Welcome! Swallowtail Farmstead is a small-scale ecological herb farm & market garden located on Treaty 1 Territory (eastern Manitoba, Canada). For many years we have dreamed of the opportunity to tend a small piece of land where we can grow high quality vibrant food and herbal medicine, while building soil health, thriving ecosystems, and a resilient homestead for our family. We are excited to practice regenerative agriculture, and foster connections between human health/soil health/environmental health.
We want to use our farmstead to support the things we believe contribute to a healthy life: a vibrant local foodshed/medicinal herb shed, strong local economies, community connections, a safe/inclusive space, meaningful work, ecological sustainability, lifelong learning, and joy!
We hope to not only provide you with beautiful vegetables, herbs, seeds and plants, but also offer inspiring and educational skills-sharing opportunities with our herbal learning gardens, and our farm CSA. Join our email list to keep updated on happenings at our farmstead!
We want to use our farmstead to support the things we believe contribute to a healthy life: a vibrant local foodshed/medicinal herb shed, strong local economies, community connections, a safe/inclusive space, meaningful work, ecological sustainability, lifelong learning, and joy!
We hope to not only provide you with beautiful vegetables, herbs, seeds and plants, but also offer inspiring and educational skills-sharing opportunities with our herbal learning gardens, and our farm CSA. Join our email list to keep updated on happenings at our farmstead!
Why Swallowtail Farmstead?
The goals of our Farmstead are ecological land stewardship and community-building through growing high quality food & medicinal herbs.
ECOLOGICAL GROWING METHODS
Swallows are common on farms, often called "farmers friends". We have swallows (purple martins and barn swallows) that have been living here many generations longer than we have. We see them regularly, swooping over the fields and forest. Swallows are insect-eaters, so in effect are a natural form of pest control for our farmstead. To us they symbolize the diverse ecosystem of birds, insects, fields, forest and river that we have here, as well as the ecological farming methods we are using.
IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY
Swallows always live in community, they are not solitary birds. To us this is symbolic of the community needed to support a farm, and the benefits we hope to offer to the community in return. As well, our small farm project is part of a much larger community of ecological farms across Canada (and beyond) that we participate in through learning and skills-sharing.
HOPE & NEW BEGINNINGS
Swallows traditionally represent hope and new beginnings. What a great symbol for all the hopes and dreams we have for this farmstead. Welcome to Swallowtail Farmstead!
ECOLOGICAL GROWING METHODS
Swallows are common on farms, often called "farmers friends". We have swallows (purple martins and barn swallows) that have been living here many generations longer than we have. We see them regularly, swooping over the fields and forest. Swallows are insect-eaters, so in effect are a natural form of pest control for our farmstead. To us they symbolize the diverse ecosystem of birds, insects, fields, forest and river that we have here, as well as the ecological farming methods we are using.
IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY
Swallows always live in community, they are not solitary birds. To us this is symbolic of the community needed to support a farm, and the benefits we hope to offer to the community in return. As well, our small farm project is part of a much larger community of ecological farms across Canada (and beyond) that we participate in through learning and skills-sharing.
HOPE & NEW BEGINNINGS
Swallows traditionally represent hope and new beginnings. What a great symbol for all the hopes and dreams we have for this farmstead. Welcome to Swallowtail Farmstead!
About us - Practical, Resilient & Hands-on Living
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We are Greg Roberts, Karin Kliewer and our two children. We live here at Swallowtail Farmstead with our two dogs, cats, 30 hens, a small band of guinea fowl, and hundreds of plants!
We have lived and worked on various organic and biodynamic farms in Ontario & BC, and are grateful to those who have mentored us over the years. We are now excited to try our hand at small-scale regenerative ecological farming at Swallowtail Farmstead! We are looking forward to sharing great food, medicinal herbs, and hands-on learning opportunities with you! |
