Welcome to our Online Farm Store!!

Our Growing & Raising Practices.

Everything that is grown by Thistle Hill Farms is chemical free and is done in living soil using natural practices. Our family hand seeds, weeds, and harvests up to 90 percent of growing area. Our method to weeding is simple, we spend typically a whole day a week solely on weeding to avoid any plant competition or letting them go to seed.

We always add irrigation line to avoid any draught that may occur during our growing season.

When it comes to feeding our soil / plants we use a couple of different natural methods. One is using chicken, elk and horse manure, we add a top layer onto our field beds every two years after our final fall harvests.

We have access to worm castings AKA earthworm compost or vermiculture. Adding into our potting soil mix when we start out transplants, seedings, micro greens and under transplants when planting. We soak the castings in water to create “compost tea” which works as a replacement to normal watering to give that plant any extra extra love it may be needing throughout their growing cycle. Read our blog about Soil Health.

In 2023’ we added Supersoil to the list of natural fertilizers we use. It helps balance and heal our soil microbiome.

Neem oil is a naturally occurring pesticide and fungicide that we commonly use. It helps fight any unwanted pest, bugs and even many different diseases that attack the plant directly. While at the same time not effecting birds, soil biology and beneficial insects.

Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki or better known as BTK is insecticide that comes from a naturally occurring bacteria found in soil that helps control cabbage worm, tomato hornworm, tent caterpillars, gypsy moth and leafrollers insects.

Quality
Ingredients

Using only our freshly harvested, locally and soil grown vegetables and herbs to create our unforgettable pickled lineup. To better ensure your snacks are as healthy and gut friendly as possible. Nothing beats the taste of seasonal homemade food!

”The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.” 

— Alfred Austin

Why eating local will change your life.

There is endless benefits to creating lasting relationships with the people who provide us with our food. Many folks, actively search for a regular family doctor, lawyer, plumber and mechanic but it is less common to hear about peoples farmers! Below are some positive reason to start building your own controlled food chain.

1. Shopping local means it was grown or raised within 100-150km of your house. Since it has less travel time the food is harvested closer to your consuming date. Most farmers will pick their produce within 24 hours before bringing it to the local market or delivery day. Fresh produce is ripe and has a high nutrient density compared to the chain grocery store. Most of their produce takes week to ship or drive to the store and sits on the shelve or warehouse until it is ready to be sold.

2. Eating seasonally comes with sourcing local. Not all produce should be available 24/7, 365. Eating produce in season will increase the health benefits, freshness and flavour.

3. Ethical choice - natural practices are used when growing food on smaller scales by local farms. It is less likely to be mass produced, less or no chemicals and better quality of living or growing conditions. Health of the plant or animals is top priority. Happy plant and animals = better quality products.

4. It can be cheaper - visiting your farmers market regularly or messaging your local farmer will cut out the chain or third person. Many offer bulk buying, perfect for fall and winter storage or food preservation. Less gas and packaging will keep costs lower.

5. More bang for you buck - fresh harvest means they last longer and they don't have to travel for days to a month at a time on a boat or truck before you get it. Sizing can vary and be easier for different size homes to shop efficiently. Different sizing plus the freshness means less hits the trash or compost pile! When serving fresh produce many farmers will leave the greens still attached because they are edible and you can get many more uses out of one item, extending your dollar even further.

6. Great for your health - produce has the most nutrients the first 7 days after harvesting. Eating local and fresh has been known to reduce allergies and help improve overall health.

7. Wonderful opportunity to try something new - you will be introduced to new produce or cuts that you may not be familiar with. This comes back around to not being massed produced, us farmers get more control and options ranging from different varieties, timing and growing methods. One of our favourites is the three different kinds of kohlrabi we grow, you can’t find that in the every grocery store!

8. Gets you more involved in your everyday life - making a weekly habit of ordering your groceries or visiting your local market are great habits to create. It can also lead you to being more engaged in the kitchen with trying new recipes or new food items. Great habits to pass down to your children or grandchildren.

9. Better for the planet - less packaging and travel always helps reduce waste. Local farms help boost biodiversity which is vital to a healthy ecosystem. Using more of natural grazing or growing techniques helps or improves soil, water and air health. Sustainable for all is a major bonus!

10. Keeps your money local. Farmers also shop locally and pay local taxes! The more money we can keep within our communities the better. I would rather help house my neighbour than some large chain owner I have never met! Just imagine every dollar you spend is like voting for what you believe and support in.