Niagara Escarpment Organics

Started in 2004, Niagara Escarpment Organics grows veganic vegetables in Clarksburg, Ontario on the south shore of Georgian Bay.

Farmers Ryan, Ryan and Laura decided early on that they didn’t want to use animal products like blood, bone and manure on the farm. They wanted to farm using compassionate techniques and to align their farming with their core values, but as new farmers they were unsure of how to step away from the paradigm of animal-based farming. They researched the issue and became aware of veganic alternatives, and began to farm using plant-based techniques.

On their 50 acres of land, about 3 acres is used for veganic farming. All the plants are started at the farm, with the exception of sweet potatoes. The seedlings are started in the farmhouse in March, and are later moved into the permanent potting shed, which is kept warm at night with a woodstove. The farm grows greens, peas, garlic, heirloom tomatoes, sweet potatoes, eggplant, squash, root vegetables, leeks, among other vegetables, and also grows wild edible flowers, a perennial tea garden, and a medicinal herb garden. They planted 150 fruit and nut trees in 2007 and hope to eventually have an edible forest garden. The farm has 2 portable greenhouses that are set up on a rail system. With the help of 12 people, the greenhouses are moved along the rails each year so that no single piece of land is overworked.

To market the produce, they run a 20-week CSA from June to October for 40 members and sell their produce at 2 nearby farmer’s markets. They also supply several restaurants. They do not feel a need to become certified organic, since they have a tight base of local customers, most of whom have visited the farm. For their CSA, they purchase produce from other farmers in Southern Ontario to round out the boxes with items they don’t currently grow, like tree fruits. All of the produce added from other farms is certified organic, though is not veganic.

The farm has clay soil with some sand, and a small amount of organic matter that they are making efforts to replenish. Fertility is maintained primarily through cover crops of clover, buckwheat, spelt and rye, with a variety of cover crops on each field. They also use compost to help start transplants in the spring and to amend the greenhouses. For compost, they collect veggie scraps from the restaurants they supply, and also from their customers at the farmer’s markets. The veggie-compost program is well understood and respected by their customers, and brings organic plant material back to the farm. They currently use an imported organic potting soil mix, and have future plans of making their own potting mix on the farm.

Neorganics has a focus on environmental care. The farmers do not want to design a system that will be unsustainable in the long term. Their 50 acres of land is half forested, fitting well with their fundamental philosophy of providing natural spaces for wildlife. They harvest small amounts of wood from the forest and also collect wild edibles like mushrooms. In 2007, a 20-foot-deep pond was dug on the farm, which later filled up with springtime run-off. The pond will provide a home for wildlife, and some of the water will be used on the farm for irrigation. The farm’s tractor has been converted to run on vegetable oil. In the near future, they plan to install solar panels to power the irrigation system and solar collectors to heat the potting shed in colder months.

During the growing season they are involved in community projects and educational initiatives. In the summer they host a children’s camp one day per week, introducing the kids to farming and the interactions between agricultural and natural ecosystems. They also have visits from school groups and youth volunteer organizations. In the future, they would like to do more public education and to diversify their project beyond growing food.

Neorganics offers occasional events and workshops, and they also offer farm visits. They are open to applications from people who are interested in apprenticing or wwoofing on their veganic farm. Contact them directly for details.