The ClearWater Farm Story

The ClearWater Farm Story
Growing agri-preneurs. Restoring balance.
Up a dirt road a heartbeat away
from the whirr of today’s suburban life, is a lakeside farm
bypassed by modern times. In 2013, the Town of Georgina
purchased this property which had been in the same family
for 180 years. Public opinion varied about what the old farm
should become. A simple idea prevailed. What if it remained
a farm? But not just any farm. What if this farm could
become a showcase of advanced eco-agricultural practices
and a learning laboratory for developing agri-preneurs and
restoring balance to the Lake Simcoe ecosystem?
Through SPIN (Small Plot Intensive) farming market gardens,
polyculture orchards, edible forest gardens, hugelculture,
aquaponics, ClearWater-branded produce and more, the
farm is connecting water, land and people in new ways – and
cultivating a new generation of innovative farmers and
foodies in the process.
As ClearWater and local food enterprises grows, the whole
south Lake Simcoe area stands to benefit economically and
socially. Imagine “Toronto’s Near North!” as a place where
good things happen because people care about food, water,
the land and each other.
The home of ClearWater,
directly accross from
Lake Simcoe on Lake
Drive, Sutton
The Ontario Water Centre, 120 Primeau Drive. Aurora L4G 6Z4 (905) 476 5587
Charitable # 842146284RR0001
The ClearWater Farm Story
Growing agri-preneurs. Restoring balance.
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Story #1 – The Transformation Begins
Aerial view, Willow Beach
The countdown to ClearWater begins with an outstanding site — the Reed
farm on the shores of Lake Simcoe, 180 years in the same family. Now that
the Town of Georgina has signed a 20-year lease, the first priority is an
environmentally responsible, economically prudent, comprehensive master
plan – one that anticipates multiple dimensions and future activity. Step one
includes equipping the two buildings with commercial grade water, sewage,
electrical (400A), gas services, security and communications allowing the
ClearWater Farm future to begin.
Guiding this step are architects DTAH (Evergreen Brick Works, Artscape
Wychwood Barns) and our hand-picked multi-disciplinary team (including
an eco-agricultural pioneer, an award-winning chef, a regenerative organic
farmer, an interpretative artist, an event planner, an IT planner, a restoration
architect and a landscape architect).
This phase of the project will take place in Q1/2016.
Cost: $200,000. FUNDS HAVE NOW BEEN RAISED FOR THIS
Artscape Wychwood Barns
Evergreen Brick Works
Story #1 - The Transformation Begins
The ClearWater Farm Story DTAH Architects & the ClearWater Farm
DTAH has been designing landscapes, buildings
and communities for over 40 years:
The Banff Centre, a DTAH project.
“Our work spans many sectors, but the connection between the
physical, cultural, historical and social aspects of public spaces
particularly draws our interest. The ClearWater Farm and Toronto’s
TTC Barns project, for example, are interesting parallels. The
Barns was developed with local community ideas… but no money.
Through the efforts of many, a compelling shared vision emerged
and a groundswell of friends, supporters, donors and funders
was engaged. It took eight years and $23 million, but Artscape
Wychwood Barns, opened in 2008 and quickly became the social
heart of the neighbourhood. “
~ Joe Lobko, OAA / FRAIC / LEED AP BD+C , Partner
Investment overview
Topographic site plan
$6,000
Development of Master Plan
$75,000
Electrical, communications, security
$74,000
Water & sewage$45,000
$200,000
For more information
ClearWater Farm is the flagship project of the Ontario Water Centre, an educational organization with
charitable status. Chair, Annabel Slaight 905-476-5587 [email protected]
Ontario
Water
Centre
ClearWater
The ClearWater Farm Story
Growing agri-preneurs. Restoring balance.
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Story # 2 - Preparing to Grow
The sustainability of ClearWater Farm rests on field-to-fork thinking – grow,
prepare, and enjoy local food. But there’s a difference! ClearWater is also
growing innovation, starting with its farming methodology. Throughout, the
farm will use the latest techniques in regenerative sustainable agriculture.
Old thinking made new -- whereby Mother Nature is an extraordinary partner
in conserving water, cleaning water and maximizing the energy in the soil.
Aerial view, Willow Beach
First step, harness the skills of our “new-farming pioneer” Nathan McCosker,
to turn the demonstration garden that was planted in June 2015 into a 2.5
acre farming operation that can yield 6 tonnes of produce and earn $50,000
every half acre when it matures! This is SPIN Farming (Small Plot Intensive) at
work. Google it and be amazed! We will also co-develop with local partners
on-the-land programs to engage specialized groups in reconnecting with
earth and water while they develop their skills.
This phase of the project takes place Q2/2016.
Cost:$200,000
Harvesting zucchini with local kids
An abundance of fresh vegetables
Story #2 - Preparing to Grow
The ClearWater Farm Story More than just veg: engaging people, creating ripples
Part of ClearWater’s garden of discovery will be community
farming co-designed with local social service organizations to
help people develop skills they can take home with them.
In 2017, we will launch our innovative “Surburban Farmer”
program to train young agri-preneurs to earn a living using SPIN
farming techniques on properties in suburban landscapes. By
motivating and supporting entrepreneurs to deploy SPIN farming
throughout suburbia that helps rainwater infiltrate into the
ground, we assist municipalities to control storm-water run-off
that is harming our rivers and lakes.
Investment overview
We will also nurture offshoots/nodes of the ClearWater Farm
designed to pop up on residential properties, campuses, public
spaces and new developments, furthering ClearWater’s reach and
impact.
Recoup from 2015 tests, terrain recovery, soil preparation
$40,000
Future farming planning and set up
$35,000
High/low hoop houses, row covers, cold-frames
$38,000
Fencing, and preparation for gardens
$15,000
2 Wheel Tractor, Planting and Harvesting Tools
$24,000
Watering & drip and soaker systems $38,000
Signage and design
$ 10,000
$200,000
For more information
ClearWater Farm is the flagship project of the Ontario Water Centre, an educational organization with
charitable status. Chair, Annabel Slaight 905-476-5587 [email protected]
Ontario
Water
Centre
ClearWater
The ClearWater Farm Story
Growing agri-preneurs. Restoring balance.
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Story #3 - Farming Year Round
Leonardo Da Vinci famously said, “water is the driving force of all nature.”
That’s also true inside a greenhouse. So extending the growing season at
ClearWater will go well beyond installing old “Dutch Box” greenhouses where
the heat leaves when the sun goes down. A variety of contemporary systems
that use water wisely, save energy, and increase yield offer rich possibilities.
Aerial view, Willow Beach
Photovoltaic panels will generate electricity. A thermal system using
underground water tanks as a “heat sink” will store summer warmth for
use during the winter. Tunnel-shaped “hoop houses” will roll along rails to
adapt growing conditions to local weather. In a later phase, we will explore
closed-loop systems where nutrient-rich water from fish tanks nourish
hydroponically-grown produce, which in turn purifies the water and provides
cuttings to feed the fish.
This phase will begin in Q3 2016.
Cost: $200,000
Root cellar
Story #3 - Farming year round
The ClearWater Farm Story Water Management Year Round.
All season food production in the Canadian environment is a
challenge. Even within the protected climate of a greenhouse
there are still numerous elements to be managed. In traditional
greenhouses, for example, a sterile growing system may provide
fertile spaces for diseases and pests.
Bio-shelter Greenhouse
A bioshelter-style greenhouse on the other hand is managed as
a natural indoor ecosystem that supports the growth of healthy
crops and biodiversity. The integrated ecosystem approach
of ClearWater will provide a range of advantages from pest
management, pollination, composting, companion planting, plant
and food diversity and creating a beautiful space full of tempting
microgreens to connect people with their food when the snow is
heavy and the sky is dark.
Investment overview
Thermal mass insulated greenhouses Show greenhouse/ - meeting space
$140,000
$60,000
$200,000
For more information
ClearWater Farm is the flagship project of the Ontario Water Centre, an educational organization with
charitable status. Chair, Annabel Slaight 905-476-5587 [email protected]
Ontario
Water
Centre
ClearWater
The ClearWater Farm Story
Growing agri-preneurs. Restoring balance.
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Story #4 - Clear Waters for our Lake
Can the horrendous weeds in Lake Simcoe ever give way to clear waters again?
Every year, the weeds strangling Lake Simcoe are fertilized by 75 tonnes of
Phosphorus running into the lake from the land and the air – most generated
from human activities. If the lake is to heal itself and be pristine again, we must
continue to reduce annual runoff to no more than 45 tonnes.
Aerial view, Willow Beach
ClearWater, will develop leading-edge methods for reducing run off as a living
laboratory. It will showcase them and stimulate replication to help Lake Simcoe
and other lakes as well. Healthy soil acts as a sponge.
On the ground work begins in Q2 2017
Total Program Costs, $200,000
The ClearWater Farm Story Steps to success
Story #4 - Clear waters for our lake
ClearWater’s interdisciplinary team includes leaders
from from universities, the private sector and local
communities. Practices to reduce runoff will range
from SPIN farming, rainwater harvesting, to keyline
ponds, contour swales and polycultural planting.
Impact and results will be measured with sensors and
tested against control areas.
Investment overview
Site renovations to start the living laboratory
$200,000
For more information
ClearWater Farm is the flagship project of the Ontario Water Centre, an educational organization with
charitable status. Chair, Annabel Slaight 905-476-5587 [email protected]
Ontario
Water
Centre
ClearWater
The ClearWater Farm Story
Growing agri-preneurs. Restoring balance.
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Story #5 - Building the Nerve Centre
Every living organism has a nerve centre, and ClearWater is no exception. Our
“Ideas Garage” sitting in the middle of the property will host both our heart
— the commercial kitchen, downstairs (see Story # 4); and on the second floor
— our brain.
Aerial view, Willow Beach
To get the nerve centre fired up, the existing wooden garage structure first
needs to become the “Ideas Garage”. Work will include connection of services,
roughing in walls, the creation of washrooms, a safe staircase, refurbishing
the elevator, and second storey deck.
Then the 30 by 40 square foot unfinished “loft” will become a stimulating
environment where people of all ages and backgrounds can develop new
skills while taking inspiration from the sweeping view of the lake and gardens.
The old garage sees new life starting Q3 & Q4 2016
Cost: $ 300,000
Story #5 - The nerve centre
The ClearWater Farm Story Water thinking in learning spaces
There is no doubt that visually stimulating and inspiring areas
maximize the experience of learning, and our loft will be
designed to facilitate interactive, interdisciplinary learning. Easily
controllable lighting, heating and ventilation, ready access to
indoors and outdoors, plus creative access to food preparation
will make ClearWater’s “brain” area flexible for different uses and
learning opportunities.
Thought will also be given in this space to cost-effective and
flexible ways to deliver communications services from 3D
printers, projection devices and large screens, smartboards or
multi-touch tables to support group work.
Investment overview
Details to come
EST: $300,000
For more information
ClearWater Farm is the flagship project of the Ontario Water Centre, an educational organization with
charitable status. Chair, Annabel Slaight 905-476-5587 [email protected]
Ontario
Water
Centre
ClearWater
The ClearWater Farm Story
Growing agri-preneurs. Restoring balance.
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Story #6 - Cooking Up Sustainability
Aerial view, Willow Beach
Preparing and packaging the highest quality food a heartbeat away from the
field under the “ClearWater” brand is our key to sustainability. Within three
years, this activity can be self supporting and helping support the Water
Centre’s educational programs. The ground floor of ClearWater’s “ideas
garage” will be renovated as a secure artisanal commercial kitchen equipped
with the latest equipment and hiring local staff trained by Georgina Trades
Training Inc.
Led by entrepreneur/chef Cori Doern, former TV executive now passionate
master of fresh flavours, the kitchen will be designed for cooking, chilling,
freezing and packaging food from produce coming from the farm itself as
well as other local sustainable farmers. Cori brings a proven menu of soups,
stews, sauces and other prepared foods which already sell well locally and in
the Toronto market (Marketing research is underway).
Construction in Q3 & Q4 2016
Cost: $300,000
The ClearWater Farm Story Story #6 - Cooking up sustainablity
Why it’s needed. Why it will work.
In his recent book Food for City Building, Wayne Roberts, founder
of the Toronto Food Policy Council and consultant to ClearWater,
points to the emerging role of food hubs providing “small and
medium-sized farmers with processing and marketing services to
reach out to medium-sized retail opportunities”.
One example is Northumberland County’s recently-opened Agrifood Venture Centre, designed to provide added-value processing
services to local farmers and to incubate new sustainable food
offerings. Georgina’s unique location amidst prime agricultural
land yet 45 minutes from downtown Toronto, makes it an ideal
location for a new food industry.
ClearWater-branded prepared foods — sustainably-grown and
water-friendly — will leverage common production, marketing
and distribution, building on Chef Cori’s proven menu of
offerings.
Investment overview
Counters, refrigerated line station, worktables, holding cabinet $34,000
Trolleys, worktables, shelving, accessories
$75,000
Fire Suppression System (2)$45,000
Sinks (4), dishwasher$10,000
Ranges (2) / Convection ovens (2)
$15,000
Walk-in cooling/freezers (2)
$43,000
Blast chiller$48,000
Root cellar
$10,000
VacuSeal system$20,000
$300,000
For more information
ClearWater Farm is the flagship project of the Ontario Water Centre, an educational organization with
charitable status. Chair, Annabel Slaight 905-476-5587 [email protected]
Ontario
Water
Centre
ClearWater
The ClearWater Farm Story
Growing agri-preneurs. Restoring balance.
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Story # 7 The Old Farmhouse. Food and YOU!
Farmhouse kitchens are where memories are grown and relaxed conversation
can lead to new dreams. The old farmhouse at ClearWater Farm, when
restored and renewed as a demo kitchen and dining area, will be a place
where people will feel connected to the food system.
Aerial view, Willow Beach
ClearWater’s demonstration kitchen and dining areas will fill the entire
downstairs of the old house and extend food experiences to outside areas
as well. Imagine cooking with celebrity chefs in the kitchen studio, attending
interactive classes, holding team-building sessions, making soups or salads
with kids, or teens, or grandmas and grandpas. Imagine an outdoor pizza oven
right next to the tomatoes, or enjoying a meal in the field under a starry sky
-- summer or winter? And on and on…..
This phase will begin in Q2 2017.
Cost: $ $800,000
Story #7 - The old farm house. Food & YOU!
The ClearWater Farm Story Field to Fork, Farm to Table.
The old Reed farmhouse, as the centerpiece of
ClearWater’s culinary experience will be a place of
inspiration and camaraderie.
as a basis for it’s renewal. Design details are yet to
come but the dining areas, the kitchen, integrated
indoor and outdoor spaces will be intimate,
engaging and interactive settings where enthusiasm
for food can be shared.
Understanding more about how food is grown and
how food connects with our environment is a major
link in the new food chain. Other links include
learning more about how to cook and enjoy food,
and developing an appreciation of how fresh food
can both nourish us and give pleasure.
Architect Charles Bunker in keeping with the farm’s
history, and imagining the farmhouse in its heyday
Investment overview
Costs to be determined EST up to $800 ,000 For more information
ClearWater Farm is the flagship project of the Ontario Water Centre, an educational organization with
charitable status. Chair, Annabel Slaight 905-476-5587 [email protected]
Ontario
Water
Centre
ClearWater
The ClearWater Farm Story
Growing agri-preneurs. Restoring balance.
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Story # 8 Previewing a Better Future Through Youth
ClearWater Farm’s greatest potential is to give our children and youth
the opportunity to explore how their lives – indeed all our lives – can be
transformed through the harmonic relationship between food, water, land
and community.
Aerial view, Willow Beach
At ClearWater there is a beautiful old barn. But it’s a bit like the place where
it resides – badly in need of renewal. New business in Georgina grew only
1.8% from 2002 to 2014. And one in 20 people depends on the local food
bank.
We know that youth perspectives and collaboration can powerfully inform
change for both the barn -- and the community. And so our “big as a barn”
project at ClearWater is “Raise a Barn. Raise a Life”. Involving young people
of all ages in the process of re-inventing the iconic old barn, will be the focal
point of imagining new hopes and aspirations for the entire community.
Planning of this project can begin when $300,000 in seed funding is raised.
The ClearWater Farm Story
Story # 8 Previewing a Better Future Through Youth
Connecting our lives and the places where we live
FOUR STEPS TO A BETTER FUTURE
Step 1 -- “Get Real”
The first plateau in this collaborative social innovation project
involves: evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the barn,
and also the world we live in. youth of all ages would work
separately and together in facilitated sessions to shape a new
context to create within.
Step 2 -- “Fodder for the Future”
With new lenses, the next step is imagining the future of the
barn – physically and programmatically – and also the real hopes and aspirations of people of all ages in our
community.
Step 3 -- “Feedback/Feedback”
Designers informed by the process will feed back plans for the barn. Innovators and visionaries will feed
back possibilities for the community.
Step 4 “Harvesting Strategies”
Work continues, through developing innovative methodologies and models, to make the ideas real. The barn
is built, and pilot projects take the community forward.
For more information
ClearWater Farm is the flagship project of the Ontario Water Centre, an educational organization with
charitable status. Chair, Annabel Slaight 905-476-5587 [email protected]
Ontario
Water
Centre
ClearWater
The ClearWater Farm Story
Growing agri-preneurs. Restoring balance.
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Annabel Slaight, Founding Chair,
is co-founder of Ladies of the
Lake and a provincial appointee
to the Lake Simcoe Coordinating
Committee. She founded OWL
media for kids, is Chair of Shaw
Communication’s Rocket Fund, and
holds the Order of Ontario.
Tracy Smith, Vice Chair, as District
Manager Ontario Ministry of
Natural Resources was part of the
team that brought the Lake Simcoe
Protection Plan into being. He is
a trustee on the Board of Forests
Ontario and is its vice president.
Brian D. Lawson, Treasurer, is
Senior Managing Partner and CFO
Brookfield Asset Management Inc..
He is a Director, Community Food
Centres Canada, and Director and
Vice Chair, Trinity College School
Foundation.
Isobel Heathcote, Secretary, is a
consultant to government, First
Nations, NGOs, and the private
sector. She was Canadian Co-Chair
of the Canada-US International
Joint Commission’s Science
Advisory Board and Dean of
Graduate Studies, University of
Guelph.
Robert Matthews, Director, is
Professor Emeritus/Political
Science, University of Toronto. He
was Founding Chair, Alliance for
a Better Georgina, and a former
Chair of Rescue Lake Simcoe
Coalition.
Karen Wishart, Director, as Partner
and President of Consulting
Matrix leads the firm’s Aboriginal
Relations practice. She is former
Chair of Community MicroSkills
and is currently a patron of People
to People Canada.
The Happy Ending —
is an Exciting Beginning
ClearWater at the Reed Farm, Willow Beach is owned by
the Town of Georgina and leased to the Ontario Water
Centre for 20 years.
As the Farm starts to take its place as a living laboratory,
there will be significant results. Not only will more people
know more and care more about food, water and the land,
other Water Centre programs to help Lake Simcoe will
begin to benefit financially from the work of agri-preneurs.
Ontario Water Centre programs integrate research and
learning while building community. They include:
• ReWilding Lake Simcoe — to renew shorelines
through citizen innovation
• Exploring Lake Simcoe/Our Lake Simcoe —
interactive websites to inform and inspire
• Splash Festivals – to expand the numbers of people
love and care for our waters
• Kids initiatives such as the award-winning Do Fish
Fart? Book.
If we can imagine it we can do it. But only with your help.
A $2.5 million capital campaign is now underway.
Colin Dobell, Executive Director,
non-voting member of the Board.
He is founder of the Water Level
Alliance, former Director of the
Georgian Bay Association, and was
CEO of Telemetry Security Inc.
The Ontario Water Centre, 120 Primeau Drive. Aurora L4G 6Z4 (905) 476 5587
Charitable # 842146284RR0001