A Week About Land and Connection

This has been a significant few days at Ag Care Connect.

On Saturday, we welcomed people to our farm for the Protect the Foodbelt: Barn Mural Community Celebration—an afternoon centred on farmland, food, community and making space for farmers' voices.

Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to honour Indigenous Survivors, the children who never returned home, their families and communities, and to continue listening and learning.

These are distinct conversations, but this week both have me thinking about land, food, the knowledge carried across generations, whose voices we make room for, and the people we grow alongside.

In other words, they've had me thinking about what it really means to grow well together.

That's where we're going in this week's The Good Ag.

What Happened at Protect the Foodbelt?

A barn mural got people's attention. But what happened around it was more important.

Farmers, agricultural organizations, elected representatives, families, neighbours and community members gathered on our farm. They painted together. Kids created. People listened to speakers. There was music, conversation and plenty of time to simply connect.

And the mural is still doing its job.

A CBC producer happened to be driving by, spotted it from Highway 6 and looked up the Foodbelt.ca website to find out what it was about. That chance encounter turned into another conversation—and tomorrow morning, you'll be able to hear our interview with Craig Norris and Josette Lafleur on CBC.

That's exactly what we hoped this mural could do: make people curious enough to stop, ask questions and start talking about farmland protection.

September 26 was never meant to be the end of something. It was another way into a much bigger conversation about farmland, food and whose voices are included when decisions about agricultural land are made.

That conversation continues.

If you weren't able to join us—or you'd simply like to look back—here's a short recap of the day and a thank you to everyone who helped make it happen.

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The Barn Mural Is Up. Now What?

So what happens after the event?

Our latest article looks at why the mural was never intended to be decoration for a one-day gathering, what we're learning from the response so far, why farmland protection and farmer wellbeing are connected, and where the Foodbelt conversation goes from here.

​READ: THE BARN MURAL IS UP. NOW WHAT? →​

This Took a Community

Saturday happened because a lot of people said yes.

Some contributed funding or materials. Some volunteered. Some shared the event with their communities. Others brought their expertise, art, music or voices. And many simply showed up.

To our sponsors, in-kind supporters, volunteers, speakers, musicians, participating organizations and everyone who joined us: thank you for helping create the space for this conversation.

Voices From the Day:

Joan Brady

Farmer and Vice-President of the National Farmers Union–Ontario, Joan spoke about agriculture, community and the importance of farmers having a voice in decisions affecting farmland.

Janet Harrop

A Wellington County dairy farmer and past president of the Wellington Federation of Agriculture, Janet brought a local farming and land-use perspective to the conversation.

Bronwynne Wilton

Centre Wellington Councillor Bronwynne Wilton brought both a municipal and rural-planning perspective to the conversation, drawing on her extensive professional work in agriculture, agri-food and land-use planning.

MPP Bobbi Ann Brady & MPP Mike Schreiner

Independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady and Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner joined us to speak about farmland protection and Bill 21, the Protect Our Food Act, which they co-sponsored.

With Thanks to Our Supporters:

Today: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Today, September 30, is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

It is a day to honour the children who never returned home from residential schools, Survivors, their families and communities—and to recognize the ongoing impacts of the residential school system.

For Ag Care Connect, today is an opportunity to listen, learn and reflect on our own relationship with reconciliation.

As an agricultural organization, one place we can begin is by learning more about Indigenous relationships with land, food and agriculture—and the knowledge carried across generations.

One agricultural tradition we've been learning more about is the Three Sisters, which we talk about in the next section.

Growing Well Together

Meet the Three Sisters: Corn, Beans, Squash

Different plants with different characteristics and strengths, traditionally grown together in Three Sisters agricultural systems.

Corn can provide structure for climbing beans. Beans contribute to the soil. Squash spreads across the ground, helping retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Each brings something different.

And that got us thinking about something that extends beyond the garden:

What does it mean to grow alongside people who are different from us—and become stronger because of what each of us brings?

Our newest article explores the Three Sisters, some of the Indigenous agricultural knowledge associated with this growing system, their place in August Swinson's Foodbelt mural, and what they prompted us to think about here at Ag Care Connect.

​READ: THE THREE SISTERS — GROWING WELL TOGETHER →​

Who Helps You Grow?

Corn, beans and squash are different. When they're grown together, each can bring something that helps the others.

People can be like that too.

Our new free ACC Kids activity introduces kids to the Three Sisters and invites them to think about the different people who listen to them, have fun with them, help them learn and are there when they need help—and what they bring to the people around them.

Available in English and French.

For Ag Youth

Your People Don't All Have to Be the Same

We sometimes talk about having a “support person” as though one person is supposed to meet every need.

Real support networks usually don't work that way.

A friend might be who you text after a terrible day. A coach might notice when you're not yourself. A family member may know your history. A teacher or school support can help with something happening at school. A counsellor, healthcare provider, youth worker or crisis service can offer support that friends and family can't.

Different people can bring different kinds of support.

Think about the people, places and services around you:

Who can you turn to? What does each one bring? Is there anything missing from your support circle? And who knows they can turn to you?

Try This

Tell Someone What They Bring

Think of someone who brings something to your life that you don't necessarily bring yourself.

Maybe they're calmer. More practical. A better listener. Willing to ask hard questions. Good at making you laugh. Or simply someone who reliably shows up.

Tell them.

A text is enough:

“I've been thinking about the people who help me grow. You're one of them. Thanks for bringing ______ into my life.”

From Shawna

This week has given me a lot to think about: land and food, the knowledge carried across generations, whose voices are heard, and the people and communities that help us grow.

Saturday reminded me what can happen when people gather around something they care about.

Today reminds me of the importance of listening and learning—and that reconciliation requires more than one day of attention.

There is more to learn, more conversations to have and more work ahead.

And perhaps that's one of the things I'm taking with me from this week:

We don't have to grow it alone.

Shawna Percy

Producer, Founder

→ Visit Ag Care Connect​

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Growing Well Together.

One conversation. One tool. One small step at a time.