The Pickle Patch

Aartje den Boer

At The Pickle Patch, everyone works. “The sheep graze to keep the pastures and lawn under control, the pigs 'plough' the fields and get them ready for planting, the piglets weed the garden with their little trowel noses, and of course, everybody fertilizes,” says Aartje den Boer.

These industrious animals, born and raised at The Pickle Patch, are rewarded with special treats like spent grains from Beau's Brewery in Vankleek Hill and piggy muesli, a mix of grains, seeds and fresh sprouts. Other feed and any mineral or vitamin supplements are purchased from certified organic suppliers. No herbicides, pesticides, hormones or GMO products are used on the farm and the livestock are pastured in a rotational system.

Aartje den Boer's passion for making healthy, locally produced food available to consumers led to her to founding the Vankleek Hill Farmers Market which is now open all year round.

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