Mattson

January 2019 Hello! We are Mattson Griffiths & Maggie Winchester, a young couple from Montreal with our hearts set on making our living through careers in agriculture. Mattson’s studies at McGill conclude by the end of April 2019 and from there we are both keen for the next chapter in our lives! We’ll be looking for farm work this season and are planning on starting our own operation in 2020. Feel free to read more about us and our goals. If you ever feel like connecting, then please drop us a line and we will do our best to get back to you!

Experience

We are Mattson Griffiths and Maggie Winchester. We met while farming in 2013 and have a shared passion for food, agriculture, and the environment. Mattson completed his diploma in Farm Management and Technology from McGill in May 2019; he was awarded the Quebec Lieutenant-Governor's Bronze Medal as well as the FCC Excellence in Business Planning awards prior to graduating on the dean's honor list. Both during and following her studies in Human Environment at Concordia University (from where she graduated) Maggie has held diverse learning and teaching roles involving nature, agriculture, and the food system. Her undergraduate honors thesis focused on Canadian food policy and food politics. If you would like to discuss farming in general or simply want to connect to two aspiring farmers feel free to reach out! About Us: Mattson Griffiths: I chose to pursue a career in agriculture after having graduated from Concordia University in Therapeutic Recreation and working with several community non-profit organizations. I found that through this work I was not fully practicing the values and lifestyle I wanted most; being outdoors, following natural rhythms, working with plants, while actively contributing to the well-being of my community and environment. My prior experience as an apprentice on an organic farm and my ongoing passion for home gardening led my to realize that farming is the field of work where I am happiest. Leaving my job to enroll in Farm Management and Technology at McGill University required taking on some short-term risks for long-term gains towards my goals. The experiences I had during the course of my farm studies made me a better informed consumer as well as a stronger agricultural producer. I would characterize myself as a conscientious worker who thrives when given responsibility and who strives to contribute positively to my environment. When not working in the fields I enjoy fantasy/sci-fi stories, playing guitar, walking in the woods, camping, fishing, and traditional archery. Maggie Winchester: I have always felt at home outdoors in a garden; my very first memory is of eating carrots- still mostly covered in soil- with my mother as she tended to her garden in rural Québec. I have since cultivated an interest in organic farming as a career. Aware of the environmental and social implications of an industrialized food system, and of the need for alternatives, I decided to explore organic farming as a WWOOFer in 2013. I simply fell in love with the work and lifestyle of farming. For the last six years, I have dedicated most aspects of my life to further exploring sustainable food and agriculture systems. Throughout my undergraduate degree in environmental studies, I continued to gain experiences in community food work and ecological agriculture both on and off the campus. My goal for the coming year is to further develop my agricultural knowledge and skills by working full time with all aspects of an ecological farm from thaw to frost. I pride myself on being a dedicated and hard working employee who learns fast and is detail oriented. My favourite pastimes involve exploring natural environments, cooking up a meal to share, working on a creative project, and connecting with others. 2020: We are both keen to rejoin Juniper Farm in Wakefield, Quebec, for a second season in the fields. With management responsibilities encompassing the greenhouses, microgreens production, transplanting, volunteers, and crop planning we have never been more excited by our work!

Partner(s)

Along with the two of us, we foresee hiring at least two seasonal apprentices as well as part-time workers and volunteers where needed. We do not believe success in farming is something any individual can accomplish by themselves alone.

Farm Vision

We plan on pursuing organic certification for much of what we do. We are currently exploring options with organic hops as well as ecologically-grown market produce. We aim to start small and expand with time and experience.

Relationship with Farm Owner

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