Chickadee Farm Herbs began in 1989 by the Marenholtz family as a small family business at Flatbush in northern Alberta. Flatbush is a small hamlet and farming community in a forested area two hours north of Edmonton. Our farm is in a unique location on the bank of the Pembina River. In 1978 we homesteaded our land from virgin forest and began raising purebred sheep. We have always sought to live in harmony with nature by not using pesticides or insecticides and growing most of our food in our garden. We collect mushrooms and berries in the forest, and our sheep and goats provide us with meat and milk. The sheep's wool is used for mitts, toques, quilts, pillows and mattresses for the family. Instead of regular grid power, we use solar power to run lights, fans and small power tools. We also economise water and paper in all our operations. We have shelter belts of trees to protect all our fields and to provide habitat for wild animals and plants.

As a boy in Germany, Mr. Marenholtz learned about the collection and use of herbs when he gathered them for apothecaries. Our garden always included herbs, and we also collected them in the forest. We use herbs as a gentle medicine for minor ailments such as colds, and also as a healthy addition to our diet. We make them into refreshing beverages and season our homemade stews, gravies, salads and canned goods with them. We also use herbs to treat our sheep and goats.

We noticed that it was often difficult to purchase high-quality herbal products locally. Thus our business was founded to provide high-quality, fresh-dried herbs. Our family vegetable and herb garden began to increase as we experimented with growing various herbs; at the same time we also collected herbs in the forest. The first year we had six different species. Now we have over thirty. In 2002 we became certified organic -- our present certifier is OPAM (Organic Producers Association of Manitoba).