By Judy Stephan
Set in the forested foothills of Lantzville at the end of Superior Road, just minutes from Nanaimo, Superior Farms is a real working farm that is open to the public. A popular destination for school trips and visits from senior centres, visitors can stroll through the greenhouses, see and pet the mini animals, and browse the beautifully appointed gift shop.
Meet Jamie and Erin Wilson, who have brought this old family farm back to life. Jamie grew up in the area and played on the farm as a boy, so when this 55-acre farm came up for sale, he and his wife, Erin, couldn’t ignore the opportunity. Erin was originally from Saskatchewan and had been in the home décor business.
With over 2 acres of growing space, the Wilsons are in the business of cultivating seasonal flowers, vegetables, and plants for retail and wholesale to landscapers, garden centres and municipalities on Vancouver Island, and take pride in making their community’s landscape greener one plant at a time. They are bee-friendly growers, which means that they don’t use Neonicotinoids (harmful pesticides) on their crops – so protecting and nurturing the local bee population.
Stroll through their greenhouse, to the soundtrack of bees, for your veggie starters, perennials, and bedding plants. They sell everything from soils, fertilizers, to succulents and their famous seasonal hanging baskets.
You’ll also want to visit their fabulous gift shop where they sell garden items and garden-themed décor and local and imported goods with a modern farmhouse flair. From pillows to pots, from quirky to cool, they have something for every taste.
There’s always something happening on the farm. This summer Superior Farms proudly presented their Lawnchair Concert Series – a collection of the live musical events. Their seasonal camps, Pro-D days, class field-trips or home-school enrichment programs, allow children, through crafts, activities, and nature exploration, to learn about ecology, science and sustainability. Superior Farms has a variety of mini animals to pet and teach children about animal husbandry and animal care. In addition, there are Christmas craft workshops to sign up for. Why not sign up for a team-building event or private party in their brand-new event space? Check the website for details.
They can’t wait to share the farm with you this Fall and Winter!