We are Michelle Schram and Troy Stozek, owners and operators of Fresh Roots Farm. Our farm is located near Cartwright, Manitoba, in the southwestern part of the province, on Michelle's family land. Our focus is on diversity and staying relatively small. We grow chemical-free veggies on 2 acres and sell our produce at local farmers markets and through a CSA (community shared agriculture) program in the surrounding communities. We also have a small herd of cattle and apiary - we have 15 beehives and proudly produce delicious honey from the flowers that grow in our pastures. We are beginning the process of further developing the land with treed areas, additional vegetable-growing space, livestock areas, soil-building, and other efforts to create an area that is as self-sustaining as possible, using permaculture and polyculture principles.
Our goal is to provide ourselves and others with food that is produced as organically as possible, without added chemical inputs, so that both the land that the food is grown on and the people that consume it are healthy and safe (however note that we are not currently certified organic). We also wish to raise livestock in a sustainable and humane manner, giving them the space and nutrition they need to grow and thrive outdoors. We have also introduced a CSA (Community-Shared Agriculture) distribution of our vegetables to our community of Cartwright and area, and hope to offer some of our products to urban consumers through the Harvest Moon Local Food Initiative's buying clubs: www.harvestmoonfood.ca or directly through our website.
Overall, we love living out here in the country, where every day is different, and challenging, yet rewarding. We look forward to connecting with people who love good food, and other farmers and food advocates working to improve our food system and provide education on why this is so important! Cheers!
Troy and Michelle in the hoop house with one of their prized vining tomatoes!
“Every time you
purchase a product you vote for how your food is produced, so consider closely
the criteria that you apply when you buy food. The example that best
illustrates this issue is the one of price. When you purchase farm
produce using the criteria of price you send the farmer one message: ‘Use the
cheapest possible production methods to bring me the item that I want at the
lowest possible price I don’t care about the collateral damage or the
diminished quality. If you demand more
from your food, farmers will deliver. And if it costs more it’s because
the real cost of quality food production is more. Believe me, there isn’t
a farmer I’ve met yet that’s making a killing being a farmer. “
