Agricola Cooperative Farm began as the shared vision of four friends; Natalie Childs, Heather Syposz, Caleb Langille, and Hannah Hunter. We met at university in Halifax in 2006 and quickly became close – all four of us were interested in meaningful work that supported our local communities, tread lightly on the earth, and allowed us to spend as much time as possible outside. 

Although we had a vision for the project we wanted to build together, we needed more experience to make that vision a reality. The four founding members each spent many years working on and managing farms across Quebec and Canada, learning the technical skills of agriculture and the realities of farm life.

In 2019, after years of planning and dreaming, we started Agricola Cooperative Farm. In our first season, we rented land at the Plateforme Agricole de l’Ange Gardien, an opportunity that offered land access, infrastructure, and a wonderful community of fellow farmers.

At the end of 2019, with the help of Arterre, we completed the purchase of our 160-acre farm in Papineauville from Guy-Louis Poncelet – poet, artist, and owner of Ferme La Macédoine. Over the past 40 years, Guy-Louis and his family have stewarded this land and decorated the landscape with magical asparagus sculptures. They also welcomed thousands of visitors to the farm each year to pick up one of spring’s greatest delicacies – fresh asparagus. We’re lucky to have Guy-Louis’ mentorship and support as we build on his legacy.

The farm is located on 160 acres of field, forest and river land in Papineauville, QC, on unceded Alqonquin (Weskarini), Mohawk and Huron-Wendat territory. We grow our vegetables and flowers using organic practices, and steward the land in maintaining the biodiversity and health of our ecosystem. In 2022, we were honoured to receive the Prix de la relève agricole du Québec, recognizing our team’s “sense of innovation, diverse skills and engagement in our community”, as well as our commitment to climate and environmental responsibility throughout the business.

Now entering our 6th year of production, in 2024 Agricola is growing while keeping our founding values at heart. The team has expanded to include two new cooperative members, Océane Leclair and Christophe Arsenault, and valued seasonal team members who participate in all stages of the vegetable growing process. As we grow, Agricola continues to develop and build new partnerships, and we look forward to welcoming more members into our community.