Ottawa Valley Homesteading Conference
Hold the date:
August 22, 2026
Early-bird pricing is available until December 31, 2025. Register now to get the best price for this incredible one-day event!
Held in beautiful Luskville, Quebec
The Homesteading Event Of The Year!
Work Side-by-Side with Experienced Homesteaders
Homesteading happens when neighbours work with each other to build lives that are meaningful.
8 Hands-on Workshops
Learning on the homestead means hands-on. Roll up your sleeves and get involved in buildng the skills your homestead needs.
Join the Homesteading Night Market!
After a full day of learning and practicing, join us for our Homesteading Night Market. Homesteading products from local homesteaders!
Panel Discussions on the Homesteading Life
This is how we live. And we’re happy to share all we’ve learned – the successes and the failures.
Register Now for $99!
As soon as the new year begins, the price of registration will go up to $125 per person. S don’t miss out. Register now at the reduced rate!
Get the Early Bird Rate Before It's Gone!
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Homesteading Workshops
Eight practical Homesteading Workshops. Four for beginners and four for more experienced homesteaders. All of them hands-on.
For Beginners
Chickens 101 - A Beginner's Guide to Raising a Backyard Flock
Workshop Description:
Ready to take the first step toward self-sufficiency? This beginner-friendly workshop is perfect for aspiring homesteaders who want to raise chickens for eggs, meat, or simply as feathered companions. Chickens 101 covers all the essentials to help you start and care for a healthy, productive backyard flock.
In this hands-on session, you’ll learn:
- How to choose the right chicken breeds for your goals
- What your birds need to thrive: housing, feed, and daily care
- The basics of egg production, meat birds, and seasonal planning
- Common health issues and simple ways to keep your flock safe and happy
- Predator protection and troubleshooting common challenges
Whether you’re starting with a few hens or planning a larger setup, this workshop will give you the confidence and practical knowledge to begin your poultry journey. Come with questions—leave with a plan!
Skill Level: Beginner
Duration: 75 minutes
What to Bring: Notebook, questions, and curiosity!
Kitchen Garden Kickstart: Growing Food Right Outside Your Door
Workshop Description:
Dreaming of fresh, homegrown veggies just steps from your kitchen? Kitchen Garden Kickstart is the perfect 75-minute introduction for anyone ready to grow their own food, no matter the size of their space. This beginner-focused workshop will walk you through the basics of planning, planting, and maintaining a productive kitchen garden.
In this practical, down-to-earth session, you’ll learn:
- How to choose the best location and layout for your kitchen garden
- What to grow: beginner-friendly vegetables, herbs, and greens
- Tips for building healthy soil and natural fertility
- Watering, weeding, and harvesting strategies that work
- How to garden with the seasons and keep things growing year-round
Whether you’re working with raised beds, containers, or a small backyard plot, this session will equip you with the tools and confidence to grow fresh food for your table. Perfect for homesteaders, apartment dwellers, and everyone in between!
Skill Level: Beginner
Duration: 75 minutes
What to Bring: Notebook, garden dreams, and your questions!
Preserving the Harvest - Your introduction to food preservation techniques
Workshop Description:
Dreaming of fresh, homegrown veggies just steps from your kitchen? Kitchen Garden Kickstart is the perfect 75-minute introduction for anyone ready to grow their own food, no matter the size of their space. This beginner-focused workshop will walk you through the basics of planning, planting, and maintaining a productive kitchen garden.
In this practical, down-to-earth session, you’ll learn:
- How to choose the best location and layout for your kitchen garden
- What to grow: beginner-friendly vegetables, herbs, and greens
- Tips for building healthy soil and natural fertility
- Watering, weeding, and harvesting strategies that work
- How to garden with the seasons and keep things growing year-round
Whether you’re working with raised beds, containers, or a small backyard plot, this session will equip you with the tools and confidence to grow fresh food for your table. Perfect for homesteaders, apartment dwellers, and everyone in between!
Skill Level: Beginner
Duration: 75 minutes
What to Bring: Notebook, garden dreams, and your questions!
Sourdough Basics: Your Starter into the World of Wild Bread
Workshop Description:
Curious about baking with sourdough but not sure where to start? Sourdough Basics is a beginner workshop that demystifies the art of naturally leavened bread. Whether you’re looking to ditch commercial yeast, boost your baking skills, or embrace traditional foodways, this hands-on introduction will give you a solid foundation in sourdough.
In this session, you’ll learn:
- What sourdough is and why it’s different (and better!)
- How to make and maintain a healthy sourdough starter
- The basic steps of mixing, fermenting, shaping, and baking
- Tips for fitting sourdough baking into a busy lifestyle
- Common pitfalls and how to troubleshoot them
You’ll leave with a clear understanding of the sourdough process, a sample starter to take home, and the confidence to begin baking your own rustic, gut-friendly loaves.
Skill Level: Beginner
Duration: 75 minutes
What to Bring: Notebook, apron (optional), and a container if you’d like to take starter home!
For More Experienced Homesteaders
Beyond the Coop: Raising Small Livestock for a Resilient Homestead
Workshop Description:
Ready to expand beyond chickens? This intermediate workshop dives into the world of small livestock—rabbits, goats, ducks, and more—offering practical guidance for homesteaders who want to diversify their food production and increase self-sufficiency.
Designed for those with basic experience in animal care, Beyond the Coop covers:
- Choosing the right small livestock for your land, goals, and lifestyle
- Housing, fencing, and pasture rotation for efficiency and animal health
- Feeding and nutrition basics, including forage and supplement options
- Breeding, birthing, and managing a sustainable herd or flock
- Common health issues, signs to watch for, and basic treatment tips
- Processing options and ethical considerations
Whether you’re interested in dairy goats, meat rabbits, or adding ducks to your existing setup, this session will help you make informed decisions, avoid common pitfalls, and confidently grow your homestead with small livestock.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Duration: 75 minutes
What to Bring: Notebook, specific questions, and your next-step goals!
Farm Marketing Mastery: Turning Your Harvest into Profit
Workshop Description:
Growing food is one thing—selling it is another. Farm Marketing Mastery is an intermediate-level workshop designed for homesteaders and small-scale producers who want to boost their farm income and build a loyal customer base. Whether you’re selling eggs, produce, meat, or value-added goods, this session will help you refine your marketing strategy and make your efforts more effective.
In this practical workshop, we’ll cover:
- Identifying your ideal customer and market niche
- Building a strong brand story that resonates with buyers
- Best practices for farmers markets, CSA programs, and on-farm sales
- Using social media and email marketing without burning out
- Pricing for profit and communicating your value
- Creating customer loyalty through trust and transparency
Perfect for those who already sell (or are about to start), this workshop will help you move beyond trial-and-error marketing and develop a focused, authentic approach that fits your farm and lifestyle.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Duration: 75 minutes
What to Bring: Notebook, your current marketing ideas, and questions about what’s working—and what’s not.
Composting: Building Better Soil from Your Homestead Waste
Workshop Description:
You’ve got a compost pile—but is it really working for you? Composting is an intermediate-level workshop for homesteaders ready to take their composting game to the next level. Go beyond the basics and learn how to turn kitchen scraps, animal bedding, garden waste, and more into high-quality, biologically active compost that feeds your soil and boosts your yields.
In this session, we’ll dig into:
- The science behind composting: carbon/nitrogen ratios, temperature, moisture, and microbial life
- Managing multiple compost systems (hot, cold, vermicompost, and more)
- Using animal manure safely and effectively
- Troubleshooting common problems: smell, pests, slow breakdown
- How to tell when compost is “done”—and how to apply it for maximum benefit
- Integrating composting into your larger homestead ecosystem
Perfect for those already composting but looking to improve quality, efficiency, and results. This workshop will help you close the loop on waste and fertility—and grow healthier soil from the ground up.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Duration: 75 minutes
What to Bring: Notebook, questions, and a willingness to talk about decomposition!
Backyard Beekeeping: Stewarding Bees for Pollination, Honey & Beyond
Workshop Description:
Whether you’re just bee-curious or already have a hive or two buzzing in your backyard, Backyard Beekeeping is a workshop designed to inform and inspire. We’ll explore the fundamentals of responsible hive management and the role of bees in a healthy homestead ecosystem—perfect for beginners, with plenty of depth for those ready to grow their beekeeping skills.
In this dynamic session, you’ll learn:
- The basic anatomy of a hive: roles, tools, and seasonal rhythms
- What bees need to thrive: nutrition, space, and safe surroundings
- How to choose hive types
- An overview of swarm behavior, queen management, and mite control
- Tips for harvesting honey and other hive products
- Understanding the bigger picture: pollinator health and sustainability
Whether you’re planning your first hive or hoping to improve your current setup, this session will provide practical insights, help demystify the process, and prepare you for a successful season of beekeeping.
Skill Level: All Levels (Beginner to Intermediate)
Duration: 75 minutes
What to Bring: Notebook, questions, and a curiosity for bees and their brilliant world.