By Daniel Hoffmann
Today we continue the HH “Here’s To You Series”, honouring key players in the food movement, who have had a deep impact on Daniel’s life, in a very personal way.
When I moved back to Ontario, from BC, at the end of 2002, I was somewhat narrow minded. Work hard. Save money. Buy land. And so, in 2003 and 2004, I didn’t farm. Went to my job every day, saved money, and became depressed. Being divorced from one’s sense of purpose will do that. Enter FarmStart. You offered land, in the form of the McVean Incubator Farm in Brampton. A place to learn to farm in Ontario! You offered access to a tractor, mentorship through a farm manager, and business training. You offered hope. While I was singlemindedly focusing on saving money to buy land, you helped me to realise there were so many other steps to take in the interim. You helped me to build an agricultural network in Ontario. You helped me to learn the differences between farming in the mild-weathered climate of Vancouver Island, and the more extreme Southern Ontario. You gave me a place to launch The Cutting Veg. From farming tips to business tips, from access to machinery to access to reconnecting with my purpose, you helped me get back on my path. Here’s to you FarmStart — for providing the soil to feed my soul.
