Sustainability

The County of Hastings County includes Hastings County, the City of Belleville and the City of Quinte West and the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, with its forests, farmland, lakes, rivers and small and large communities, is well situated to lead in the field of alternative energy development, conservation of natural resources, sustainable agriculture and forestry and artisan food production.

Harvest Hastings is about living lightly on the land. Sustainability has four sections on land stewardship, tree planting, managing woods and wildlife at Caring for Land; discussion about Climate Change; finfd out about Green Communities, and read about what's happening in Local Agriculture. There are Audio, Videos, and a Photo Gallery. Look for "Know your farmer" video or audio interviews with local farmers and other producers. Web links has l links to local organizations as well as provincial ones. Check Coming Events to find workshops, agricultural events, community meals and much more. Above all get outand explore

Latest Articles

Food choices not based on facts

Oct. 1, 2012, Guelph, ON - Farmers Feed Cities released the results of its Informed Food Philosophy Study, revealing that while 97 per cent of Canadians agree that food choices are important to them, the data indicates that there are several misconceptions consumers have when it comes to certain food choices.

Farmers Feed Cities, an agriculture awareness organization, recently set out to learn about the food purchase decisions Canadians are making and what leads them to make these decisions - particularly surrounding hot food issues and farm related misconceptions.

Local Agriculture

A Simple Fix for Farming

It's becoming clear that we can grow all the food we need, and profitably, with far fewer chemicals. And I’m not talking about imposing some utopian vision of small organic farms on the world. Conventional agriculture can shed much of its chemical use — if it wants to.

Local Agriculture

Super size, super waste: What whopping portions do to the planet

McDonald’s has a pretty unsavory reputation when it comes to public health.

Green Communities

The Strangely True Tale Of Johnny Appleseed

Apples — right off the tree, baked in a pie, pressed into cider or mashed into sauce — are a basic element of American culture. October is the month to celebrate them, thanks, in part, to Johnny Appleseed.

Local Agriculture

Community Supported Agriculture Webinar

Community supported agriculture (CSA) is a relatively new concept in local marketing, but it is a concept that is catching on. More and more producers are choosing to start a CSA to help sell their local products. To help local producers understand what it is and how it works, the Explore Local initiative has organized a webinar for November 22, 2012. The webinar will explain CSA and provide tips on how to get started and how to find customers. The benefits, risks and challenges of this new marketing concept will also be discussed. John Mills, Eagle Creek Farms, who has been operating a CSA since 2009, will be an integral part of this webinar and will share his experience with attendees. The webinar will begin at 9:00 a.m. on November 22. Space is limited, so pre-registration is recommended. To register, click this webinar link and answer the registration questions prior to the webinar date. For further information or answers to your questions, contact marlene [dot] abrams [at] gov [dot] ab [dot] ca (Marlene Abrams) at 780-968-3519.

Local Agriculture

Green Donkey Tea Room

October 25, 2012 by Louise Livingstone

Green Donkey Tea Room at The Black River Farm has a sale on of all their jams, preserves, teas and gift items for Christmas. If you like trying new teas the Green Donkey Tea Room is the place to visit. They carry a range of around 16 different teas from Buckingham Palace Garden Party tea with delicate Earl Grey and jasmine notes to Lime Tea and Country Christmas Cranberry Tea.

Please call to make to fnd out when it is the best time to visit.

613-478-2852 (Elsie or Al)172 Black River Rd, Tweed BLack River Farm

Event Date and Time:

December 15, 2012 - 11:00 - 16:00

December 16, 2012 - 11:00 - 16:00

Green Communities

Artic sea ice melts to lowest level on record

Arctic sea ice, a key indicator of climate change, melted to its lowest level on record this year before beginning its autumnal freeze, researchers at the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center said on Wednesday.

Climate Change

Grills Orchards re-launched

October 24, 2012 by Louise Livingstone

If you haven't been to Grills Orchard recently, you should go, as there are lots to see and new, local products to buy. They bake bread each day using local, organic flours and also make a delicious variety of pies and pastries. The other recent addition is home made fudge, which they pack in lovely gift boxes.

You can buy all your local meat at Grills Orchards, beef from Durkin Family Farms, pork for Haanover farms and Springbrook Farm, chicken from Harder Heritage Farm and lamb from Pine Ridge Farm. They have local honey and maple syrup and locally made jams. You can find beeswax candles and pottery as well as a range of knitting yarns and Ialpaca products from Amazing Graze Alpaca. They have local cheeses from Black River and Maple Dale, and sparking cider from the County Cider.

Apples are at the heart of Grills Orchards. Sadly, severe frosts this spring decimated the apple crop. Diana McPherson says sell will have apples up until around Christmas. Apples are in short supply this year and prices will go up.