For World Environment Day, we wanted to showcase farmers from our membership who work to mitigate climate change through regenerative agriculture. Farmers find themselves at the forefront of climate change. Using climate-friendly practices contributes to securing our long-term food safety and ensuring that agriculture becomes a part of our collective fight against climate change. These 10 Regeneration Canada members are using regenerative principles on their farm and have committed to improving their soil’s health.
1. Axten Farms
Regenerative Practices: No-till, cover crops, highly diverse rotation, intercropping, composting, grazing and reduced synthetic fertility.
Axten Farms in southern Saskatchewan is a grain farm that takes soil health very seriously. From durum wheat, mustard seeds, golden flax seeds to maple peas, each crop is grown with the health of the soil in mind. For the Axtens, “Regenerative agriculture means restoring life in our soil, ecosystem and community.” Visit the farms website here.
Photography credits: Chickpea and flax photo by Martha Mintz, combine photo by Brock Axten and Tannis and Derek photo by Becky Lunde Photography.
2. 98 Ranch Inc
Regenerative Practices: Managed grazing for soil and plant resilience
At 98 Ranch Inc in Lake Alma, Saskatchewan, Ross McDonald produces grass-fed beef using regenerative practices. Through managed grazing during a 9-10 month period, the farm has reduced its reliance on additional feeds and decreased cost of production. In Ross’s words, regenerative agriculture has helped him convert “sunshine and rainfall to high quality beef.”
3. La ferme de l’odysée
Regenerative Practices: cover crops, solar corridors, wind breaks, compost tea and direct organic sowing
At La ferme de l’odysée in Saint-Monique de Nicolet in Québec, Sébastien Angers grows organic corn grain, rye, forager peas, soy, pumpkin seeds, squash, leeks and organic porc. As Sébastien explains, regenerative agriculture is “an agriculture that creates bonds and evolves from the empathy and relationships we create amongst living beings. It’s an agricultural model that makes sense and that lets the artist inside all farmers flourish.” Visit the farm’s Instagram here.
4. Box H Farms
Regenerative Practices: Managed grazing
At Box H Farms, Mark and Laura Hoimyr and their children Anna and Jeremy produce grassfed beef, pastured pork and honey raised with nature in mind in Gladmore, Saskatchewan. Their farm focuses on regenerative agriculture through grazing management and their constant attention to soil health. Visit their website to learn more about their products here.
Photography credits: Bee photo by Mark Hoimyr and family photo by Lunde Photography.
5. Borderland Agriculture
Regenerative Practices: Diverse cropping system, managed grazing
In Lyleton Manitoba, Brooks and Jen White strive for a healthier and regenerative future for their farm. At the Whites’ farm, bison production is integrated into a diverse cropping system. Some of the crops they produce include: winter wheat, rye, oats, corn, soybeans, faba beans, peas, canola, hemp, lentils and sunflowers. For the Whites, “Regenerative Agriculture can work on scale and we can be a part of the solution. The way we farm can heal the world!” Visit their website here.
6. La Ferme des Quatre-Temps
Regenerative Practices: intensive rotational grazing, bio-intensive vegetable production and minimal to no-till
Inspired by agroecology and permaculture design, La ferme des Quatre-Temps in Hemingford, Québec seeks to pave the way for a more ecological and nurturing agro-food model for the province of Quebec. Managed by Jean-Martin Fortier, the farm now sells vegetables, eggs and specialty meat products from their farm-kitchen laboratory. Visit the farm’s website here.
7. South Glanton Farms
Regenerative Practices: low disturbance to no till, cover crops, intercropping, mob grazing and crop-livestock integration
In Forrest, Manitoba, Ryan Boyd from South Glanton Farms grows cash crops and forage based beef. Ryan’s definition of regenerative agriculture is “producing healthy food in concert with nature and enhancing our natural resources and community in the process.” Visit the farm’s website here.
8. Stonepost Farms
Regenerative Practices: minimal to low-till, grazing livestock and natural fertilizers
John and Becky Doherty farm in Wildwood, Alberta with their two children Cadence and Keagan. Their farm produces pastured beef, pork, chicken, eggs, vegetables and honey. For the Doherty’s, “Regenerative farming is a holistic approach to farming which allows us to better our land and the soils on which everything on the farm revolves around.” Visit their website here.
9. Blue Sky Beef by the Craig Family Farm
Regenerative Practices: managed grazing
This family farm in Arthur, Ontario offers high-quality beef raised with regenerative farming practices. Through the rotational grazing of their Speckle Beef cattle, attention to soil health and quality forage, Blue Sky Beef works with the environment to produce healthy and nutritious beef. Visit the farm’s beautiful Instagram page here.
10. Clef des champs
Regenerative Practices: High biodiversity, forest management, reduction of tractorization
La Clef des champs was founded 40 years ago by Marie Provost in Val-David, Quebec. Today, over 40 herbalists and gardeners can be found in the garden cultivating, harvesting and transforming the hundreds of plants, herbs, teas and spices found at the garden. Over 150 medicinal plants, such as marshmallow, astragalus and roseroot can be found in the garden and are all certified organic. Visit their website here.
To meet other farmers who are saving the environment and to join the conversation, become a Regeneration Canada member. Becoming a member gives you a discount on events organised by Regeneration Canada and allows you to connect with other individuals or organizations interested in soil regeneration.
– JOIN THE MOVEMENT –
