Along the shores of Lake Huron in Bruce County, lie the now permanently protected Farrow Family Farms. Together, two of OFT’s Farmland Easement Agreements permanently protect a total over 620 acres of farmland. These are OFT’s first easements in Bruce County.
The rich and fertile agricultural soils on these farms support a multi-generational family farming operation that produces sheep, cattle, row crops, potatoes, hay, honey, and more. The Farrow family wants to ensure that the farmland is kept in the farming community long term, for the benefit of future generations.
In addition to the irreplaceable agricultural soils, these farms are also home to rich riparian forests, wetlands, streams, meadows, and species at risk. In fact, these farms are home to a variety of species at risk as well! The Eastern Wood-Pewee and the Monarch butterfly (both species of Special Concern in Ontario), the Eastern Meadowlark and the Barn Swallow (both Threatened species in Ontario), and even the provincially endangered Butternut tree can be found on these farms. The natural areas also provide important ecological services, including water filtration and erosion control that benefit surrounding communities and local wildlife alike.
Over the past several years development has been steadily creeping closer to the boundaries of the farms. Urban development in the form of sprawling subdivisions, estate homes, and golf courses has come as close as 500 meters away from the properties. The Farmland Easement Agreements that are now protecting these properties will ensure that they are never impacted by similar development.
The Farrows will be able to rest easy with the knowledge that their farms will remain farmland, forever.
