Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Hi everyone.

I have a dilemma and would like a pro's opinion on the matter. I'm 28 years old and my girlfriend is 31. I work in the entertainment industry and she wants to quit her job to pursue organic farming. Now, neither one of us makes a lot of money, and I would like stability in my life. She also wants to raise a big family on top of everything. Personally, I'm against this idea because I have zero interest in farming and we would be most likely under a lot of debt. She wants to do this by herself with the help of some hired volunteers. A few years ago she spent a couple of summers working at a farm and found her passion. She hates her current job and feels that this will make her happy. Im not so sure. We would look to settle down somewhere within commute distance to Toronto. Is it even possible to buy a farm on the cheap?

Is this a good idea or are we headed for disaster?

Views: 168

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

I suggest that you find a market gardening operation that you can help near where you live so you can learn the ropes.

Starting from scratch with no real experience could be a painful experience....

Lots of ways to get started and still follow your passion - living near Toronto can be a major benefit as you are near your market.  You also might hit the Food Terminal and meet some farmers there who might want some help.

Good luck

Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Hursh: Court documents reveal scope of Monette Farms' financial challenges

As reported on Wednesday, Monette Farms and its many affiliated companies have filed for creditor protection. The court document filed at Court of King's Bench in Calgary provides insight into the size and scope of Monette's operations and the extent of their financial difficulties. According to the court document, the Monette Group forms one of the largest private farming businesses in North America with operations in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, B.C., and the states of Montana, Colorado and Arizona. The group owns approximately 274,000 acres of land and leases approximately 218,000 acres. It also has seed processing and produce storage facilities. The restructuring plan is debtor-in-possession financing, because the applicants are insolvent and don’t otherwise have the finances to seed a crop this spring. Monette did recently sell some farmland, most notably about 13,000 acres near Stewart Valley, Saskatchewan for $54 million. Subsequent activity resulted in two more sales t

Removal of non-tariff trade barrier for flaxseed to the EU reflects confidence in Canada’s agricultural exports

Canada is one of the world's largest producers and global exporters of flaxseed. Our high-quality products are enjoyed by millions of people around the world on a daily basis. May 1, 2026, will mark the official termination of the longstanding Sampling and testing protocol for Canadian flaxseed exported to the European Union (the Protocol). Removal of this non-tariff barrier, that has been in place since 2009, is a recognition of the safety, reliability and quality of Canadian agricultural and agri-food exports. This demonstrates the strength of the Canada-EU Strategic Partnership and a shared commitment to resolving long-standing trade irritants through cooperation and dialogue. In July 2009, trace amounts of an unauthorized genetically modified flaxseed called CDC Triffid was detected in a Europe-bound shipment, leading to the immediate and temporary cessation of flaxseed exports. Following the detection, AAFC worked diligently with the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC), industry par

Cereals Canada Releases "Securing Global Markets for Canadian Wheat" Report

Cereals Canada today released its new report, Securing Global Markets for Canadian Wheat, during a webinar that brought together farmers, researchers, plant breeders, and value chain partners from across the sector. The report outlines how targeted market development, technical engagement, and science-based policy advocacy are helping to protect, maintain, and grow global demand for Canadian wheat in an increasingly complex trade environment. Canadian wheat is exported to more than eighty international markets each year, with over twenty-eight million tonnes expected to ship globally in 2025–2026. Canada is the world's number one exporter of durum wheat and oats and is on track to be the third-largest wheat exporter overall, reinforcing the importance of diversified and stable international demand. The Securing Global Markets for Canadian Wheat report provides a snapshot of six international markets that were part of Cereals Canada's 2025 market development activities. These activiti

Monette Farms Seeks Court Protection as Mega-Farm Restructures Amid Financial Pressures

Monette Farms has entered court-supervised restructuring under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act while continuing operations across Canada and the United States.

Removal of non-tariff trade barrier for flaxseed to the EU reflects confidence in Canada's agricultural exports

Canada is one of the world's largest producers and global exporters of flaxseed. Our high-quality products are enjoyed by millions of people around the world on a daily basis.

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service