Timmins farmer promotes regenerative farming to help with climate change
Raising cattle is new to the Carons in Timmins. They used to grow vegetables and offered a community supported agriculture program, but they said switching to livestock is making it a little bit easier for them at this stage of life and it suits their values better.
“Having growing them in your own yard and feeding the feed we feed them, which is 100 per cent organic feed, we feel like we’ve taken a bigger step in better health," said Lois Caron, co-owner of Hawk Feather Farm.
Her husband John said raising cattle is important on two levels.
"For our own health and nutrition and a solution for climate change," he said.
He added they can sequester a lot of carbon in the pasture grass "through grazing livestock."
John said the regenerative farming practices he employs has to do with building healthy soil, which ensures a bountiful supply of various types of grass in his pastures.
“I move (the cattle) every day so they’re recycling their manure in their area," he said.
"Once I move them out, (the plants) get adequate rest time. I might come back 40 days later or so and the plants are fully regrown."
Something else unique about Hawk Feather Farm is that there is no barn on the property. Caron said the animals are suited for a colder climate and there is ample bush around the property to protect them from the wind.
“They can handle the temperatures as well as moose or caribou can, and they’re still on the land," he said.
"They’re not in a barn and I don’t have to clean out a barn to spread their manure out there."
He added they also practise 'bale grazing.'
"They eat the bale out in the field and whatever’s left acts as compost," said Caron.
Caron said he has never applied synthetic fertilizers to his pastures and he said he's pleased that what he's studied and practised on the farm is working.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.