Silos

My ongoing series, "Silos" (40 images to date), reflects the rapidly changing landscape of rural Ontario. Every day Ontario loses 319 acres of farmland to non-agricultural land uses. This rate of loss is unsustainable and cannot be allowed to continue. Everyone relies on agriculture, from the food we eat, to the jobs in our communities. I was born in an Ontario farming community. Both my paternal and maternal ancestors emigrated to Canada and became part of a cohort of farmers who constructed the early farm silos. One reason I'm attracted to silos as a subject matter is because I believe silos are analogous structures to the ancient standing stones my ancestors left behind in Scotland when they came to Canada. This series is produced in monochrome to evoke a sense of the past, not just because most of these silos range in age from 40-130 years old, but because I feel that the family farm will soon become a thing of the past if we don't stop the rapid destruction of vital farmland. I plan to donate sales proceeds from this series to help the charitable organization Ontario Farmland Trust in its mission to permanently protect farmland as an integral part of a thriving economy.