Story by Aric McBay
“It’s been 23 years since we transitioned to organic agriculture,” says Kathie Groenewegen of Limestone Organic Creamery. “We decided to work with mother nature and not against her.”
The Groenewegen family farms north of Kingston near Elginburg, and have been dairy farmers for decades. “When we started, one of the barriers to local food was distribution,” says Kathie, especially for dairy products. So Groenewegen family decided to create their own on-farm creamery and store; at the store they sell their own organic dairy products and baked goods along with food from 30 other local farms and processors. They also deliver directly into Kingston and the surrounding area.
Kathie farms with her husband Francis, and their two children, Olivia and Patrick. They have about eight mostly part-time staff who help with processing, and are always looking for more staff help.
Using organic milk from their own farm, the creamery produces many different dairy products, including milk (in various percentages), chocolate milk, cream (table cream and whipping), butter.
They recently started making ice cream from local dairy as well. “We’ll be making a lot more ice cream,” says Kathie. “It’s very popular.”
The Groenewegens milk twice a day every day, and process milk into dairy products twice a week. The processing takes a full day from six thirty in the morning to six at night.
Limestone Organic Creamery distributes all of their milk and cream in reusable glass bottles. Which means the first step of each processing day is to wash over three thousand glass bottles.
“We bought this humongous contraption from the States to wash bottles,” says Kathie. “It was built in 1967, and it will wash 2100 bottles an hour.”
“We’re still re-using bottles that we started with, it’s amazing,” Kathie remarks. “We really thought about it at the beginning – is this the right way to go environmentally?” They’ve been happy with the results, and find that the glass bottles helps milk to stay colder and have a longer shelf life.
Their dairy products are delivered both to stores and to doorsteps in the Kingston area.
The Groenewegen family takes an ecological approach to every aspect of farming. They set aside forested land for wild creatures, and let fields flower to encourage bees and other pollinators.
“We really feel that our land is healthier, and that our animals in turn are healthier,” because of organic methods, says Kathie.
The cows at Limestone Organic Creamery are grass-fed and rotationally grazed.
“We like having our animals out where they should be, in nature, in the sun and on the grass,” Kathie explains. “It makes the cows feel good, and the farmers. Cows just love it.”
They constantly work to maintain and improve the health of their farm ecology. “I really hope that people can see what can be done on a farm where you really put a lot into maintaining the biodiversity of it, regenerating the soil and the land.”
“I think that people already are realizing the importance of local food,” Kathie adds. “People are going to have to rely on the local food system more and more.”
That’s in part because of the biggest challenge they face: climate change. “The seasons are changing, the planting seasons are changing. We’re trying to adapt to that.”
Drought is a major concern, says Kathie. “When you have a crop failure, especially on an organic farm, it really does hurt. It’s expensive to buy feed in.”
But the family is taking the challenge seriously, and is optimistic about the future.
“We have two children who want to farm,” Kathie explains. “We’re lucky to be able to encourage the next generation to farm in organic agriculture.”
“We’re really taking climate change and the environment as our top priority,” says Kathie. “And trying to establish a farm that works with nature.”
A short trip: Because of the quota system in Ontario, the milk must be sent in an official truck when it is moved from the Groenewegen milking barn to their on-farm processing plant. “But the milk truck only travels about 1000 feet.”
Knowing the land: Kathie and Francis were both raised on farms in the area. “Growing older, we know how to work our land. It’s a natural thing for both of us. We feel so close to our cows and to the land.”
Farming in Frontenac: Living adjacent to Loughborough Lake is one thing that has kept Kathie and her family in Frontenac County. “We really love this area, the beauty of it, and the biodiversity.”
Where to get Limestone Organic Creamery products:
- Limestone Organic Creamery offers once-a-week delivery to your door; if you aren’t home, they’ll put the delivery an insulated box on your doorstep. You can set up deliveries for milk and other local grocery items at: www.limestonecreamery.ca
- You can also find their products at 25 different stores in Kingston, Camden East, Perth, Sydenham, and Verona.
- The Limestone Organic Creamery store is open 7 days a week at 3127 Sydenham Road, Elginburg.
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