Farmland

Access Program

Whether you are a beginning farmer seeking land access or an experienced farmer seeking a supportive environment to scale up your operation, the Tiverton Farmland Access Program offers a unique opportunity to grow your farm business while contributing to a community-led, sustainable agriculture initiative.

The Land

The Bourgeois Farm, located in Tiverton, in the Municipality of Kincardine, Bruce County, Ontario, was donated to Ontario Farmland Trust (OFT) in 2024 by the estate of Eugene and Ann Bourgeois, with the intention that it continues to serve the community through sustainable agriculture, conservation, and shared learning.

On this land, Inclusive Prosperity, in partnership with OFT, is proud to launch a farmland access program designed to support equity-deserving farmers in Ontario.

The Bourgeois Farm is intentionally designed as a shared-use, community-oriented site. In addition to farmer-tenants, the property may include:

  • Community garden plots (including food bank production)

  • Volunteers and land stewards

  • Conservation and education partners

  • Demonstration and research activities

OFT is actively developing several programs including grassland rehabilitation projects, riparian restoration areas, and a Butternut tree recovery project in partnership with the Historic Métis.

Farmers leasing land at Bourgeois should expect to operate within a living landscape where agricultural, ecological, and community activities occur alongside one another.

Our Expectations

As part of the Tiverton Farmland Access Program, farmers are expected to:

  • Use best management practices

  • Respect conservation areas and restoration projects

  • Engage constructively with other site users

  • Adhere to OFT’s Property Management Plan and lease conditions

Program Overview

This project is designed to support equity-deserving farmers, especially those from African, Indigenous, and other racialized communities, who are interested in crop production, livestock rearing, and/or beekeeping. Participants will have access to:

  • Farmland for crop and livestock production

  • Housing within the on-site farmhouse

  • Support and guidance from the Sustainable Agriculture Field Lead

  • The opportunity to enroll in Inclusive Prosperity’s Farmer Field School

Whether you are a beginning farmer seeking land access or an experienced farmer seeking a supportive environment to scale up your operation, the Tiverton IP farmland access program offers a unique opportunity to grow your farm business while contributing to a community-led, sustainable agriculture initiative.

Apply Today >

Program FAQ

  • Applicants must meet the following criteria: 

    • Should identify as African, Indigenous, and a member of other racialized/equity-deserving communities. 

    • Open to both new/beginner and established/experienced farmers. 

    • Applicants must demonstrate a genuine interest in crop production, livestock rearing or beekeeping.

    • Must be willing to work collaboratively and respectfully within a shared farm environment.

    • Must agree to relevant land-use, safety and partnership agreements with IP and OFT. 

    • Must be able to commit to appropriate land maintenance duties.

    • Access to the farmhouse is based on interest in renting farmland.

  • The property includes approximately 15.5 acres of agricultural land.

    • Sandy loam soil with a long history of organic management

    • A mix of workable farmland, grassland, wetlands, riparian areas and woodlands

    • Historically used for hay, pasture (including sheep grazing), and mixed organic production

    • Herbicide- and pesticide-free for approximately 20 years.

    • Soil classes include Class 2 and Class 5 soils.

    • Fields are not tile-drained, and some areas experience seasonal wetness in spring.

    • Active community and conservation initiatives already underway.

  • Land access starts at just $165 per acre per year. 

    Field 1: ~6.75 acres (all or portion available)

    Field 2: ~6.5 acres (all or portion available)

    Field 4: ~7.5 acres of grassland/pasture, available for managed grazing only

    Field 3: is approximately 2.5 acres and is reserved forBMP demonstration plots. Involvement with farmer-tenants is possible, and a separate agreement would be developed; however, priority will be BMPs based on community consultation.

    A portion of the property is under a long-term grassland restoration commitment (no cultivation permitted).

    Final field allocation will be confirmed based on site suitability, conservation constraints, and the needs of successful applicant(s).

  • The Bourgeois Farm includes a range of existing buildings that may be leased separately or in combination, depending on the farming model proposed.

    • Two-story barn (historically used for sheep housing and hay storage)

    • Machine shed with attached lean-to

    • Chicken coop

    • Workshop/craft building

    • Equipment storage and shared tool library

    Some buildings may require cleaning, upgrades, or adaptation depending on use. Buildings are subject to additional lease arrangements.

  • Rooms in a shared-use residential farmhouse are available on the property for rent by program participants:

    • 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

    • Office space, loft area, enclosed sunroom/porch

    • Basement with laundry

    • Rent starts at $700 per room

Thank You

The project is funded by the Agricultural Workforce Equity and Diversity Initiative (AWEDI) through the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture (OMAFRA).

Inclusive Prosperity acknowledges that our Tiverton Farm is located within the Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory, the shared treaty and traditional lands of the Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation and the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation (Neyaashiinigmiing).

We recognize and honour the original caretakers of this land, whose deep knowledge, stewardship, and relationship with the soil, water, plants, and animals have sustained life here for generations. Farming and food production have long been integral to Indigenous ways of knowing and living — practices rooted in reciprocity, respect, and balance.

As we cultivate the Tiverton Farm, we commit to upholding these principles of stewardship and reciprocity, learning from and building respectful relationships with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation and Indigenous communities. We aim to engage in agricultural practices that honour the land’s history, nurture its health, and contribute to a just, sustainable, and inclusive food future for all.