Farming is our livelihood and passion and we take our work seriously, 
that's why our produce is grown with two things in mind:
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Is this the best quality produce we can create ?
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What is the cost to the environment, farm and our community to create it?

Ecological Farming

At the heart of Rooted Oak Farm is the desire to provide food to our customers and community in an ecologically sustainable way. Underpinned by our desire to add to the fertility and health of our fields and with the goal of leaving our farm better then we found it. We practise a stewardship of the land which enables us through crop rotation, appropriate tillage, knowledge of biological systems and intentional production techniques to produce high quality vegetables for our customers and a healthy home for the living network of creatures within the soil and on the farm. We are not currently Certified Organic but grow with the Canadian Organic Standards in mind and are currently seeking to begin the transition to Organic Certification. 

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Weeds and Water

Any experienced vegetable grower will tell you that an hour spent weeding saves 3 down the line. Managing weeds through well timed cultivation, occultation, flame weeding and cover crops is at the core of our weed management program.  
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Water is fundamental to life and vegetables are no different, appropriately watered crops are vital in producing healthy and delicious food, especially in times of drought. Hoping for the best is not a good policy for risk management. We use drip lines to ensure we can always get our plants water when necessary, practising water conservation by putting the water exactly where it needs to be. We also use low pressure overhead sprinklers when possible to reduce our use of plastic on the farm. 

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Fertilizers, fertility and Soil Amendments

We embrace the philosophy that to feed the soil and not the plants is the most ecologically sustainable practise. Stimulating the living relationships within the soil through recommended amendments, rigorously cover cropping to increase nitrogen and soil organic matter and promoting beneficial pollinators with positive habitat are important strategies we take in managing the fertility of our soil and the health of our plants.  We utilize animal based compost, cover crops, compost teas and amendments allowed within the Canadian Organic Standards. We do not use chemical fertilizers at Rooted Oak.

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Seeds

Seeds are important and while this fact seems obvious to many, what isn't obvious is what seeds to buy and from where. In a world where a few large seed and chemical corporations control a majority of the worlds seed production, Rooted Oak Farm chooses smaller and more regionalized seed companies that work closer with their growers providing quality seeds free from Genetically Modified Organisms and with Certified Organic options. We use Certified Organic seed at Rooted Oak Farm, except in the few situations where Certified Organic seed cannot be located.  Below are the suppliers we use and which can provide quality seed, producing quality plants  to grow our customers food. 

Suppliers: High Mowing Organic Seeds, William Dam Seeds, Johnnys Selected Seeds

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Disease and Pest Management 

Preventing Disease and limiting pests is a crucial part of growing great vegetables. However, doing so in an ecological system can be difficult. Every farmer has experienced seeding, watering, and carefully nurturing a crop only to have it decimated by a pest or disease of one kind or another. At Rooted Oak Farm we seek to limit our pest damage through physical barriers as well as using ‘Trap’ and ‘Camouflage’ crops used to dissuade, confuse and hide the crops we want or encourage the pests toward crops we don't. We use only pest control measures allowed within the Canadian Organic Standards.

​ By growing a wide variety of crops and maintaining a multi year crop rotation we aim to reduce soil borne diseases and prevent them from getting established long term.