Nine ON Farms featured in Depth of Field: Films About Farming
Ontario, Canada – An immersive exploration into the world of agriculture unfolds in the short documentary series Depth of Field: Films About Farming, a collection of short films presented by the National Farmers Union and March Forth Creative. Depth of Field features the stories of 40 farms across Canada committed to sustainable practices, including nine Ontario farms. From across the Province, showcasing a diverse tapestry of farm types, the featured Ontario farms are: Rooted Oak Organic Farm, Kitchen Table Seed House, Black Sheep Farm, Meeting Place Organic Farm, Pfenning’s Organic Vegetables, Kenli Herefords & Apiary, Ga Gitigemi Gamik – We Will Plant Lodge, Lucky Bug Farm, and Ottawa Valley Farm to Fork.
“The stories captured from a diversity of farms and farmers demonstrate that there are many aspects to sustainable agriculture in Ontario and the need for eaters to support these farmers.” say filmmakers of Depth of Field Sarah Douglas and Tamer Soliman, March Forth Creative.
Rooted Oak Organic Farm
Rooted Oak Organic Farm is a family-run farm in the community of North Augusta, Ontario. Owned and operated by Nikki and Stuart Oke, they use the principles of agroecology to produce a variety of vegetables that are sold through community supported agriculture (CSA) and farmers markets in the Ottawa, Kingston, and Augusta regions.
Kitchen Table Seed House
Kitchen Table Seed House is owned and operated by Kathy Rothermel and Annie Richard. They grow certified-organic varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers for seed over three acres and two separate fields on Wolfe Island, Ontario.
Black Sheep Farm
Black Sheep Farm is an agroecological farm, run by Brenda Hsueh and Skyler Radojkovic. They raise sheep on pasture, using intensive managed grazing, to maximize the soil building effects of ruminants, while producing meat and fibre from grass and sunlight. They want to see farming become the climate crisis solution it should be, building soils, sequestering carbon, being a moisture sponge, increasing biodiversity, all while feeding people without exploiting themselves or the people they work with.
Meeting Place Organic Farm
Meeting Place Organic Farm is a woman-owned and operated organic farm in Ontario, being farmed by the second generation of McQuails in a sustainable, environmentally conscious manner. They aim for more than regenerative agriculture with their grass-fed and finished Ontario beef, pasture-raised pork, organic chicken and certified organic apple orchard. They believe in the importance of building strong local communities and being good stewards of the land and animals they tend.
Pfenning’s Organic Vegetables
Pfenning’s Organic Vegetables has been proudly growing certified organic vegetables since 1981. Located between New Hamburg and Baden, the farm now stretches over about 700 acres. Although best known for their delicious carrots, they also grow over 40 other varieties of vegetables: leafy greens, brassicas, squash and root veggies that grow best in their region. Respect and care is at the heart of everything they do. Respect for the environment that sustains us all, for each other, and for generations that will follow.
Kenli Herefords & Apiary
Ken and Lisa Bassindale run a cow/calf operation, raising registered polled “Kenli” Herefords using a mix of ecological and conventional practices. They keep approximately 25 female cows on 50 acres of rotational pasture from May to November. The Bassindales have also been raising honey bees for over 10 years and produce honey for sale under KBee’s Honey. They’ve also recently taken up raising pastured chicken. They farm an additional 400 acres of cash crops, including hay, wheat, soybeans and corn. Their farm is chemical free and uses cover crops to nourish the soil.
Ga Gitigemi Gamik (We Will Plant Lodge)
Ga Gitigemi Gamik (We Will Plant Lodge) is envisioned as an ecological centre on a permanent Indigenous-stewarded site on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, where women and 2SLGBTTQQIA+ persons can work on the land together in a 12-week immersion program that will help them (re)learn ancestral agricultural methods lost to colonization. The documentary provides insight into the farm’s efforts to revitalize traditional agricultural knowledge, emphasizing the importance of cultural sustainability in farming.
Lucky Bug Farm
Lucky Bug Farm is a one-quarter-acre ecological market garden operating on rented land 25 minutes from Kitchener-Waterloo. Lucky Bug Farm relies on interplanting and minimal tillage to build soil health and in turn, a productive ecological market garden. They buy organic seeds as much as possible, use organic potting mix and do not use synthetic amendments, sprays or fertilizers.
Ottawa Valley Farm to Fork
Ottawa Valley Farm to Fork are the ultimate farm-to-table party animals. They whip up gourmet goodies straight from the land: grass-fed beef turned into divine sausage rolls, and organic potatoes transformed into lip-smacking pierogi. The farm is small but mighty, proving there’s no limit to deliciousness. Their furry and feathered friends get the royal treatment too. They pamper Scottish Highland cattle, dairy goats, and free-range chickens. They’re also veggie virtuosos, growing organic, heritage crops. Sustainable and scrumptious! Plus, they are all about community, hiring locals and cooking up a storm.
Stay tuned as we launch each short film over the coming months. Films will be released online and shown via local screenings by community members and other farm organizations during the winter of 2024.
To organize a local screening – use the free Community Screening Guide available at www.nfu.ca/filmsaboutfarming/, or email Nasseem at hakimian@nfu.ca to inquire.
Depth of Field: Films About Farming
Depth of Field is a series of short documentaries produced and presented by the National Farmers Union and March Forth Creative. The films will showcase Canadian farmers and farm workers, and their sustainable farming practices on and off the land. Rotational grazing, seed saving, building healthy soils, and working for social justice– different farmers highlight their own priorities and, together, these films tell the story of farming practices that would create the local food system we all want. The National Farmers Union wants Canadian food consumers to know that buying directly from their local farmers, like the ones featured in Depth of Field, contributes to building a thriving localized food system.
National Farmers Union
The National Farmers Union is a farmer-led, democratically-directed farm organization representing Canadian farmers and farm workers, and advocating on issues of importance to us. NFU members believe that the problems facing farmers are common problems, and that farmers producing diverse products must work together to advance effective solutions. The NFU works toward economic, social, and environmental policies that promote economically- and environmentally-sustainable farms and strong farming communities.
National Farmers Union – Ontario
The National Farmers Union – Ontario (NFU-O) is an accredited farm organization representing thousands of sustainable farmers in Ontario and has advocated for farmers across Ontario since 1969. Members work together to achieve agricultural policies that ensure dignity and income security for farmers, while protecting and enhancing rural environments for current and future generations.
March Forth Creative
March Forth Creative is a renowned producer of award-winning documentaries that explore meaningful and timely topics. Their films have been screened across Canada through multiple municipalities and non-profit organizations, and internationally through distribution companies.
We thank our project partners March Forth Creative, Young Agrarians, Régénération Canada, National Farmers Union – New Brunswick, National Farmers Union – Ontario, Organic Alberta, Sustain Ontario, National Farmers Foundation, Canadian Organic Growers, Farmers’ Markets Ontario, SaskOrganics, Small Scale Meat Producers Association.
We are grateful that funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the AgriCommunication Program.
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Read and share this media release from the NFU website.
For more information:
Nasseem Hakimian, Communications and Project Manager, NFU: hakimian@nfu.ca, (647) 624-6278
Tamer Soliman and Sarah Douglas, Filmmakers, March Forth Creative, info@marchforthcreative.com (613) 794-0314
Farmer-Media Ambassadors:
Stuart Oke, Rooted Oak (613) 340-7633
Celeste Smith, We Will Plant Lodge (289) 501-6617
Brenda Hsueh, Black Sheep Farm (519) 363-2199
Resources:
Visit the website
Explore complete list of featured farmers: see profiles here or review full contact sheet here.
Amplify the Organize a community film screening (PDF)
Use this Press Kit for photos and bios, and more.
Use this Digital Toolkit for social media
See previous releases: Media Release 1 (Project Announcement), Media Release 2 (Featured Farmers Reveal), Media Release 3 (P.E.I), Media Release 4 (N.S.), Media Release 5 (N.B.), Media Release 6 (QC), Media Release 7 (ON)
Watch the trailer
