2025 has become a year of transition and change. This is definitely the season here at Springfield Farm and it is all happening in Gusto! This update, or newsletter, is a message of gratitude and hope. A Hope that you will visit us; and Gratitude to all that have made our transition to farming possible. Please click the link above (or THE TITLE/or Read on Blog if this is an email version) for a VIDEO montage of Springfield Farm to get you inspired for a 2025 visit!
This spring we are so delighted that our son Jack McMillan will be at the farm for two months to plant oats, trees, vegetables and run the disc golf course. For many farming families it is the succession plan that is ideal, and yet in Canada, we are faced with an aging-out population of farmers (the average age is 59!) with few able or interested in taking on farming.
Recently, Eleanor attended the OFA’s (Ontario Federation of Agriculture) “Meet the Candidates” with an agricultural focus. While the four parties represented offered sound responses, there was a palpable anxiety in the room that Agriculture is still not a leading issue. Food: who consumes it, who produces it and who sells it – NEEDS TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF EVERY POLITICAL PLATFORM – as without food we have nothing.
Tariff constraints are defining all sectors and Agriculture must be valued and given a considered approach on how to balance the needs of the consumers with that of the farmers – conventional, regenerative and organic. “We ain’t getting any younger” and when a Bay Street career can garner you six figures very quickly, it is tough to compete with the cost of farm land, tight margins, increasing debt and isolation. While this election may be behind us…farming for 2025 is ahead of us. Make sure you BUY FROM A FARMER, SUPPORT AG AND BECOME AN ALLY/ADVOCATE FOR THE NEXT FARMING GENERATION.
What’s Growing in 2025 at Springfield Farm?
SOIL HEALTH: Every spring we fill out the onerous forms for our annual Organic certification process with ECOCERT Canada. The cost is expensive, the inspection is takes half a day and there is often some required follow-up to secure the annual certificate. We could easily give this a pass – BUT – this rigorous process is an assurance for the Canadian consumer that we have been inspected, secured all necessary seeds and inputs that are organic and practice farming in a most respectful way for Springfield Farm’s ecosystem. Our soil report from the University of Guelph Soils Team 2025 shows that we have been doing more than something right by practicing organic farming. We are very Grateful to ALUS for selecting our farm for 1500 new trees to be planted along the Beaudette River and to OSCIA for granting us 10 acres to go into “rewilding” of our land adding native grasses for the habitats and rejuvenation of our soil and environment – helping us to continue to expand our Environmental Farm Oasis.
THE FOOD SHOPPING CART: We are always excited to receive our mail or courier packages in this season at Springfield Farm! WE just added Apricot, PawPaw and Peach trees to the orchard and more horseradish! The organic seeds have arrived from two sources this year and we have already put our new “Shabby Chic” Greenhouse to work with tomatoes, Garleek, Jalepeno Peppers, Basil and Beets. There are also peas, corn, multitude of lettuce ready for the warmer soil weather…but it is our Garlic that we are most proud of this year! The bulb varieties are all certified organic and soon we will have Scapes and Green Garlic for you to purchase in June/July and then in August the garlic bulbs. And what every Irish heritage farm has on their produce list are POTATOES. We are extremely excited for this season and in the fall a great variety in our store from new potatoes, French Fry varieties and classic Mashed Potato variety.
Our delicious grains – good for flour and for your breakfast…We are working with artisanal Millers to bring you beautiful wheat and our 3rd consecutive year AWARD WINNING hulless oats for your morning porridge- and soon our new partnership with a microbrewery in Toronto!
Stay tuned, call us, and please:
ORDER FROM US! BUY FROM US DIRECTLY IN APPLE HILL, or for a pick-up in Toronto JUST Cluck below:
DISC GOLF 2025! Come and play! This is the place to walk in a Managed Forest, see some deer, hear migratory birds and witness the rejuvenation of habitats of endangered species such as the Eastern Meadowlark, Barn Swallows and the Monarch Butterfly. This is a fun game for all ages on an approximately 4 km course which takes 2hours for an 18-hole round. Follow up your game with a wood-fired artisanal pizza topped with Springfield Farm produce and a latte. We welcome groups, families and picnics! Hope to see you soon – head over to book your tee time: https://springfieldfarmorganics.ca/disc-golf/
STAY WITH US! 2025: We have a beautiful 100% Canadian-Made Yurt for your glamping stay on our family farm. Drive by car, truck, bike or cycle to get yourself into a peaceful place in Apple Hill, Ontario. The calendar is open and please visit the page for the links to AirBnB and GlampingHub for your booking of your visit to Springfield Farm. We look forward to welcoming you this spring to fall: https://springfieldfarmorganics.ca/stay/
SAVE THESE DATES!
Hope to see you at one or all of the upcoming events at Springfield Farm.
Annual Glengarry Soil & Crop Get Together on Wednesday, June 18th 5 to 7pm (ish)
Poker Run for Beyond 21 on Saturday, June 28th Lunch at Springfield Farm
Open Doors at Springfield Farm Saturday, August 16th and Sunday, August 17th
Savour the Field on Sunday, August 24th – Lunch at Springfield Farm
Final Updates:
We are very sad to have lost Sue Lepage, a dear friend of Springfield Farm through a tragic car accident on March 13, 2025 in Glen Walter. Her grandson Brayden thankfully survived but he also lost his girlfriend in this accident. Sue was a tour de force at our Field & Feast events and annually assisted with various event planning requirements. We send our thoughts and prayers to her entire family during this difficult time. We will miss Sue.
And, Daniel Blondin has retired from part-time work at Springfield Farm in many capacities including, Farm Manager. We were fortunate to have Daniel’s collaboration and that of his wife, Nicole and his association with many in the community, including the local Trappers’ Association. Thank you from the bottom of our farming hearts Daniel – we wish you the very best in your new role and look forward to welcoming you back to Springfield Farm as a visitor!
With warm regards from all of us at Springfield Farm –
Finbarr, Eleanor, Madeleine, Dave, Jack, Molly, Alannah and Áine and of course, Louis the English Setter and Fitz the Jack Russell!