Join us on June 20 for a tour of Wild Earth Farms, where we’ll explore the ups and downs of working cover crops into a vegetable rotation. Wild Earth Farms grows over 100 varieties of vegetables, herbs and fruits on their small 20 acre farm near Oakbank, Manitoba.
We’ll discuss the farm’s cover cropping goals for the year, and tour a section of land that was cover-cropped in 2024, talking through our observations and sharing cover crop stories. Manitoba Agriculture’s Vegetable Extension Specialist, Tom Gonsalves, will also be on hand to demonstrate and discuss water infiltration. There’ll be plenty of time for networking, too! Snacks and coffee will be provided, but attendees are also invited to join the organizers after the tour at Pineridge Hollow to eat and talk shop.
This tour is part of a season-long collaboration between Manitoba Organic Alliance, Young Agrarians, Direct Farm Manitoba, and Wild Earth Farms. Following this tour, participants will have the opportunity to gather online in the fall and winter to discuss the progress of the cover cropping pilot, the results from fall soil samples, and what next year might look like. The goal is to create an opportunity for all those interested to learn alongside each other.
This project received funding from Farmers for Climate Solutions FaRM Program and has been generously supported with time and expertise by Manitoba Agriculture’s Extension Office.
WHEN: Friday, June 20, 2025 | 1-4pm
LOCATION: Treaty 1 Territory | Wild Earth Farms | 27064 Garven Rd, Oakbank, MB
REGISTER: Please register on Eventbrite as space for this event is limited.
SCHEDULE (times are approximate):
1pm Welcome and intro circle
2pm Farm tour and cover cropping discussion
330pm Debrief
4pm Depart Wild Earth Farms and make your way to Pineridge Hollow
There will be snacks and coffee provided but attendees are also invited to join the organizers after the tour at Pineridge Hollow to eat and talk shop.
BRING: Dress for the weather.
ACCESSIBILITY: If you have any accessibility needs, please get in touch with us at
c2FyYXkgfCB5b3VuZ2FncmFyaWFucyAhIG9yZw==
About Wild Earth Farms
Jeff and Janna Veenstra began to farm out of a desire to produce delicious, local, sustainable vegetables for the Winnipeg area. They grow over 100 varieties of vegetables, herbs and fruits on their small 20 acre farm just 2 miles south of Bird’s Hill Provincial Park.
They do not use any conventional pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides and continue to integrate sustainable practices to produce deliciously fresh, high quality vegetables without compromising the integrity of the environment. They are passionate about improving the health of their soil through the use compost, and crop rotation including summer fallowing. All of their seeds are untreated, and non – GMO. They use biodegradable mulch, flame-weeding, a lot of hoe/hand weeding, and cultivation to keep weeds under control.
Jeff has loved farming ever since he was a kid growing up on a 100 acre carrot farm in southern Alberta. He also holds a B.Sc degree in Environmental Studies. Janna grew up here in Manitoba on a dairy farm just a few miles from our current farm. She holds B.Sc degrees in Biology and Nursing and also works part-time as a labour and delivery RN.
Their interest in pesticide free market gardening and the CSA model began while visiting a family friend’s farm in Halifax. When they moved back here to Winnipeg the opportunity to start their own farm presented itself and thanks to the support of their valued customers and their amazing crew it has continued to grow into what it is today.
They host a Community Supported Agriculture program with various pickup locations throughout Winnipeg as well as supply multiple restaurants and grocery stores.
About Manitoba Organic Alliance
The Manitoba Organic Alliance is committed to growing the organic industry and shaping the future of organics in Manitoba and Canada. They foster networking opportunities within the organic community and collaborate to support all producers to learn and develop skills. Their mission is to represent, promote and grow Manitoba’s organic sector through knowledge sharing, advocacy, and market development.
About Direct Farm Manitoba
Direct Farm Manitoba is the voice for the farmers’ market and small scale farm sectors in Manitoba. We are a member-owned cooperative of direct marketing farmers and farmers’ markets. They support our members to achieve fairness in our industry, and maximize their opportunities for economic sustainability. By helping farms and farmers’ markets, they help all Manitobans make better decisions about the food on our tables.
This event is supported by Farmers for Climate Solutions and the FaRM program. For
free access to in-depth online learning, workshops, mentorship and implementation
follow-up support on cover cropping, advanced nitrogen management, and advanced
grazing systems, please visit: farmlearninghub.ca
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
This event is free and open to everyone! Supervised children are welcome
Please leave furry friends at home
Please stay home if you have cold or flu symptoms
Please wash your shoes before visiting the farm, especially if you work on or have visited a farm recently
Please do not bring alcohol to this event
Please share this event with other producers who may be interested!
STAY IN TOUCH
-Not able to join this event? Visit our Events Page for other events in your community and online!
https://youngagrarians.org/events/
-Join our Young Agrarians Manitoba Facebook Group to stay up to date with all events in the region:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/yamanitoba
-Sign up for our e-newsletter to get events and opportunities for your region delivered straight to your inbox.
https://youngagrarians.org/newsletter/
-We welcome cancellations at any time – you can do so through Eventbrite, through the link in your registration confirmation email, or by contacting Lourdes at
cHJhaXJpZXNuZXR3b3JrIHwgeW91bmdhZ3JhcmlhbnMgISBvcmc=. Please let us know if you aren’t able to attend.
Questions? Email Sara at
c2FyYXkgfCB5b3VuZ2FncmFyaWFucyAhIG9yZw==
You may also like the following events from Young Agrarians:
Also check out other
Workshops in Selkirk,
Health & Wellness events in Selkirk.
