Waxwing Farmstead
The goal of this project was for land, family, and community to work closely together to create a thriving, balanced ecosystem where operations build healthy relationships, culture, and security.
Location
Timmins, Ontario
Year
2021/2022
Site Conditions
USDA zone: 3a
Frost free days: 86
Extreme min temp: -45 degrees C
Annual average rainfall: 22 in
A common theme discussed with many of the clients I meet with is food security - or better yet food sovereignty and the ability to be in control of what is produced, grown, and sold. This theme is becoming increasingly important as the cost of food rises and access to proper nutrient dense food becomes more difficult.
Not only is food sovereignty key in this recent design, but income sovereignty as well - access to right livelihood in diverse forms which support healthy lives, healthy ecosystems, healthy communities, and legacy for their children. This 119 acre property was designed to target and overcome personal and property weaknesses and support an array of future expansion such as workshops, guided experiences, accommodations, and foraged products.
The design includes multiple cabin and tent rentals, campsites, birch syrup tapping, hiking trail systems , food forests, 2 acres of market garden, rain gardens, butterfly gardens, an herbal apothecary, herb drying shed, workshop, passive solar greenhouse, pick-your-own berries, a sawmill, intensive rotational grazing for sheep and chickens, and SO much more.