Farmer Name: Justin Mels
Farm Name: Brilin Farms
Farm Location: Norfolk County, Ontario
Approximately, how many acres are under your care?
50 acres.
How long have you been farming?
Our family has been farming for over 60 years and across three generations. It all started when my grandparents, Paul and Mari – Ann, immigrated from the Netherlands in 1960 with a passion for agriculture. They settled in Scotland, Southwestern Ontario, finding fertile soil to begin their own business. From there, my parents, who both grew up farming, started their own company, Brilin Farms.
Why did you choose to become a farmer?
I wanted to be a ginseng farmer because it gave me the opportunity to build on the legacy, impact, and foundation that my grandparents and parents had built here.
My parents started a tobacco farm after immigrating to Canada from the Netherlands and eventually they transitioned to growing ginseng.
Growing up together, being able to farm alongside your great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents; the family unit is something that’s really strong and it’s ingrained in our values and how we were raised. It’s just a great experience to be a part of.
What unique challenges do ginseng growers face?
The most significant obstacle is that it’s very susceptible to weather and Mother Nature. So it requires the right amount of sun, as well as nutrients, moisture, and soil conditions to grow.
We use a cloth to shade ginseng, simulating its natural low-light habitat. To put cloth over large fields, acres and acres of land, requires a lot of preparation.
Making sure you have the right dynamics of nutrients in the soil is also vital. Not to mention that you can typically only grow ginseng on one plot of land, one time. Letting the soil to cultivate other crops. In Southwestern Ontario, surrounded by the Great Lakes, it’s a unique soil type where it’s the right mix of very nutrient-dense soil and also relatively sandier soils, and that’s where ginseng typically thrives and grows best.
Do you or your family members consume ginseng?
Yes – we use the raw root in soups, stews, and in tea.
Who works on the farm with you?
The temporary foreign worker program is critical to our operation. It’s very difficult to find willing people here domestically that are willing to work hard and use their hands.
Having great people is vital for allowing things to operate efficiently. There are enough headaches that already happen in a growing season, so many unpredictable things, so having reliable help is critical.
Some of our employees have been with is for over 35 years. They’ve held me as a child, which is incredible. I think it just speaks to the quality of the people and the values that we embody here.
We wouldn’t be able to operate without them, so I think it’s just a testament to their hard work and their dedication, which we’re so appreciative of. They’re like family to us.
What sustainable practices are you incorporating on the farm?
We participate in a number of sustainable initiatives through the OSCIA (Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association). We utilize cover cropping through the On Farm Climate Action Fund, which contributes to a reduction in soil compaction and improves soil structure. We also rotate crops annually and utilize nitrogen management strategies to maximize crop outputs and minimize our environmental footprint.
Additionally, a unique attribute of Brilin Farms is that all our operations are within a 5 km radius, which further minimizes our environmental impact and improves efficiencies on the farm.
What would you like to see from the future of ginseng farming in Ontario?
We’d like to see the industry find price stability, which would give farmers a clearer picture of what to expect when bringing their product to market.
What do you enjoy most about being a ginseng farmer?
The best part of growing ginseng is caring for something for multiple years without seeing the fruit of your labor or harvest. You really experience the impact of delayed gratification – learning to develop patience and understanding that not all things happen at once. It takes time for anything that is of quality to develop.
And so I think it’s a great metaphor for life and a great way to raise a family.
