Diversity Farms

Stouffville, Ontario

Toronto - May 10th, 2021 - Last week, before heading home from #VaccinationStation in Newmarket, Ontario, I did a quick Google search to find a spot to pick up eggs nearby. At my house, we go through a carton of eggs a week, at a minimum. To my delight, Diversity Farms located in Stouffville, 15 minutes from my current location, popped up on the map. I quickly clicked the destination and started my drive to the farm. My GPS took me left off of Woodbine Avenue onto Vandorf Sideroad. With not much around and the feeling of acute remoteness, I knew I was about to encounter a hidden-gem exclusive to locals of the neighborhood. And that’s exactly what I found.

At the end of the driveway at Diversity Farms, I found a mini, wooden farmhouse with the word ‘Eggs’ painted across the side. The small sign also situated there indicated an honour system that the owners/operators of the farm use when they are closed to the neighborhood - which is the most endearing thing I have ever seen, may I add. To my luck, the farm was open so I drove down the long driveway, through the whack of trees that shelter the farmhouse from street view. Being a family-owned farm on the same land as their home, there were no further photos allowed on their property, so I will do my best to paint a picture for you from here.

Upon passing trees, I saw the family’s home on the left hand side, with their small coup of chickens on the right and the farmhouse directly ahead. As I got out of the car, I was greeted by Linda, one of the owners/operators. She gave me the quick lowdown about their self-serve egg system in which you pay $7 for farm-fresh eggs, leaving change in a tin and grabbing one of the cartons available on the table. Linda and her husband also sell grass fed and grass finished beef steaks, roasts, ground beef, etc., free-range chicken products, and homemade honey. The family operates a small herd of cattle that graze outdoors all year round, as well as free-range chicken and turkey that are never fed with hormones, antibiotics, or anything unnatural. I bought myself a carton of eggs as well as a bag of their ground beef. I used three eggs that evening in my pasta carbonara, and the taste exceeded expectations.

If you are thinking of visiting Diversity Farms, it is important to note a couple of things before doing so. Diversity Farm does not operate on regular hours, so, I recommend you call ahead. However, I think your best experience would come from visiting if and when you are in the area already. Reason being, it is a small farm committed to serving neighbors, so the number of eggs is limited to less than 100 per day. Larger scale production of eggs is not something the owners/operators want to do, and respectfully so. They are true to their initial intent behind starting the farm, which is keeping the scale small and nurturing the animals who walk their land.

Apart from sharing my experience, I am writing about Diversity Farms to pay respect to their practices and to their commitment to staying honest to their views and values. Their farming model is not easily repeated and they do it only because they feel they improve the world and their neighborhood by doing what they do.

#fresh #freshisbest #organic #farm #ontario

Visit the Diversity Farms website to learn more!