Contact Us
Jordan Grigg
Sustainability Programme Coordinator
15 Douglas Street
Guelph, ON N1H 2S7
T. 519.837.2600
Email Jordan Grigg
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The Experimental Acres Pilot
Apply now for Experimental Acres 2024!
We know that farmers are interested in regenerative farming but there can be barriers to getting started. In the spring of 2022, 15 local farmers joined the Experimental Acres Pilot, which provides supports for the first year of trying new farming practices on a small scale. The goal of the pilot is to backstop risk, develop a community of support, and assist in capturing the business cases that can demonstrate what will be worth repeating.
The Experimental Acres Pilot will:
2023 Pilot Hosts
Congratulations to the successful candidates for 2023 Experimental Acres pilot! We are thrilled to be working with 11 farms in Wellington County as they trial new, regenerative agriculture practices. These farms will be joined by 10 farms in Dufferin and Grey Counties.
Our Experimental Acres partners for 2023 are:
| Wellington County | Dufferin County | Grey County |
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See samples of 2023 Experimental Acres projects below.
- Accessible and printable version of the 2023 Experimental Acres Project Outlines
- Accessible and printable version of the 2022 Experimental Acres Farm Plan
Program Details
Farmers know their land best, which is why our farmers, better known as Pilot Hosts, design their own Experimental Acres. Each farm has a unique question they are trying to answer, based on their interests and goals. In addition to financial support, we offer soil testing and community building events. We sorted each project into one of three funding streams.
- Crop/Planting (up to $1000.00 in funding available): Maintaining soil cover helps reduce soil erosion from wind and precipitation. Example practices include cover cropping, intercropping and introducing new crops into the rotation
- Innovation (up to $2000.00 in funding available): The innovation stream is for projects that have the potential to benefit soil health, and do not fit into other categories. Example practices include tarping to reduce tillage intesity, winter crop rotation, and planting tall grass prairie.
- Animal/Grazing (up to $3000.00 in funding available): Integrating animals on the farm can have many benefits to soil health and promote carbon storage in cropland soil. Example practices include rotational grazing, silvopasture, and bale grazing.
View the Experimental Acres Handbook below.
Upcoming Events
Check back soon!Past Events
| Ag Innovation Spotlight |
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Join the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association for the Ag Innovation Spotlight. With advancements in machinery, agronomy and livestock production, farming has changed a lot over the last few generations! Learn about the latest innovation in agriculture and hear from leading farmers and experts on what they are doing to make agriculture even more sustainable. See things like drones, the latest technology to reduce compaction, innovation in soil care and crop management. Tickets can be purchased in advance, or at the door. Event Date: July 20, from 5:00 - 8:00pm Location: Grand River Agricultural Society 7445 Wellington Rd 21, Elora, ON N0B 1S0 |
| Reimagine Food at Hillside! |
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Join Reimagine Food staff at Hillside 2023! Come together with your community to discuss the most important part of our day: food! Through shared stories and experiences of food action and reflection about your role in a circular food system, you can participate in Reimagine Food's Nourishing Food Action Cook Book. Bring yourself and your food story! Event Date: July 29, at 5:00 pm AND July 30, 2023 at 6:00 pm Location: Guelph Lake Conservation Area, 7743 Conservation Rd RR4, Guelph, ON N1H 6J1 |
| 2023 Resilience Festival - Seedy Saturday |
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Join Reimagine Food staff members at Seedy Saturday to learn about urban gardening, sustainable food and supporting our local communities. This free event is filled with skill-development workshops like Intro to Home Gardening, Basic Clothing Repairs and more! Meet with Community Supported Agriculture farmers and Seed Librarians, all while eating delicious food. Event Date: Saturday, March 25, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm |
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Does Soil Health Pay? Understanding the Costs and Benefits of Agricultural Soil Management |
| Join experts from the Greebelt Foundation, University of Guelph and local farmers to discuss the economic highs and lows of soil health practices. The event will include information about the Greenbelt Report "Towards a Business Case for Soil Health". Practices discussed will include tillage intensity, cover cropping, crop rotation, nutrient management, organic amendment use and rotational grazing. The event is co-sponsored by The Greenbelt Foundation, Our Food Future and Erin Common Ground. Light refreshments will be provided. Pre-registration is required. Registration details can be found on EventBrite.
Event Date: November 23, 7:00 pm Location: Royal Canadian Legion Branch 442, 12 Dundas Street E, Erin, ON, N0B 1T0 |
| Stop by the Education Symposium hosted by the University of Guelph to hear Our Food Future Sustainability Programme Coordinator Jordan Grigg speak about regenerative agriculture, the importance of soil health and the future of food. The Education Symposium runs from 10:30am-3:30pm. Admission to the Education Symposium is free, however tickets for the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair must be purchased.
Event Date: November 10 Location: Exhibition Place, 100 Princes' Blvd, Toronto, ON M6K 3C3 |
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Along with Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association and the Grand River Agricultural Society, Our Food Future co-sponsored a field day about soil health. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' Soil Health Team demystified the soil pit, compaction and the important of soil microbiology. Event date: July 21 |
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Soil Webinar |
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We held a webinar discussing soil health and livestock nutrition. Sessions included:
Event date: March 4 |
| 2023 Resilience Festival - Seedy Saturday |
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Join Reimagine Food staff members at Seedy Saturday to learn about urban gardening, sustainable food and supporting our local communities. This free event is filled with skill-development workshops like Intro to Home Gardening, Basic Clothing Repairs and more! Meet with Community Supported Agriculture farmers and Seed Librarians, all while eating delicious food. Event Date: Saturday, March 25, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm |
Current Opportunities
Apply now for Experimental Acres 2024!
Our Food Future
The County of Wellington and the City of Guelph are working together on the federally-funded Our Food Future project, which envisions a smart Circular Food Economy for our region. For details about the entire project, please visit www.foodfuture.ca and www.reimaginefood.ca
