Mission
Vision
Organic, organic again
It was an easy decision to switch to organic farming. In fact, it was obvious to both of us. For us, organic farming goes beyond the importance of soil health. It also means respecting the environment. And, of course, ensuring the well-being of the people behind each vegetable.
Feeding our community
It is important for us to nourish our community. We want to be close to our consumers. We want to cultivate a special relationship between consumers and us farmers. For us, nourishing our community also means contributing to and facilitating access to organic and local food.
Enjoyment in agriculture
Farming is often seen as a really demanding job. The hours are long and the work is physical. On the farm, we're not afraid of challenges, but we want to enjoy our day-to-day work. We want to enjoy farming. This sometimes means reviewing our practices to make the work easier. We want to enjoy feeding our community, seeing their smiles when they enter our kiosk or open their baskets. In short, we want to enjoy working with our customers, employees, and partners, and we will do everything we can to make sure that happens.
The pleasure of sharing meals
Taking the time to eat and share meals is central to farm life. Despite the myriad tasks that need to be done on the farm, we always take the time to share dinner with our employees. We want to share the contagious joy of cooking and eating with friends, family, at parties, etc. Every occasion is a good occasion! When you think about it, we must be foodies to have made a career out of producing good food. The goal is always to connect with what we eat every day.
Collaboration
Collaboration is in our DNA. We receive so much support that we want to give back by working in partnership with others in the community. The agricultural sector has always relied on the community to grow, and we truly believe that organic farming has everything to gain from collaboration. That's exactly why the farm has been actively involved in creating the Racines-rurales farmers' cooperative, and this is certainly not the last project we will contribute to.
Seasonality of products
We are fortunate to have seasons in Quebec. That's what makes the first tomatoes and cucumbers in spring so delicious and special. The wait and the absence amplify the flavors. And for the rest of the year, there are several storage vegetables that allow us to eat locally even in winter. We mustn't forget all the preservation techniques (canning, freezing, lacto-fermentation, etc.) that bring joy to our plates all year round.
As farmers, we understand and enjoy the challenge of pushing the boundaries of production. We are not totally opposed to growing strawberries in winter, but we have serious concerns about the environmental impact and the erosion of seasonality. At Ferme aux Colibris, we have chosen to limit our production when there is a negative environmental impact.
Absolute quality and freshness, without compromise
Quality and freshness are priorities on the farm. There is no room for compromise. That's why we've chosen to sell through short supply chains, which means we want our products to reach your plate as quickly as possible. This ensures unmatched freshness while minimizing food waste.
Create a welcoming, dynamic environment and enhance the value of agricultural heritage
From the very beginning of the farm, it was important for us to develop a welcoming environment, a welcoming farm. To create a place where children are welcome, where everyone feels welcome. We want to contribute to the vitality of Ripon and the Petite-Nation region. We want to restore the prestige of agricultural heritage and the agricultural landscape.
Values
Social and environmental
Our choices and actions are consistent with our social and environmental values. Social justice, fairness, gender equality, and diversity, to name a few. Recognizing that we are part of nature and do not dominate it, being aware that we have an impact and a role to play.
Community
Without community there is no agriculture, without agriculture there is no community. We are happy and fortunate to be able to count on the support of the community, and we want to give back by contributing to our local area. We want to create a farm that is open to its community, accessible, and committed.
Continuous improvement
At the Colibris farm, we don't just dream of a better world. Every day, every season, we try to do better, to do things differently. We are pragmatic; nothing is perfect, and there are no miracle solutions, but we are always looking for ways to minimize our impact on the environment and improve working conditions. We seek solutions that will make production biologique plus viable et accessible. Notre désir de s’inspirer et de contribuer aux pratiques innovantes nous permet de s’améliorer continuellement.