OUR STORY
A 3 Family Business
What does Regenerative, No-till Farming mean?
It means caring for the land and using nature's wisdom in order to help the soil and ecosystem to be as healthy as possible. We know this to be important because healthy land creates healthy food. We don’t use any herbicides, pesticides or chemical fertilizers. We do use natural composts and mulches, and we leave the roots and mycelium in the ground as frequently as possible, recreating natural growing conditions.
What makes our Farm Sustainable?
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Many conventional farming practices use chemicals to control the growing environment. This depletes the soil, destroys the natural ecosystem, and means that crops need more and more chemical inputs in order to sustain plant life all while killing the natural insects and harming our lakes and rivers. Our methods on the other hand nurtures the natural ecosystem sustaining the land for generations to come.
Why Do we Do this?
We do this because we love the land and the community and believe in taking care of the things and people we love. We want to make sure that Kenora area has access to healthy food and has a resilient food system that can withstand supply chain issues and become more self self-reliant. We also believe in making the world a more beautiful place, so come and see how beautiful Muriel Shores Farm really is.
Why Grow Flowers?
Flowers attract and feed pollinators like bees, butterflies, bats and birds, and many of our crops require these important members of our natural ecosystem to visit frequently. Flowers are also beautiful and fun and many of us love having them in our homes. Since most bouquets available for purchase are coming from very far away from Northwestern Ontario they have a heavy carbon footprint and we have little information about where and how they’re grown. Providing bouquets and U-pick flower events at Muriel Shores Farm means that our customers can have access to flowers that are not only beautiful but also locally and sustainably grown.
Meet Your Farmers
Jake Boutwell
Jake spent several years travelling and learning about agriculture, activism, and sustainability before moving back to his hometown of Kenora in 2018. He began to apply what he learned by co-founding the non-profit Harvest Kenora, and now this farm. Jake is a father to a beautiful baby daughter and a lovably wild step-son. He dreams of a future for them where we live in harmony with our natural world and each other, and it’s this dream that motivates him every day. This motivation, combined with a passion for growing food and a love of cooking (and eating!) makes farming a way of life. If you drive by the farm you can often see Jake hanging out with his family in the feilds.
Melissa King
Born and raised in Kenora, Melissa has a strong investment in helping this beautiful community to flourish and grow. Melissa is a mother of 4 wonderful daughters so she also understands the importance, and feels very passionately, about providing her loved ones with clean, healthy, and delicious food. Melissa has been growing food and flowers for her family and friends for several years and is incredibly proud to now be able to share this with the larger community. As someone who loves hiking, camping, canoeing and foraging Melissa also really loves the land and the natural environment and is proud of how Muriel Shores Farm is caring for the local eco-system. You’ll often see Melissa’s smiling face selling produce at our market tables and guiding the U-pick flower events on our farm.
Austin Taylor
Austin moved to the Kenora region in 2004 and fell in love with the people and place. Austin and his family have been growing food in their home garden for well over a decade and have loved playing the “everything on this plate is by our own hand” game! Austin’s social concern has been a motivator as we attempt to build more capacity in the local food economy. Austin is a father to 5 daughters (if you’re keeping track, we’re now up to 10 daughters in this extended farm family) So time outside of farming is generally spent with family. BUT occasionally Austin indulges in local fun like rock-climbing or golfing, while winter months are spent at Mt Evergreen! Austin is frequently found interacting with customers at the Matiowski Market, our on-farm markets, or at CSA and online order pick-ups.
Shop with Us
How To Buy Our Produce
On-Farm Market : 35 Muriel Lake Road Fridays from 2-7pm (June -October)
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Matiowski Farmers Market : Kenora Whitecap Pavilion Wednesdays 8:30am-2pm (June- October)
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Plus: Watch for us to pop-up at markets in surrounding communities throughout the summer
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CSA's: Weekly veggie boxes available by subscription