Grey Wolf Gardens: Regenerating Land and Nourishing Community
Nestled in the heart of northeastern Ontario, Grey Wolf Gardens is a small-scale organic farm with a big mission: to increase food security in the Cochrane-Timmins region by producing nutrient-dense, locally grown food year-round. With a strong foundation in organic, deep-organic, and regenerative farming practices, Grey Wolf Gardens grows a vibrant array of mixed vegetables while cultivating something even more essential—community, connection, and care for the land.
The farm currently supplies two local farmers’ markets, a neighbourhood restaurant, and, through a vital partnership with the Ininew Friendship Center (IFC), directly supports 25 families through a 16-week Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. This partnership extends beyond produce delivery. Grey Wolf Gardens designed and installed the IFC’s garden complex as part of its Cultural Grounds. The farm also runs planting and harvest workshops on-site, making the gardens a space for cultural sharing, learning, and community wellness.
Grey Wolf Gardens’ long-term vision is ambitious and deeply needed: to provide fresh, organic produce to up to 150 families in the region throughout the entire year. This vision is grounded in a practical, climate-resilient strategy that includes extending the growing season, investing in winter growing systems, and expanding storage capacity for fall-harvested crops. With support from the Fair Finance Fund, the farm is converting a detached garage on their property into a four-season wash-and-pack facility. This transformation includes adding insulation and heating, installing a 10x20 walk-in cooler, bringing water access into the building, and carrying out strategic renovations to create an efficient, workflow-oriented space for winter distribution.
The impact of this infrastructure investment is far-reaching. It will enable Grey Wolf Gardens to offer stable, year-round employment—a significant opportunity in a region where most agricultural work is seasonal and precarious. This stability directly supports farm workers and increases the farm’s capacity to host school visits, offer educational workshops, and expand the IFC Cultural Grounds programming. By deepening its community engagement, the farm can reach even more young people and foster lasting relationships between future generations and the food system.
At the core of Grey Wolf Gardens’ approach is ecological stewardship. Every inch of land the farm manages is treated as a living system, with attention to soil health, biodiversity, and long-term sustainability. Their organic methods support pollinator and wildlife habitats, improve water retention, and contribute to carbon sequestration through carefully cultivated soil organic matter and biological activity. These practices not only produce healthier crops but also regenerate the land itself, offering a model for what resilient, localized food systems can look like in the face of climate change.
The team at Grey Wolf Gardens is committed to constant learning and adaptation. They monitor soil health using indicators like Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) and are in tune with industry advancements that help refine their standard operating procedures. Their work is informed, intentional, and always evolving. They understand that growing food is about more than just yield—it’s about responsibility to people and place.
Still, challenges remain. Northeastern Ontario’s climate requires supplemental heating to extend the season, and the distances between communities make food distribution more energy-intensive. These energy costs put pressure on the farm’s ability to keep produce affordable—a core value of their mission. But with the new infrastructure supported by Fair Finance Fund, Grey Wolf Gardens is equipped to take a major step toward greater efficiency, resilience, and reach.
Grey Wolf Gardens is not just growing food—they are growing a vision of a just, sustainable, and nourished northeastern Ontario. Through their deep commitment to ecological stewardship, community collaboration, and food justice, they offer a powerful example of how farming can restore both the land and the lives it touches. The Fair Finance Fund is proud to be part of their journey.
