Knowledge For Resilience in the Peace

Kolby Peterson & William Antoine-Gutierrez: Regeneration at Wildwood Farm

What happens when creativity, community, and regenerative farming principles come together? At Wildwood Farm near Pouce Coupé, Kolby Peterson and William Antoine-Gutierrez are building a model of resilience that produces healthy food, heals the land, and connects people to agriculture. In this episode of Knowledge for Resilience, hear how two young farmers are shaping the future of farming in the Peace Region.

Mike Skrypnek: Mental Health in Agriculture

Resilience in agriculture isn’t just about crops and cattle—it’s about people. Join us as Mike Skrypnek from the Stigma-Free Mental Health Society talks about breaking down stigma, starting open conversations, and making mental wellness a part of everyday farm life. This episode of Knowledge for Resilience highlights how mental health is essential for thriving rural communities, resilient families, and strong agricultural operations.

Naveen Arora: Data-Driven Farming for a Changing Climate

Technology and data are reshaping agriculture. In this episode of Knowledge for Resilience, Naveen Arora explores how producers can harness digital tools, innovative management practices, and real-time data to make better decisions and adapt to a changing climate. Learn how science and on-farm innovation are coming together in the Peace Region Living Lab to support farmers and ranchers across Northern Canada.

Kevin Elmy: Building Resilient Soils with Cover Crops

Discover how innovative forage and cropping systems can transform farm resilience. In this episode of Knowledge for Resilience, author and cover crop expert Kevin Elmy shares practical insights on building healthier soils, improving profitability, and creating sustainable farming systems. Learn how integrating diverse cropping strategies can help farmers and ranchers adapt to climate change and strengthen long-term resilience.

Breaking the trend - intensive rotational grazing before it was cool

This grazing series chat is with Norm Ward, Norm shares his passion for intensive roational grazing and how it lead to the development of the original Range Ward products, he shares some of his early lessons learnt, why electric fencing does neither have to be intimidating nor frustrating and some of his key tips on how to make your transition to electric fencing more easeful. This episode was recorded a while back and Norm has since sold his Range Ward business but still has lots of valuable experiences to share when it comes to intensive rotational grazing.
 
Funding for this project has in part been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.

Fodder Galega - a non-bloat forage with promise?

This grazing series chat is with Dr Nitya kanal, a forage researcher with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada based out of the Beaverlodge research farm. We talk about the potential of fodder galega or goat’s rue as a forage legume. It fixes a lot of nitrogen, tolerates acidic soils, has good winter survival rates, and overall just sounds like it is one of those plants which sounds almost too good to be true.. so why do we not see it on the market yet. Listen in and find out.
Funding for this project has in part been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.

Producing pasture based products

This grazing series chat is with Dave Semmelink from Lentelus Farm. Originally from South Africa, Dave now calls the Comox valley home where he runs a mixed farm. Our discussion ranges from pasture raised livestock, grazing management progression, whether it is worth integrating hogs into a crop rotation, a new chicken mobile and business diversification into meat processing.
 
Funding for this project has in part been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.
 

Pivoting from predation issues to intensive rotational grazing

This grazing series chat is with Joseph Moilliet from Aveley Sheep Ranch. Joseph’s runs a sheep and beef operation about 2 hours north of Kamloops in the upper north Thomson. He shares how wolf predeation originally pushed him into more intensive rotational grazing, lessons learnt on where to actually place your fence, and electric fencing tips for sheep. For context, this chat was recorded in mid-summer of 2023.
 
Funding for this project has in part been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.
 

From BSE bust to family business success

This grazing series chat is with Eugene Wittwer from W Diamond Ranch near Talkwa in the Bulkley Nechako area. He describes his operation as  a community building regenerative farm. Eugene shares how his operation evolved, how the BSE crisis forced him to re-invent his business, how his rotational grazing practice evolved and how they manage not just animals but also a meat processing and custom cutting  operation.
 
Funding for this project has in part been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.

Sweet as Honey - Ep26 - Nordic Vale Honey Farm

In their own words, Kole and Coline from Nordic Vale Honey describe that they started looking at creative options to help them feel fulfilled while also being able to provide for their family. Both Cole and Colleen were raised on farms out of town in northern rural communities so Agriculture in the Peace Region was a natural choice for them.Managing bees was an innovative way for them to start their adventure. After working with the bees only a few times - they were both hooked!
https://www.instagram.com/nordicvalehoneyfarm/https://www.facebook.com/NordicValeHoneyFarm/