They’re a little bit country, a little bit rock ‘n roll. Brinston’s Jaymie Thurler and Robert Henderson are all about growing the goods.
Drive into Brinston, Ontario (pop. 236), past H & I Country Supply and Carole’s Gas & Convenience, and you’ll arrive at the Rutabaga Ranch. The small-scale, biodiverse vegetable farm is operated by husband-and-wife team, Jaymie, 27, and Robert, 29.
Born and raised in Brinston, Jaymie didn’t dream of staying on her family’s dairy farm. In her teenage rebellion, she left for Toronto. Also born in the same tiny South Dundas village, Robert always wanted to farm but had none to inherit. He eventually opted for a career as a mechanic, or as he calls it, “wrenching on farm equipment”.
Though the pair drifted through career choices, the pivotal moment came when Jaymie, who had then settled into a job as an anti-human-trafficking youth social worker, sought solace from her work. She signed up to work on an organic farm in St. Albert, and ascended to the position of assistant market gardener, working alongside guru Jean-Martin Fortier from La Ferme des Quatre Temps. He taught her about sustainable and economically efficient small-scale farming.
THERE’S NO BETTER FEELING ON EARTH THAN TENDING TO A SEED THAT YOU LATER GET TO EAT.
“Growing up on a conventional dairy farm, I thought there was only one way to grow and be profitable,” Jaymie says.
Armed with a renewed passion for farming Jaymie and Robert found land in Brinston within their budget that came with “a beat-up farmstead that had been built in 1870”.
“We’re both extremely hard working and we wanted to put that work towards building something that was ours. Something that could sustain us on a holistic level like a farm does,” explains Jaymie, who runs the day-to-day operations on the farm.
The couple sold out of their fresh-veggie-filled Harvest Boxes, enough to feed 200 families in the region. Their success means that they are already taking preorders for the 2022 season, and Jaymie couldn’t be happier about where they are at.
“I love connecting with our community and there’s no better feeling on earth than tending to a seed that you later get to eat,” she gushes. “This is the only profession I could think of that is 100 percent in line with our values and need for fresh air.”
Follow Rutabaga Ranch on Instagram: @rutabagaranch
