Transitioning  Farmers to Regenerative, Organic

COVER CROP TRAINING


Offering Practical Tools to Canadian Farmers From Coast to Coast




Formerly known as Growing Eastern Ontario Organically

Growing Eastern Ontario Organically (GEOO), was a three-year Ontario Trillium Foundation supported initiative to help farmers transition to organic production. Over the course of the program, GEOO directly supported 57 farms representing over 10,000+ acres with mentorship, financial incentives, and on-site experiential learning. Additionally, GEOO’s programming activities reached a combined total of 1,500 farmers over the three years. The GEOO program is a proven successful model which can be replicated and scaled in your community.

While the GEOO pilot has ended, COG is working on its successor: Transitioning Farmers to Regenerative, Organic (TFRO). 

TFRO aims to deliver on the GEOO success to provide measurable, ecologically-based training and support as well as positive economic outcomes. TFRO is ideal for Farm businesses and agri-food start-ups who are committed to building soil health, adopting ecological/regenerative agriculture practices and reducing input costs and negative impacts. TFRO practices will also help farm land become more resilient to the ravages of our changing climate (floods, droughts) and enhance local biodiversity. By design, TFRO also enhances social engagement in agricultural and business communities to enrich local networks and support the well-being of participants.



Formerly known as Growing Eastern Ontario Organically

Growing Eastern Ontario Organically (GEOO), was a three-year Ontario Trillium Foundation supported initiative to help farmers transition to organic production. Over the course of the program, GEOO directly supported 57 farms representing over 10,000+ acres with mentorship, financial incentives, and on-site experiential learning. Additionally, GEOO’s programming activities reached a combined total of 1,500 farmers over the three years. The GEOO program is a proven successful model which can be replicated and scaled in your community.

While the GEOO pilot has ended, COG is working on its successor: Transitioning Farmers to Regenerative, Organic (TFRO). 

TFRO aims to deliver on the GEOO success to provide measurable, ecologically-based training and support as well as positive economic outcomes. TFRO is ideal for Farm businesses and agri-food start-ups who are committed to building soil health, adopting ecological/regenerative agriculture practices and reducing input costs and negative impacts. TFRO practices will also help farm land become more resilient to the ravages of our changing climate (floods, droughts) and enhance local biodiversity. By design, TFRO also enhances social engagement in agricultural and business communities to enrich local networks and support the well-being of participants.


TFRO Aims to Deliver



Communities of Practice
Communities of Practice

Foster strong communities of practice, farmer to farmer mentorship and better social, community and mental health well-being.



Training and Resources
Training & Resources

Provided to registered farmers on a range of regenerative practices, over a minimum three year period




Lock
Accessibility

Open to any farmer interested in enhancing soil health, adopting ecological/regenerative practices, and reducing harmful inputs wherever possible



Network
Network

Connect local and regional agrifood businesses and other stakeholders with farmers to align their respective expectations



Farm Assessment
Farm Assessment

A farm assessment is undertaken at program intake to better meet each farm’s agricultural needs



TFRO Aims to Deliver

Communities of Practice
Communities of Practice

Foster strong communities of practice, farmer to farmer mentorship and better social, community and mental health well-being.

Training and Resources
Training & Resources

Provided to registered farmers on a range of regenerative practices, over a minimum three year period

Lock
Training & Resources

Provided to registered farmers on a range of regenerative practices, over a minimum three year period


Network
Communities of Practice

Open to any farmer interested in enhancing soil health, adopting ecological/regenerative practices, and reducing harmful inputs wherever possible

Farm Assessment
Farm Assessment

Provided to registered farmers on a range of regenerative practices, over a minimum three year period


GEOO Results (2019 - 2022) 

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GEOO’s project goal was to help growers in their transition to organic and to create a network to support program participants as they grow into their organic production. GEOO created a set of resources on essential topics of concern like business, agronomics and certification. COG gathered important qualitative and quantitative data about the challenges and barriers growers in Eastern Ontario are facing in their efforts to adopt more ecologically-based practices. GEOO’s successor - Transitioning Farmers to Regenerative, Organic - will build on these lessons learned and be scalable to communities across Canada.




Farmer

GEOO programming reached over 1,500+ farmers in Eastern Ontario



Farm

Directly supported 57 farms in Eastern Ontario through the program


*These 57 Farms represent 10,000+ Acres of land in Eastern Ontario



Gear

Developed 100+ resources available to farmers and future programming




GEOO Results (2019 - 2022) 

Image Image

GEOO’s project goal was to help growers in their transition to organic and to create a network to support program participants as they grow into their organic production. GEOO created a set of resources on essential topics of concern like business, agronomics and certification. COG gathered important qualitative and quantitative data about the challenges and barriers growers in Eastern Ontario are facing in their efforts to adopt more ecologically-based practices. GEOO’s successor - Transitioning Farmers to Regenerative, Organic - will build on these lessons learned and be scalable to communities across Canada.



Farmer

GEOO programming reached over 1,500+ farmers in Eastern Ontario



Gear

Developed 100+ resources available to farmers and future programming



Farm

Directly supported 57 farms in Eastern Ontario through the program


*These 57 Farms represent 10,000+ Acres of land in Eastern Ontario


GEOO Budget

$550,000 Budget Over 3 Years

Eric Payseur
GEOO Lead

Eric Payseur, Outreach Manager


GEOO Budget

$550,000 Budget Over 3 Years


Eric Payseur
GEOO Lead

Eric Payseur, Outreach Manager


Looking for More Information?

For questions and additional information, please get in touch with our program staff at eric.payseur@cog.ca.


Growing Eastern Ontario Organically was generously supported by:

Ontario Trillium Foundation