Ontario small farm life is good for the soul

Kathryn and Mike Boothby had a vision to welcome wildlife to their small farm north of Lake Erie in rural Southwestern Ontario. Over many happy hours of planning and work, the couple has naturalized about 25 acres (10 hectares) of their farm with forest habitat, pollinator-friendly borders and a small wetland.

“Every day is a new delight here now that we’ve created something for wildlife,” says Kathryn Boothby. “I’m a country girl at heart. I grew up on a beautiful orchard and fruit farm in England. After working for 30 years in cities around the world, including Canada, it was time to find that early part of my life and get back to nature.”

The couple spent their first year on the farm learning about the land before they connected with the expertise that would help them fulfill their vision. One of those expert groups is DUC, which helped them create a new wetland on the property.