New Farms Incubator Program
The New Farms Incubator Program supports new farm enterprises by offering access to land, equipment and infrastructure at reasonable rates, along with business planning support, technical training, mentorship and experience with ecological and emerging farming methods. The New Farms Incubator Program is based on the successful Intervale Farms Program near Burlington, Vermont.
read profiles about the 2007 participants.
Locations:
The Ignatius Incubator Farm is located 1/2 kilometer from Guelph, Ontario at The Ignatius Jesuit Centre of Guelph. Read profiles about the 2007 participants.
The McVean Incubator Farm is located in Brampton on land owned by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.
How does it work?
Please click for more photos of the program participants.
Participants accepted into the program are involved in a tiered system of support that begins with Start-Up Farms followed by Enterprise Farms and Mentor Farms. The program features greater support to enterprises during the early stage of development and phased out support as enterprise matures.
The graduated approach is designed to encourage new, alternative, and innovative business ideas that include a primary consideration for overall and long-term sustainability. The New Farms Incubator Program will eventually host a mix of New Farms, Enterprise Farms and Mentor Farms.
As it evolves, FarmStart will work toward creating a cooperative farm environment that encourages sharing of knowledge and resources. By fostering a diversity of farmers, with collaborative approaches to business, the goal is to create a growing number of interdependent and mutually beneficial enterprises.
The goal of the New Farms Incubator Program is to foster the development of fully independent and sustainable agricultural enterprises that supply local markets.
Resources:
New Farms Incubator Program News- Program Updates and News
Detailed Information and Application Package
Farm Facilities Locations Map
Read profiles about the 2007 participants.
September 25th, 2008
Dear Sir/Madam,
My family and I are interested in farming and land farms in Ontario, but we do not have any information about anything, I recently found this website and did a little search to see if I can help my self or educate about farming.
I would like to know how to apply for a farm land and where should I apply for? Does the government do any type of assisting to new farmers? I would like to know as much as you can guide through it.
thanks for your help,
H Razazada
December 2nd, 2008
Hi my name is Lori,I have about 40 acres of land available but no means or knowledge to farm it.It is currently rented to a conventional farmer,but was organic 2 years ago .I would like to find some one to farm it and turn it back to organic.could you use my land in your program?how would that work?
January 10th, 2009
Hi Lori from the comment above mine!
If you did not find a solution yet, please contact me by e-mail:
wxzeller@gmail.com
I am an organic grower looking for a land to work with.
January 24th, 2009
Hamed Razazada
September 25th, 2008
+0
Dear Sir/Madam,
My family and I are interested in farming and land farms in Ontario, …
H Razazada
Better already have relatives who own farmland in Ontario.These are farms
valued at $1500 to $2500 a acre we’re talking about.I doubt your local farm owner would let a stranger just march up and start farming on it.
February 5th, 2009
Hamed you can do it
April 16th, 2009
Dear Hamed and others seeking inexpensive farmland,
You may want to consider Northern Ontario if land costs are prohibitive for you. Land is much, much less expensive outside of Southern Ontario. Of course, there are additional challenges relating to a shorter growing season (which can be a plus, as fewer crop pests can survive these winters), longer distance for transportation, and nuisance wildlife (bears, deer, moose, wolves), but both housing and land is inexpensive in the north and local markets are very supportive of local agriculture. It is also easier to apply for immigration status if you intend to settle in rural areas of Canada where the population is declining.
Best of luck!
May 9th, 2009
My name is Johnny I am intersted in considering northern Ontario for land use. I hold a bachelor degree in agronomy and I would like to grow some exotic vegetables. Does the farmstart program posess land in the Barrie area?
Regards
May 28th, 2009
Iam a male ugandan of age 22yyrs,but currently am in algeria trying to finish my course in french language,after completion of my diploma in agriculture(crop production and management of Bukalasa agric college in uganda in 2007.And currently am looking for any farm where i can practice my skills,in form of internship training so that i can be able gain more proffesional experience in organic farming especially starting this summer holiday 2009.
I well come all your suggestion to my request.
contacts
MUGABI.JEROME.KIGGUNDU(mr)
Residence Universitaire
Ba bezzouar .3, Room .N.69,ALGIERS-ALGERIA.
Email:mjkigg@yahoo.com
July 13th, 2009
I own 100 acres in the Grey/Bruce area. It is now pasture and being hayed by a neighbour. We do own some basic equippment, mostly aged, a tractor (60HP), plough, hay bine, baler ( square and old), an old combine.
I am retired and when husband retires plan to live at the farm. Right now there is a Cover-all barn but no house.
I have some sheep experience but no farm experience and need someone to hold my hand to get started. Where do I go for basic training?
July 28th, 2009
Hi, I want to start a vegetable farm less about 50 acres. could you please estimate the start up capital needed if the location is in south Ontario?
many thanks
August 3rd, 2009
Hi. I recently purchased some acreage in Northern British Columbia. The land was never farmed, but animals were raised on it several decades ago. But for last few decades, the land was let go. Do you have any advice, or know of any resources or books on how best to get the land back in shape? We would like to do some farming and have a few pastures. Weeds were left to grow for years, and trees were allowed to creep into pastures. Someone mentioned we should mow and spray. Is that recommended? Are there any other strategies? What is the best method of getting removing poplars (or aspens) from pasture?
Thanks for any help.
August 4th, 2009
It might be helpful to contact COABC (http://www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/) as they have a lot of wonderful resources that are fairly specific to BC.
September 28th, 2009
Hi,
My name is Manmeet Singh and I am living in Brampton for past 10 years.
I am very much interested in this new farming project for newcomers to farming.
I would like to go for medicinal plantations. So if I can get some guidance regarding New Farms Incubator Program I would be highy obliged.
Thanks
manmeet Singh
October 10th, 2009
My family are interested in farm business, I am wondering can you provide some step by step instruction on how to start this business in Windsor and Essex area.
Much thanks.
November 15th, 2009
We just purchased a 100-acre farm near Campbellford. Currently we rent the land, mostly hayfields, to a neighbour. Next year he is going to use the barn and pasture for heifers and calves.
There is plenty of land available and it is probably organic as we bought it from an estate sale from a farmer who had the land in their family since the late 1800’s.
We are looking at different options: find someone who wants to organic sharecrop; find someone who wants to work the land for a fee; training for ourselves; partners in one way or another. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
November 17th, 2009
If you would like to contact a FarmStart staff with any of your questions, please feel free to email info(at)farmstart.ca
December 2nd, 2009
I have 50 + acres of land in Puslinch Township (just south of Guelph, Ontario). I am looking for a farmer (preferrably organic) to rent the land. Reasonal fees and farm tax # required. Please contact for more info. Thanks!
December 30th, 2009
I want to start my own sheep farm and was wondering is there any grants for new farmers available? I will be moving to BC in the Prince George Area. Thanks!
January 31st, 2010
Good day,
Im looking for help in purchasing a farm property, we want to start an orgainc free range egg farm and and have bin given all green lights in doing this at this property. If this is something you can help with or have any resources .
Thanks
rick&fam
January 31st, 2010
I have farmland in Alfred-Plantagenet, ON. It is 87 acres with an old barn. I bought it to work it in 2003 but I have had to move to Toronto some months later. If anybody is interested buying farmland 90 mins east of Ottawa then you may look at my land.