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Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Small farms get creative with crowdfunding

Friday, June 6, 2014

Small farmers who can't or don't want to get a bank loan can go the way of independent bands and filmmakers and get their startup capital through a crowdfunding site like Kickstarter or Indiegogo.

Rebecca Bloomfield of Bloomfield Farm in Almonte, Ont., used Indiegogo to raise $14,000 over two months. She said via email that "the financial support was incredible, and is what made it possible for me to get started that season (2013). Otherwise, I would have had to work to save money just to be able to purchase equipment, seeds, etc. With crowdfunding, I was able to start right away."

Just as valuable as the money, she says, was the moral support built into the crowdfunding model, where people contribute because they believe in your cause. "It somehow made the work feel more meaningful than it would have otherwise, because it was made possible by friends, family and strangers who felt connected to the project and the broader vision."

HarvestFunders.com is one of a handful of crowdfunding sites that focus exclusively on agriculture. Bayfield, Colo., farmer Jesse Lasater told The Durango Herald that he started the site after a farmer friend was denied a loan. At the time, Lasater's cousin was running a crowdfunding campaign to raise $30,000 for his band to record an album. He ended up raising $40,000. "That really showed me the power of crowdfunding," Lasater said. The site, launched in March, currently has three farm campaigns running. BF

Current Issue

May 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

New board members for Ontario Pork

Friday, April 25, 2025

Ontario Pork, an association representing the 1,898 pork farms that market 5.9 million hogs in the province, has announced its new board lineup for 2025. As a Guelph, Ontario-headquartered organization, Ontario Pork is engaged in the areas of research, government representation,... Read this article online

Sheep farmers win Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Sheep farmers and wool producers from Wallenstein, Ont. are Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2025. “It’s great to be recognized by your peers in the industry with an award like that,” Ryan Schill told Farms.com. “When we started the sheep farm, there were people questioning us... Read this article online

Ontario ag connections in the NHL playoffs

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

The 2025 NHL playoffs are underway, and some of hockey’s biggest names got their start on an Ontario farm or have invested in agriculture since becoming professional athletes. Farms.com went through each of the 16 playoff team rosters to uncover which players have a connection to... Read this article online

New Alcohol Trade Freedom in Ontario

Thursday, April 17, 2025

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has welcomed Ontario’s bold step in eliminating trade barriers and allowing direct alcohol sales to consumers. This new legislation aims to ease internal trade across provinces and support small businesses. One of the key changes... Read this article online

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