Dale Hamilton of Eden Mills, Ontario never imagined she would write and star in a theatre production. Yet her latest play, She Won’t Come in From the Fields, merges her passion for agriculture with her theatre experience to spotlight the urgent need for regenerative farming practices and food security. Drawing on her background in farming, education, and extensive theatre experience, Hamilton uses the stage to raise awareness about the benefits of shifting towards sustainable agriculture.
The play opens with a video call between a determined mother, Sylvia, and her son, Daniel, who manages their family farm using conventional methods reliant on chemical inputs and intensive tillage. Sylvia, a spirited advocate for change, takes a bold stand by tying herself to a fence post on the farm, refusing to leave the fields until Daniel agrees to test her regenerative farming methods on a plot of land. What unfolds is an engaging dialogue with the audience about climate solutions and the challenges facing modern agriculture.
Hamilton’s credentials reflect her dedication to both farming and the arts. In the 1990s, she served on the Guelph/Eramosa Township Council and the provincial Farm Products Appeal Tribunal. She is a member of the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario. She also holds a master’s degree in environmental studies from York University, where her research focused on regenerative farming and arts-based environmental education. As the founder, playwright, director, and producer of Everybody’s Theatre Company (ETC) in Eden Mills, Hamilton emphasizes community development and personal growth in her work.
Returning to university after a 45-year hiatus, Hamilton completed her master’s degree in 2022, capping it off with a one-woman show as part of her final dissertation. Rooted in her farming background, the show fosters dialogue among people with shared values while encouraging discussions with those who hold different perspectives, such as farmers using conventional methods. Hamilton hopes her work inspires conversations that bridge divides and prompt innovative solutions.
Hamilton practices what she preaches, managing a mix of large-scale gardening and small-scale farming on her 16-acre property. With the support of a Canada Council for the Arts Travel Grant, she has taken her play across Canada, performing in eastern Ontario, Vermont, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland.
