Thwarting the Sweet Corn Bandits
The Blakeney Project is an initiative of the Lanark County Food Bank (The Hunger Stop)* located on a two-acre field east of the Village of Blakeney and 8km north of Almonte. Thanks to generous landowners, some initial support from Community Foundations of Canada to buy equipment and seeds, and an annual crew of over 40 […]
Support for Organic Farmers
Organics represent a significant sector in the Canadian economy. In 2020 the value of the organic food market in Canada was approximately $7 billion. Organic exports from Canada in that year were over $600 million. The number of certified organic farmers in Canada is over 6,000. Despite its growing importance, there is still only a […]
Fall Reflections 2023
On October 22nd 2023, COG OSO hosted Fall Reflections, our annual general meeting, including a free movie screening of The Seeds of Vandana Shiva.
How No-Till Can Grow On You
Vegetable production that protects the soil Have you ever felt completely out of place? Watched, even? That’s how I felt returning to the city after spending the school holidays in the country. My fondest childhood memories are in the garden with my grandpa, watching the neighbours’ cattle, building things, bird watching, and exploring forests and […]
Demonstration Garden Update September 2023
Our COG-OSO banners were flying for the 2023 garden’s celebration at the Demonstration Garden, on August 13. The day was calling for rain, as per usual it would seem this year, but luckily we got a break and enjoyed a breezy day with thirty-five people visiting for the garden tours, the building of a […]
Researching & Growing Sweet Potatoes in Eastern Ontario
Growing sweet potatoes can be an immensely rewarding experience that helps fill your pantry or winter CSA baskets. But a common refrain from farmers and gardeners in eastern Ontario is the uncertainty of sweet potato yields year-to-year. Sweet potatoes are a 100+ day, heat-loving crop and eastern Ontario’s season is just long enough to […]
Tour of the Demonstration Garden August 13, 2023
Join us for a FREE garden tour, music, workshops, and sessions on August 13th! Agenda 13:15 First garden tour begins by Jim Davidson.13:15 Instrumental music continues with Eleanor13:45 Session on pollinators, mulch, weeding and zero-tillage begins.13:45 Compost mini-workshop begins.14:00 – 14:30 More music, plus use of this time-frame to introduce some members of the COG […]
Senior Organic Gardeners Update: “Garden Showcase”
On June 8 the Dunning-Foubert School celebrated the first year of a great program and a small group from Senior Organic Gardeners [SOG] and the Retired Teachers of Ontario [RTO] participated to the event. The Orleans’ school signed up for a three year commitment called “The Food Insecurity Project” and staff and students, under […]
Organic Farms Tour 2023
A relevant tour of 3 organic farms in Eastern Ontario led by COG-OSO On Sunday 9th July, 2023, COG-OSO organized the tour of three Certified organic farms in Eastern Ontario. There were about 25-30 interested people present throughout the day. The first farm to be visited, at 9.30 am, was the farm of Paul Desrosiers […]
The Urban Co-op Farm
Bringing Organic Farming to the City Sometimes we jokingly refer to our farm as Chaos Farm. At least parts of it. Our organic vegetable farm, BeetBox, sits on a beautiful 110 acres in the Nepean greenbelt. It is surrounded by forest and flanked by the gentle waves of the Ottawa River’s Lac Deschênes. It is […]