Organics Links
Volunteers of COG have been gathering the following information for people interested in organics. Additional listings are also provided in the feature articles and regular columns of our magazine, The Canadian Organic Grower Magazine.
We only list websites of not-for-profit organizations, governmental services, and other non-commercial sites that may be interesting to our visitors.
Please note: COG cannot assume responsibility for the content on the sites listed below nor necessarily endorses any opinions expressed.
Education, Training & Volunteering
Regional
- Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia (COABC) - Administrator of the Organic Regulations under the BC Agri-Food Choice and Quality Act. They serve as the voice of organic agriculture in BC and provide outreach services e.g. the Organic Advisory Service dedicated to encouraging organic production.
- BC Seeds - information resource for British Columbian farmers and gardeners looking for BC grown seed. The website contains a continually growing database of BC grown seeds as well as informative articles on seed growing.
- Saskatchewan Organic Directorate (SOD).
- Ecological Farmer's Association of Ontario (EFAO) - A volunteer group that educates farmers about ecological methods of farming.
- Find organic food/farmers
- Toronto the Better - Directory dedicated to maintaining and building a progressive Toronto by listing businesses and services that support economic & social justice or environmental health. Also highlights related news and links of local, national and global interest."
- Conseil des Appellations Agroalimentaires du Québec (CAAQ) - Accreditation and Supervision of the Organic Designation.
- Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network (ACORN) - A Regional Network for Farmers, Gardeners, Consumers & Industry Professionals.
National
- Directory of Allowable Organic Inputs - information, provided by ACORN, on the availability of allowable inputs and resources, as well as identification, prevention and treatment options for pests and weeds.
- Seeds of Diversity Canada (SoDC) - Canadian charitable organization dedicated to the conservation, documentation and use of public-domain non-hybrid plants of Canadian significance.
- Rare Breeds Canada - A charitable organization dedicated to conserving, evaluating, and promoting rare and endangered breeds of livestock and poultry.
- Greenpeace Canada - on Genetic Engineering.
- The Ram's Horn - A Monthly Journal of Food System Analysis.
- EarthSave Canada - A non-profit, educational organization promoting awareness of the health, environmental and ethical consequences of our food choices.
- CanadiansAgainstPesticideS – An activist organization dedicated to banning all pesticides known or suspected of having deleterious effects on humans (especially children) and wildlife.
- Canada-Cuba Farmer to Farmer project - A bilateral Canadian-Cuban project aimed to the creation of a brand new, ethical model for international engagement between farmer cooperatives in Canada and Cuba to forge sustainable links between farming, health, cooperation, environment, nutrition, ethics and community.
- Canadian Organic Livestock Association (COLA)
- Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals (CCFA) - CCFA, through its member organizations, represents more than 100,000 Canadians concerned about the treatment of animals raised for food.
- Organic Landscape Alliance (OLA) is a non-profit trade association committed to organic horticulture, lawn care and landscaping.
- The Society of Organic Urban Land Care Professionals - SOUL supports ecologically responsible land care practices.
- The Consumer Health Organization - A non-profit organization committed to making people aware of the "holistic" or "alternative" approach to health.
International
- International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) - The worldwide umbrella organization of the organic agriculture movement uniting over 750 members in 108 countries.
- Soil Association - The UK's leading campaigning charity and certification body for organic food and farming. A pioneer in the organic movement.
- The Organic Trade Association (OTA) - A membership-based organic business association representing all sectors of the organic industry throughout North America. OTA's mission is to encourage global sustainability through promoting and protecting the growth of diverse organic trade.
- Organic Bio - Online directory in 6 languages listing 14,000 companies of the Organic World.
- The Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association - A non-profit, membership-based organization that has an educational focus and conducts conferences, workshops and seminars. The Association also publishes books and a bi-monthly journal, BIODYNAMICS.
- Pesticide Action Network - Advancing alternatives to pesticides worldwide.
- Genetic Resources Action International (GRAIN) - An international non-governmental organization that promotes action against genetic erosion.
- Cropchoice - Alternative news source for American Farmers: information source about genetically modified crops, alternatives, management options, and profitability.
- Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy - Promotes resilient family farms, rural communities and ecosystems around the world through research and education, science and technology, and advocacy.
- Institute for Food and Development Policy - A member-supported, non-profit 'peoples' think tank and education-for-action center.
- Natural Law Mothers for Food Safety - Promotes public awareness of the dangers of genetically engineered foods.
- The Organic Consumers Association - Promotes food safety, organic farming and sustainable agricultural practices in the U.S. and internationally.
- The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) - A non-profit organization in the USA whose primary mission is to publish and disseminate generic and specific (brand name) lists of materials allowed and prohibited for use in the production, processing, and handling of organic food and fiber.
- The Canberra Organic Growers Society - A non-profit organization provides a forum for organic growers to exchange information, and encourage the general public to adopt organic growing methods.
- Carolina Farm Stewardship Association - A non-profit membership association of North Carolina and South Carolina farmers, gardeners, and consumers dedicated to ecological farming methods and the development of a healthful, sustainable agriculture.
- Harvest Shelter - Provides instruction for hobby gardeners in the organic production of vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs.
- Warm Earth - An Australian organic growing magazine.
- HDRA the Organic Organization - European organic membership organization, dedicated to researching and promoting organic gardening, farming and food.
- Network for Animal Health and Welfare in Organic Agriculture (NAHWOA) - A research forum on animal health and welfare in organic livestock production.
- The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) - A USDA-funded initiative that sponsors competitive grants for sustainable agriculture research and education.
- Organic Farming in Europe – Offers publications related to the Economics and Policy of organic agriculture in Europe
- Organic Agriculture at Whole Foods Market - Information about U.S. organic policies and regulations.
- Farm & Garden Journal - A clearing house for information on organic and biodynamic farming and gardening, heirloom seeds, community supported agriculture, root cellars, sustainable agriculture, composting, minor breeds, etc.
- Organic Guide - an international online publication connecting global consumers with the best the organic industry has to offer.
Government
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Organic production site, providing links to statistics, news releases, the regulation and standard.
- Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives - Organic pages and contact information within the government of Manitoba.
- InfoBasket - an Internet information portal, provided by British Colombia's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.
Certification
See comprehensive list of Certification Bodies operating in Canada.
- Independent Organic Inspector Association (IOIA) - A non-profit association of trained and qualified farm and processing inspectors dedicated to verification of organic production practices.
Research
- Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC) - The OACC is dedicated to enhancing the environmental and social integrity of agriculture through scientific analyses of sustainable farming. The results of this research will be made available to farmers and the public through this web site and web based courses.
- Ecological Agriculture Projects (EAP) - McGill University's Resource Center for Sustainable Agriculture.
- Alternatives to Insecticides for Managing Vegetable Insects
- Organic Apple Spray Program - Provided by Michigan University's Horticulture Extension Division.
- The Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC) - Specializes in locating and accessing information related to alternative cropping systems.
- Organic Gardening in the Backyard - From the University of Nebraska, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
- Organic Farming Research Foundation - A non-profit foundation that supports organic farming research and education projects.
- Organic Centre of Wales - Offers Information, statistical data and research results related to organic farming.
- Organic Vegetable Gardening - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).
Education, Training & Volunteering
- WWOOFCanada, WWOOF USA, WWOOF Hawaii and Willing Workers On Organic Farms (WWOOF) - WWOOF is dedicated to helping those who would like to work as volunteers on organic farms.
- CRAFT Ontario - A network of organic farms in Southern Ontario who offer 6 month internships to hopeful organic farmers and others interested in learning about organic farming.
- Farm Start - Supports new farm enterprises in Ontario, offering access to land and equipment, business planning support, technical training, mentorship and experience with ecological and emerging farming methods.
- SOIL - Stewards of Irreplaceable Land - An Organic Farm Apprenticeship Program by a non-profit organization that connects those who want to learn how to farm sustainably with teaching farms in Canada.
- Organic Agriculture Major at the University of Guelph
- People- & Planet-Friendly Events & Resources - A free weekly e-mail newsletter of sustainable living, environmental & social justice events, workshops, courses, festivals, films, broadcasts, resources & links in Ontario & beyond.
- Organic Land Care Course at Gaia College - An internet course designed for landscape professionals and others who are serious about organic land care practices.
- Independent Organic Inspector Association (IOIA) - A non-profit association of trained and qualified farm and processing inspectors dedicated to verification of organic production practices.
- The Farm School is a family farm for the coming generations where people experience first hand what it means to be stewards of the earth. They provide multi-day residential school-year and summer programs for the over 1,500 young people and their teachers, a year-long apprentice program to train adults in modern sustainable agriculture, and an on-site one-room middle school.
- The New Farm's mission is to inform, encourage, equip and inspire farmers with the support they need to take the important transition steps toward regenerative agriculture. They do this by telling their stories, providing them with practical resources, offering web tools, and acting as a conduit for the exchange of information throughout the sustainable agriculture community.
- IFOAM Internet Training Platform - free access to a broad range of high quality training materials on Organic Agriculture, announcements of organic training opportunities worldwide and contacts with institutions offering training in Organic Agriculture.
- Uniterra - international volunteering opportunities available in agriculture.
