Welcome to the farm. Stay awhile and explore.

About Cavaleiro Farm

Cavaleiro Farm is a 65-acre, agroecological farm located in Schomberg, Ontario, about an hour drive from downtown Toronto (map).

Our farm’s bright, open landscape is marked by rolling hills, open pastures and woodlots with mature oaks and maple trees over 100 years old. Various springs provide supply to two large ponds and solar exposure is excellent across the property.

A rich sandy loom soil runs throughout the farm, along with areas that have more clay and sand. The topographic conditions, along with varying water and soil conditions, create a range of diverse growing environments.

We’re proud to call this beautiful land our home.

"Abundance. Care of people. Care of planet. That's what this is about for me."

About Antonio Gomes, Farm Maestro

8 years ago, I couldn’t have been further from farm life. I was a jet-set urbanite living in Toronto and building racecars before local food took me on this journey that connected me to food, culture and unimaginable possibilities.

I’m privileged to have had the support, space and opportunity to run a 65-acre farm. My parents Dina and Jose invested in the farm in 2014 when we bought the property off the Courtney family, who had always managed an organic operation.

Today, I am busy maestroing this dance between myself, our farm members, animals, plants, soil and water. It’s been rewarding to see greater systems and progress over time, and being able to produce more food with less work.

Abundance. Care of people. Care of planet. That’s what this is about for me.

– Antonio Gomes, Farmer / Shepherd / Entrepreneur / Urban Crops Founder

Our roots are strong. We know what we stand for. We live it, we breathe it.

What We Practice

Our grounding principles and frameworks

Permaculture

We work with nature and practice sustainable land management by minimizing farm inputs, using a wider range of species in polycultures, and farming with natural processes that consider: “What would nature do?”

Popular Education

Members are encouraged to be both teachers and learners. This loving, inclusive form of education promotes learning through democratic, participatory processes. The goals: personal and social transformation and awareness.

Food Sovereignty

The power to make food decisions are put into the hands of many. We recognize that nations and people have the right to control their own food systems—including their own markets, production modes, and food cultures.

Multi-Farm CSA Model

We are a member-owned, democratically-controlled community. Our vision is to develop a collective of farmers who holistically manage and improve the farm through a range of farming approaches, methods, and crops.

What We Grow

We raise pigs, sheep and lambs, both for meat and managing our land. We also breed ducks, chicken, and turkey for eggs and meat.

Our donkey (Jay) and trio of Great Pyrenees dogs (Olive, Clyde, and Bruce) help to guard the flock and provide us with endless antics and smiles. And our cat Spot rounds out the farm animal family!

We grow a variety of vegetables, including kale, swiss chard, spinach, onion, garlic, beets, potatoes, jerusalem artichokes, and more. We also grow herbs and medicinal plants.

Join our Schomberg CSA to receive a weekly vegetable box from May to October 2020 full of fresh, farm-grown food. Our CSA membership also includes monthly Farm Walks, where you get the opportunity to connect with nature at our farm and learn more about where the food you and your family eats comes from.

Our Farm Community

Cavaleiro Farm is more than just about food production and farming. We are also a:

Community of members
Our collective skills include growing, building, engineering, writing, website development, social media, education, community engagement, project management, food entrepreneurship and much more.

Research base
We grow ideas that aim to have positive environmental, social, and business outcomes.

Platform for sharing knowledge
We share our experiences about farming, food and the environment through hosting workshops, other learning events and conference presentations.

Place to reconnect with nature
We are a space where people can get their hands dirty, rediscover nature and—best of all—play.

There are many ways you can get involved with us. We invite you to become part of the growing community at Cavaleiro Farm!