Beauty, nutrition feeds grower’s enterprise
Rural Roots in Clearview is kind of a magical place. Picture a beautiful old barn, thousands of flower varieties, long farm tables covered with the freshest of seasonable vegetables to pick from, hundreds of goats and a smiling, welcoming team. Run and operated by Heidi Sterrenburg, it’s a charming, colourful nook in a busy world.
Sterrenburg grew up in New Lowell and while she went away for university, she always wanted to come back to this community. Graduating in international development, she looked at how she could make an impact and find her place in the world.
“During the summers I worked in greenhouses and loved it,” she said. “The courses that lit me up at school centered around food security and local agriculture. I was determined to marry these two passions and live close to home.”
The seeds were planted, and the business grew. Rural roots now boasts approximately 6,500 square feet of green goodness; bedding plants, flowers, vegetable seedlings, perennials and hanging baskets. Through the growing season (June to October), you’ll find 50 different types of vegetables and hundreds of flower varieties. Have a peek in the farm store and you’ll also find eggs and honey, all stocked seven days a week for purchase or orders.
Sterrenburg also operates a shared agriculture program where approximately 65 members pick up the freshest of seasonal vegetables in small and larger baskets, along with an array of flowers on a weekly basis. She is committed to bringing seasonality to people’s tables, and in doing so, reducing the carbon footprint that the food industry creates by shipping in produce throughout the year from around the world.
“It’s true that we live in a time and place where food is so available, where we can get anything virtually year around,” she said. “We lose sight of how miraculous that is. And while that’s wonderful, I love to help my customers focus on the joys of eating seasonally, and look forward to “condoned gluttony; the glory of asparagus season, tomato season, strawberry season and all others, and enjoying it only when it lasts.”
And the flowers! You can pick up loose “farmer’s choice” flowers to make your own bouquets or arrangements, have them prepared for you or even order custom bouquets, with specific colour palettes for weddings, showers, birthdays and other special events.
“The beauty of our corner of the world attracts stunning and yet natural weddings where families are looking for farm style/wild flowers in mason jars to complete their vision,” said Sterrenburg. “I love making this vision to life with the freshest for that week.”
Rural Roots, while originally based in a greenhouse at her parents’ house in New Lowell, is now just north of Cashtown Corners, sharing space with her husband, Edwin, a goat farmer. Moving to this location in 2017 allowed this young family to find the life balance they wanted, and has afforded them a place to welcome a small and dedicated team.
“We talk about the fact that we get to wake up every day and do what we love, together,” said Sterrenburg.
Like so many small business owners, Rural Roots isn’t a job, it’s a calling and way of life.
“We have people coming seven days a week and I love it,” said Sterrenburg. “I’m still in awe that I have made a place for myself and my family and am part of this amazing community.”
Rural Roots is open 9-to-5 (ish) and can be found at www.ruralrootsnursery.ca, and @ruralroots on Instagram.
Contributed photo: Heidi Sterrenburg with her husband Edwin and daughter Blythe.
