It's been an incredibly fruitful fall, and it's hard to believe that winter is right around the corner. Our Community Gardens waitlist is growing for spring, our Regenerative Farmer Program is accepting applications, the Restoration and Stewardship Program had a lovely group of volunteers for ivy pulling and cedar tree planting, and the farmers are winding down. Today is world soil day!
If you are interested in applying to become part of the Regenerative Farmer Program at the Sandown Centre, we are currently accepting one-page applications.
1. Tell us a bit about yourself and why you want to be a part of the incubator farm at Sandown?
2. What is your existing farm business or plan for your farm business and previous experience?
3. What are your considerations for housing, financial investment, and time?
Please indicate if you are applying for the ¼ acre plot or the ½ acre plot.
Applications will remain open until midnight on December 10th, 2023. Shortlisted applicants will be notified by December 15th, 2023, and asked to provide a more detailed farm business plan to be submitted by January 5th, 2024. A framework/template will be provided by Sandown. Applicants who move beyond this will then meet with the management team. Successful applicants will be notified by January 15th, 2024.
Email your completed one page application to Sandown’s Farm Manager, Jenn Cline, at: farm@sandowncentre.com and feel free to reach out if you have specific questions about the application.
Thank you for taking the time to apply, we look forward to hearing from you!
Click here for more information on our program.
Happy World Soil Day!
Our core values and programs revolve around soil health and regenerative agriculture. According to the UN, sustainable soil management practices (such as minimizing tillage, crop rotation, adding organic matter, cover cropping, improving soil health, and reducing erosion and pollution) preserve soil biodiversity, improve fertility, and contribute to carbon sequestration, playing a crucial role in the fight against climate change.
World Soil Day 2023 Key Messages from the UN:
Soil and water provide the foundation for food production, ecosystems, and human well-being. Recognizing their invaluable roles, we can take proactive measures to safeguard these resources for future generations;
Soil and water are the medium in which plants grow and obtain essential nutrients;
Rainfed agriculture systems account for 80 percent of croplands, contributing to 60 percent of the global food production. These systems rely heavily on effective soil moisture management practices.
Irrigated agriculture systems withdraw 70% of the world's freshwater and account for 20 percent of croplands.
The health of the soil and the quality and availability of water are interconnected;
Healthy soils, enriched with organic matter, play a crucial role in regulating water retention and availability;
Improved soil and water management improves the land's capacity to withstand extreme climate events such as droughts, floods and sand/dust storms;
Healthy soils act as a carbon sink, by sequestering carbon from the atmosphere, thus contributing to both climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.
We were honored to be invited as a panelist at the premiere of the documenrary Common Ground. Farm Manager, Jenn Cline, spoke about our Regenerative Farmer Program, shared some initial findings from the Soil Lab, and discussed how Sandown is contributing to the soil health and regenerative agriculture movements. One of the key things Jenn brought to the discussion was a reflection on how policy and bylaws could do more to support small scale, regenerative agriculture. For more information on the film, click here.
Photo of Lisa Willott at Sandown Centre, taken by FarmFolk CityFolk.
Check out the blog post in FarmFolk CityFolk on their first year at Sandown Centre here. We love collaborating with other organizations and look forward to welcoming back Lisa Willott of FarmFolk CityFolk on site again next year.
A birds egg spotted at the last W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project ivy pull for the season. We look forward to volunteering at the Jim family's again come spring. For more information on this initiative, go to their website here. This project grounds us on the land, offers space for reflection and conversation, and is a tangible action you can take towards decolonization and land back.
Our Fall Seminar Series has come to a close - thank you to everyone who showed up to participate in the awesome, cost-free workshops! We finished up the series with Farmer Resiliency, facilitated by Kareno and Kimi of Sweet Digz Farm, and Plant Diagnostics and Regenerative Amendments, facilitated by regenerative farming expert Shellie MacDonald. The workshop series was funded through the Ministry of Agriculture's Knowledge and Technology Transfer Program.
Shellie MacDonald facilitating our final KTTP workshop on plant diagnostics.
Happy holidays, and thanks for following!
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