For more than 15 years, Farms at Work has been strengthening farm resilience and supporting community food security across east central Ontario, including Peterborough County.
Since its establishment in 2010, the non-profit organization based in the Peterborough region has helped both new and experienced farmers thrive while encouraging landowners to keep agricultural lands in productive use.
As climate change shapes the future of food production, Farms at Work’s commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability has become increasingly important. Through education and hands-on support including tours and workshops, the organization helps farmers enhance soil health, improve biodiversity, reduce erosion, and strengthen pollination, ensuring long-term productivity and ecological resilience.
According to Pat Learmonth, founder and board member of Farms at Work, expanding local food production is key to ensuring community food security in east central Ontario as the population continues to grow. That includes in Peterborough County, which is well positioned for continued agricultural growth.
While Peterborough County has more than 180,000 acres of farmland in active production, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness estimates almost another 200,000 acres of land in the county could be used for farming. This aligns well with the Ontario government’s goal to increase the production and consumption of Ontario-grown foods by 30 per cent by 2032.
Access to farmland remains one of the most important factors for agricultural growth. To help new and expanding farmers find affordable and secure farmland, including in Peterborough County, Farms at Work has developed FindFarmland.ca, a free tool that connects aspiring farmers across Ontario with non-farming landowners who are offering their land for rent, lease, or collaborative use.
“We could actually keep farmland in production that would otherwise sit idle,” Learmonth says.
Alongside the efforts of Farms at Work, Peterborough County is also supporting agricultural growth in the region through the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale program and the Kawartha Choice FarmFresh initiative.
Funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale aims to increase the capacity for local food distribution by supporting expanded production and procurement within Peterborough County, as well as the City of Peterborough and the City of Kawartha Lakes, by connecting farmers with local food buyers such as restaurants, retail, food services, tourist attractions, golf courses, and more.
Peterborough County also continues to partner with the City of Peterborough and the City Kawartha Lakes to deliver the Kawartha Choice FarmFresh initiative, a free-to-join regional economic development program that provides a brand identity for local food and farm products grown and produced in The Kawarthas, a network for members to share ideas and access resources, and an online database for buyers to find local producers.
The county is also supporting Farms at Work as it develops a community farm in Otonabee-South Monaghan. Designed as a collaborative space for new farmers, students, and small agricultural businesses, the farm will offer shared infrastructure, mentorship, and opportunities for hands-on learning.
“Some folks may stay in that collective space and decide this is how they want to continue their business,” says Heather Thoma, operations manager at Farms at Work. “For others, it may be a jumping-off point, which will support them to practice, learn and build confidence before purchasing their own land.”
For more information on Farms at Work, visit farmsatwork.ca or email contact@farmsatwork.ca.
The Local Advantage in Peterborough County is a branded editorial feature series celebrating the farmers, food producers, food retailers, and agri-tourism businesses that make The Kawarthas thrive, created in partnership with Peterborough County’s Economic Development & Tourism Division.
Agriculture is a key economic driver and a point of pride for Peterborough County, with local farms producing a wide variety of high-quality goods, from traditional crops and livestock to organic and specialty products, reflecting the strength and diversity of this vital sector. With a growing focus on sustainability, local food systems, agri-innovation, and agri-tourism, agriculture offers strong potential for growth and diversification.
The Local Advantage with Peterborough County series spotlights the Kawartha Choice FarmFresh and Kawartha Local Food Wholesale initiatives, which aim to strengthen connections from farm to table across our region.
For more information about economic development and tourism in Peterborough County, visit www.ptbocounty.ca/ecdev and The Kawarthas Tourism at thekawarthas.ca.
