Freedom Farm: good soil makes great produce
By Andrea Gunn
Sharon and Will Freeman started Freedom Farm on their Battersea property in 2007.
The land had not been farmed, aside from a few beef cattle, for 50 years. So, in order to get their venture up and running, the fledging farmers had to put in some work, first to learn about small-scale farming, and then to get the soil ready for new crops.
“It was a long-term project,” says Sharon. “And we worked with other new farmers in the area, so we were all learning together. We had our soil tested and discovered it was lacking some important nutrients. We added calcium, sea salt, boron, copper and other micro-nutrients.”
Once the soil was replenished, it was time to start growing. “We had great success once the soil was in shape,” says Sharon. “Nothing tastes like freshly dug potatoes and carrots. You can certainly taste the difference between produce that was in the ground a few hours ago and what you can get at the grocery store.”
“You can certainly taste the difference between produce that was in the ground a few hours ago and what you can get at the grocery store.”
Sharon Freeman, Freedom Farm
From arugula to zucchini
Sharon and Will now grow a huge selection of vegetables and herbs, from arugula to zucchini. They offer weekly boxes of vegetables to families, who receive a variety of fresh produce from spring to fall. The couple have also been part of the Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market in Kingston since it opened.
The Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market was established in 2012 to increase year-round access to local food. All the vendors are local producers (within 100 km of Kingston) and members of Farmers’ Market Association Kingston. Sharon is a member of the board.
This past summer, the market moved to online sales to address the realities of COVID and the need to curtail large public gatherings. “It was stressful,” says Sharon, “but we reacted quickly.” With the online system in place, customers can browse each week’s offerings from a variety of local producers, add their picks to an online basket, and reserve a time slot to pick up their purchases at the Memorial Centre. (Learn more here). The market will return to the lawn in front of the Memorial Centre from June to the end of October, barring an increase in COVID numbers. They will resume the online market for the winter months.
As well as growing crops that appeal to their customers, Sharon and Will grow food for themselves. Avid cooks, they also grow a variety of herbs, both to sell and to experiment with in the kitchen. “We love tomatoes,” says Sharon. “We love to explore the different varieties: Green Zebra, Pink Berkeley Tie-Dye, and Valencia, to name a few.” Sharon also wants to experiment with new crops this year, including more bitter greens, like radicchio and hardy greens that grow well into the fall. “They have stronger flavour,” she says, “but I find that people’s tastes are changing. People are cooking more and trying new foods. We can thank COVID for that!”
A balance of nature
Sharon and Will also mix in flowers with their rows of vegetables. Calendula, zinnia, and cosmos provide beautiful pops of colour, a delight for the eyes and a draw for pollinators. Dill and cilantro also serve double duty. As well as providing fresh flavour for the kitchen, they also attract beneficial insects like ladybugs, which help keep down the population of destructive insects like aphids.
“It’s a great job,” Sharon says of her work on Freedom Farm. “Of course, it’s physically taxing, but it’s also uplifting and inspiring.”
