Whether you are a farmer, a farmland owner, or simply someone who values healthy landscapes, the decisions you make can strengthen biodiversity, build soil health, and support climate resilience.
This page brings together tools and opportunities to support your stewardship journey—from personalized reports to regional collaborations and pollinator habitat planning.
*From 2024 to 2026, we are excited to be supported by the Greenbelt Foundation to amplify our outreach to non-farming owners of farmland.
Receive a personalized report with maps, soil and climate insights, and practical stewardship strategies tailored to your property. In 2025, landowners in Ontario’s Greenbelt region can access these reports at a reduced cost thanks to generous program support.
Join a network of organizations working together to support farmland stewardship in East Central Ontario. Through shared knowledge and collaboration, ECFSC helps landowners access programs, funding, and technical support for on-farm conservation projects.
Explore this dedicated section for pollinator health. From DIY bee nests to native plant lists and planting plans across different farm types, these resources help landowners create habitat, reduce pesticide impact, and support essential pollinator populations.
Healthy soil supports higher yields, better water retention, and lower input costs. But Ontario’s soils are under pressure—from compaction, erosion, and declining organic matter. Stewardship practices such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, and managed grazing can increase soil carbon and resilience over time.
– Learn more: Soil Conservation Council of Canada
Possible Stewardship Projects:
Cover Crops, Reduced Tillage, Hedgerow Buffer Planting, Organic Amendments
Managing water on your land helps protect crops, soil, and local watersheds. Poor drainage and runoff can lead to nutrient loss and downstream pollution. Stewardship activities can help slow, spread, and sink water in ways that benefit both agriculture and the environment.
– Learn more: OMAFA – Agricultural Water Management
Possible Stewardship Projects:
Alternate Watering Systems, Drainage Improvements, Wetland Restoration, Watercourse Buffer Zones, Rainwater Harvesting
Pollinators play a key role in crop production, biodiversity, and ecosystem health. But habitat loss and pesticide exposure have placed native bee populations at risk. You can support pollinators by planting native species, reducing pesticide use, and creating diverse, flower-rich habitat.
– Learn more: Farms at Work – Enhancing Pollination Hub
Possible Stewardship Projects:
Pollinator Meadows, Native Plantings, Hedgerows, Floral Field Borders, Reduced Pesticide Use
Fencing protects sensitive areas like streams and wetlands from livestock impacts. It’s also a valuable tool for rotational grazing, wildlife protection, and infrastructure planning.
Learn more: Pasture 101 & Fencing Systems from the Beef Cattle Research Council
Possible Stewardship Projects:
Stream Exclusion Fencing, Rotational Grazing Fencing, Wildlife-Friendly Fencing, Tree and Crop Protection
Erosion reduces soil productivity and pollutes waterways. Simple land management actions can stabilize soils, protect infrastructure, and preserve fertility.
– Learn more: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – Soil Erosion
Possible Stewardship Projects:
Mulching, Diversion Ditches, Contour Farming
Safe, stabilized stream crossings reduce sedimentation and protect aquatic life. These structures improve livestock and equipment access without damaging watercourses.
– Learn more: Ontario Streams – Resources & Education
Possible Stewardship Projects:
Culvert Installation, Armoured Rock Crossings, Elevated Livestock Crossings
Wetlands filter water, reduce flooding, and support biodiversity. Restoring wetlands on your farm creates habitat and improves resilience to climate extremes.
– Learn more: Ducks Unlimited Canada – Wetland Benefits
Possible Stewardship Projects:
Wetland Re-establishment, Buffer Planting, Water Control Structures, Invasive Species Removal
Trees provide windbreaks, wildlife habitat, and carbon sequestration. Large-scale plantings can also improve water infiltration and stabilize slopes.
– Learn more: Forests Ontario – Tree Planting for Landowners
Possible Stewardship Projects:
Windbreak Rows, Wildlife Corridors, Reforestation Plots, Slope Stabilization Plantings
Buffers protect waterways, trap sediment, and provide habitat. Strategically placed vegetative strips are one of the most effective tools for maintaining water and soil quality.
– Learn more: OMAFA – Buffer Strips
Possible Stewardship Projects:
Riparian Buffers, Field Edge Buffers, Grass Strips, Multi-Species Pollinator Buffer
Taking care of farmland today means securing a healthy, productive landscape for generations to come. Whether you’re a farmer, a landowner, or both, your decisions shape the future of our soil, water, biodiversity, and food systems. The stewardship practices and resources shared on this page are meant to inspire action—big or small—that contributes to a more resilient and regenerative future. Explore what’s possible, connect with local partners, and reach out if you’d like guidance along the way. Together, we can make land stewardship a foundation for thriving communities and ecosystems across East Central Ontario.
We’d love to hear from you!
If you’ve got a question, comment, or suggestion for future events or programming, please let us know!
