Project Name: Celebrating 80 years, Butterfly Garden Project and equipment safety signs and support of local restaurants and local food producers

Project Description

Leeds County Federation of Agriculture participated in several projects.

1. Butterfly garden and vegetable gardens at a Seniors Home in Seeley’s Bay (Musical Retirement Home)
2. The funds were used by purchasing “caution may turn left” and “pass when safe” signs to paste onto large farm equipment.
3. An ongoing project is the promotion of local restaurants that use local foods and support local farmers.   Celebrating LCFA’s 80^th year will also be highlighted at these restaurants.
4. As this is LCFA 80^th year – Activities were engaged to celebrate this occasion.  A special sticker was purchased to place on the two banners Leeds has already.  Special effort was to engage kids with activities

Project summary and highlights:

The first project was a Butterfly Garden as well as a vegetable garden. This project while being supportive of the environment and for the pollinators it will bring great joy to the community and the Residents of the Musical Retirement Home. LCFA worked with the Leeds 4H Garden club and the residence also helped with the planting. This was a good chance for education for Leeds 4H, LCFA and the Residents where we all shared our ideas and what we do. Signs were put on the gardens to show who sponsored the gardens.

The owner made a very cute video of the planting day and put it on the home’s social media. There was also a very good story in the local press and has been picked up by OFA as well.

The second project is more for our members but also education for the community. They are the safety signs for the back of equipment stating two different messages 1 “Pass When Safe” 2 “May Turn Left” this one also has a picture of equipment turning left.  These signs will be handed out at fairs and functions LCFA attend but as well LCFA will be giving some to our local equipment dealers for them to put on the equipment they are selling or repairing.

Third Project is promotion of local restaurants that use local foods and support local farmers. This project is on going and will also celebrate LCFA’s 80^th anniversary.

Tying all these together, LCFA Celebrated 80 years serving agriculture in Leeds County. LCFA went local fairs and other events promoting the LCFA an agriculture and its new contest.  This contest is a continuation of the trail signs LCFA posted the previous year alongside the CRCA trail highlighting various farming practices.  As well, LCFA has encouraged kid activities by having a kid’s zone at events where LCFA promoted agriculture and they could play on farm themed animal hoppers and other activities.