“I love the variety and freshness of the fruits and vegetables,” explains Good, who has purchased shares in Edencrest’s harvest for the past two years. In return for the investment, she receives a weekly basket full of fresh local organic produce. The fresh air and family time spent at a local farm also make the program worthwhile. “The kids really like visiting the farm and feeding the animals. We always bring carrots for the horses,” says the Midhurst resident.
Jim and Maureen Giffen, who own and operate Edencrest Farms, started offering shares in their farm’s harvest about four year ago. And every year their crop variety becomes more bountiful.
“We grow loads of veggies, fruits and herbs,” says Maureen Giffen, as she tours a visitor around the outdoor gardens, and newly-constructed greenhouse (heated by a corn furnace). The 260-acre farm is nestled on a picturesque country road between Minesing and Stayner.
“People go absolutely crazy for our purple beans, multi-coloured carrots and fresh watermelon,” explains Giffen, who is constantly trailed by a faithful menagerie of pets, including Sparky, a 16-year-old Heinz 57 (which she rescued from a ditch), and cats Patches and Groucho, respectively. Highlights from the extensive growing list include gourmet lettuces, fingerling potatoes, heirloom tomatoes, flowers and fresh garlic.
“If you’ve had fresh garlic out of a garden, you’ll never go to the store for it again.”
Her enthusiasm for local farming is almost contagious. Her fondness for farming is illustrated by the way she carries a cow’s tooth in her pocket to amuse children. She also enjoys regaling visitors with the hilarious antics of farm animals including an escape artist of a cow appropriately named Houdini. “We will come into the barn in the morning and that silly cow will be walking around loose. Honestly, I have to wonder if the cats let her out of the pen,” chuckles the farmer.
The program is based on the community shared agriculture model (CSA). It’s environmentally-friendly because buying local reduces those pesky petroleum miles and carbon emissions associated with long haul food transportation. It’s also organic.
“When you join, you are not just buying vegetables, you are supporting sustainable farming practices and contributing to a reliable, healthy, local food supply and income for the farmers,” she explains.
One share provides produce for a family of four. The farm has enough shares for 60 families. A full 16-week share is $400. The farm also offers meat shares and sells pasture raised Angus beef (with no antibiotics or growth additives), chicken, and free range eggs. Local lamb, pork and salmon are also available. With the addition of the greenhouse, the farm will be able to supply produce year-round.
“Starting a CSA was the best way to make the farm, which has been in Jim’s family since 1945, sustainable,” explains the 48 year old, who met and married Jim, 56, after meeting on the Internet.
“I grew up on a farm, so I always knew I wanted to marry a farmer,” she giggles.
Edencrest Farms will be hosting a farm and garden open house on June 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The farm also features a bed and breakfast, offers hayrides, and caters to corporate events and school groups. Delivery of baskets is also available to certain areas.
For more information,
visit www.edencrestfarms.com or call
705-737-2491.
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