A diversity of agricultural enterprises located on the Ignatius Jesuit Centre lands has demonstrated synergies and increased entrepreneurial capacity. Ignatius Farm tenants crop varying acreages, and have included the following organic farming enterprises: field crops, tree fruits, hardwood tree nursery, medicinal and culinary herbs, hops, willow propagation for land remediation, livestock, pasture & hay, garlic and vegetables with limited water needs.
As croplands become available for lease, a Request for Proposals (RFP) is opened. The RFP aims to find entrepreneurial individuals, groups, or organizations to implement new models of ecological agriculture at the Ignatius Jesuit Centre who will rent available acreages and/or the farm house.
The 2018 deadline for submitting a proposal is February 15, 2017.
Check in the fall and winter for newly-issued Requests for Proposals.
Complementary proposals that Ignatius Farm is especially interested in:
- Organic/ecological crops and livestock. These may marketed in part to existing Ignatius Farm CSA members & community gardeners. Organic certification is optional; following the Canadian Organic Standard is required.
- Seed-saving enterprises
- Organic or ecological small fruit and berry production, marketed in part to Ignatius Farm CSA membership and Community Gardeners (organic certification optional; following the Canadian Organic Standard is required)
- Forest gardening/permaculture/alley cropping – diverse annual and perennial cropping
- Research, education, and outreach programs involving any of the above forms of production
Direct all acreage rental inquiries to the Farm Manager at 519.824.1250 ext 243.