Landowner Spotlight: The Crump Family Farm
March 2023 | Emily Febrey, Stewardship Communications Technician, SCRCA
Chris and Vivian Crump have been operating their agricultural businesses together since they married in 1990, starting with a pick-your-own strawberry and vegetable farm, to their current beef cattle operation and market.
When the Crumps first moved to their current farm outside of Poplar Hill, they experienced flooding and large stormwater runoff events during the spring snowmelt or after a big rain, which created a mess for their operation and the local environment. The fast-moving water would sweep across the landscape and around their barns, carrying soil, debris, and cow manure directly into the headwaters of the East Sydenham River that winds through their farm.
The Crumps are passionate about the environment and knew they could work with the land to better their farming practices and improve soil and water quality, while not losing a cent in farm profits.
In 2019, the Crumps worked with the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, ALUS Middlesex, and the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association to implement several different best management practices on their farm. It started with a grassed waterway and settling ponds to slow down water that comes through their property. It’s grown to include cover crops, the addition of 3,000 trees, restricting cattle from the waterway, a snake hibernaculum, and more! To honour their efforts, Chris and Vivian were awarded the SCRCA’s Conservation Award in March 2023.
Vivan spoke to a reporter at SCRCA’s Annual General Meeting about what it meant to win the award:
“Well it’s kind of cool that we got recognized for the work we’ve done because it was a lot of people that went into our property that helped us to get where we are today, and hopefully this is here for many generations to come and probably a few more changes along the way.”
She’s hoping their story inspires others to follow suit.
“Hopefully everybody plants a tree and takes care of the environment because we’re only given one shot, so we have to take care of what we have.”
In Chris’ thank you speech, he explained that the work being done on his farm is a success story for the Conservation Authority, community members, and the environment. He encourages people to use these resources.
“This is a real success story for the CA, and all partners in these types of projects. Everyone wins when these projects are completed – the upstream people because the infrastructure installed handle their water correctly. The downstream people because the water that comes to them is moving at a less damaging pace, free of sediment and pollution. The environment [wins] through the recharging of aquifers and creation of habitat [that] cannot be underestimated for quality and sustainability of life. The work St. Clair Region Conservation Authority does aligns with our values completed; they are certainly a partner on our farm and business. Our wish is to see them prosper and grow to be able to help our region as they have helped us.”
In spring 2023, Chris and Vivian partnered with the SCRCA to host an erosion control project tour. The Crumps generously opened their farm to other farmers and individuals interested in sediment and erosion control options to share their experiences and successes with undertaking these projects over the years.
Thank you to Chris and Vivian Crump for their dedication to their farm, the environment, and for sharing their message.
Visit their family farm market at thecrumpfamilyfarm.com
And read more about their stewardship journey here: