Rachel Hope Hawkshaw

Fencing Manager, Topsy Farms

Rachel has studied the foundations of soil biology and mechanics, studied environmental tech at Fleming College and interned at Ontario Water Buffalo Co. In 2020, Rachel was hired as Topsy Farm’s Fencing Manager, where she coordinated and managed a major rewilding project – returning 700m of pasture back to the exclusive use of nature. She has courageously changed the farm’s predator control strategy to one of non-violence by studying coyote behaviour. Currently, Rachel is undertaking a 10-acre, rotational grazing, soil regeneration project in partnership with international fencing company, Gallagher. Concerned with the security of healthful food, Rachel intends to incorporate land conservation and CO2 sequestration techniques. Her goal is to help Topsy Farms proactively adapt to climate change in a world of increasing food insecurity while creating a blueprint that other farms with a similar outlook to follow.