The Holland Marsh, located 50km north of Toronto, Ontario, is commonly referred to as Ontario’s ‘vegetable patch’ because of its incredible variety and copious amounts of fresh produce. Produce selections range from more traditional crops such as carrots (of course), onions and celery, to more diverse options like Chinese broccoli, Asian radish, and water spinach. The ability to grow and harvest these crops, which cumulatively amount to over $50 million worth of produce per year, results from a combination of dedicated farmers and incredible muck soil.
In the early 1900s, successful vegetation experiments by Professor William H. Day demonstrated that there was fertile muck soil on what was previously unoccupied Holland Marsh swampgrounds. The Holland Marsh Drainage Scheme, consisting of canals and dykes constructed around the Marsh, drained the swamp which exposed the fertile Marsh grounds that farmers have been using ever since.
Today, the Marsh System is governed by the Holland Marsh Drainage System Joint Municipal Services Board. The Services Board was formed in 2007 in joint partnership with the Township of King and Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury with the mission to maintain and manage the Holland Marsh drainage system, to plan any future development for the Holland Marsh and tackle any possible environmental issues. For more about the role of the Services Board, click here.
This website is maintained by the Services Board to keep residents and visitors educated and informed
about all the Holland Marsh has to offer!
Tree Planting Efforts Beautify and Naturalize Canal Road
On Monday August 9th, 2009, the South Simcoe Streams Network paid a visit to Canal Road in an effort to naturalize a portion of the Canal’s streamside for phase one of a two phase planting of over 650 shrubs and trees. Over the course of a few days, 240 large native trees and shrubs were planted with the help of Ministry of Natural Resources’ stewardship ranger crews, community volunteers, and employees of Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury and King Township. Several types of native species including maple, spruce, pine, sumac, and tamarack were strategically planted along the berm. More potted shrubs and trees will be added in the fall with assistance from community volunteers.
