Farm Principles

  • Use all certified organic seeds and amendments
  • Follow organic, ecological, and regenerative methods to ensure a sound ecosystem
  • Increase soil health and farm yields by using such practices as green manure, cover crops, and organic amendments
  • Encourage plant and animal diversity through the planting of native wildflowers and provision of habitat
  • Moderate climate effects with the use of windbreaks, alley cropping, and silvopasture
  • Raise animals in a caring and natural manner with free access to fresh air, water, and outdoor space
  • Bring food production back to the community and fostering positive and transparent relationships with consumers
  • Make the growing, harvesting, and sharing of healthy food a joyful experience!

Meet the Farmers

Terra Verde Homestead is farmed by Lorraine Blackwell and Rob Johnson, along with our two children, Terran and Rowan. 

Lorraine and Rob share a love of the outdoors, new projects, and dreaming big! After living for a number of years in Cambridge and Guelph, we decided to follow our hearts and buy a rural property that would allow us the opportunity to live self-sustainably. Simply sustaining ourselves didn't feel like a big enough challenge so we now farm a 1.5 acre market garden, raising pastured chickens for eggs and meat, have a menagerie of animals, keep bees, and are developing our fruit and nut tree orchards.

Lorraine has a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and English and previously worked in the social services field. Small scale market gardening is a natural extension of her interests in human culture, healthy living, and sustainable communities. 

Rob has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology and works in the field of environmental restoration and tree planting. Rob is diligently working to convert our 10 acre property into a sustainable and productive haven. ​