Want to see where your food comes from? Join us at Hillview Farm this September!

If you’d like to know more about where your food comes from, how it’s raised and what regeneration looks like in action, we’ve got good news—you can now use your Solar Dollars to book a tour of Hillview Farm in Haldimand County! This is Cory Van Groningen’s own farm where he and his family raise cattle, chickens, ducks, lamb and more. The first tour of the season will be on Wednesday, September 3rd starting at 1pm with additional tours on September 10th, 17th and 24th. Each farm tour will be approximately two hours in duration.

These farm tours are a great opportunity for customers to meet their local farmer, ask questions and connect with the land. All are welcome—please read on for details or contact us if you’d like to know more. We’d be glad to speak with you!

You’re invited to Haldimand County

During your visit to Hillview, Cory will share information about holistic management, regenerative food, going beyond sustainability, and why this matters so much to the Harvest to Gather team and Van Groningen family. We hope you’ll come out to enjoy this unique behind-the-scenes experience!

The cost of this farm tour is one Solar Dollar—yup, just one! You can check your current balance by logging into your account on Olliffe.ca and clicking on the ‘Earn Solar Dollars’ button on the bottom right side of the screen. A pop up window will appear (see below). Please pay close attention to what it says and do not click on any of the options until you’re ready to book, as points will be deducted from your account immediately.

Start by choosing a date from the options shown in the pop-up window. Clicking on a farm tour date will immediately remove one Solar Dollar from your account and give you a redemption code—be sure to copy it! The farm tour can be added to your cart and you’ll be able to check out to complete the transaction (just like you would if you were buying a steak or other product online). Instead of using your credit card, you’ll be using your Solar Dollars (via the redemption code you just accessed, which acts like a coupon). After the transaction has been completed on our website, you’ll be emailed a link to finalize your farm tour booking on Calendly (this may take up to six hours to arrive in your inbox, so please be patient). The address and other important details will be emailed to you as well. Please contact us if you have any trouble!

Meet your guide

Cory Van Groningen is an active figure in the regenerative agriculture sector, playing multiple roles within the Harvest to Gather ecosystem. As a certified Field Professional in Holistic Management, Cory is affiliated with Holistic Management Canada, where his expertise contributes significantly to advancing agricultural methodologies. Cory is the founder of the Ecosystem Hub in Ontario, where he focuses on creating and supporting regenerative agriculture training and monitoring. Cory also serves as a Hub Verifier for the Canadian Hub of the Savory Institute, an international organization dedicated to promoting large-scale restoration of the world’s grasslands through holistic management. He lives at Hillview Farm in Haldimand County with his wife, Heidi, and their four daughters.

Important information for farm tour guests

We’re excited to welcome you to Hillview but before you redeem your Solar Dollars for a farm tour, please be aware of the following:

• While all are welcome at the farm, this tour is educational and therefore not geared towards children or families. This is a working farm, and there’s no playground or petting area!
• Please note that there is a good deal of walking involved, often over uneven ground (it’s a farm, after all). We recommend that participants dress for the weather and wear boots with a good tread. Sun protection and waterproof footwear are always good choices!
• There are no public washroom facilities at Hillview Farm. If you need a washroom, we recommend visiting Hewitt’s Dairy Bar in Hagersville—it’s about 15 minutes away by car and has great food and ice cream as well as washrooms. Making a stop here is another great way to shop local!

See you soon

Thanks so much for your interest in learning more about holistic management, regenerative agriculture and where your food comes from. If you’re ready to book a tour, follow the instructions above. If you have any problems while booking or redeeming points, give us a call or send us a DM on Facebook or Instagram. We check these platforms regularly, but a phone call will always be your fastest option. Thanks again and see you soon—we’re looking forward to it!