Small Spade Farm Wetland Restoration
Small Spade Farm has been intensively farming on 7 stony acres in Stirling Ontario since 2011. Our small-scale, regenerative system is focused on soil health, ethical care of our livestock ( goats & chickens) and food security for the growing community of folks we feed with organic vegetables and eggs.
As a closed loop, Small Spade Farm is dedicated to minimizing resource extraction which is the main goal of this fundraising campaign. 
We need your help to turn our small pond into an expanded half-acre wetland that will reduce water usage on the farm, create an environmentally sustainable irrigation system and increase regional biodiversity by attracting and supporting a huge population of wildlife, insects and native plants.
What are the benefits of an on-farm wetland?
In addition to moving our resident blue heron, Oswald into a bigger apartment, this enlarged wetland will have an irregular shoreline with many small bays and points as well as variable water depths, all to optimize what is called an edge community-- diverse vegetation, mammals, insects (major bonus points to the pollinators), frogs and turtles, many of whom can overwinter here. Submerged and floating plants shelter wildlife, stabilize soil and filter sediment-- all of these functions improve the water quality.
The importance of the pond to the sustainability of our small operation and surrounding farmlands cannot be over emphasized. 
Current agricultural practices tend to rely on wells that drain the aquifer; whereas, a wetland recuperates storm water run off, rainfall and the flow of natural ground water, saving our local aquifers and creating a much more responsible way to work with resources. Reliable access to clean water is imperative for irrigation, wildlife and our livestock and is paramount to our stewardship model and the future of our region.
Production has been limited in years past due to frequent droughts and the accelerating effects of climate change. We cannot take the necessary next steps into becoming a stable regional food source or provide ongoing animal welfare or appropriate land stewardship without an environmentally ethical water system.
Typically, we bootstrap a lot of the farm's infrastructure-- our hundred foot passive solar greenhouse, high tunnels, livestock housing, fencing and our hard-won, well-established no-till market garden for example-- but this wetlands project is out of our financial reach and we need help from our people!
Project Scope:
This wetlands restoration involves extensive excavation, habitat creation, and infrastructure building as well as multiple levels of approval, expertise and support. Over years of work, we have obtained authorization from our municipality, provincial agencies and local conservation authorities to go ahead. And after a rigorous vetting process, Ducks Unlimited has agreed to partner with us and to contribute $5000 in funds to this project. Phew! We have secured a contractor with expertise in wetland renewal (not just anyone can dig this hole!) and we continue to work alongside environmental experts and advisors.
Now we need some additional financial support. The $15,000 we are raising here will help to complete the pond itself and to build surrounding infrastructure including farm-wide irrigation and better water sources for livestock. It will also pay for the native trees and shrubs necessary to establish hospitable habitats and a natural water filtration system. This money will also ensure we can responsibly re-use the massive amount of fill created by the excavation to landscape a large part of the farm for season extension. And of course, we want to ensure fair wages for the many tradespeople and environmental experts needed to do this work right.
Project & Campaign Timeline:
We will be breaking ground in December 2021 with work continuing throughout the Spring and Summer of 2022. This fundraising campaign runs from Hallow'een (31 October 2021) through New Years' Eve (1 January 2022)
Donations of any size help! We are deeply grateful for every dollar.
Watch this page and follow us on instagram for project updates that will include pop-up markets and special events every 2 weeks. We have so many fun and educational things planned-- food packages, hand-crafted merchandise, farm tours (in person and virtual), interviews with long-time food box subscribers and environmental experts, print projects like zines and posters, and-- everyone's favourite-- cute animal content!
Thanks for reading and for your interest in sustainable small-scale agriculture!
With love from the Small Spade Farmily:
Lauren, Eric, Shannon, Alison, Scott, Becca & Bethany
