Loco Fields Farm Tour
We visited Loco Fields to dig deeper into their farming practices and get to meet the people behind our food. We used Loco Fields' fresh produce to develop and test all the recipes in the cookbook and during the photoshoots. Their veggies are not only delicious, but they're gorgeous too! Visiting Ryan was one of our absolute favourite days in creating this cookbook, and we want to share it with you!
Ryan talked about his farming philosophy while showing us around and shared his best secrets for helping his plants stay healthy, happy and thriving! His endless curiosity is what keeps the spark alive. Ryan is constantly seeking new crops to plant, finding new ways to nourish his soil and learning from Mother Nature! He's not the kind of farmer that settles for the "popular" items; he goes one step forward and offers what nobody else has; we could even say he's ahead of the trends! Ryan is one of the few farmers in the area specializing in microgreens, edible flowers, specialty veggies and "baby" produce, which hold the most nutrition. And once you taste his fresh ginger, you would never buy dried grocery store ginger ever again.
The Loco Fields produce is, as stated by Ryan, "more organic than organic." They grow their microgreens, ginger, tomatoes and several other crops inside their greenhouses, where they can be closely monitored. And start planting outside a little later in the season after most bugs had found a home somewhere else. This somewhat simple practice sets them up for a good start, as they've noticed they don't get as many bugs on their crops. Ryan also incorporates wasps and other insects to help control pests when needed; there are always bigger bugs in charge of eating the smaller, unwanted ones! Having an army of bugs on your side sounds way better than having to spray chemicals, as most commercial farmers do.
We also dove into the personal side of Ryan's career; we know farming is a demanding profession that doesn't follow predictable schedules. Farmers do their best to find somewhat normal lifestyles, but they're at the mercy of the weather most of their time. However, after switching gears and moving from in-person markets to 100% virtual farmstand, Ryan has regained a large portion of his weekends, getting to recover from the long days in the fields and opening more room to meet with family and friends. This exchange had not only allowed Ryan to add space for personal health but has also made him more excited to get back into the fields after the little breaks!
We finished the tour feeling energized and enthusiastic about wholesome, nutritious food! There is nothing better than breathing the fresh air of the country and spending time with the person who grows your food, especially if that person is as passionate, fun and knowledgeable as Ryan! We couldn't be more thankful!
You can get a taste of Ryan and his team's dedication through the Loco Fields virtual farmstand. You can also order products from other farmers and producers through their site, including pasta, bread, sweet treats, fruit, fermented foods, and more. All the good stuff! Access the farmstead here: locodelivers.localfoodmarketplace.com
Join us behind the scenes through our Youtube channel, blog and newsletter, we're doing our best to capture everything about the creative process through video, photos and writing. And we'd love to read your comments and feedback along the way!