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Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


The hottest new subdivisions have built-in farms

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Can't get much more local than this! A Harvest Public Media story on a new building trend shows developers foregoing golf courses and planning subdivisions around tailor-made Community Shared Agriculture farms.

Correction, "DSA" or development-supported agriculture. Ed McMahon, a fellow with the Urban Land Institute, estimates there are already over 200 developments in the United States that feature agricultural amenities as a selling point.

It's a change from the current tendency to pave over farmland for tract housing. In fact, Harvest reports that some municipalities are being forced to reverse the zoning codes that initially pushed farm animals out of residential areas.

Quint Redmond, owner of urban-farming company Agriburbia, points out the value of a farm where the developer is responsible for the nuts and bolts. "The best possible thing for a farmer is to have the infrastructure ready." Also, there's a ready-made customer base in the surrounding homes.

Moreover, home buyers like it too. Harvest reports that the Bucking Horse subdivision in Fort Collins, Colo., sold its new lots within days of going on the market, even with prices 20 to 25 per cent higher than in nearby neighborhoods. Since the development's farm started construction, values of existing homes went up by 25 per cent.  

However, commenters on the story point out one teensy flaw: the 1,000-home development's farm will only be 3.6 acres. One commenter called it a "zoo" for the exhibition of an endangered species: the modern farmer. The farm-to-home ratio varies for different developments. BF

Current Issue

December 2024

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

December Better Farming Ontario available online

Thursday, December 12, 2024

The December issue of Better Farming Ontario has been held up, like many publications, by the Canada Post strike. Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), which provides their members with a Better Farming subscription, has graciously agreed to share the digital version of the... Read this article online

New fund targets invasive phragmites spread

Thursday, December 12, 2024

The Ontario Phragmites Action (OPA) program has announced the launch of the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund (IPCF) and is now accepting project proposals. Supported by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, this fund aims to enhance efforts to control invasive Phragmites across the... Read this article online

Farm Fresh Ontario is now Agritourism Ontario

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Agritourism Ontario (formerly Farm Fresh Ontario—the name change took place on December 2, 2024) is heading into 2025 with a new name and look that is more reflective of what the association does. It is also taking on some big projects thanks to the support of the Ontario Ministry... Read this article online

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