Our Hemp Farm 

Our family farm, called Jumping Lake Acres, is located in Saskatchewan, containing 90 acres of arable land and 110 acres of wildlife habitat in the form of forest, grassland, streams and marshes. Jumping Lake Acres is where we are able to build a model of farming based on the following principles:

• 1. Keep family farms thriving- Since World War 2, farmers have been leaving the land. Those who are still farming are an average age of 56 years old. Young farmers need to create new models of agriculture to find solutions to the changes of global warming.
• 2. Practice diversity in agriculture – Work in harmony with nature by growing a diversity of heritage crops, and creating sanctuaries for a diversity of native insects, animals and plant species. Diversity ensures soil health as well as producing healthy food.
• 3. Preserve farmer’s collective knowledge and wisdom – Farming is ancient, our connection with our ancestors and their work in preserving seeds and selecting locally-adapted varieties. The intuitive knowledge of agriculture is a vital treasure that must be passed from one generation to the next.
• 4. Unify rural and urban communities – City and rural dwellers must unite to create local and regional food systems. Additionally, urban agriculture must increase seeing as most of our population now live in cities.
• 5. Offer hope for a safe and healthy future – Agriculture that is in harmony with nature ensures that the environment will be protected for future generations. Seeds can be saved, knowledge can be shared and lasting infrastructure can be created.

 

Farming Methods 

The following farming methods focus on creating self-nourishing systems for the land:

• Organic cover crops: Nitrogen fixing legumes are planted in the spring, to enrich and loosen the soil.  In the late summer these crops are cultivated into the soil, adding thousands of pounds of organic compost to the land.
• Compost teas:  Brewed specifically to populate soil with beneficial soil microbes, which go to work in the topsoil freeing up minerals and nutrients for future crops.
• Crop rotations:  We constantly rotate our crops, enhancing diversity, limiting plant disease and giving the land time to rest and rejuvenate. 

 

What We Grow 

Industrial hemp plays a vital role on our farm, as it is a plant perfectly fit for sustainable agriculture.  Hemp restores health to the soil by preventing erosion and bringing nutrients up to the topsoil.  Hemp seeds provide us with one of nature’s most complete sources of protein and essential fats. 

Additionally, hemp fibers are very strong and can by used to make rope, clothes and paper.  As hemp production in Canada increases, so will our industrial production of hemp fiber products, creating healthier, sustainable products which we can use to build our homes, workplaces, fuels and materials.  

Heritage seeds and grains are a valuable link to our ancestors, who selected and saved locally adapted varieties of food through the ages to give us the diversity we now have access to. 

We grow a variety of different heritage seeds and grains on our farm, including Red Fife Wheat, Spelt, Kabuli Chickpeas and Ethiopian Lentils. These ancient varieties are often more nutritious, as well as being more resistant to pests, droughts and weather changes than hybrid varieties and should be conserved for future generations. 

Environmental Vision