For fifteen years, Farms at Work has been quietly doing the kind of work that keeps a region strong. Rather than chasing quick fixes, the organization has focused on building the foundations of a resilient food system by prioritizing healthy soil, protecting farmland, strengthening farm communities, and supporting the next generation of growers.
Now, as Farms at Work becomes a registered charity and launches a new Agency Fund with the Community Foundation, that long-term vision feels especially timely. Helping steer this next chapter is Pat Learmonth, who joined the new Board of Directors after serving as Project Director for twelve years.
“While the organization has evolved, our vision and mission have stayed constant since the beginning,” Pat says. “We have always been driven by concerns about our ability to feed ourselves sustainably into the future.”
Those concerns were evident early on. Baby boomer farmers were retiring in growing numbers with no successors. Farmland was being sold to non-farmers and taken out of production, even as the population continued to grow. Climate events, the pandemic, and tariffs have only underscored the urgency. “We need to produce more of our own food here at home and maintain control over our food sources.”
For Pat, who has spent decades in agricultural leadership roles across the region, establishing an Agency Fund was a natural step. “Our Agency Fund with the Community Foundation is key to building sustainable funding into the future.”
Supporting the Next Generation of Farmers
In its early years, Farms at Work was part of the FarmON Alliance, contributing to some of Ontario’s first research into what new farmers truly need. Those findings still guide the organization’s work.
“It’s clear that new farmers need hands-on learning,” Pat says. Farms at Work has long emphasized farm tours, workshops, and peer-to-peer learning. “We strongly believe in the value of mentorship.”
Academic grounding is also essential. Post-secondary institutions provide critical training in soil, plant, and animal science, while Farms at Work helps graduates find their footing in the community.
Their newest initiative, the Community Farm, is designed to bridge that gap. It brings together aspiring farmers in a supportive environment where they can test skills and business ideas. Participants may include recent graduates, new Canadians, and others interested in commercial food production. The farm may also support non-commercial growing to meet household or community needs, potentially sparking interest in scaling up.
“Some people will succeed and some will decide farming isn’t right for them,” Pat says. “Either way, the Community Farm has done its job.”
Keeping Farmland in Production
The loss of active farmland remains one of the biggest threats to regional food security. Pat points to two main drivers: retiring farmers without successors and rising land prices.
During the pandemic, the sale of farms to non-farmers accelerated as people moved out of cities. To counter this trend, Farms at Work is using a Greenbelt Foundation grant to engage non-farming landowners and help them understand their role in sustainable food systems. A workshop will be held on February 20 in Millbrook, and interested participants can get in touch via: contact@farmsatwork.ca.
Affordability is the second challenge. Many young farmers and new Canadians with farming backgrounds cannot purchase land or invest in the infrastructure needed to start a farm business. Pat envisions a network of properties that can serve as launchpads for new farmers, offering access to land and shared infrastructure until they are ready to lease or buy. “Now that we have charitable status, we can accept donations of farmland and explore how community goals can align with donor intentions.”
Stewardship as a Way of Life
Pat has been a regional leader in environmental stewardship for more than a decade and has seen meaningful shifts in farming practices.
“Soil improvement is now a high priority,” she says, particularly as farms face more frequent drought and extreme weather. Reduced tillage and cover cropping help build resilience while sequestering carbon.
“Young farmers are embracing climate-friendly practices,” including biodiversity protection, pollinator habitat, and diversified cover crops.
One of Farms at Work’s signature contributions is the Pollinator Habitat Tool, which identifies the best plants to support pollinators throughout the growing season. “We are currently seeking funds to update and improve the Tool.”
A New Chapter, Rooted in Resilience
To support this work over the long term, Farms at Work aims to grow its Agency Fund to at least $2 million. “Stable revenue will allow us to spend less time writing grants and more time working for this community,” Pat says.
A gift to Farms at Work is a strategic investment in regional resilience. “Your contribution helps us plan ahead, respond to emerging needs, and invest confidently in the future.”