a family business in local produce and good feelings

Every neighbourhood needs a farm - that’s how Trina Porter sees it.  She’s the face of and the force behind the Foxtrap Access Road Market - The FARM.

Located in CBS, The FARM is a market garden agricultural business that’s been growing since 2016.  From seedlings to first crops to fully bounty harvest, The FARM sells its produce from its new webstore, at the farm gate by appointment, at the roadside in Kelligrews, and at the St. John’s Farmers’ Market.  

The FARM grows all the usual suspects that make up a Jiggs’ Dinner - potatoes, carrot, turnip, cabbage - as well as herbs, peppers, marrow, fennel, bok choy and other nutrient-dense choices that make for delicious and interesting meals. 

growing beets and a business

The FARM is a family business. Trina’s dad, James Porter, is a partner.  The land they grow on had been in the family for years, and a Sunday dinner garden was part of Trina’s childhood.  But the idea of The FARM got started when James built a greenhouse in 2014.  At that time Trina was deep into a Master’s program and found gardening to be a healthy and therapeutic distraction.  When they grew waaay too many beets for the family to consume in 2017, the business was sparked.  Those excess beets, along with her interest in food security and commitment to sustainability came together to create ideal conditions to start The FARM. 

Since then there’s been a lot of experimentation and lots of luck - some good and some bad.  The location on the Foxtrap Access Road is in that special CBS microclimate where things have a way of growing great.  The FARM grows with a spirit of adventure, and looks for ways to work in the community - they share carrot tops with a local company who makes pesto (!), they reuse colour coded solo cups for seedlings and accept pots for reuse, steer clear of buying plastic bags, and are founding members of the CBS community garden steering committee. 

g2g We Got This - check out the episode with Trina, Wandalee and Molly at The FARM in June 2020, or HERE to see it on YouTube.

Fundraise with The FARM Vegetable hampers

And Trina brings The FARM to the community!  From October to December, The FARM works with community groups to fundraise with vegetable hampers.  Hampers are approximately 15 lbs combined of potatoes, carrots, rutabaga, and carrot and The FARM sells to the community group at fifteen dollars a hamper.  Minimum 20 hamper orders.  Click below to download the order form!

They have a vision. Trina is looking ahead - not too far - when The FARM has picnic tables, play spaces, and is a farm for the neighbourhood.

The FARM Hamper Order Form