Farm Feature Interview: Clearwater Farms

Clearwater Farm

Today, we are joined by Chris & Grace from Clearwater Farms for our monthly Farm Feature.

1. In one paragraph, share with me the history of Clearwater Farms. The ClearWater Futures Foundation began in 2006 as the Ontario Water Centre, an educational not-for-profit inspired by the vision of the Ladies of the Lake (LOL) Conservation Association. It was a hub for innovation to protect and restore Lake Simcoe in Ontario. In 2012, the Ontario Water Centre achieved charitable status, guided by a multidisciplinary steering committee with a vision for carrying forward the idea of a “hub of innovation”. In 2014, the Town of Georgina leased the historic 180-year-old Reed Farm to the organization, setting the stage for its transformation into ClearWater Farm—a place where kids can grow, learn, and connect with land and water.

   
   
   

   
   
   

2. Tell me about a typical day on the farm. Walk me through what you do from sunrise to sunset, and what you enjoy most about it. A typical day looks very different as a regenerative farm depending on the time of year. Spring is filled with seeding and transplanting in the greenhouses as well as with our first harvests of early crops. Summer is all hands on deck, still seeding, transplanting, and harvesting, but now also working feverishly to keep up with weed control, trellising, and maintaining outdoor growing spaces in addition to the greenhouses. Fall is focused on final harvests and clean up/reset in preparation for next spring. Winter is all about looking at the results from the previous year, planning for the upcoming season, and maintaining a much smaller growing operation in limited greenhouses. Personally, what I most enjoy is this cycle and the changing nature of this work. Just when you’re starting to get really fed up with something, the season shifts, and you’re spending more time on other things. Harvesting will also probably be my favourite thing about growing food. There is nothing more rewarding than getting to share and eat the literal fruits of all that labour.
   

3. Securing reliable labour has become a significant challenge for many Ontario farmers. Can you describe the difficulties you face in finding and retaining workers, and what solutions do you see on the horizon? One of the great things about ClearWater is the focus on young and aspiring farmers. We love hiring people with an interest in agriculture and helping them get some of their first on-farm experience, and many of our seasonal farm employees are students. Some challenges that come with this are their limited availability in relation to the whole growing season (start end of April, leave end of August). They often have to head back to another year of school when there is still a lot happening on the farm, and it is tough to manage without them. It can also be tough to get the same people back for returning seasons as students graduate and move on to their own endeavours. We have great hopes that our Agripreneur program will attract people with an interest in agriculture who want to work and learn here over the course of several years, gaining experience and responsibility as they move through the program.
   

4. The demand for locally sourced food is increasing. How has this trend impacted your business, and do you believe the infrastructure is in place to truly support a thriving local food system across Ontario? We focus on local, sustainable and regenerative practices at our small farm. Our harvest is unique every season. We grow crop varieties not commonly found in other areas of the system and work to develop relationships with our customers for an experience. Our food is the product of our education program and we are proud that the food goes back into the community for high-quality food to be accessible in York region. The local food movement has been great for business for many small farms in the area, ours included. People like to know where their food is grown so it holds a lot of value to them to be able to see our farm logo on products in their local supermarkets, or to come to our farm stand and buy it from us directly. While I think the local food infrastructure is good and always improving, there is always room for more progress to be made. We have farmers who grow great food and consumers who are interested in buying it, so the more that can be done to facilitate that relationship, the better.
   

5. So, between battling unpredictable weather and outsmarting hungry critters, what's the most entertaining daily drama on your farm? Our education program with school children getting dirty and learning where their food comes from. Oh, and let’s not forget weeds. Always weeds. As an organic farm, we don’t rely on any chemical weed suppression, so the constant weeding becomes a bit of a running (or more accurately, bending) joke amongst our summer staff.
   

   

   

6. Forget fancy vacations, what's the absolute best part of a "staycation" right here on your beautiful Ontario farmland? For me, it’s the quiet moments. During the aforementioned weeding, for example, you get into an almost hypnotic state when you’re bent in half hand-pulling weeds for hours, but then you’ll stand up and have a stretch or a drink and look around. We’re on the shores of Lake Simcoe, so you can see the water, there is a pair of bald eagles who occasionally fly by, and so many other really beautiful things you get to see just by benefit of spending so much time outside.
   

7. What is one bit of farmerly wisdom you'd like to pass on to the city folk? Don’t be afraid to get dirty! Working with your hands in the soil is a gift your wellness will thank you for. Don’t shy away from funny-looking vegetables. Just because it looks weird doesn’t mean it doesn’t taste great!

Thank you so much, Chris & Grace, for sharing about the history and beauty of Clearwater Farms. Sending you all the good vibes and energy you and your crew need for an amazing 2026!

p.s. learn more here