Why communities need regeneration (and regenerative food) more than sustainability

At Rowe Farms, we’re not just a butcher shop—we’re part of a local food chain, and we don’t take that responsibility lightly. Not all food is created equal, and we understand the ripple effect our actions and purchasing decisions have on the world around us. It’s something we think about every single day!

As farmers, butchers and local food advocates with retail markets in Toronto and Guelph, it’s important to acknowledge that even when we don’t touch an ecosystem, we have an impact on it simply through our existence. Knowing this, we’ve dedicated ourselves to using holistic management to achieve regenerative outcomes on the land we manage. This allows us to contribute positively to local ecosystems as well as local economies and communities.

The Harvest to Gather family of companies (VG Meats, Rowe Farms, Olliffe and Ecosystem Hub Ontario) is pleased to share a FREE E-Book with customers who want to learn more about regeneration, including how their food purchasing decisions impact the communities they live in. Read on for a brief sample, and please let us know if you have any questions. This is a conversation we’d be glad to have with our customers on an ongoing basis!

What is the difference between sustainability and regeneration?

Sustainability isn’t a bad thing—but at its core, it’s maintenance. Regeneration, on the other hand, involves growth. Here’s a sample from the E-Book, Sustainability Isn’t Sustainable, that helps illustrate the difference:

Regeneration is when the actions we take leave something in better condition than it was before that action was taken. For example, we can farm in a way that considers local ecosystems and ensures that no damage is done—or, we can farm in a way that actually improves the ecosystem processes, energy flow (photosynthesis), mineral cycle (in the atmosphere and soils), water cycle, and biodiversity. One goal involves keeping the status quo while the other is rooted in making a difference.

In this E-Book, we offer information about holistic management and examples of regeneration. This knowledge can help empower customers who care about where their food comes from and how their buying decisions impact their community. If you’d like to know more, please visit this website to download the full PDF. It’s a great read and if you have any questions, we’d be glad to answer them! Just contact us to start a conversation.

Thanks for caring about where your food comes from

When you shop local, you’re choosing to keep the wheels of the economic cycle turning close to home. And when you intentionally make purchases from local food producers who use holistic management to achieve regenerative outcomes, you’re making a positive, long-lasting impact on your community. That’s how you get delicious, high quality food you can feel good about.

Thanks so much for reading and for supporting our family-owned and operated business. We encourage you to share this post with any friends and neighbours who may be interested in regenerative food, and hope to see you at one of our retail locations soon.

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Roncesvalles	Leslieville
The Beach	Danforth
Bloor West	Guelph