Ignatius Jesuit Centre
About The Farm
Since 1913, Ignatius Farm has served as the well of sustenance for the Jesuit community in the region. As a leader in natural crop production, Ignatius Farm has since evolved to become a model for sustainable agriculture. Harmonizing consumer demand for nutritious locally grown food with a commitment to preserving and enhancing the environment.
Certified organic by 
ecocert, Ignatius Farm consists of 260 acres of Class 1 and 2 agricultural land. Located 1km north of Guelph, the farm is the foundation of our ecological initiatives and community projects.
Farm Credo
- To foster an ethic of land stewardship and humanness in the treatment of farm animals.
- Promote and sustain healthy rural communities.
- Expand opportunities for new and existing farmers to prosper using sustainable systems.
- Inspire the public to value locally grown, healthy food.
- Expand knowledge access to information about sustainable agriculture.
Current Crops
- Winter Rye (25 Acres)
- Winter Spelt (15 acres)
- Corn [snow fence] (4 acres)
- Orchard (10 acres)
- Hops (1 acre)
- Willows (20 acres)
- Switchgrass (5 acres)
- The remaining acres are strawberries, garlic and asparagus,green cover or rough plowed
As of December 30th, 2009
Community Garden Plots
Ignatius Farm has a garden plot just for you. Perhaps you used to garden, but since you moved you really don’t have a good place for it now. Or growing up, perhaps you used to garden alongside your parents, and now want to garden with your children. Perhaps you’ve been wondering about having a garden, or were curious about organic gardening, but were not sure about how to get started.
Regardless of why you are interested in a garden plot, regardless of whether you are a master gardener or have never gardened in your life, regardless of how big (or how small) of a plot suits your needs, or if for you the best part of community gardening is the people you meet, Ignatius Farm’s “community rented gardens” is the answer.
To register for the 2010 Community Garden season please read the guidelines and fill out the questionaire below
Relationship Farming
The Centre is proud of the efforts of Lorne Jamieson (Farm Manager), Craig Chamberlain (Land Manager), and Heather Lexk (CSA Director) in building relationships with the community. Our out-reach programs have directly and indirectly touched the lives of many. Current and past programs include:
- Improving confidence in high-school students at risk of failing through hands-on courses in arboriculture and farming.
- Involving individuals struggling with mental-illness in farm projects such as the construction of our willow dome.
- Personal and pick-your-own garden plots for local citizens lacking the space or resources to tend residential gardens.
- Facilitating test plots for development of organic farm techniques. A valid source of research data to institutions such as the University of Guelph and Organic Meadow Co-op. [No test plots at the present moment]
- Protect, enhance and restore the Marden Creek watershed through annual events such as our spring tree planting.
Features
Certified Organic
Healthy soil, as a living system from which all life originates, is essential to organic farming. We believe there is a link between the health of the soil, the plants it supports, and ultimately, the health of all who consume the food it produces.
Benefits of Locally Grown
Ignatius Farm is an advocate of the 100-mile diet. Although not entirely feasible, an innate preference by consumers for locally grown food would result in numerous benefits to our community, the local economy and the family farm.
Ignatius Farm History
In 1833, Charles Julius Mickle dammed Marden Creek, built a sawmill on the east side of the property and continued clearing the land that is now home to the Ignatius Jesuit Centre and Ignatius Farm.
Farm Manager
Assuming the role of Farm Manager in 1996, Lorne Jamieson has successfully developed an organic farm operation that exemplifies how growers can commit to mutually beneficial relationships that serve the community and the environment.
Guided by a profound respect for the history of the property, Lorne embodies the true spirit of farming — a recognition that the gifts of nature upon which it depends (soil, water, plants, animals) are to be treated with loving care and humility and to leave those gifts in better condition than when they were received.
