Arts Incubator and Land Lab News

Lupins in the Landscape Lupin leaves glisten with morning dew in a thriving patch of wild greenery in Northwestern Ontario. Known for their striking palmate shape and soft, slightly fuzzy texture, these native perennials do more than add visual interest—they actively restore the land. As nitrogen-fixers, lupins enrich depleted soils, making them valuable allies in regenerative agriculture and wildland restoration.

Lupin leaves glisten with morning dew in a thriving patch of wild greenery in Northwestern Ontario. Known for their striking palmate shape and soft, slightly fuzzy texture, these native perennials do more than add visual interest—they actively restore the land. As nitrogen-fixers, lupins enrich depleted soils, making them valuable allies in regenerative agriculture and wildland restoration.

Lupins in the Landscape

Art Borups Corners May 18, 2025

Lupins (Lupinus spp.) are more than just eye-catching wildflowers. These hardy plants are a common sight in...

These early white blossoms belong to the Saskatoon bush (Amelanchier alnifolia), one of the boreal forest’s most generous and resilient plants. For generations, Saskatoon berries have nourished communities, supported pollinators, and thrived in northern climates. This year, we're proud to be adding Saskatoon bushes to our food production project—deepening our connection to the land, strengthening local food systems, and honouring traditional knowledge through action.

Saskatoon Berry Blossoms Signal Spring Across Northern Forests

Jamie Bell May 17, 2025

Across northwestern Ontario and Manitoba forests this May, delicate white blossoms are beginning to emerge on a...

Tips for Growing Raspberries in a Community Garden Program Hello, spring! Overwintered raspberry shoots are bursting with life, a beautiful sign of success in our Northwestern Ontario sustainable agriculture pilot. Building local food production and supporting Indigenous food systems with partners.

Hello, spring! Overwintered raspberry shoots are bursting with life, a beautiful sign of success in our Northwestern Ontario sustainable agriculture pilot. Building local food production and supporting Indigenous food systems with partners.

Tips for Growing Raspberries in a Community Garden Program

Tony Eetak May 17, 2025

Exciting growth in our community garden! Phase 2 of our sustainable agriculture project in Northwestern Ontario.

One Week In: Raspberries Showing Signs of Success What a difference a week makes! Check out the incredible growth of our raspberry plants.

One Week In: Raspberries Showing Signs of Success

Art Borups Corners May 16, 2025

See the exciting growth our raspberry crops have achieved in just one week as our food security...

Year two of our arts incubator land lab's food security program is in full swing! We've grown dozens of beautiful apple pippins from seed since February, excited to expand our sustainable agriculture project. But moving them outdoors brought an unexpected challenge: environmental shock! Seeing those dried, stressed leaves was a learning moment. We're now focused on helping them recover through careful "hardening off" – gradually reintroducing them to the outdoor environment. This means starting in a sheltered spot, slowly increasing their exposure to sun and wind, and ensuring consistent, proper watering.

Sustainable Apple Care: Tips for Young Trees & Environmental Stress

Jamie Bell May 16, 2025

Expanding our food security program, our land lab moved dozens of indoor-grown apple pippins outdoors. We faced...

Melgund Local Service Board Approves Deck and Event Stage Funding, Discusses Financial Strategies An overhead view of the Melgund Township recreation complex, which supports the communities of Dyment and Borups Corners and area in Northwestern Ontario.

An overhead view of the Melgund Township recreation complex, which supports the communities of Dyment and Borups Corners and area in Northwestern Ontario.

Melgund Local Service Board Approves Deck and Event Stage Funding, Discusses Financial Strategies

Jamie Bell May 16, 2025

The Local Services Board of Melgund convened its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 13th, 2025, at...

Wild Blueberries: Tiny Berries, Big Impact In the crisp air of Northwestern Ontario, a blueberry bush unfurls its delicate beauty. These blossoms signal the start of a new season, a time when the landscape will be painted with the vibrant blue of ripening blueberries, a testament to the enduring beauty and natural abundance of this northern wilderness.

In the crisp air of Northwestern Ontario, a blueberry bush unfurls its delicate beauty. These blossoms signal the start of a new season, a time when the landscape will be painted with the vibrant blue of ripening blueberries, a testament to the enduring beauty and natural abundance of this northern wilderness.

Wild Blueberries: Tiny Berries, Big Impact

The Arts Incubator May 15, 2025

In the woodlands of Northwestern Ontario, low bush blueberry plants are beginning to flower—marking the start of...

How to Keep Everbearing Strawberries Producing All Season Long Tiny blossoms and essential visitors! Our strawberry plants in the grow boxes are blooming, and we're keeping an eye out for all the beneficial insects that help turn these flowers into delicious berries. Every bloom brings us closer to a sweet harvest!

Tiny blossoms and essential visitors! Our strawberry plants in the grow boxes are blooming, and we're keeping an eye out for all the beneficial insects that help turn these flowers into delicious berries. Every bloom brings us closer to a sweet harvest!

How to Keep Everbearing Strawberries Producing All Season Long

The Arts Incubator May 15, 2025

Witness the thriving strawberry patch in our raised garden beds, a key part of our sustainable agriculture...

Strawberry Blooms Signal Sweet Success in Community Grow Boxes! White blossoms are appearing in our grow boxes, marking an exciting milestone! Our strawberries are starting to bloom, bringing us closer to a delicious harvest and reinforcing our commitment to local food security and sustainable agriculture.

White blossoms are appearing in our grow boxes, marking an exciting milestone! Our strawberries are starting to bloom, bringing us closer to a delicious harvest and reinforcing our commitment to local food security and sustainable agriculture.

Strawberry Blooms Signal Sweet Success in Community Grow Boxes!

The Arts Incubator May 14, 2025

White blossoms are appearing in our grow boxes, marking an exciting milestone! Our strawberries are starting to...

Expanding Our Sustainable Grow Box Project for Abundant Harvests! Nurturing growth in our community grow boxes. Inspired by successful projects, we're expanding our capacity for sustainable local food production this year!