Farming involves a complex set of skills. So it makes sense that the best way to learn how to farm is to adopt a multi-pronged approach. Try to learn from as many sources as possible and try to have a range of types of sources — from classes to mentorships, books to webinars. Small Farm Canada can help get you started.
Be bookish
A college or university degree can provide a solid foundation for a life in farming, but isn’t essential. Books, magazines and courses can also serve as excellent sources of information. However, “book learning,” as the old-timers say, isn't enough. You need to get your hands dirty, literally.
Sleeves up!
Hands-on learning is essential. This could be achieved through co-op programs at universities or colleges. Many farming organizations, particularly organic farming groups, offer apprenticeship or mentorship programs where you work with a specific farmer throughout a growing season. Through WWOOF, (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) you can be introduced to a variety of farm skills while working, living and learning on many different types of organic farms across the country and abroad.
Continuing Ed for Farmers (or Ag.Ed for the Aged)
Learning to farm never ends. Experienced farmers can continue to learn new skills, hone their existing skills and discover the latest in technological advances. This type of Continuing Education can be achieved through conferences, workshops, farm tours, field days and online learning.
Online learning
If you already have a farm, it might not be easy to leave the land to take a course or go to a conference. This might be too expensive or you might be needed at home to do chores. If you have livestock, particularly milking animals, it’s hard to leave the farm for even a full day. That doesn’t have to be an obstacle. You can learn from the comfort of your own house, often at your own schedule and for free.
Various institutions offer online courses. When you review the guide, you will see many references to webinars. These are online videos. A webinar might show a farm tour or a talk at a conference. Other webinars are created by farmers for farmers. They might demonstrate certain farming techniques or how to use new technology. If you have a farming question try searching for the answer on YouTube.
Search for “farming podcast” online and you will find a long list of farm-related audio shows. You can subscribe to these (usually for free) or just pick and choose which ones you want to hear. While you’re in the barn or truck, you can listen and learn.
Online learning depends on a reliable internet connection. It’s too bad that some of the people who need online learning the most, people in remote areas who can’t easily get to workshops or farm tours, might not have the capability to use it. Before signing up for an online course, check that your Internet connection is sufficient.
There's so much to learn and so many resources. Small Farm Canada provides this guide to help you navigate your way through the many educational opportunities available to Canadian small farmers.
The following guide is a selection of establishments that offer educational resources for farmers. The groups range from small non-profit organizations with a specific focus, such as the Horse Council of BC, to large national charities, such as Canadian Organic Growers, to universities. As you read through the listings, keep in mind that location is becoming less of a barrier. You might live off a gravel road in the Yukon, but still be able to take courses at the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada based in Nova Scotia. The opportunity for online learning continues to expand. If you have high-speed internet, your options are endless.
Learning opportunities
4-H Canada 4-H Canada believes in nurturing responsible, caring and contributing leaders through positive youth development programming across Canada. Learn more at 4-h-canada.ca.
AgriStartNB connects prospective farmers with a “one-stop shop” to help them investigate opportunities and also helps existing farmers who are looking to expand. www.agristartnb.ca
AgSafe is the non-profit health and safety association for agricultural producers in British Columbia and provides site-specific workplace safety consultation, education and resources. AgSafe also offers a Certificate of Recognition (COR) program for large and small employers. For more information about agricultural workplace safety, call 1-877-533-1789 or visit www.AgSafeBC.ca.
Alberta Land-use Knowledge Network ran a MOOC (massive open online course) about urban agriculture & local food: Growing Insights. Resources from the course are at landusekn.ca.
Algonquin College in Ottawa offers on-campus and online courses on topics including Urban beekeeping, Field to farm, Between farm and table and Animal husbandry. www.algonquincollege.com
Assiniboine Community College, over several campuses in Manitoba, offers part-time, full-time and continuing Ed courses including the Master Gardener program and certificate in Sustainable Food Systems. assiniboine.net
Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network (ACORN) is undergoing a period of transition now, but has provided many educational opportunities in the past. Keep checking the website to see what this non-profit organization will offer in the future. Meanwhile, you can learn about organic farming and gardening from the online resource library. www.acornorganic.org
ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture Program is managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) in the US. The website provides fact sheets, technical guides, webinars and podcasts on many aspects of sustainable farming. Many of the online resources are free. attra.ncat.org
Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security, a program of USC Canada, offers seed training opportunities. Find videos, webinars and publications at seedsecurity.ca. Contact regional coordinators (seedsecurity.ca/en/about/regions) to find out about events.
BC Association of Farmers' Markets. A one-stop shop for farmers' market managers, board members, farmers and vendors looking for practical webinars, workshops, training, resources and networking opportunities to advance the local food sector in British Columbia. bcfarmersmarket.org
BC SPCA delivers FarmSense four times a year with news about farm animal welfare, research and updates on what the BC SPCA is doing to help further farm animal welfare in Canada. www.spca.bc.ca/farmsense
Biodynamic Association offers a number of learning opportunities ranging from webinars, online courses and apprenticeships. www.biodynamics.com
Camosun College in Victoria, BC, provides certificate, diploma, degree and continuing education programs, and used the college’s Indigenous Plant Garden as a living classroom. camosun.ca
Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program discovers, celebrates and recognizes young farmers who exemplify progress and excellence in Canadian agriculture. Eligible nominees must be farm operators between 18 and 39 who derive a minimum of two-thirds of their income from their farm operations. Each year the program’s seven regional representatives attend the National Recognition Event and two of those representatives are chosen as Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers. Check out www.oyfcanada.com for more info.
Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) provides farmers and farm managers with online resources to provide skills to manage workers. www.cahrc-ccrha.ca
Canadian Angus Association offers a mentorship program for new breeders of Angus beef cattle. cdnangus.ca
Canadian Farm Learning Centre presents complex financial topics in an easy-to-understand online format. Course subjects include farm legal and tax structures, financial management, succession planning, business management and wealth management topics. www.theretiringfarmer.com/canadian-farm-learning-centre/
Canadian Organic Growers (COG) is a national charity working to create a sustainable farming system across the country. Their educational services help gardeners and farmers raise livestock and grow crops using the organic approach. COG offers training workshops and webinars, and produces publications on topics related to organic agriculture. Online courses include: Intermediate-level Organic Vegetable Seed Production Course; Growing Food 2 – Growing Nutrient Dense & High Energy Food and Introduction to Organic Certification Webinar. The Organic Backyard Workshop is held at various locations in Fall 2019 & Spring 2020.cog.ca--COG's Guide to the Canadian Organic Standards: This guide was developed to help readers understand the Canadian Organic Standards. It is meant to help producers and processors adapt practices so their products can be certified organic as well as help consumers understand how certified organic products differ from non-organic products. www.cog.ca/home/resources/standard-guide
Canadian Organic Growers (COG) Lending Library contains over 1500 titles on organic agriculture and related topics in books, video and audio tapes, DVDs, articles and periodicals. The library is available to the Canadian public for free. Anyone can access the catalogue online, create an account, request item(s) and then the item(s) will be mailed to your door (along with free return postage). cog.ca/library
Canadian Total Excellence in Agricultural Management (CTEAM) program takes place over 16 months in four modules across Canada. Producers and ranchers use their own farm data to create a strategic plan for their farm operation. Participants also learn about financial management, human resource management, succession and estate planning. www.agrifoodtraining.com
Canadian Young Farmers’ Forum aims “to assist young farmers with information while exchanging ideas that lead to progressive strategies to ensure farming success in Canada.” It does this through networking, workshops and conferences. cyff.ca
Carlton Trail College offers a variety of farming courses in Saskatchewan. www.carltontrailcollege.com
Cégep-Heritage College offers farming and gardening courses on campuses throughout Quebec. Courses may be full-semester, weekend or evening classes. cegep-heritage.qc.ca
Centre de formation agricole de Mirabel (CFAM) provides courses on farming on an 18-hectare school farm, composting site, sugar bush and production greenhouses in Mirabel, QC. www.cfam.qc.ca
Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia (COABC) is an umbrella association representing organic certifying agencies in BC. The organization aims to provide consumer confidence in the organic product certification, assist producers to increase market share and support regional development of organic food production, processing and marketing. COABC strives to ensure high quality organic products are produced in sufficient quantity and in a manner that nurtures healthy soil, biological diversity and ecological harmony. certifiedorganic.bc.ca
Cleanfarms works closely with industry members, ag-retail and municipal collection sites and farm organizations to help farmers safely dispose of or recycle agricultural plastics and products. www.cleanfarms.ca
Community Seed Network is an online platform that connects and supports organizers, volunteers, and activists involved with community seed initiatives such as seed libraries, Seedy Saturday events, or community seed gardens. Click on “learn” at communityseednetwork.org
Conestoga College in Kitchener, ON, provides workshops and online courses on food-related and farming topics. www.conestogac.on.ca
Cornell Small Farms Program has interactive online courses led by experienced educators and farmers. These cover topics to help farmers improve their technical and business skills. smallfarms.cornell.edu/online-courses
Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture in Truro, NS, offers university credit courses and extended learning courses. You can get certificates in Animal Welfare and Organic Agriculture, or diplomas in agriculture. The Extended Learning Department offers in-class workshops on subjects as diverse as Tractor Safety, Welding, Positive Animal Training, The Modern Beekeeper, Master Gardener Summer School and Integrated Pest Management. Certificates that are offered online include a Specialization in Organic Agriculture, Nutrient Management Planning, Cannabis Production and Management and a Master Gardener course. dal.ca/exl
Earth Haven Learning Centre in Thomasburg, ON, is set up to assist farmers and gardeners to deepen their connection with nature and their use of organic, biodynamic, restorative and sustainable practices. The Centre offers workshops on introductory biodynamics. Its on-line bookstore has a wide variety of books on beekeeping, woodlots, permaculture, livestock, soil fertility, composting, root cellars, preserving, water and seed saving. The Centre publishes an annual planting calendar that incorporates artistic as well as scientific elements to make it easy for folks to plant and harvest at ideal times. earthhavenlearning.ca
Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario supports farmers to build resilient ecological farms and grow a strong knowledge-sharing community. Established in 1979 to promote the advancement and understanding of ecological agricultural methods, EFAO is run by farmers, for farmers. The group focuses on farmer-to-farmer training and support to help each other make a better living growing real food while improving soils, crops, livestock and the environment. Join EFAO at a field day and the annual EFAO Conference in December! efao.ca
eOrganic has free articles and webinars about innovative organic farming practices and current research. eorganic.info
Everdale is a registered charity and a working production farm in Hillsburgh, ON, that offers curriculum-based, practical courses including the Sustainable Farming Certificate and The Farm Planner course taught by farmers. Growing great crops or raising healthy livestock is one piece of a successful farm business, but how good are you at marketing? Or managing your finances? Managing risks? If you are thinking of starting your own farm business or struggling with an existing one, Everdale’s Farm Planner course is for you. Seven full-day sessions spread out over four months with a host of experienced farmers acting as teachers. Everdale has helped launch over 100 new farm businesses and yours could be next! www.everdale.org
Farm Business Resource Centre contains information, resources and tools related to farm business management in the form of articles, videos and podcasts. www.fmc-gac.com
FarmLINK.net is a national land listing platform that connects Canadian farm seekers, farmland owners and rural regions with a new generation of farmers. FarmLINK provides free webinars. FarmLINK.net
Farm Management Canada is the only national organization dedicated exclusively to providing the resources necessary to enable Canadian farmers to make sound management decisions. See Farm Management Canada Learning Opportunities below.
Farms at Work offers farming courses and business planning for new farmers in Peterborough, ON. www.farmsatwork.ca
Fleming College in Lindsay, ON, offers a Sustainable Agriculture Co-op program. The one-year college graduate certificate is designed for new farmers seeking an intensive, applied learning experience in sustainable, ecological or natural farming methods. Students learn from experienced farmers and practitioners in class and on farm field days, and develop their own business case and farm plan. The program includes a 16-week, on-farm co-op experience. flemingcollege.ca/programs/sustainable-agriculture-co-op
FoodWork.ca is a directory of job and volunteer opportunities in the field of sustainable agriculture. Farm apprenticeships and mentorships are listed on the site. www.foodwork.ca
Gaia College teaches people online, worldwide, about organic land care. People learn how to use no chemicals, no pesticides, no fertilizers, and that healthy soil equals healthy plants and creates healthy ecosystems. Online classes start in January, May and September, lasting 14 weeks and completed on your time. www.gaiacollege.ca
Georgian College in Barrie, ON, has part-time and one-day courses on farm business management and farm processing. www.georgiancollege.ca
The Growing Connection (TGC) teaches and facilitates health and taste at the doorstep. TGC's space-and water-efficient organic gardens are at homes, schools, seniors’ residences and community projects across Canada and around the world. www.thegrowingconnection.com
Home Quarter is an online meeting place for farmers and agricultural organizations. www.thehomequarter.ca
Horse Council of BC offers online courses on equine care (all free to members, some free to non-members), as well as providing educational booklets and brochures online. www.hcbc.ca
Ignatius Jesuit Centre has a 19-acre farm in Guelph, ON, provides an intern education program with weekly curriculum and field work, as well as public workshops about gardening and farming. ignatiusguelph.ca--Just Food has a Start-Up Farm Program to support new farmers in the Ottawa region. By offering access to land, shared infrastructure/equipment and workshops on farming and seed saving, the program aims to enable more people in this region to start their own successful farm. justfood.ca
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) in BC hosts a Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainable Agriculture, the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems, Richmond Farm School and Tsawwassen Farm School. The Institute for Sustainable Food Systems at Kwantlen Polytechnic University is an applied research and extension unit focused on the advancement of regional, alternate market, regenerative agriculture and food systems as integral and foundational to sustainable community and society. KPU’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainable Agriculture integrates the science and art of agro-ecosystem management with deep exploration of human and ecological dimensions of food systems. Students engage in learning through classes, practical training on the certified organic teaching and research farm and student research projects. A core component of the degree is hands-on training in production agriculture and marketing. In addition, students engage with the community and gain experience planning and managing a weekly market stand from May to October. www.kpu.ca/agriculture
Lakeland College has hands-on agricultural training at campuses in Vermilion and Lloydminster, AB. The student-managed farm has both crop and animal components. www.lakelandcollege.ca
McGill University’s Macdonald Campus in Ste. Anne de Bellevue, QC offers agricultural science degrees, majors and specializations in Agro-Environmental Sciences, Animal Production, Ecological Agriculture, Professional Agrology, Agricultural Economics, Agri-business, Environmental Economics, Global Food Security and International Agriculture. Also available is an engineering degree in Bioresource Engineering with agricultural options in Bio-Production Engineering including Agricultural Engineering and Professional Agrology. www.mcgill.ca/macdonald
National Farmers Union (NFU) is a voluntary organization made up of Canadian farm families who share common goals. NFU members believe that the problems facing farmers are common problems, and that farmers producing diverse products must work together to advance effective solutions. The NFU works toward the development of economic and social policies that will maintain the family farm as the primary food-producing unit in Canada. Chapters throughout Canada hold workshops and meetings. www.nfu.ca
Olds College’s Continuing Education in Olds, AB, offers certificates, short courses, distance learning, evening classes and online programs. Topics include Agriculture, Animal Sciences, Business, Equine, Fibre Arts, Horticulture, Land & Environment, Service Industry & Food Production and Trades & Industrial www.oldscollege.ca
Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) delivers free workshops and webinars on behalf of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, an initiative to strengthen the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector and increase its competitiveness, prosperity and sustainability. www.ontariosoilcrop.org
Organic Alberta is the voice of organics in Alberta. The group communicates with and for the sector, markets the organic brand, encourages and supports producers to become organic, cultivate better production practices and advance business development. Organic Alberta does this by hosting conferences, creating resources and connecting farmers. organicalberta.org
Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC) is based at the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus in Truro, NS. To stay up to date with the latest developments in the science supporting organic agriculture, subscribe to OACC’s monthly electronic newsletter, Organic Friends’ E-zine. OACC’s website provides links to practical and scientific resources. www.dal.ca/oacc
Organic Council of Ontario provides a monthly newsletter with organic news, events, and educational opportunities in Ontario. organiccouncil.ca
Organic Federation of Canada (OFC) provides educational resources for organic farmers, certifiers and processors, including the opportunity to ask organic experts questions about organic standards. Find the Q&As, the Directory of Organic Inputs and educational articles on the website and in the e-newsletter. organicfederation.ca
Prairie Organic Grain Initiative produces Pivot and Grow, an online bank of resources and information to make the transition to organic field crop farming, including information on weed control, soil fertility and organic certification. Pivot and Grow will get you started on your journey to organic farming and walk you through important issues to consider while making the transition to organic production. www.pivotandgrow.com
Providence Farm in Cowichan Valley BC has a Therapeutic Farm Program hosted by the Vancouver Island Providence Community Association (VIPCA). The Therapeutic Community of Providence Farm offers both workshops and volunteer opportunities in agriculture and horticulture in Duncan, BC. providencefarm.wildapricot.org
Richmond Farm School is an eight-month farming program of the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. This program occurs every Saturday and focuses on small-scale, urban intensive, cost efficient organic vegetable production. This course takes place on City of Richmond ALR land and students will be learning on a ¼ -acre teaching plot. Graduates of the program are eligible to access ¼ - ½ acre of land to start their own farm operations. www.kpu.ca/rfs
Rodale Institute offers free webinars on many organic topics including workshops recorded in the field, in addition to a free 15-hour online program designed to help farmers make the transition to organic production. rodaleinstitute.org
Saskatchewan Agriculture offers articles and free webinars on topics such as plant pests, silage issues, soil tests and focussed webinars on many weeds. Search for “Sask Ag Now” at www.saskatchewan.ca
Seeds of Diversity is a Canadian charitable organization whose members and volunteers work to preserve the biodiversity in our food. They believe that when people save seeds, they are helping build a self-reliant food system, and creating a new relationship with the plants, pollinators and seeds that keep people fed.
Their work includes maintaining an extensive seed library, supporting “Seedy Saturday" events across the country, running a Canada-wide seed savers exchange network, and more. They say: Join us! Become part of a growing movement of seed savers, gardeners, eaters and anyone interested in building a strong and vibrant seed system. Seeds.ca
Seneca College offers online and college courses on topics including urban farming, sustainable food production and organic land care. www.senecacollege.ca
--School of the New American Farmstead at Sterling College offers one to two-week courses “for agrarians, culinarians, entrepreneurs and lifelong learners” on topics such as mushroom production, fermentation and cheese-making. Many courses are led by authors of Chelsea Green’s books. sterlingcollege.edu/school-of-the-new-american-farmstead
Soil Health Coalition trains citizens in Erin, Ontario, in the principles of soil health and leads them in collecting soil and water measurements. soilhealthcoalition.ca
SOIL (Stewards of Irreplaceable Land) facilitates apprenticeships with small scale farmers across Canada. soilapprenticeships.com or call 778 528 229
Thompson Rivers University in Williams Lake, BC, offers an Applied Sustainable Ranching Diploma, an agriculture and enterprise management program where students learn about regenerative agriculture and land management practices while living on their home or mentor farms and ranches. tru.ca/ranching
Tillers International in Michigan offers classes in farming and logging with draft animals, as well as traditional farm homesteading and artisanal skills, such as blacksmithing, timber framing and woodworking. tillersinternational.org
Toronto Botanical Garden has classes on subjects such as urban beekeeping, horticultural therapy and gardening. torontobotanicalgarden.ca
Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN) Farm School is a collaboration between TFN and the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Within an eight month term, students learn about sustainable, organic agriculture and traditional indigenous food ways. The program takes place on traditional TFN lands on an eight acre farm with a native plant garden, orchard, market garden and livestock (hogs and chickens). Graduates of the program are eligible to access ¼ - ½ acre of land to start their own farm operations. www.kpu.ca/tfnfarm
University of BC Faculty of Land and Food Systems offers courses on animal welfare, sustainable agriculture and the responsible use of land and water. www.landfood.ubc.ca
University of the Fraser Valley offers degrees, one-year certificates, two-year diplomas, and specialty part-time courses on several campuses in BC. Courses include Agriculture Technology, Horticulture Crop Production, Livestock Production and Bachelor of Agricultural Science. www.ufv.ca/agriculture
University of Guelph offers four year Bachelor degrees in Agriculture, BComm in Food and Agricultural Business, and Bachelor of Bio-Resource Management in Equine Management, as well as diplomas in Agriculture, Horticulture and Equine Care and Management. www.uoguelph.ca
University of Saskatchewan offers in-depth courses and degrees in agriculture, as well as online and short courses for the public and many great online resources, such as Gardenline Online. gardening.usask.ca
U+ Training Portal provides links to more than a hundred learning opportunities in Quebec including webinars in French. uplus.upa.qc.ca
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) volunteers help in exchange for food, accommodation and learning opportunities in organic farming and gardening. www.wwoof.ca
Young Agrarians is a “farmer2farmer” resource network for new and young ecological farmers in Canada. Their website includes videos of farm tours. youngagrarians.org.
Conferences
Farming conferences are held throughout the country. These provide an excellent way to learn about the latest technology and research findings, and also to hear farmers talk about their own farms. Many conferences offer workshops for both beginning and experienced farmers.
A huge advantage of going to a conference (or farm tour) is meeting other farmers face to face. While online learning and book research are convenient, they can’t replace the great lessons you can learn from talking to other farmers. Sometimes, I learn as much or more during the informal conversations over lunch and coffee breaks than I do in the actual talks. When you look at the agenda of a conference and are trying to decide whether or not to go, consider the great value of the social networking that happens at the event.
July 19: Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Rodale Institute Annual Field Day. rodaleinstitute.org/get-involved/visit/organic-field-day/
August 13-15: Calgary, AB. Canadian Beef Industry Conference. canadianbeefindustryconference.com
September 9-15: Across Canada. Canada’s National Organic Week. A national celebration of organic food, farming and products across the country involving chefs, farmers, retailers, schools and restaurants. organicweek.ca
September 20-22: Unity, Maine. Common Ground Fair. A celebration of rural living with hands-on demonstrations of working with draft animals, fibre arts, rural living skills, scything and much more. www.mofga.org/TheFair
October 9-10: Niagara Falls, ON. Canadian Greenhouse Conference. Promoted as “Canada’s foremost event for flower, vegetable and nursery growers, the Canadian Greenhouse Conference is the ultimate connection point for growers, suppliers and research partners.” www.canadiangreenhouseconference.com
October 17-19: Red Deer, AB. Alberta Sheep Breeders' Association 2019 Symposium. 50th Anniversary Symposium for the sheep industry. www.albertasheepbreeders.ca
October 27-29: Niagara Falls, ON. Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference East. A leadership conference for women passionate about agriculture. Meet industry leaders and experts, learn valuable tips on financial management, health and balance of life strategies, and more. The Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference is created for every woman who is passionate about agriculture and food. Farmers from Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador may be able to get subsidies from their provincial agri departments. Also, scholarships are available for students. www.advancingwomenconference.ca
Late fall to spring. Across Canada. Seedy Saturdays and Sundays. Share, swap and sell seed — and often learn how to save seed at the same time. seeds.ca/events
December 2-5: Belleville, ON. Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO) Conference. This year's theme is "A Climate of Curiosity". efao.ca
December 2-4: Fredericton, NB. Agricultural Excellence Conference. A one-of-a-kind event in Canada, focusing on bringing diverse industry experts and stakeholders together from across disciplines, regions and commodity sectors to share insights and explore beneficial farm management practices, with leading farm business thinkers.fmc-gac.com/programs-services/agricultural-excellence-conference/
Dec 4-8: Fredericton, NB. Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program National Event 2019. Atlantic Alumni are excited to invite one and all to the idyllic rolling hills of the St. John River Valley in NB. We will tour farms including picturesque potato, dairy, grain farms and orchards dotting the historical valley. oyfcanada.com/language/en/event/oyf-national-event-2019-time-to-celebrate-2
January 7-8, 2020: Ridgetown, ON. SouthWest Agricultural Conference. Dynamic speakers and industry-leading agricultural experts provide leading information to meet today’s agricultural challenges along with a trade show. www.southwestagconference.ca
January 23-26, 2020: Guelph, ON. 39th Guelph Organic Conference & Trade Show. Up to 1800 participants attend Guelph each year, ranging from two acre market gardeners up to large certified producers. “There's something for everyone at this show” with 150 booths and 40 workshops. www.guelphorganicconf.ca
February 2020: Cornwall, ON. Annual EcoFarm Day. An annual full-day conference put on by the COG Ottawa-St. Lawrence-Outaouais Chapter with speakers from across the country giving lectures and workshops on various topics related to organic production. www.cog.ca
February 28 - March 1, 2020. British Columbia. BC Organic Conference. The Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia (COABC) holds an annual conference with workshops, seminars and networking opportunities for new and established farmers, as well as the general public. www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca
February 19-20, 2020: Niagara Falls Ontario. Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention. Annual conference/trade show for fruit and vegetable growers. www.ofvc.ca
March 23-24, 2020: Calgary, AB. Advancing Women Conference West. A leadership conference for women passionate about agriculture. Open to university/college students, producers, association representatives and corporate agri-business. Meet industry leaders and experts, learn valuable tips on financial management, health and balance of life strategies and more. Network with over 500 women from across Canada who are just like you. www.advancingwomenconference.ca
June 11-14, 2020: Moncton, NB. Canadian Angus Association National Convention. cdnangus.ca
Urban agriculture
Farming is no longer confined to the country. City-dwellers are raising everything from vegetables, mushrooms and herbs to bees and chickens. The farm might be on a rooftop or in a warehouse under lights. It could be a plot in a community garden or a radical front lawn. Many resources are available to help urbanites learn to grow their own food and possibly start a farm business in the city.
To learn how to grow in a city, contact your local community garden or check out the following.
Alberta Land-use Knowledge Network has resources about urban agriculture & local food at Growing Insights. landusekn.ca.
Algonquin College in Ottawa offers on-campus and online courses on urban farming, community gardens and urban beekeeping. www.algonquincollege.com
Canadian Organic Growers (COG) has materials for urban farmers in the free mailing library. Also, certain chapters, such as COG-Ottawa, offer urban gardening courses. www.cog.ca
Gaia College offers 14-week online courses on organic gardening and land care that can be used by urban farmers. www.gaiacollege.ca
Grow Calgary is a 100 per cent volunteer-run urban community farm dedicated to providing fresh, local, sustainable and healthy produce to compassionate food access organizations and vulnerable Albertans. Get hands-on training by volunteering. growcalgary.ca
FoodWork.ca lists opportunities for working or volunteering on urban farms. www.foodwork.ca
Just Food is a non-profit, community-based organization working on rural and urban food and farming issues in the Ottawa area. justfood.ca
PACT Grow to Learn Program teaches students and communities about food and gardening; it feeds families and seniors in low-socioeconomic areas; it creates safe green spaces for pollinators and it transforms communities. pactprogram.ca
Richmond Farm School at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in BC is a nine month, hands-on program held each Saturday. Students learn small-scale, high-production, cost-efficient, “lean” urban farming. Subject matter includes everything from soil health, plant life cycles, vegetable production, water and compost management to ergonomic farming practices. www.kpu.ca/rfs
SPIN Farming. Find out how to “make farm-size income from garden-size plots with the SPIN-Farming guide series.” www.spinfarming.com
The Urban Farmer offers consulting, design and education for small farmers, urban food growers and community food security initiatives in Powell River, including organic agriculture and permaculture tours to Cuba. www.theurbanfarmer.ca
Toronto Botanical Garden has classes on urban beekeeping and gardening. torontobotanicalgarden.ca
Urban Farm School in Calgary offers workshops on urban homesteading, permaculture, raising backyard chickens and more. www.urbanfarmschool.ca
Young Agrarians hosts training and networking events for new farmers, including urban growers. youngagrarians.org.
Beyond the barn and field
Keep in mind that the success of a farm depends on more than just knowing how to grow crops or raise livestock. For example, knowing how to wash and store your crop is an essential part of producing a good farm product. The type of packaging also can make the difference between whether your crop looks fresh from the field or wilted. Packaging also affects whether consumers will want to buy your product. Many conferences cover issues such as post-harvest treatment, crop storage and packaging.
Marketing is hugely important whether you're selling at a farm stand, to the farmers’ market or selling wholesale to a supermarket. You need to understand the market, know how to price and package your product, and find a way to convince customers to buy it. You also need to do this within a budget and with a business plan. Fortunately, there are many courses, webinars and workshops that focus on marketing, recordkeeping and farm business skills.
Growing your people skills
You may be talented at working with plants or livestock, but if your operation is too large for you to manage yourself, you'll also need to know how to manage staff. Farmers tend to be an independent sort and managing staff isn't necessarily a skill that comes naturally. Courses and webinars can help.
You might also want to learn about succession. Heed the advice of others as to how you can pass your farm onto the next generation without harming the farm or family relationships.
Farm Management Canada learning opportunities
Agricultural Excellence Conference The Agricultural Excellence Conference is a one-of-a-kind event in Canada, focusing on bringing diverse industry experts and stakeholders together from across disciplines, regions and commodity sectors to share insights and explore beneficial farm management practices, with leading farm business thinkers. https://fmc-gac.com/programs-services/agricultural-excellence-conference/
Agriwebinar® Agriwebinar® provides farmers and agriculture professionals with access to topical and timely farm business management information from anywhere at any time. Agriwebinars are available from any mobile device or desktop computer using any internet connection. https://fmc-gac.com/agriwebinars
AgriShield® AgriShield is a comprehensive risk assessment and mitigation platform for Canada’s farmers, developed under the leadership of Farm Management Canada. It is the first platform to offer a 360 degree view to help assess and put a plan in place to manage risks on the farm. https://fmc-gac.com/agrishield/
Bridging The Gap: Transition Planning Workshop for Farm Families The Bridging the Gap Workshop welcomes farm families to work with renowned farm family coach Elaine Froese and farm management consultant Cedric MacLeod to address some the elephants in the room that are preventing or hindering succession planning back on the farm. https://fmc-gac.com/programs-services/btg/
Canadian Total Excellence in Agricultural Management (CTEAM) Program CTEAM takes place over 16 months in four modules across Canada. It is exclusively for producers and ranchers, using your own farm data to create a strategic plan for your farm operation. Participants will also learn financial management, human resource management, succession and estate planning. www.agrifoodtraining.com
Farm Business Resource Centre FMC-GAC.com is the central online database for any and all information, resources and tools related to farm business management. From articles to videos and podcasts, the website allows you to search for information related to any area of farm business management. https://fmc-gac.com
Managing Investment Costs of Machinery Farmers will be given the tools to construct and implement the optimum machinery management strategy for their farms, including how much equipment to have, how to choose the most favorable equipment option, whether it is owned and financed or leased, and for how long it is held. http://www.agrifoodtraining.com/managing-investment-costs-of-machinery
Managing Risk in Agriculture Online Learning Module This module provides farmers with the opportunity to assess and develop plans to seize opportunity and mitigate the negative effects of risk. The module includes interactive exercises along with practical analysis and planning tools. http://canadianfarmlearningcentre.com/
Pledge to Plan Web Portal www.PledgetoPlan.ca provides a one-stop-shop for farm business planning resources that coincide with the business planning process. You will have access to assessment tools, planning and evaluation tools to help complete, review and assess your business plan.
Commodity groups
Check out local organizations focused on the crops or livestock you’re interested in. In much of Canada, there are provincial or even countywide organizations for goats, sheep, beekeeping, organic farming and more. Local groups provide the advantage of networking; you may meet a mentor at a local group and find out more about the local growing conditions and resources.