Re-Root Organic Farm

On September 26th Norwell’s LEAF program set off to Re-Root Organic Farm just outside of Harriston to visit farmer Caitlin Hall. To start the morning off she talked about her 70 acre farm with 5 acres of the 70 being an organic market garden. We then learned that Caitlin sells poultry, beef, lamb and sometimes turkeys. Caitlin then told us that she has been a successful organic farmer for 14 years and plans for many more in the future. We were then taken over to get a better look at her greenhouse where she dries all of her fruits and vegetables on racks. She then took us over to her plant row covers where she told us they are used to protect the plants from different insects and diseases throughout the growing period. Next we were shown a small flower garden, cows, lambs, chickens. She also had a donkey used for protection of her animals which made itself very well known when we walked past. After that we helped pick the last of the squash for the season and then brought them to the greenhouse for drying. LEAF students can benefit from learning about this farm as we see the process of how everything is done on a farm from the fruits and vegetables being picked then dried and also how they are seeded and sold. We also learned about her animals and the process of how she raises them and feeds them with organic feed. All of her products are sold in her on farm store to local customers like us. My personal favourite part of the trip would be when we were walking out to see the flower garden and the donkey was walking beside us and started making its predator call giving everyone a good giggle for the day. The Norwell LEAF program would like to thank Caitlin Hall for letting us come to the Re- Root Farm and taking the time and help us learning about local organic farming.  Cassandra K