Project Summary

The National Farmers Union, Local 316 is excited to announce the beginning of another farmer-initiated project aimed at building a sustainable local food system in Kingston and its countryside.

The NFU New Farm Project is a farmer education, training, and support program aimed at strengthening the region’s farm community and local food system. By engaging new and established farmers in the opportunities and benefits that come from producing food for local markets, the project aims to increase the viability of family farms and build the supply of local farm products for local eaters.

While emphasizing production for local markets, the project will also focus on ecologically-sound farming methods and will support participating farmers in making farm management decisions that will lead to long-term sustainability of their farms.

The NFU New Farm Project is a four-year project with major funding by Heifer International, a non-profit organization whose goal is to help end world hunger and poverty through self-reliance & sustainability. The project will run from September 2008 until June 2012.

The centrepiece of the project will be the establishment of CRAFT Kingston, a new branch of the Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT Ontario). CRAFT Ontario is a network of sixteen organic farms in southwestern Ontario, each offering full-season farming internships and training many farmers of tomorrow. The NFU New Farm Project will help to set-up the first eight CRAFT farms for 2009, gradually reaching a total of fourteen farms. By fall 2012, at least forty-four interns will have passed through the program and many will be exploring a future in farming.

The NFU New Farm Project will also offer training and support to new and established farmers through its annual Workshop Series, focus group sessions, and financial support for off-season learning and farm conferences. This will focus on building the capacity of farmers to plan and manage their farm operations to benefit from the growing demand for local food from local markets. Livestock, seed, and equipment will also be available to those who participate in the project programs and workshops as interns, mentors, new farmers, or established farmers seeking new local opportunities.

In all, the NFU New Farm Project will build farm capacity as well as farm and local food community in Kingston and neighbouring counties. Please come and learn more about the opportunities that exist for you in the NFU New Farm Project at the upcoming Fall Gathering on Saturday November 29 from 9:30am – 4pm at the Inverary United Church Hall (4415 Latimer Road). A delicious lunch made from local foods will be served at noon. There is no fee for the event, but donations are appreciated.

RSVPs for the Fall Gathering are mandatory and must be sent by November 22nd to the NFU New Farm Project co-ordinator, Ian Stutt, at ianstutt@newfarmproject.com or 613-353-6622. Please visit www.nfu.newfarmproject.ca for more information.

Another Food Down the Road project.