EcoGreen Farms – Duncan

Items marketed through VIFP – Lettuce (so far!)

These New Kids on the Block have taken on a new adventure and breathed new life into a Cowichan Valley greenhouse.

Back in the day (we won’t say when), newlyweds and farming enthusiasts Wes and Kim Schartner purchased their first beef farm.  Moooo-ving their enthusiasm through different ventures from there, they eventually planted themselves here on the West Coast in 2020, relocating their family of 5 from Grande Prairie AB to officially become Islanders. Fuelled by creativity and a passion to provide their new community with good local food, the husband and wife team brought son Spencer on board and went about reinventing the wheel, or in this case, reinventing Island lettuce production.

The 4000 sqft greenhouse uses vertical FRP towers and a nutrient-rich drip solution to yield tall, lush pyramids of a variety of lettuces.  The pride in their business is rooted in running a pesticide and insecticide-free operation, and in supplying quality, healthy, local produce to a welcoming community they are incredibly grateful for.

When asked what the future holds for the budding business, the answer is more… more towers, more products, and more months of the year.  Think you will never be able to buy fresh Island-grown lettuces in February?  The Schartners say think again.