Forstbauers Family Natural Food Farm

The Forstbauers started farming 31 years ago in the Fraser Valley.  They started out in Abbotsford on a small 7 acre farm which they outgrew and then moved to a larger farm in Chilliwack.  The Forstbauers are a large family with 12 children, the oldest is now 37 and the youngest is 15.  Six of their children work seasonally on the farm and one joins them to farm full-time

They were one of the first organic farmers in the Fraser Valley, long before most people knew what organic farming was, and have worked consistently to improve the soil on the land they farm.  They make compost from the animal manures on the farm to enrich their soil and do cover cropping to protect the soil over the winter.  They also use compost teas for soil enrichment and disease control.

The Forstbauers have a passion for growing nutritious food from healthy soil.  They grow about thirty different varieties of vegetables, including a wide variety of winter vegetable crops.  They also grow blueberries and strawberries, and have grass fed, low-fat Holstein/Herford cross beef fattened on their farm, fed all on local hay and grass.  They also have free range chickens year round.

The Forstbauers value direct contact with their customers so they have moved to selling about 85% of their products directly through farmers markets or from their farm gate.

Mary Forstbauer has a special project for the children who will be participating in the BIKE THE BLOSSOMS tour:  “Bring your own bucket or paper bag and she will give you a seed potato to plant.  You can then grow your own potato and bring it to her at the farmers market where she will weigh it for you.”