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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  AudioVideos, 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

Centre Hastings Huntingdon Fire Dept 28th Annual Pancake Breakfast

March 9, 2013 by Louise Livingstone

Centre Hastings Pancake Breakfast

Event Date and Time: 
March 17, 2013 - 07:00 - 13:00

Location

Ivanhoe Fire hall
741 Slab Street
Ivanhoe, ON K0K 2K0
Canada
44° 23' 48.6312" N, 77° 27' 50.6088" W

Forest Service Directory and Forest Management in Hastings County

March 9, 2013 by Louise Livingstone

Hastings County has historically and continues to support a strong forest-based economy. As a large and diverse County, most of the forest resource is located in the central and northern sections of the County while many of the jobs are located in processing facilities situated in the south. Regardless of the sector, the single most important component of all forest-based industries is the local forest resource and its capacity to supply a sustainable source of forest products over time. Creating awareness at the industrial and community levels is essential to maintaining the quality and productivity of our forest resources.

The Local Landscape: Selecting, Growing and Propagating Native Plants for Property Owners.

March 8, 2013 by Louise Livingstone

On March 13, the Hastings Stewardship Council presents Peter Fuller speaking on The Local Landscape: Selecting, Growing and Propagating Native Plants for Property Owners. This is the third evening in their Winter Speaker Series, and it takes place at the Thurlow Community Centre, north of Belleville, at 7 pm.

 Peter Fuller is the owner of Fuller Native and Rare Plants located just east of Belleville on Airport Parkway. Peter’s slide show will display a wide variety of recommended plant choices from ground covers to shrubs, from sun to shade, and from wet to dry areas. He will also give techniques for propagating your own plants from the abundant possibilities that surround us in eastern Ontario. Peter has long been an outdoor enthusiast, combining his interest in the natural world with his interests in horticulture. 

 The nursery propagates perennials, grasses, ferns, shrubs and trees, mostly from seed, to supply property owners with plant material.  Whenever possible, local seed sources are used, as well as ethical seed collection practices.  The nursery promotes habitat conservation and encourages people to develop naturalizing projects and shoreline restoration projects, as well aspropagation skills to increase enjoyment of our native flora. A percentage of Fuller’s sales is donated to local conservation efforts.

Native plants provide a host of interesting, hardy, and ecologically sound options for home gardeners and landscapers.  Learning a good mix of native plants can increase site diversity, attract pollinators and birds, add colour and texture to natural areas, and ensure plants that are adapted to our local conditions.  

 Peter Fuller’s presentation will give gardeners new skills for planting and propagation, plant lists to take home, (and enhance your dreams of spring gardening), along with new perspectives on a host of native plants for a bountiful garden. This colourful show will “sow the seeds” of new planting ideas to help preserve our heritage.

 All are welcome at the Thurlow Community Centre on 516 Harmony Road, (north of Belleville) on Wednesday, March 13 at 7 pm. There is no charge, but donations at the door will be gratefully accepted. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact the Hastings Stewardship Council at 613-478-6875.

 

Winter speakers' series: native plants

Beyond the City Lights

March 8, 2013 by Louise Livingstone

The registration packet is attached below.

Beyond the City Lights

Now is the Time Ontario! Grow Organic Grain

March 7, 2013 by Louise Livingstone

Ontario Soil and Crop Association

Agenda

James Sculthorpe – President, Yorkshire Valley Farms (10 min.)

History of Yorkshire Valley Farms, where we are today and what our goals are, and the amount of grain that is required to meet the demand for our product.

John Molenhuis –  business management lead OMAFRA Brighton (30 min.)

Cost of production, organic v. conventional cropping

John Molenhuis has been OMAFRA’s business analysis and cost of production program lead for 12 years working out of the Brighton office. Annually he, with help from OMAFRA’s field crop team, updates the Field Crop Budgets publication, which includes six organic grain budgets. He also wrote the OMAFRA fact sheet ‘Guide to cost of production budgeting’. He has a B.Sc. (Agr.) in Agricultural Business from the University of Guelph.

Hugh Martin - retired OMAFRA organic crop lead (45 min.)

With today’s record  prices, now is the time to transition to organic.

Hugh Martin was a soils and crop specialist, weed specialist, and Organic Crop Production Program lead with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for almost 34 years. He has worked with organic producers and the organic foods sector since the early 198’s to develop fact sheets, and transfer crop technology to the organic sector. He graduated from the University of Guelph with a M.Sc. and a B.Sc.(Agr). Hugh is currently a certified crop advisor and organic farm inspector located in Guelph.

Brad Torrie – Bognor, Ont. 1000 acres organic and 1000 acres conventional (45 min.) Torrie Farms have a herd of  70 organic milk cows. 

Experiences from the field and lessons learned

Event Date and Time: 
March 13, 2013 - 13:00 - 16:00

Location

Millenium Room
88 Alma Street Norwood Community Centre
Norwood , ON K0L2V0
Canada
44° 22' 47.892" N, 77° 58' 8.5188" W
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