Member Profile: Sleepy G Farm

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Author: Josie Di Felice

Posted: March 5, 2013

Categories: Food in the News / GoodFoodBites / Member Profiles

Sleepy G Farm is a traditional small scale mixed farm located at the base of the Sibley Peninsula, just east of Thunder Bay, with a committed focus on producing food ecologically and a philosophy based on the principles of traditional farming that characterized agriculture up until the 1940s. The farm’s habitat, soil and water quality is protected through thoughtful management. All the animals are pasture raised, and the vegetables are grown without the use of chemicals, thus producing clean, fresh, high-quality food.

Even though neither Brendan Grant nor Marcelle Paulin came from farm families, they are the two that, after meeting at Lakehead University several years prior, bought and began the farm in 2005. Over the years, a passionate interest for food and farming grew in both Brendan and Marcelle.

In 2002 while travelling in British Columbia, Brendan worked on a berry and vegetable farm as a piece worker during strawberry season, and ended up staying there for two seasons. He was instantly attracted to farming with a great passion for being outdoors, working at something positive, and the creative problem solving that is inherent in farm work. Meanwhile, Marcelle was working as a camp cook for bush workers in Ontario and B.C. Both believed in the potential for running their own farm one day but first worked to learn the skills and save money. Over the next few years Brendan and Marcelle worked on farms to gain a hands-on education in agriculture; after their time at Lakehead University, they had spent several years travelling and working seasonally. Interestingly enough, directly before purchasing the farm, Brendan was actually living in an old wooden barn on an abandoned farm where he had established a small market garden under the Self Employment Benefits program through Service Canada – he was sleeping in a tent the week before taking possession of their new farm!

Marcelle had told Brendan she would leave her work at the bush and return to Thunder Bay once he had a farm for them, which subsequently did indeed then happen. The farm they purchased previously operated as a small dairy farm, but had not been productive for nearly two decades. The couple was involved equally in developing the farm: together they spent the first four years updating infrastructure, establishing growing areas, and working off-farm to finance the capital investments needed to start a market garden. In 2010 they launched their vegetable CSA.

Currently, both Marcelle and Brendan work full-time on the farm and run an 80-member CSA, attend two farmers’ markets, and raise beef, lamb and eggs. They both hold the strong conviction that farming is an important and worthwhile occupation, which when done ecologically, can have an overall positive impact on our earth. Marcelle notes that “food is literally the fabric of culture that ties us all together.”

Although industrialized farming has become the mainstream today, Brendan and Marcelle strongly believe that a return to small farming will be the next agricultural paradigm shift in North America. Marcelle shares: “While industrialized agriculture will always play an important role in feeding the world’s population, there needs to be a shift towards a regional-based food system in order to strengthen communities’ resilience in the face of volatile global economics, energy crisis, and climate change.  The community that we live in was once a thriving pioneer community based on farming, fishing, and forestry.  With literally hundreds of acres of good farmland surrounding us, we would like to see our community once again become a significant agricultural provider for our area.  We want more farmers as neighbours!”                                                

Sleepy G Farm is near the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, hence its name which comes from the infamous character Nanabijou (Sleeping Giant), a notable Thunder Bay landmark. Their decision to settle in Northwestern Ontario was primarily based on the affordable land prices, the opportunity to live on Lake Superior, and the chance to produce food in a region that has great potential for food production. Brendan and Marcelle encourage aspiring farmers to consider putting down roots in the Thunder Bay area as well. They are members of many farm organizations, including Sustain Ontario, as they believe it is vital to contribute to the industry by connecting colleagues across the country. Brendan explains that “farming is a professional occupation, and like all professions, it is important to be connected, involved, and actively developing skills.  The isolation factor we experience by farming in a region with few colleagues makes it even more important for us to be connected to organizations like Sustain Ontario.”

If you would like to get involved with Sleepy G Farm, Brendan and Marcelle do take on interns and paid staff. Hiring for the 2013 season has been completed, but it’s never too early to plant your name in there for the future!

By: Josie Di Felice