Land Over Landings
Land Over Landings is a local group from my hometown Pickering, Ontario that is trying to preserve our northern farmlands. According to their website, their main objective is “to persuade Ottawa to preserve Pickering Federal Lands, long earmarked as the site of a future airport, as a secure source of food and freshwater for Canada’s largest urban centre.” As a local resident, driving through northern Pickering, I see many large signs on lawns and farmland protesting the potential airport for the area. I recommend heading to their website (https://landoverlandings.com) to learn more about their cause, sign petitions, and take action in a movement toward preserving the farmlands of Pickering. You can also check them out on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Greenbelt Alliance
The Ontario Greenbelt Alliance (https://greenbeltalliance.ca) is a group that is dedicated to protecting the greater horseshoe area of Ontario and providing information in regard to protecting these farmlands. Their goal is to prevent future developers from using farmland to build larger highways, large housing developments, and instead, keep the integrity of our natural resources, such as freshwater, intact. Their website shows a long list of supporters of their cause including groups such as the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, the David Suzuki Foundation, and many other environmental groups within the Ontario region. They also provide maps and many facts about the importance of preserving the Ontario Greenbelt.
Ontario Farmland Trust
The Ontario Farmland Trust group is part of the University of Guelph and actively strives toward their mission of protecting and preserving Ontario farmlands and associated agricultural, natural, and cultural features of the countryside. They provide tools and information for farms to be protected, also reasoning why they are protected. They have several infographics on their website (https://ontariofarmlandtrust.ca), as well as fun videos sharing information about Ontario farmlands. They also provide an area on their site for anyone to become a member, volunteer, or make donations.
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture was established in 1936 by the United Farmers of Ontario (ex-political party). They are headquartered in Guelph, ON and are comprised of 50+ farming organizations across the province. Their goal is to “advocate for a sustainable and farming food sector, and work toward farming and foods forever”. On their website (https://ofa.on.ca), they share a series of submissions they have made to the Ontario government in hopes of improving the situation for Ontario farmers. They also hold regional meetings across the province to hear from different localities on the state and situations of their land and farms. You can also find them on Twitter and Facebook!
Food and Water First
Similar to many of the other groups supporting and protecting Ontario farmlands, Food and Water First are advocating for the protection of Ontario’s farmland and critical water resources. They argue that “Urban sprawl, climate change, aggregate operations and food security are significant issues that require significant revisions to our out-dated land-use policies and legislation.” They believe that in small steps, there can be a change that allows for improvements to Ontario’s continuously growing agriculture sector. Their hopes are that the Ontario government will adopt the food and water first policy and ensure that the agriculture and natural water resources are given priority and protection. You can learn more on their website (https://foodandwaterfirst.com) or check them out on Facebook and Twitter.
Why Should We Be Buying Ontario Produce?
- Local economy – buying local helps support your local farms, it keeps them in business and often creates new local jobs.
- The environment – buying locally means the produce that you’re purchasing requires much less transport (polluting the earth) than it would to import goods from outside of the country, like for example, the United States.
- Safe foods – when you’re buying local, you know exactly where your produce is coming from!
- Fun activities! – Picking your own fruit while it’s in season is a great way to have a fun day while also supporting local farmers. Picking strawberries and blueberries in the summer, and apples in the fall is a great way to spend an afternoon while also supporting the farms in your area.
You can check out this website (https://sustainontario.com/resources-2/ontario-eats-local/) to find out more about eating local and the different shops and organizations in your area that sell and use local Ontario produce.
Many of these organizations that are advocating for the protection of Ontario Farms go above and beyond to ensure their survival. However, we don’t necessarily have to put up signs, sign petitions, or become members of organizations to help our Ontario farms. Simply buying local produce supports your local farms and helps keep them afloat. Protecting Ontario farmlands is extremely important, and I encourage you to look for Ontario (or Canadian) produce at your next trip to the grocery store.