Sustainability is an issue that weighs on many minds these days, and Jeremy and Sarah Van Maar are no different. No strangers to the farming lifestyle, as both their families are farming families, they’ve found a way to carry on the tradition in a new and sustainable way, using CEA-Controlled Environment Agriculture to create a small scale farm with sustainable technologies, and minimizing environmental damage. Having researched extensively, they wish to produce food efficiently, and to reduce environmental impacts. Amongst other technologies, their vertical planting walls are paired with LED growing lights which are specifically designed to optimize growth, and produce less heat than other commercial lights generate-which reduces the need to withdraw heat from the room, thereby using less energy. These are important wins for the Van Maars.
Beekist Growers, established in September of 2023, is housed in an old airplane hangar on their property, outside of Kintore. Jeremy and Sarah converted the hangar into a vertical farm for nutrient dense herbs, lettuces, and microgreens. They grow year round in a climate controlled aeroponic growing facility, hand picking their product for optimal plant regeneration and heath.
“Oxford County is so great for being a community based area.” says Sarah. Community is of huge importance to Beekist Growers. Their goals lie in the concept of serving community/being good for community; in the sustainability and reduction of energy usage (for example, their set up uses 90-95% less water than traditional growing); and the impact they can have on community: affordability and accessibility. Their produce is both affordable, and easily accessible to the community, which allows for a positive impact.
Currently, one can purchase through Beekist Growers, through a subscription, or at Turner’s Farm Market (in Ingersoll) and Proof Line Farm (in Ilderton). “Our produce has achieved a sort of cult-like following with people asking for pre-orders at the retail locations, which is fantastic!” gushed Sarah. She noted that the capacity is there for both subscription and retail sales. The support is greatly appreciated, and many have stated that the produce sold has a much longer shelf life than that purchased from supermarkets. Not only is the waiting time (for the produce on the shelf) greatly diminished, but being that the leaves are hand picked and packed, they are not damaged in any way and maintain their peak freshness longer. As well, hand picking allows to do “cut and come again.”, which gives one more harvests. They have about 10-12 harvests of each plant, which allows to get more from the resources, therefore not wasting resources in successive plantings.
Beekist uses no sprays, herbicides, or pesticides, and any pests are dealt with in natural ways. This is especially important, as “Lettuces in particular are rated the worst for retaining pesticides and herbicides because they absorb them,” stated Sarah, therefore CEA (Controlled Environment Agriculture) benefits leafy greens the best. This of course benefits Beekist as they can utilize their resources more efficiently. They hand this down to the customers as they try to price their produce accordingly, which is generally less than other organic produce.
Jeremy and Sarah hope to utilize our long growing seasons to extend theirs, via the use of hoops houses. This will be a future adventure for the couple, so that they may add more selection to their product list. Keep watching, though. Coming in the Fall, they will be offering mushrooms! Log onto beekistgrowers.ca, to see their current offerings and to subscribe to their tasty and nutritious products!
