Farms, farm stands and pick-your-own in La Petite-Nation

La Petite-Nation is back-road country. Fields sloping down toward the Ottawa River, valleys where the river left good soil, farms that have been in the same family longer than any shop in the village. Plenty of them sell direct. You just have to know where to turn.

We sorted through our directory: pick-your-own, roadside stands, organic baskets, and a few producers making things you won't find anywhere else.

One rule before you head out: pick-your-own depends on the weather. A thunderstorm or a heat wave changes everything. Check their Facebook page or call that morning.

Pick-your-own

Blueberries

Ferme Oréflore, Ripon. Highbush blueberries to pick, with a crêpe stand on site. Blueberries, crêpes, happy kids. They say it themselves: check their Facebook before you go to see if picking is on.

Bleuetière Ranch KDJD, Papineauville. Pick-your-own blueberries on the 323. Bring your own buckets.

Strawberries, raspberries and small fruit

Domaine Mont-Vézeau, Ripon. The vineyard opens its strawberry and raspberry rows to pickers in summer. You pick, the grown-ups taste wine. Everybody wins.

Les Fruits de la Terre, Ripon. Pick-your-own small fruit on montée Meunier.

Saint-Houblon, la ferme, Papineauville. Pick-your-own and fresh produce, right in the village.

Ferme Jacques et Ginette Trépanier & Fils, Papineauville. A family farm on the 323 with pick-your-own in season.

Apples, in the fall

Verger Croque-Pomme, Lochaber-Partie-Ouest. A certified organic (Ecocert) orchard with about thirty varieties, fall pick-your-own and cider made on site. When summer winds down, this is where you head.

Roadside stands

The farm stand is the best thing about a country road. A few we like:

• Ferme aux Colibris, Ripon: farm stand on the 317 with seasonal fruit and vegetables, plus organic baskets.
• Ranch Équinoxe, Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix: a self-serve stand from June to October with garlic, syrup, eggs and pasture-raised chickens. They also teach western riding.
• La Halte au Coin des rangs 7, Lochaber-Partie-Ouest: vegetables and homemade goods on the 317.
• Ferme Lauzon, Val-des-Bois: fresh vegetables and local beef. Their sweet corn has a reputation around here.
• Ferme Vianney et Marguerite Turcot, Saint-André-Avellin: potatoes, cabbage and sweet corn, grown by the same family for generations.

Organic baskets and market gardens

For people who want vegetables all season without driving the back roads every week.

• Ferme aux pleines saveurs, Saint-André-Avellin: fruit and vegetables certified organic by Québec Vrai, sold in baskets you order online.
• Ferme La Récolte, Saint-André-Avellin: vegetables and herbs picked for flavour as much as colour.
• La Ferme HLF, Lac-Simon: organic baskets, salsa, pesto, pickles and jams made from the harvest, plus certified organic seedlings. Online shop.
• La Corne d'abondance, Ripon: organic baskets, garlic and vegetables.
• Alimentation La Défriche, Ripon: seasonal vegetables, garlic, medicinal plants, and above all sprouts and microgreens.
• Ferme Agricola, Papineauville: a co-op farm on the 323.

The specialists

Farms that do one thing, and do it well.

Écoferme Paprika, Saint-André-Avellin. Garlic grown with permaculture. It's strong. That's the point.

Délys de Jo, Saint-André-Avellin. Saffron grown here. Yes, here. Plus honey, saffron honey, dried daylily petals and sea buckthorn. By appointment, by text.

Les Moulins de Ripon. Organic buckwheat, rye and wheat ground on a stone mill, plus seeds, straw and organic flours.

Ferme Floralpe, Papineauville. Mong and Ernest Jacquat came from the Swiss Valais and have been making goat cheese here since 2008, with that day's milk.

Ferme Rilou, Saint-Émile-de-Suffolk. Eggs and rabbits.

Floranik Ferme Florale, Papineauville. Locally grown cut flowers and eco-friendly arrangements, down to recycled containers. For the table.

No time for the back roads? The Ripon farmers' market on Saturday mornings has seasonal vegetables and lots of organic. Start there.

For meat from the farm, we have a separate guide to butchers and game.

The farm map

Know a farm that should be here? Write to us. We never say no to an excuse to hit the back roads.

RiponPapineauvilleSaint-André-AvellinNotre-Dame-de-la-PaixVal-des-BoisLochaber-Partie-OuestLac-SimonSaint-Émile-de-Suffolk

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