We have an opportunity to define what sustainable farming, good livelihood and thriving community looks like on the Canadian prairies.
This is so much more than a farm.
All across Canada the question of how we are going to succeed our farmland is emerging. Canada’s farming population is aging, and as they retire few have a plan to succeed their farm. Meanwhile, young farmers are finding it increasingly difficult to access land to carry on the legacy of the family farm. Rural communities and ways of life are disappearing and our connection to the natural world that supports us is fading.
This is a turning point. We are about to witness the largest transfer of prairie land in Canada’s history. Will it be large corporate farms that dominate the land with monocultures for export? Or can we secure a future for young farmers supporting families and communities on the land using ecological, ethical practices?
We believe we can, and so…
We’re buying a farm!
Sunrise Farm is an idyllic example of the passion for land, food and community made reality. In Flagstaff County, Alberta -South-east of the City of Edmonton- you’ll find 640 acres of rolling pastureland, native prairie, aspen woods, and wetlands cradling a family home and a peaceful cabin. Since 1996, Don and Marie Ruzicka have been developing an ecological, organic farm with the primary goals of increasing biodiversity, living sustainably and supporting a resilient community. Being at Sunrise Farm is like being on an island of diversity and beauty in a sea of canola monocultures. The healthy, holistically-managed beef raised on these pastures feeds families around the province and supports life on the farm. Over the decades, hundreds of people have come to learn, gather food and relax in the beautiful surroundings. As Don and Marie plan for retirement they are seeking like-minded individuals to continue this story.
We are bringing together a community that values this kind of farming to steward it into its next phase.
We want you to be a part of it!
Our goal is to purchase the land as a cooperative of visionary investors who see the bigger picture and want a stake in the future of the prairie. We see the diversity and beauty of this land and know it needs to be protected. We see a future for small, holistic farming on the prairies. We see an opportunity to connect deeply with nature now and for future generations.