Ontario Farmland Trust

Home
Canada
Guelph, ON
Ontario Farmland Trust

Protecting Farmland Forever We work with individual landowners to permanently protect their farm properties, so that they may remain farmland forever.

We also regularly engage with public policy discussions, and conduct outreach and education to raise awareness about farmland loss in Ontario.

06/16/2026

Introducing our newest protected farm, the 125-acre Mighton Farm. The property remains actively cultivated through a rotation of corn, oats, wheat, barley, and beans, with a diverse range of agricultural soils, including Classes 1–4 and Organic Soils.

Its natural areas provide important habitat for wildlife, including amphibians, pollinators, and several species at risk such as Monarch, Barn Swallow, and Eastern Wood-pewee. The farm is also home to two endangered tree species: Black Ash and Butternut.

Every step forward, and every acre protected is as much yours as it is ours, because we all benefit from farmland.

If you’re able, we invite you to make a donation and join us in accelerating farmland protection in Ontario: ontariofarmlandtrust.ca/donate

Read more about the Mighton Farm: https://ontariofarmlandtrust.ca/2026/06/16/press-release-125-acres-of-farmland-and-natural-habitat-permanently-protected-in-grand-river-watershed/

06/12/2026

Mark your calendars! We’ve got a busy season of free events ahead of us at the Bourgeois Farm, and we’d love to see you there.

🌱 June 26th: Best Management Practices (BMP) Demonstration Plots Planting Event

Join the OFT team for a hands-on experience at the BMP Demonstration Plots, helping to set up the plots and transplant 960 bok choy seedlings.

🚜 July 11th & August 5th: Best Management Practices (BMP) Demonstration Plots Tours

Tour the BMP Demonstration Plots, and learn about the current activities and innovative practices being demonstrated on-site.

🔦 July 18th: Moth Night

Participate in National Moth Week by joining us for a fun night of observing and identifying moths!

Learn more about the events and sign up here: https://ontariofarmlandtrust.ca/news/

06/09/2026

The growing season is in full swing, and we thought it would be fitting to share the OFT-protected farms offering fresh produce and on-farm experiences throughout the year. These farms are permanently protected through OFT’s Farmland Protection and Stewardship Program using a range of protection tools, including Conservation Easement Agreements (CEAs) and donations of farmland.

A CEA is a voluntary legal agreement that permanently protects farmland and its associated natural features from future non-agricultural development, while allowing the land to remain in private ownership and active agricultural use in perpetuity. Other farms, like Bourgeois Farm, are protected through fee simple donation, where ownership of the land has been entrusted to OFT to ensure it remains protected and farmed for future generations.

Farmland has always been at the heart of the foods we share and the memories we make. When farmland stays in active production, it continues feeding communities, supporting local businesses, and creating opportunities for people to connect with where their food comes from. We’re proud to work alongside you to help make that possible for generations to come.

Learn more about our Farmland Protection and Stewardship Program: https://ontariofarmlandtrust.ca/farmland-protection/

06/04/2026

OFT protected farms, the Bourgeois Farm and the Phillips Farm, are featured in the Grey Roots Museum’s exhibit, Local Stories: Changing Weather, curated by the Georgian Bluffs Climate Action Team .

Last weekend, Neala and Joel attended the Voices for Climate Action Outdoor Expo to share more about the farms alongside local community groups.

The exhibit will be on display all summer long. To learn more and plan your visit, check out the museum’s website: greyroots.com

06/02/2026

Join us in welcoming Alicia to the OFT team! As our Community Mobilization and Engagement Specialist, she brings expertise in municipal policy planning, project coordination, heritage conservation, sustainability, and leadership, with a passion for supporting the positive and sustainable growth of local rural communities. She aims to empower communities to advocate for farmland preservation and sustainable practices and use her skills to achieve positive policy outcomes.

In her free time, Alicia enjoys spending time outdoors, practicing Pilates, thrifting, listening to music, and exploring local coffee shops.

05/30/2026

We’re hiring a Manager of Operations!

This role is a senior leadership position responsible for strengthening the operational backbone of OFT. Reporting to the Executive Director and working closely with the management team, this position leads the development and improvement of internal systems across finance, human resources, IT, compliance, governance support, and internal coordination.

The deadline for applications is Monday, June 8, 2026, by 11:59 pm EST

Learn more and how to apply here: https://ontariofarmlandtrust.ca/2026/05/30/were-hiring-manager-of-operations/

05/29/2026

After a winter of conversations and community input, we’re so excited to begin transitioning the Bourgeois Farm’s former pasture into vegetable production through a bok choy variety trial, paired with BMP demonstrations focused on soil health, water retention, nutrient management, and climate resilience. This season’s BMP work will compare different mulch treatments and explore cover crop timing and adaptive grazing using virtual fencing technology.

At the start of this month, Chelsea and Ben transformed part of the farm into community garden plots, as pictured! These plots will be used by community members and partners, with a portion of the produce dedicated to food share and food security organizations throughout the community, including Drop-In at The Bridge and the Kincardine Food Bank.

Join our Bourgoeis Farm newsletter to stay tuned as these projects continue to unfold, and more details for community engagement arise: https://signup-can.keela.co/bourgeois-farm-newsletter

Thank you to TD Friends of the Environment Foundation for supporting our community gardens

05/26/2026

Photos from the field featuring the Farrow Farms with Joel, Claire, and Neala 🌾

Spanning 627 acres of protected Class 1, 2, and 7 agricultural soils and natural areas, the Farrow Farms produce sheep, hay, row crops, potatoes, and honey. The landowners are dedicated stewards of the land, actively spreading seeds from the endangered Butternut trees on their homestead to encourage regeneration throughout the property’s natural areas.

The farms are also home to five species at risk: Butternut, Barn Swallow, Eastern Meadowlark, Eastern Wood-pewee, and Monarch.

Learn more about the farm here: https://ontariofarmlandtrust.ca/protected-farms/farrow-family-farms/

05/22/2026

Join us for a hands-on event focused on invasive species management and riparian restoration on OFT’s Bourgeois Farm. Participants will learn how to identify and manage invasive species such as Garlic Mustard, Common Buckthorn, Multiflora Rose, and more, while exploring the role of native plantings in erosion control, biodiversity, and healthy waterways.

Date: Saturday, June 6
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Location: Bourgeois Farm; 2 Alma St, Tiverton

We’re also looking for volunteers to support with planting, invasive species removal, setup, and on-site assistance!

Learn more about the event, register, and get involved as a volunteer here: https://ontariofarmlandtrust.ca/2026/05/13/invasive-species-removal-and-spring-planting-event-june-6th/

Thank you to Bruce Power for supporting this event.

05/19/2026

The work our team carried out in documents and spreadsheets last winter is now coming to life in the fields.

At OFT’s 37-acre Bourgeois Farm in Tiverton, we’re preparing the land for our best management practices (BMPs) demonstration plots, our Farmland Access Program, community gardens, and community engagement initiatives (pictured is Joel and Neala conducting a property assessment!). These initiatives are designed to address key gaps by:

🌱 Supporting the adoption of BMPs for long-term farmland resilience and productivity.
🌱 Expanding affordable and secure access for the next generation of farmers
🌱 Strengthening connections between communities, farmland, ecological stewardship, and local food

Our work on the ground is only possible through the dedication of our donors and supporters. To join us in growing these programs and initiatives, we invite you to consider making a donation at ontariofarmlandtrust.ca/donate!

Address

C/o University Of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East
Guelph, ON
N1G2W1

Telephone

+15197813276

Website

http://www.ontariofarmlandtrust.ca/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Ontario Farmland Trust posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Ontario Farmland Trust:

Shortcuts

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Guelph?