Join the Ontario Farmland Trust (OFT) on Saturday, October 18th, at 10:00 AM -11:30 AM for an exciting morning at the Bourgeois Farm in Tiverton, ON. This hands-on event is a chance to connect with the land, learn about the farm’s community gardens, and take part in planting next year’s garlic crop. The day will […] The post Meet the Garden, Meet the Farm: Bourgeois Farm Community Garden Showcase Event appeared first on Ontario Farmland Trust.| Ontario Farmland Trust
As today, September 30th, marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we pause to reflect on the painful legacy of Canada’s residential school system. We invite you to engage in resources and actions that honour the survivors of residential schools and the intergenerational harm and ongoing injustice that Indigenous communities face today. One of […]| Ontario Farmland Trust
Land use planning policies in Ontario protect a great deal of farmland. The reality, however, is that we continue to lose 319 acres of farmland every day in Ontario, and we’re losing our best, most productive agricultural soils the fastest. In fact, between 1976 and 2021 Ontario lost over 20% of its farmland. This loss is unsustainable, […]| Ontario Farmland Trust
Farmland Easement Agreements are the strongest tool available to farmland owners who want to protect their land forever Farm families can partner with the Ontario Farmland Trust (OFT) to establish easement agreements that ensure their farmland will never be converted to urban development or other non-agricultural uses while maintaining full ownership of their property. The […]| Ontario Farmland Trust
Donating your farm to the Ontario Farmland Trust (OFT) is a viable option for farmland owners who want to support farmland protection in Ontario, ensure farming of agricultural lands into the future, and are prepared to transfer ownership of their land. The following outlines the key things you should know about donating farmland to OFT. […]| Ontario Farmland Trust
The Ontario Farmland Trust, with support from the Greenbelt Foundation, is leading a community-driven study exploring the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve (DRAP). This initiative will provide a framework for the DRAP, Ontario’s only agricultural preserve, to help it reach its full potential as a cornerstone of the region’s food system, while strengthening efforts to protect and […]| Ontario Farmland Trust
Our incredible volunteer, Sarah, recently spoke with one of our valued board members, Mike Douglas, about his commitment to tackling local environmental issues, making his voice heard, and the experiences that paved the path for him to do so. Activist, not actor, is what comes to mind when speaking with OFT Board Member Mike Douglas, […] The post Meet the OFT Board: Mike Douglas appeared first on Ontario Farmland Trust.| Ontario Farmland Trust
Our incredible volunteer, Sarah, recently spoke with one of our valued board members, Marsha Paley, about the instrumental experiences shaping her career progression, volunteer pursuits, and her personal and professional achievements. With one foot in her prairie farm heritage and one foot in the “Garden of Canada”, colonially known as Burlington, Marsha’s path inevitably came […] The post Meet the OFT Board: Marsha Paley appeared first on Ontario Farmland Trust.| Ontario Farmland Trust
Spending the summer with the Ontario Farmland Trust (OFT) has been an incredibly rewarding and eye-opening experience both professionally and personally. As someone with a passion for ornithology and conservation, this co-op has allowed me to deepen my species identification skills, explore rich and diverse ecosystems across Ontario, and contribute meaningfully to the protection of […] The post A Summer Among the Fields and Forests: Harpreet’s Co-op Experience with OFT appeared first on O...| Ontario Farmland Trust
By Martin Straathof, Executive Director, Ontario Farmland Trust At the Ontario Farmland Trust (OFT), we deeply appreciate the work of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI), an organization that continues to bring rigour, insight, and relevance to some of the most pressing challenges facing Canada’s agri-food sector. Their recent report, The Economics of Farmland Use, […] The post Farmland Values & Viability: A Reflection on CAPI’s Latest Report and What It Means for Ontario app...| Ontario Farmland Trust
Since 2004, our mission has remained constant: to protect Ontario’s irreplaceable farmlands, forever. What began as a small group of volunteers building a land trust from the ground up has grown into a passionate community, a movement, and a legacy in motion. By the end of this year, we will have doubled our staff team, […] The post OFT Turns 21! appeared first on Ontario Farmland Trust.| Ontario Farmland Trust
Ontario Farmland Trust (OFT) is seeking a dynamic and motivated Project Manager to lead the implementation of a Best Management Practices (BMP) demonstration farm project focused on enhancing soil health and water quality in the Lake Huron watershed. This project is in collaboration with the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) and other regional partners and […] The post We’re Hiring! Demonstration Farm Project Manager appeared first on Ontario Farmland Trust.| Ontario Farmland Trust
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Kincardine, ON – The Ontario Farmland Trust (OFT) and Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) are pleased to announce they have been jointly awarded $514,000 through the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA)’s 2025–2027 Canada-Ontario Agreement (COA) and Lake Simcoe Program. The funding will support the implementation and demonstration of Best […] The post Press Release: OFT and ABCA Partner to Launch OMAFA-Funded Soil and Water St...| Ontario Farmland Trust
On Wednesday, June 18th, the Ontario Farmland Trust hosted its Annual General Meeting. The meeting was held hybrid again this year, with members and friends joining both virtually and in person. The meeting was overseen by Board Chair Margaret Walton, Secretary Megan Mills, and Treasurer Bethanee Jensen. Executive Director Martin Straathof also highlighted OFT’s 2024 […]| Ontario Farmland Trust
Every day in Ontario, we lose 319 acres of farmland to non-agricultural land uses like urban development and aggregate extraction.| Ontario Farmland Trust
Ontario’s farmland is a finite and non-renewable resource that we cannot afford to lose. Farmland provides us with food, fuel, fibre, flowers, and more, and every Ontarian relies on it in one way or another. Even so, we lose thousands acres of farmland every week to non-agricultural development including urban sprawl and aggregate extraction. This […]| Ontario Farmland Trust
