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Ken and Martha Laing

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Orchard Hill Farm is a small (80 acre) organic farm powered by Suffolk Punch draft horses, established in 1979 by Ken and Martha Laing. Orchard Hill Farm is blessed with excellent soils and a spectacular view. It is located on a ridge northwest of the village of Sparta (Ontario, Canada), near the north shore of Lake Erie.

Cultivating

The farm is tended to by Ken and Martha, and four seasonal apprentices who come to learn skills related to organic farming and gardening, and how to work with and drive horses. Martha is the sixth generation of her family to steward this land. Currently, the farm produces vegetables and small fruits for 160 families in a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) garden, grain and hay for eight Suffolks. Ken and Martha also raise and train Suffolk horses to sell, and offer three day Draft Horse Workshops to teach people about working with horses. They aim to reduce the use of petroleum products by using draft horses on the farm.

Ken and Martha Laing

Our Bountiful CSA

Both Ken and Martha grew up with connections to farming. Ken grew up on a farm near the town of St. Mary’s, while Martha spent the summers of her childhood on the family farm. When they studied at the University of Guelph, Ken’s passion for agriculture led him to earn a degree in horticulture. After completing their studies they moved to Martha’s family farm, part of which is now Orchard Hill Farm, and began cultivating fruit crops. Following many evolutions the farm’s primary enterprise is now the CSA garden powered by Suffolks Punch draft horses.

For more information about us or our farm please contact us at:

Orchard Hill Farm – Ken and Martha Laing (519) 775-2670 – kmlaing@orchardhillfarm.ca