Agriculture in Haliburton County: A Bioregional Perspective

Within the stated definition of bioregionalism, the paper concentrates on the aspects of food production and the capabilities of the land to support agriculture within the Provisional County of Haliburton. Coming out of the author's conversations with farmers Dwayne Wruth and Godfry Tyler, the historical roots of agriculture under the Province of Canada's Free Land Grant policy are explored leading up to present-day mixed farming in the area. The landscape of the Highlands with the predominance of the Precambrian Shield, abundant waterways, and rocky nature is presented as the backdrop to the evolution of agriculture in the area. Conditions leading to changes in farming and the general decline in the area are outlined. The report concludes with suggestions for further research on the topic.