairs, and livestock care on a beef and chick- en farm established in 1907. They focus on custom grazing and handson homesteading. LIL’ TROYER FARM British Columbia The Lil’ Troyer Farm shares the raw, real-life experiences of a small family farm in northern British Columbia. Through heartfelt vlogs, they document the joys and challenges of raising goats, horses, and other animals on their 10-acre homestead, often weaving in themes of faith and resilience. MARITIME GARDENING Nova Scotia Maritime Gardening is based in Nova Scotia, and is run by a backyard gardener who maintains a 2,500-square-foot organic vegetable garden. The channel offers practical, no-nonsense advice on organic gardening, with a focus on no-till methods, cold-climate growing, and self-sufficiency, all grounded in real-life experience. MARKET GARDENER INSTITUTE Quebec The Market Gardener Institute YouTube channel is run by the Market Gardener Institute, an impactdriven social enterprise founded by Jean-Martin Fortier. It features educational videos that empower and inspire people to start and succeed in small-scale regenerative farming, promoting a global shift toward ecological agriculture. SHEEPISHLY ME Ontario Sandi Brock offers an honest, behind-the-scenes look at life on an Ontario sheep farm, blending the daily realities of agriculture with personal stories of motherhood and entrepreneurship. Through engaging vlogs, Sandi shares the triumphs and trials of lambing, farm management, and
14 August 2025 MIDDLE: TANIHO- ADOBE STOCK | 5CANADIANACRES | YOUTUBE rural living with humor, heart, and authenticity. SOUTH SASK. FARMER Saskatchewan Nicholas Moreau documents his farming activities in Saskatchewan, including equipment operations and farm shows. There is a focus on keeping old steel running, restoring and reusing old farm equipment of many colours. THE PERMACULTURE ORCHARD Quebec Stefan Sobkowiak is based in Quebec, near Montreal, where he runs Miracle Farms, a pioneering cold-climate permaculture orchard. His channel shares practical, science-informed insights on regenerative fruit tree growing, biodiversity, and ecological design, aiming to inspire a shift from monoculture to polyculture in home and commercial orchards. THE RIPE TOMATO FARMS British Columbia The YouTube channel The Ripe Tomato Farms is run by Jeff, a passionate gardener based on South Vancouver Island, British Columbia. His channel focuses on small-plot intensive gardening, offering practical, science-backed tips for growing food organically and efficiently, with a mission to inspire a shift in how we think about food and self-sufficiency. WILDERSTEAD Ontario Wilderstead documents the journey of a couple homesteading on a 16-acre wilderness property in northern Ontario, nestled along the shores of Lake Superior. Their videos showcase off-grid living, DIY projects, food preservation, gardening, and creative solutions for sustainable living in the Canadian Shield. YOU CAN’T EAT THE GRASS British Columbia Serina and Ian share their experiences running a market garden in Kelowna, British Columbia, offering insights into vegetable and flower farming on their 2.5-acre farm. They editorialize their efforts in planting and space limitations, marketing at farmers markets and farm gate as well as setting sales goals. They are bright and engaging. Students in agriculture and food! Apply for sponsorship to attend AWC EAST 2025, November 23 – 25, 2025, in Niagara Falls, ON Apply today at AdvancingWomenConference.ca/2025east/student-application/ APPLY TODAY!
15 www.SmallFarmCanada.ca WAYS TO ENGAGE AND GROW ON YOUTUBE There are many ways you can participate on YouTube. Whether you are solution seeking, looking to be informed or entertained, here’s a breakdown of the main ways people engage with the platform: 1. VIEWERS/COMMUNITY MEMBERS • Enjoy content from millions of creators across infinite genres like small farm education, news, entertainment, gaming and music. • Interact with videos by liking, commenting, and sharing to support creators and engage in discussion. • Stay up to date by subscribing to and/or becoming members of your favourite channels. • Create playlists to organize videos for personal use or to share with others. 2. CONTENT CREATORS • Upload videos and share original content such as vlogs (video blogs), tutorials, reviews, entertainment and music. • Broadcast in real-time to interact with their audience through live stream. • Post short-form videos (like TikTok or Instagram Reels). • Monetize your efforts by earning money through ads, memberships, Super Chats, and merchandise. 3. COLLABORATOR OR CONTRIBUTOR • Collaborate with creators or appear in or co-create content. • Contribute translations to help make videos accessible to a wider audience (if enabled by the creator). • Moderating chats or comments to help manage community interactions on a creator’s channel. TED (TECHNOLOGY, ENTERTAINMENT, DESIGN): TED Talks aim to disseminate knowledge, spark conversations, and challenge perspectives by presenting ideas in an accessible and engaging manner. TED Talks have a global reach, with billions of views annually, and are credited with global influence and inspiration. Conventional turned regenerative farmer and “Carbon Cowboy” Gabe Brown delivers an inspirational TED Talk on his important work related to rebuilding his ranch from the ground up. TOP: MACROVECTOR - ADOBE STOCK | BOTTOM: TED TALKS & GABE BROWN
16 August 2025 TOP LEFT: MAGR80 - ADOBE STOCK | MY WATERCOLORS - ADOBE STOCK | DAR - ADOBE STOCK | TRENDY IMAGE TWO - ADOBE STOCK | HANNA - ADOBE STOCK | TOP RIGHT: ARINAHABICH - ADOBE STOCK | BOTTOM: UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA AGROECOLOGY (BSC) The Agroecology program gives students an understanding of how to achieve economically sustainable agricultural production while conserving resources and maintaining the integrity of our ecosystems. Quite a juggling act that is playing out with agroecology students as part of the 30,000-student body at the University of Manitoba. A LITE LOOK AT MARVELOUS MANITOBA ARTICLE BY JULIE HARLOW MANITOBA FARMING FACTS • The canola plant was bred by Dr. Baldur Stefansson and Dr. Keith Downey at the University of Manitoba. (Economic Development Winnipeg) • Now, Manitoba remains a dominant canola growing force. In 2020, Manitoba produced 3.2 million tonnes of canola, accounting for 17 per cent of Canadian production. • Manitoba’s agriculture sector is a significant economic driver for the province, employing 23,180 people directly in 2020. • Manitoba has the highest average number of pigs per farm in Canada—over 5,000 pigs/farm. Also, home to Canada’s largest bacon processing facility. • Not only is the bison a symbol of Manitoba, but the province is also home to the third-largest bison population in the country with 86 farms raising 14,025 bison, according to the most recent data. (Canadian Bison Association) • Manitoba is also Canada’s second-largest potato producer following Prince Edward Island. • Although not agricultural, it is food, Pizza Pops were born here! They were invented in Winnipeg in 1964 by Paul Faraci. But when it comes to farming to scale…small farm Manitoba has some big ideas. DIRECT FARM MANITOBA The voice for the farmers’ market and small-scale farm sectors in Manitoba. Direct Farm Manitoba is a member-owned cooperative of direct marketing farmers and farmers’ markets with unique provincial programming. They support their members to achieve industry fairness and maximize their opportunities for economic sustainability. By helping our farms and farmers’ markets, we help all Manitobans make better decisions about the food on our tables. Direct Farm Manitoba have some amazing programs and courses available in two categories for new vendors that includes essential for start-up like booth set-up, tool-kit, marketing and more. The second category is related to health including health permits, commercial kitchen requirements, food handler training and more. YOUNG AGRARIANS MANITOBA Young Agrarians’ Canadian network supports new and young ecological, organic, and regenerative farmers. Young Agrarians’ work in Manitoba is especially focused on helping aspiring farmers get started, build skills, and connect with a supportive community. • YA APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM: Offers immersive, paid, hands-on learning experiences on farms across Manitoba. • COMMUNITY GARDENS: A great entry point for those not ready to commit full-time. • VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: Includes partnerships with organizations like WWOOF and local food initiatives. • EDUCATIONAL EVENTS: Mixers, farm tours, and workshops help build community and share knowledge. Young Agrarians Manitoba supports farmers in cities like Winnipeg, Steinbach, and Brandon. They also promote local events like the Direct Farm Manitoba Conference, Harvest Moon Festival, and Ducks Unlimited Grazing Clubs.
17 www.SmallFarmCanada.ca TOP TO BOTTOM: AURORA FARM | DEER MEADOW FARMS | GREEN BEACH FARM & FOOD | MORNING SOUND FARM | 37 NORTH FARMS SMALL FARM MANITOBA, BIG IDEAS Here are a few examples of small farms that are also a force and voice of Manitoba agriculture. AURORA FARM Located in St. Norbert, Manitoba, the Aurora Farm operates a sustainable, solar-powered endeavour producing goat milk soap, compost, hay, produce, herbs, and honey. They offer a variety of workshops in herbs, soap and cheese making and raising backyard chickens. They also host school and group tours as well as goat and alpaca yoga. MORNING SOUND FARM Morning Sound Farm is a family- run farm in Sanford, Manitoba with a vision to give each visitor a face-to-face experience with animals and help them learn some thing new about where food comes from. The farmers are also educators that ensure visitors understand their environment i.e. that they are a farm and that they eat their animals. They also inform about their beliefs, that animals are on “Earth to be enjoyed, cared for and made use of in the most respectful way.” DEER MEADOW FARMS Deer Meadow Farms is a popular destination just outside the city of Winnipeg with a corn maze, petting zoo, and market garden. The farm provides the platform for safe interaction with farm animals and enforces a strict code of behaviour at all times to ensure the health and welfare of visitors, farm animals and farm employees. 37 NORTH FARMS 37 North Farms is a small vertical farm supplying local restaurants and community with fresh lettuce, herbs, and greens. Their love for fresh produce plus their commitment to sustainability inspired the farmers to start 37 North Farms. They believe in bringing locally grown, organic produce to our neighbors, ensuring high-quality and safe food for all. GREEN BEACH FARM & FOOD The Farmer, Zack Koscielny, B.Sc. Agroecology, University of Manitoba and full-time regenerative farmer in Strathclair, Manitoba – is a fierce advocate for ecological farming and improving soil. Zack has spent the last five years farming full-time, after graduating from the University of Manitoba. His education has continued on the farm. He continued to pursue and apply knowledge from other farmers and communities aspiring to regenerative ag. He currently raises grass fed livestock, organic grains and consciousness in regenerative agriculture. Koscielny also blogs about some common-sense regenerative so- lutions to problems in Manitoba agriculture (and beyond,) problems like soil salinity. It is projected that 600,000 acres are impacted by low or no production due to salinity in Manitoba. He suggests re-establishing perennial vegetation that can change to abundant and productive forage production. “While the profit potential of forages is often much less than annual grains such as canola, if the canola yield is somewhere between zero and say 25 per cent of potential, suddenly forage crops are a much more viable option,” says Koscielny. https://aurorafarm.ca/ AURORA FARM MORNING SOUND FARM DEER MEADOW FARMS 37 NORTH FARMS GREEN BEACH FARM & FOOD
18 August 2025 TOP GENETICS, STRONG SALES, AND NATIONAL PRIDE AT THE 2025 ALL CANADA SHEEP CLASSIC The 2025 All Canada Sheep Classic took place from July 10–12 at the Keystone Centre in Brandon, Manitoba, drawing breeders, producers, and sheep enthusiasts from coast to coast. As Canada’s premier showcase of elite sheep genetics, the event highlighted the strength and diversity of the national flock. Friday’s show on July 11 featured spirited competition across 16 breeds, culminating in the crowning of the Supreme Champions—an annual highlight for breeders and spectators alike. Saturday’s sale saw strong demand and solid prices, with ewes averaging $1,201 and rams averaging $1,368. The high-selling ewe, a North Country Cheviot named Coneygeers Gema WDT 6N, was consigned by Deborah Wytink of Nanaimo, BC, and purchased for $2,600 by Roger Chartrand of Quebec. The top-selling ram, a Suffolk named TNSC 5196N, was consigned by The Northern Sheep Company of Lemberg, SK, and fetched $7,500 from Justin Elder of Westmoreland, Kansas, USA. This year’s sale is expected to further strengthen cross-border genetic exchange between Canadian and American flocks. We invite you to enjoy the highlights of this year’s Classic through the photos—proof that Canada’s sheep industry is thriving, one fleece at a time. LIVESTOCK A class of Suffolk ewes. Elizabeth (Betty) Wallace was 1 of 3 breeders inducted into the Canadian Sheep Breeders’ Association Hall of Fame Brien Sheep of Ridgetown, ON claimed top ewe (Brien G&L 64M) and ram (Brien G&L 46M) awards for maternal breeds in the 8th annual GenOvis awards. The Supreme Champion Get of Sire was awarded to the Southdowns of City & Country Southdowns, of Carbon, AB Stone Hill Sheep of Chatsworth, ON claimed top ewe (Stonehill 6N) and ram (Stonehill 92M) awards for terminal breeds in the 8th annual GenOvis awards. Supreme Champion Flock honours went to Texels consigned by Brien Sheep of Ridgetown, Ontario.
19 www.SmallFarmCanada.ca The Supreme Champion Ewe title was awarded to an Ile de France, Cool Ally 35M, consigned by Cool Ally Livestock of Timkins, Saskatchewan. Judge, James Hewson, examines the Breeder’s Flocks during the supreme championship drive. Gerald Knight was 1 of 3 breeders inducted into the Canadian Sheep Breeders’ Association Hall of Fame Ferme Ovimax of St-Philippe de Néri, QC took home both top ewe (Ovimax Mila RR 36492M) and ram (Ferme Ovimax RR 36358M) awards in the prolific breed category. Retiring Board Member Kim MacDougall, was honoured for his 20 year commitment to the CSBA board. Linda Westman was 1 of 3 breeders inducted into the Canadian Sheep Breeders’ Association Hall of Fame. The Supreme Champion Ram was a Charollais, Sandy Hill Missile 83M, consigned by Sandy Hill Charollais of Red Deer County, Alberta. Keith Todd, Lucknow ON was recognized for his time spent on the CSBA board, as well his time spent serving as president of the board.
20 August 2025 TOP: PEOPLEIMAGES.COM - ADOBE STOCK STRESS BUSTERS ARTICLE BY HELEN LAMMERS-HELPS Stress can negatively impact our mental health, our physical health, our relationships, and our ability to make good decisions. Incorporating good stress management practices into our days, even when we’re busy, pays off. That’s according to Kathy Somers, who runs the Stress Management and High Performance Clinic at the University of Guelph. She teaches clients, including farmers, how to calm the mind, the emotions, and the nervous system. This can help people better cope with the effects of stress which include poor sleep, stomach issues, inability to focus, and more. After you’ve taken all the steps you can to minimize stressful situations, Somers says what’s left is to manage your reactions to stress. Getting the brain and body to a place where you are making it more resilient to stress will help you weather life’s storms. Somers, who grew up on a farm near Woodstock, Ontario, says there is strong research to support the effectiveness of the techniques she teaches her clients. These techniques fall into three categories: self-calming, self-care, and self-talk. SELF-CALMING “If you’re rushing around to beat the rain or to get equipment ready, but you take a few minutes to self-calm on your lunch break, you’ll have better digestion,” explains Somers. Likewise, if you can calm yourself before bed, you can also get a better night’s sleep. Self-calming techniques include gentle stretching to loosen up the muscles, self-massage, meditation, relaxation exercises, or focusing on the breath. “Focusing on your breathing is maybe the easiest and most powerful and not noticed by anybody else,” emphasizes Somers. “You can do it in social situations, while watching TV, at the dinner table when stressful topics are discussed and no one will notice.” She recommends aiming for a four second breath in and a six second breath out unless that’s uncomfortable. SELF-CARE As the saying goes, self-care isn’t selfish. In fact, it can go a long way in making it easier to cope with the stress of long days, equipment break-downs, pest problems, finances, bad weather, market instability, etc. Being active is good for your cardio system and for health overall, says Somers. She also recommends protecting your sleep and eating nutritiously. When you don’t eat for more than four hours, stress chemicals are released. She suggests planning for busy seasons by having some healthy snacks (a combination of carbohydrates and protein) on-hand in the tractor or in the barn. Somers explains that some stresses such as financial pressures or fear of letting your family down are long-term stresses. There are no quick fixes for these problems which can lead to farmers experiencing chronic stress. While adrenaline is released as a result of short-term stress (e.g. equipment breakdown or rushing to town for parts), cortisol is released during long-term stress which hurts the immune system. While a few minutes of breath work may be sufficient to calm the nervous system when coping with short-term or acute stress, longer calming techniques are needed to deal with chronic stress. Somers suggests 20 minutes of meditation, calm breathing, or progressive muscle relaxation. Physical activity can also help burn off cortisol. MENTAL HEALTH
21 www.SmallFarmCanada.ca SELF-TALK Somers says our thoughts can make chronic stress worse. Our brain is built for worrying, she says, explaining that it’s a protective mechanism with an evolutionary advantage. If we can be aware of a problem before we put the seed in the ground, for example, we might be able to figure out a plan based on our past experience. But worrying works against us when it doesn’t lead to a plan of action. Somers says “the greatest challenge may be when there is no easy answer, when I do not have control such as the economy, the weather, my family members or employees.” When we realize that we are worrying about things that are not in our control, Somers says the recommendation, which is supported by a lot of research, is to acknowledge that you cannot control these things. Then, refocus efforts on what you can control. Limit the amount of time you spend on things you have no control over such as bad news. Spend a good portion of your day on the things you do have control over such as your farming practices. Figuring out which techniques work best for you will take some experimentation, says Somers. “Just because somebody says yoga works well for them doesn’t mean it will work for you.” SOCIAL SUPPORT The research also strongly supports the benefits of connection, of social support, says Somers. “It’s not the number of people in your social circle…it’s the quality of those connections.” Unfortunately, she says, some people tend to isolate when they are stressed. They may feel they don’t have the energy to be with other people. And while farmers often have the advantage of being connected to nature, they may also spend a lot of time alone, working by themselves all day. She urges farmers to pool their resources and work together on problems by using the community, social and professional resources that are available, noting that “increasingly, there are counsellors who have agricultural knowledge.” RESOURCES Relaxation and Stress Management Skills Training by Kathy Somers. www.SelfRegulationSkills.ca Do More Ag aims to cultivate a culture of mental well-being within Canadian farming communities. List of Canada-wide contacts for support available: https://www.domore.ag/crisis-contacts AQUACULTURE SUPPLIES LAKE & POND SUPPLIES Est. 1989 Your Pond & Lake Professionals Since 1989 For a complete line of solutions anytime Visit our Updated Website: FishFarmSupply.ca SALE ON UNTIL MAY 31 ,2025 FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL US AT 519-669-2192 Email us @ efsaudersales.ca or vISIT US AT OUR WALLENSTEIN LOCATION Rotary Plow Power Harrow * SALE extended until october 31, 2025 Chipper/Shredder Precision Depth Roller
22 August 2025 KILLING TIME IN THE DEEP FREEZE STORY BY DAN NEEDLES ILLUSTRATION BY MATTHEW NEEDLES In this house, when snow falls and stays on the ground it has always been a signal that I should put down tools, come in from the barn, sit at the desk and write something. Anything. Nothing I do in the barn ever generates a profit. It does give me all sorts of ideas and themes to write about, but until I convert those experiences into prose, my family does not eat. Well, of course, we eat. The freezers are full of chickens, pork and beef and there are all sorts of preserves on the shelf going back a half century. But the point is, my farming is a part-time occupation that must take second place to my vocation which is writing. Writing produces the cash that pays the heat and hydro and buys supplies for the next growing season. The prime season for writing, free of distractions, is the dead of winter. The notion that farming is supposed to be a full-time occupation is a very modern concept. The pioneers who built my house and barn had any number of sidelines they followed to make ends meet. They were woodsmen and road builders, teamsters and military men. Come to think of it, this farm has never had a resident who would have called himself a full-time farmer. The last ‘farmer’ to live here before me was a welder who lived in the city and came up on weekends during the spring and summer months. Champlain spent the winter somewhere around here in 1615 and he wrote how his hosts, The Wendat, spent the whole winter in graceful repose, eating out of their vast storehouses of corn, squash and runner beans, smoking and telling tall tales in the firelight. He came to envy the way they lived. Whenever I hear a cash cropper complain about the crushing workload and his 24/7 work week, I wonder what The Wendat of the sixteenth century would have had to say. Their idea of 24/7 was 24 hours a month, 7 months of the year. That put food on the table and left lots of time for ice fishing, moose hunts and naps. Still, for those who do not follow a lucrative sideline off the farm the question of how to occupy oneself in winter can be a puzzle. In the grocery store the other day one of my neighbours laughed about the problem and told me, “If you drive up the 10th Concession and stop into any of those insulated drivesheds you will find them all sitting drinking beer. And they won’t come out till March.” That didn’t sound healthy to me. But then, sitting by the fire playing crokinole and Scrabble for four months, like my wife does, isn’t that healthy either. This is why farm meetings were invented. The soybean outlook conference and John Deere Days were constructed to pry farmers out of their shops and into like-minded company and they have been operating in various forms around this country since first settlement. A good farm seminar with lively speakers offers all sorts of opportunities to expand our understanding of agriculture. Unless you feel the same way the writer Paul St. Piere did when his wife told him he might learn something if he went out to a farm meeting. “Hell, honey,” he said. “I’m not farming half as well as I already know how.” Years ago, an old friend of mine lost his shirt on an investment he made in the cutting- edge concept of on-farm seed treatment. He pioneered the idea of a mobile seed treating machine that would come to the farm and save the farmer the trip into town to wait six hours while the job was done at the elevator. Turns out the farmers liked the trip into town in late February and very much looked forward to sitting in the Legion throwing darts until the bags were ready to be picked up. Mobile seed treatment was never heard from again. For a writer, winter still offers more than its share of distractions. Keeping the fire fed, the sheep fed, the family fed, the pipes thawed, the driveway plowed and the neighbors supervised can easily morph into a full time occupation. And then there is the Driveshed Coffee Club, my writers group, the Blue Mountain Poultry Club, the Blind Line Stitch and Bitch Club, the ice fishing derby and the dog training lessons I signed up for. If past experience is anything to go by, I will be lucky to emerge in the spring with a first draft of anything. LARKSPUR SUPPER CLUB
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