'We're feeding a lot of people': Powassan hosts farming and gardening expo

Saturday was a day for both home gardeners and seasoned farmers in Powassan.

250 Clark events hub in Powassan held a farming and gardening expo called Farm To Fork and it featured workshops, vendors, seed exchange and speakers talking about all aspects of farming and home gardening.

Speaker topics included: growing vegetables, how to make sausages, canning goods, honey making, worm composting, as well as dairy and goat farming.

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"Celebrate your local farmers. That's how you learn," said first-time home gardener Pam Blacquiere, who plans to start growing tomatoes.

"I hope to learn when to start seeding, when to start growing, and what's the best way to grow."

Farm To Fork started out very small back in 2017 meant for people who were interested in gardening.

"Then it just kind of took over and now we have a lot more agricultural things happening. Both big and small," said 250 Clark events coordinator Kathie Hogan.

One of the keynote speakers was Manitoulin Island farmer Eric Blondin. Blondin has been growing vegetables, chickens and seeds at Three Forks Farms for the past eight years.

"Soil is one of the most important parts of growing. You want to add good quality compost to your soil," he said.

"I find locally adapted seeds work the best for a new gardener."

Many farmers and home gardeners found the pressures the COVID-19 pandemic forced more people to become aware of food security issues. Now with inflation, that's convincing many to grow what they can to save money.

"Everything is getting so expensive in the stores. You know what you're growing," Blacquiere said.

"You know how it's grown. It's better for you. So yeah. Why not?"

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, a 2016 census showed that over 2,200 farms in northern Ontario generated $209 million in gross cash farm receipts.

Farms in northern Ontario generate more than $209 million in gross cash farm receipts each year. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)Hogan said the area farms have really formed a bond over the years.

"There are 30 market gardeners and there are 15 farmers in the traditional sense with animals," she said, citing their role to the local economy.

Eric Blondin is co-owner of Three Forks Farms on Manitoulin Island and was a keynote speaker at the 2023 Farm to Fork event. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)Blondin finds agriculture is taking a turn in the right direction when it comes to sustainable growing and harvesting and this includes both large-scale farming and small operations.

"We're feeding a lot of people," he said. 

For more details on this event and more, visit 250 Clark's Facebook page.