ABOUT US
STARTED
ACRES
SPECIES
Farmers
RETURN TO EARTH: THE FARM
Return to Earth is a family-owned and operated farm located just minutes outside of Picton in beautiful Prince Edward County, Ontario. Situated on a 38-acre property comprising near equal parts grassland and coniferous / deciduous forest, we utilize regenerative farming techniques to sustainably and responsibly raise our animals.
We provide eggs and responsibly-raised meats – including chicken, turkey, lamb, pork, and rabbit – for individuals prioritizing a clean source of fare. Our animals are pastured and fed native diets supplemented with produce from our organically-grown vegetable garden. Moreover, all of our animals are raised without the use of any antibiotics, steroids, or hormones.
Our goal is to provide consumers with access to a healthy, ethical, and sustainable source of locally-grown food while also providing a fair wage to the farmer.
WHERE IT BEGAN
Return to Earth began as an opportunity which grew into a hobby and then exploded into a way of life.
We purchased our first piece of agricultural land in 2014: a gorgeous 7-acre vineyard / hobby farm in the Niagara region. At the time, and coming from backgrounds covering everything EXCEPT agriculture, the opportunities offered by this property seemed endless. And, for a while, they were! It was here that we were married, renovated a century house, had our two children, and grew in terms of understanding ourselves and our priorities.
It was also here that food, and the need to understand where it was coming from, what was going into it, and how it was being produced, became more of a centralized focus. Unhappy with what we found, we began to add things to the farm. First were the rabbits. Then a sizable vegetable patch followed by broiler chickens, laying hens, turkeys, and lambs. Soon enough, the hobby farm that we loved no longer fit our family, our lifestyle, or the future that we now saw for ourselves. So, in the spring of 2021, we upended everything we knew to purchase a raw, but lovely, 38-acre property.
It is this property that we call Return to Earth – and home.
OUR FAMILY
BEN (the farmer)
Ben is the heart, soul, and brain of Return to Earth. Having walked away from a senior-level corporate role to pursue a dream and provide a different sort of life for his family, Ben’s primary focus is the farm. From animal husbandry to syrup production, land management, machinery repair, building construction, problem solving / innovations, order fulfillment, and leather working, he is a literal jack-of-all-trades.
KATE (the farmhand)
Kate continues to work as a technical writer in order to bring in a steady income that the farm does not yet provide. Consequently, when it comes to farm duties, she primarily tends to the periphery elements. That is, planning and caring for the vegetable garden; production of soaps, soups, and cookies; and marketing. Oh! And squealing (daily) in delight over fresh eggs: a required farm task to be sure.
THE DEPENDANTS
Two free-range children who love to “help”, two wanna-be working dogs, and a slew of livestock: it’s basically a mini zoo up in here.
RTE VALUES
Return to Earth is built on the foundation of five key values which are the driving force behind both how and why we do what we do.
For details on why each of these areas is important to us, as well as information on how we actively implement them into our daily lives and farm operations, please visit our separate Key Values page.
HEALTH IS KEY
"We are what we eat" isn't just a proverb.
GREEN FOR THE WIN
Environmental sustainability and farming can coexist.
KEEP IT LOCAL
Supporting local businesses supports the community and benefits us all.
RESPECT THE ANIMAL
All animals deserve humane treatment, care, and lives.
FOOD QUALITY / SAFETY
You should never have to question the quality or safety of your food
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
We believe people should know where their food is coming from, how it is being raised / grown, what is going into it, and how it is being handled from start to plate – and believe that any food supplier you are buying from should too.
As such, we have an ‘open-door’ policy. Contact us if you have any questions!