At Home on the Range

Jul 01, 2022

Throughout Frontenac County you will find small-scale farmers and food producers that follow regenerative and sustainable farming practices. Producing everything from cows, pigs and chickens to cheese, honey, vegetables and fresh flowers, there is a collaborative effort and collective consciousness to give back to the land that provides so much nourishment to us. But what does that mean exactly? Foremost it means that there is a conscientious effort within the agricultural community to give back to the land that they are farming. For example rotationally grazing animals so that the soil has time to rejuvenate, protecting and encouraging biodiversity on the farm and planting for pollinators are only a few examples.

These farms play an important role in our food system, not only providing consumers with more options but options that allow you to know exactly where your food is coming from and how it was raised. Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes of a local farm? You can experience a taste of farm life at Maple Ridge Farm in Sydenham, while not open to the public, through one of their Farm Experiences, various workshops and educational events. Meet Becky and Mark and immerse yourself in nature, whether its suiting up to see the inside of a bee hive, strolling though the flower fields or collecting eggs and petting cows you will leave with a new appreciation for the work farmers do and contribute to our community. You can even help out with farm chores like building fences and moving cows for an experience you wont soon forget !

New farmers Rob and Sarah Winney of The Rise Farm in Godfrey approach farming with a focus on how they can live with less and make use of more while becoming increasingly interested in their impact on the planet and the ethical practices behind raising animals for meat. Their emphasis on the welfare of their animals ensures the highest quality products and they don’t take the responsibility of feeding their customers lightly. Rob and Sarah pride themselves on being local food producers and supporting the local food scene in Frontenac County documenting their daily life on social media, sharing everything from daily chores and gardening to what they are making for dinner. www.therisefarm.com

We encourage you to learn more about what you eat and how food actually gets to your table because fostering a connection to where our food comes from is essential for the future of our local food security. So next time you are making your grocery list schedule the time to swing by your local farm or farmers market, get to know your local farmer and enjoy all of the farm fresh goodness grown and produced right here in Frontenac County. Check out Fronteanc County’s Open Farms event to learn more about your local farmers.