Whole Village Farm Plan

Site:

-43 acres wetlands -20 acres hillside pasture

-113 acres cropland

-5 acres existing barnyard, old farmhouse, house yard, pond, Greenhaven.

A good laneway provides access from both Mississauga Road on the east and Shaws Creek Road on the west.

Shaws Creek, part of the headwaters of the Credit River, runs along the southern edge of the property.

There is a 1.5 acre X 12 foot deep dug pond near the house.

A 30-foot deep tile well services the barn. An 80 drilled well services the farmhouse A 100 foot drilled well services Greenhaven ecoresidence. Three additional tile wells are situated near the pond.

The existing bank barns and machine sheds are in fair to good condition.

Before 1965 this was a mixed farm, cash cropping small grains and potatoes and raising cattle, hogs and poultry.

Neighbouring properties are natural areas, hay fields, pasture or cropland.There are no full time farmers or intensive livestock operations bordering the Whole Village property.

Highlights:

1] A detailed site plan prepared by Brad Peterson M.L.A. includes the following features:

-Wetland nature reserve; wetland riparian restoration; wetland buffer restoration; upland woodland nature reserve; upland woodland edge restoration; hedgerows; shelterbelts/sun traps; fields suitable for crop rotation; pasture; garden land; viticulture; orchard polyculture; woodland polyculture; residential area, foot trails, tractor roadways.

2] In partnership with the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, a Conservation Easement (in force for 999 years) has been placed on the Deed of the property, . Under this agreement the property is divided into four zones: Wetlands, Woodlands, Agriculture and Residential, with differing levels of restrictions placed on each zone.

3] A Forest Management Plan will govern selective harvesting of the existing forested land and the establishment of new mixed-species plantations, windbreaks and shelterbelts

4]Based on a Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) model, all members of Whole Village automatically become members of the Whole Village CSA.Shares in the WV Farm CSA are also available to the wider community, encouraging participation in achieving the goals of the Whole Village through our agricultural operation while at the same time adding to its economic viability.The WV Farm employs a full time gardener, plus apprentices.The Whole Village community guarantees the financial integrity and stability of the farm.

Infrastructure:

The farm uses the existing buildings to house livestock and machinery, and store feed, hay and grain. We have two 900 square foot greenhouses to supply starter plants for the seasonal gardens, grow early and late greens as well as herbs and cold sensitive vegetables.On-site facilities planned for the future will enable us to bake bread, process milk and prepare vegetables for canning, freezing and drying. Root storage facilities provide long-term storage of root crops. Apprentices are housed on the farm.

Farm Cost Centres:

While the overall plan for the Farm includes vegetable, fruit, grain, livestock, poultry, aquaculture, agroforestry and ecoforestry, these activities can be phased-in over a period of time as financing and labour resources allow.

1] CSA

A production unit of 10 acres has been initiated as the nucleus of the Whole Village CSA program.All members of the Whole Village are also shareholders in the Whole Village CSA.

Additional members are recruited from surrounding communities.

The WV CSA is responsible for planting and maintaining vegetable gardens, herb gardens, fruit trees, nut trees, vines, small fruits and agroforestry plots throughout the property.

2] Livestock:

A small poultry flock supplies eggs to the Whole Village.

Three milking Shorthon cows provide milk. Milk produced on the farm is processed into a : yogurt, cheese, and ice cream

Depending on the demand from the Whole Village CSA and other markets, the farm may also raise cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, ducks and rabbits.

The farm is keeping beehives for pollination of crops and production of honey.

The farm may acquire a team of horses for farming and logging, to utilize marginal areas suitable for grazing and for their manure.

Whole Village members who are willing to bear the cost of housing, feed and labour, could keep saddle horses, llamas, alpacas or other exotics.

3]Education:

The farm has 2 to 4 apprentices and numerous short term volunteers, assisting year round with all farm activities. The farm provides apprentices with room and board and a suitable stipend. The farm will create an instructional program for the apprentices encompassing the philosophy and practicalities of biodynamics, permaculture and sustainable agriculture, involving all aspects of the farm and the Whole Village.

We have hosted day-long ecospiritual expriences on the farm for grade 10 classess from Robert F. Hall Secondary School in Caledon East.

The farm has also hosted participants from Canada World Youth, Katimavik and the Toronto Waldorf School who have lived and worked with us on the farm.

The farm provides short and long-term opportunities for volunteers and school children to participate in farm activities, including research.This is especially useful for Whole Village children who are being home schooled.

The farm will partner with agricultural colleges and government agencies to engage in cooperative research efforts in order to increase academic knowledge of biodynamic and permaculture principles and techniques and to promote greater understanding and acceptance of these systems in the agricultural sector.

The farm has joined with other stakeholders (consumer groups, farm groups, holistic medical practitioners, environmentalists) to promote ecological agriculture in all its aspects.

The farm creates opportunities for volunteers to learn about ecological farming in a hands-on manner. To find out more about becoming a volunteer please go to our Volunteer page.

The farm will promote ecotourism and hostelling when appropriate facilities have been constructed.