Blue Mountain Biodynamic Farms a highly diversified, mixed farm consisting of 160 acres of prairie/aspen parkland in the low foothills of the Rocky Mountains, about 75 kms. north-northwest of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The farm was founded in 1977, when Erika and Henry Vester, (immigrants from Denmark and Germany , respectively) moved their brood of six (soon to be 8!) from Cowtown (Calgary) to ...this beautiful piece of bare land near Carstairs. The farm evolved as the years passed and the offspring moved off to explore the world and educate themselves. The intentional process of localization and certification (first organic, later biodynamic) of the farm was undertaken in the late 1990's, when the sixth of the brood, Kristian Henry Vester, quit a master's degree in Germanic Studies to return home to the farm. If you ask him today, "why"? He'll tell you it has to do with Goethe's Faust...
"Erst in der Beschraenkung zeigt sich der Meister".
Blue Mountain is currently operated by Kris and his wife, Tamara, with support from the entire Vester clan and much intergenerational wisdom and support specifically from Henry and Erika. Kris' son, Niko, is also very much a presence on the farm. The farm's 110 cultivated acres produce cereal and legume crops, forage, vegetables and culinary herbs, in addition to raising poultry, dairy goats and hogs. 35 acres are maintained as native grassland/pasture. Products are sold directly to consumers through Hillhurst Sunnyside Farmers' Market and direct sales to consumers, including through a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) project, but also available at Sunnyside Natural Market and on the menu at various restaurants. The physical work involved in striving to produce food without being completely reliant on fossil fuel energy inputs is provided by Kris and Tamara, SOIL apprentices, WWOOFers and community volunteers. Blue Mountain also seeks to act as an educational opportunity for those who wish to engage in its undertakings.
"Erst in der Beschraenkung zeigt sich der Meister".
Blue Mountain is currently operated by Kris and his wife, Tamara, with support from the entire Vester clan and much intergenerational wisdom and support specifically from Henry and Erika. Kris' son, Niko, is also very much a presence on the farm. The farm's 110 cultivated acres produce cereal and legume crops, forage, vegetables and culinary herbs, in addition to raising poultry, dairy goats and hogs. 35 acres are maintained as native grassland/pasture. Products are sold directly to consumers through Hillhurst Sunnyside Farmers' Market and direct sales to consumers, including through a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) project, but also available at Sunnyside Natural Market and on the menu at various restaurants. The physical work involved in striving to produce food without being completely reliant on fossil fuel energy inputs is provided by Kris and Tamara, SOIL apprentices, WWOOFers and community volunteers. Blue Mountain also seeks to act as an educational opportunity for those who wish to engage in its undertakings.
