Regenerative Orchards: Design, Production and Marketing

Presented in conjunction with Eco Farm Day, this full day workshop is a collaboration between Canadian Organic Growers Ottawa - St Lawrence Outaouais Chapter (COG OSO) and Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO).

Join Stefan Sobkowiak, biologist, landscape architect, permaculture educator and owner-operator of Fermes Miracle Farms in Western Quebec will lead this hands-on workshop.  He will discuss his experience of transforming 5 acres out of his 12-acre property into a permaculture-inspired “u-pick” orchard. Utilizing an innovative interplanting model, Stefan is producing over 100 cultivars of apples, 18 cultivars of pears, Asian pears, plums, cherries, hardy kiwi, grapes, mulberries, gooseberries, red currant, black currant, Saskatoon berries, raspberries, strawberries, and a whole range of herbs and perennial vegetables.

The full-day workshop will include information about: multispecies permaculture orchard design; variety selection and propagation; orchard-specific soil care; economics and profitability; pest management, and ecological benefits such as for pollinators and other orchard ‘allies’. 

Cost: $65/person for EFAO and COG OSO members; $75 for non-members.

Registration is available through the COG OSO website in conjunction with Eco Farm Day: cog.ca/ottawa/eco-farm-day. For more information contact ecofarmday@cog.ca.