Producer

Nature's Apprentice Farm is very small but very diverse farm located in Pakenham, ON, in unceded Algonquin Territory. The land is co-stewarded by Alberto and Joanna, both conservation biologists. The commercial side of the farm is run by Alberto. We grow 50+ varieties of vegetables, you-pick berries, you-pick flowers, and in the future fruits and nuts. We also have a small flock of laying hens, which are raised on pasture and fed organic grain and farm scraps. We connect people to Nature and food giving farm tours and providing gardening support through our consulting services. Alberto also gives talks and webinars upon request, and teaches the 6 week seminar "The agriculture of the future" at Carleton University (Life Long Learning program: https://carleton.ca/lifelong/). We harvest everything fresh, within 24 h of the food getting to you, sometimes right when you visit the farm. We clean and pack everything for your convenience, so that the food you get is ready to be enjoyed. During the growing season (May-Oct), we are open Wednesdays and Fridays from 4 pm to 6 pm, and Saturdays from 10 am to noon. The rest of the year we are open by appointment. If you sign up for our newsletter (http://eepurl.com/gTNarn) you will get farm news and a list of available products every Monday in your inbox. We look forward to serving you!

Trying to control Nature is a futile task. Instead our goal is to learn from Nature (hence the farm's name) and to cooperate with her to grow a diversity of food. We are constantly trying to invite more life into the farm and make it more diverse and vibrant. We use regenerative and agro-ecological practices: we don't use any chemicals whatsoever; we plant densely to keep the soil protected, save water and suppress weeds; we use organic mulches to keep the soil covered at all times; we grow a wide diversity of crops and companion plants; we create and preserve habitat for wildlife (hedgerows, wetlands, native prairies); we work with our natural context, planting species that naturally thrive in our environment; we use compost and organic amendments like alfalfa meal and kelp as our only fertility inputs; and we also take care of people by growing nutrient dense food, creating a safe and inclusive work environment, and fundraising to bring our food to those who cannot afford it.