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
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.