About Us

About Jambican

Jambican studio gardens is an organic farm providing health and happiness through creative agricultural experiences. Our goals are to bring people closer to wild in thought, word, and deed. sustainable life activities are those which recognize and promote the interdependence of all elements within the environment.

Our farm is approximately 80 acres on a 100 yr flood plain overlay on the outskirts of the city of ottawa.

We are mostly a husband and wife team with occasional volunteer help from friends and customers. we have one tractor and enough accompanying implements to accomplish most of our tasks at a speed appropriate to our scale. we have about 12 acres of vegetables and flowers in production, with some smaller experimental patches devoted to grain and mushroom cultivation. we maintain a 20 acre woodlot in the back mostly for firewood, mushroom growing strata, wood chips, branches, mulch, wildlife habitat, and revitalization of the soul.

We have a growing network of people from many walks of life interested in our ‘closer to wild’ approach.

Colin Samuels

Closer to wild.. that which is outside of one’s control..much of an individual’s life experiences belong in that category. It is the embracing of all of these experiences – the controlled and the uncontrolled, the desired and the undesired – that can potentially give existential purpose and peace of mind and spirit. This same power to give peace to mind and spirit is immensely useful in the field of organic farming and musical creations.. ( culinary creations as well..) I can find no greater joy than the accepting and embracing of all my surroundings in their true essence.

My greatest effort is in looking and seeing with the cleanest / clearest eyes possible. I have been blessed to have grown up in an environment surrounded by nature, vegetable gardening, and musical training, performance, and appreciation. I’ve been able to reach France and most of Canada on the shoulders of my music. I’ve been able to reach Africa on the shoulders of my ancestors, engaging in activities my environment provided for me.

Together with my wife and daughter, i am learning to appreciate the combination of ancient and modern that is japan at its finest. And now i am able to continue along my path living a creative life filled with music, everyday art, nature, and home-grown food.

Kumiko Watanabe

I was born and grew up in the country side in Chiba prefecture in Japan. My family has been growing vegetables and flowers so we would always have fresh food and beautiful surroundings.

My previous employment has mostly been agricultural in nature. I worked for three years at a herb nursery near my house called ‘The Vegetable Garden’. I moved to the mountainous prefecture of Nagano and worked at a small nursery while growing vegetables for myself. During this time I also learned how to make Japanese traditional foods such as miso, umeboshi and more.

Five years later I traveled to New Zealand as a ‘WOOFER’ and became involved in agriculture-specific living. Upon returning to Japan, I worked at a natural food restaurant in Okinawa. After one year, I traveled to Sweden and lived with a macrobiotic family for one year.

Canada was my next destination where I visited my future husband’s organic farm. Not long after this visit I married, moved to Canada, and experienced the beauty of a home birth. I would like to create food and many useful things from our farm. Also I would like to promote Japanese traditional food. At our farm we are trying to grow real food for many people, while creating a peaceful place for all to enjoy.

Where Can You Buy?

For the 2017 season, we will continue to sell at farmers’ markets, at our farm, and through our CSA food boxes.

Market

As it stands, we will be beginning the season in May and June at the saturday Main Farmers’ Market (back on Main street..!) in the parking lot beside the Green Door Restaurant, across from St Paul’s University.

Our CSA Program

Currently we are still accepting registrations for our CSA food boxes. These are delivered to a few group locations or individual homes when necessary.

Farm

Our preferred days to welcome customers to the farm are Wednesdays and Sundays, but we are certainly willing and able to accommodate any special timing requests.

Website created by Shiena Smart. shienadesign.com