Five important things to know about our farm
- We have 120 acres of farmable land. We grow more than 20 kinds of vegetables.
- It has a unique microclimate that enables us to harvest vegetables much earlier than the norm.
- It’s located on the banks of the magnificent North Saskatchewan River.
- Our farm is within Edmonton’s boundaries. In fact it is the easternmost point in the city. There is a movement to reserve farmland in this area.
- We take great care with our farming methods. We are responsible and cautious in our treatment of the land.
A little more about us...
We have great respect for our fellow producers who have chosen to farm organically; at Riverbend Gardens, however, we have found it necessary to use certain conventional treatments, for instance, in order to grow the cabbages we spray for the cabbage moth. Fortunately, cabbage is one of “The Clean Fifteen”—vegetables that are least likely to show pesticide residue even if they are not grown organically.
We are not industrial; we’re not factory farmers; we’re a small-scale family farm. Our farming practices involve using specific conventional treatments minimally and cautiously. Cindy Burke says in her book To Buy or Not Buy Organic, “…buying organic is a valuable measure you can take to eat healthier food, but it is not the only factor worth considering…local, sustainable food is becoming the fresh choice for ethical eaters.”
We’re proud to be local. We’re proud to produce food for families in the Edmonton area with a minimal carbon imprint.
For three generations (and we’re on to the fourth!), we’ve tilled the soil on this farm, producing healthy, local food for families in the Edmonton area.
A brief history of our farm
- 1958 After emigrating from the Netherlands, Janelle's Grandparents Clarence and Jenie Visser started farming here in 1958. They raised hogs.
- 1981 Janelle's Father Doug and mother Evelyn began growing vegetables on a couple of acres.
- 2006 Janelle and her husband Aaron join Doug and Evelyn as partners!
- 2007 Janelle and Aaron's daughter Evie, the first member of the fourth generation to live on the farm, was born!
This farm is our family’s lifework and we feel privileged to work on it.
