In 2013, Just Food established the Start-Up Farm Program to support new farmers in the Ottawa region. By offering access to land, shared infrastructure/equipment, and workshops, the program aims to enable more people in this region to start their own successful farm business. Program participants can access up to 3 years of on-site support at the Just Food Farm at a subsidized rate building towards a cost-recovery basis.

The Start-Up Farm program offers a low-risk way for new farmers to test their business ideas and to develop additional skills, experience, markets and networks before committing to a larger, longer-term farm operation. The program offers an entry point for a diversity of new farmers, including those from a non-farm background, second careerists, new Canadians, and those with farm experience in other settings.

The program also supports a broader cohort of new farmers in the region by offering training to new producers at a fee, as well as access to broader farm supports such as:

Free listing on the Ottawa Buy Local/Grow Local Food Guide;

Listing of farm internship/employment opportunities in the region;

The Savour Ottawa program, an economic development initiative; connecting local producers with local restaurants and retailers;

The Explorer course for those considering getting into farming.

Just Food is grateful for seed funding received for the Start-Up Farm Program from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the City of Ottawa, and Beau’s All-Natural Brewing Company.

Program Objectives

To enable more new farmers in the Ottawa region to start their own successful farm business;

To reduce barriers to new farmers in accessing land, infrastructure and relevant training;

To offer access to a diversity of new farmers;

To demonstrate the economic, environmental and social viability of small-scale, organic food production in the Ottawa region;

To demonstrate cooperative models for entrepreneurs to work to together;

To work towards access in the NCC greenbelt and broader region to transfer farm start-ups to longer-term viable land tenure options;

To demonstrate sustainable and innovative production techniques, infrastructure and land management options including soil rehabilitation, which can be replicated by local farmers;

To document and share information with partners in Canada and elsewhere.

The program began in 2013 with 9 test-croppers growing at the Just Food Farm, each managing their own farm project on a quarter-acre of land (visit About the Farms for bios and photos). Upon successful completion of their first growing season, test-croppers who want to continue and expand their project are supported to scale-up at another site and join the growing network of Just Food Start-Up Farmers. New test-croppers are admitted into the program each year to start with a quarter-acre.

Test-croppers who complete their first growing season may decide not to continue growing the following year, for a variety of reasons. This is also considered a successful outcome of the program, as participants can make informed decisions about a farming career without having taken on major risks. Throughout the program, test-croppers learn about and have access to a range of other opportunities to participate in farming and local food systems.