Portrait of Marie-Claude Comeau, organic seed grower
A seed producer and her mare
Marie-Claude has been growing seeds for us for two summers. She also produces her certified organic seeds for several Quebec seed companies, grown with the help of Queen, a Belgian mare on rented land in Lemieux, in the Centre-du-Québec region, about ten kilometers from her home. She is the proud owner of the company La Radicule. I stopped by with my family on my way back from L'Isle-aux-Coudres in mid-August to visit her land. I took the opportunity to take the pulse of the crops and ask her a few questions about her young career.
Marie-Claude, how is your 2020 season going?
It went really well. There were a few challenges at the beginning of the season, like the drought and the cutworms. But I'm not the only one, so we console ourselves. I adjusted by going to the river to get water; my well wasn't enough. My parents came to do night shifts to collect the cutworms. Since this is my second year, I'm more familiar with the systems, I feel less like I'm improvising; it's already in place, and there's less of a mental burden.
What was the reason or motivation or person who pushed you to do this job?
I worked for 4 years as a seed grower at Coop-Tournesol, I was at a crossroads, either buy land in their Vaudreuil-Dorion sector and become a member of the Coop or start my own project. For economic reasons and also to allow me to have animals, I started producing seeds. I had the expertise and contacts in the field. It wasn't necessarily conscious: it happened gradually and one day, it became clear. Since I'm not the type to wait for others, I decided to start my project alone, for the time being. In addition, I find that my marketing allows me to be flexible for a possible family.
Do you have a quieter time of year?
A 3-month break in January, February, and March. I'm traveling, I love it!
Why did you choose to come to this area?
I grew up in Sainte-Sophie-de-Lévrard. I had several options. I knew Louis from the Trotteuse farm, who also works with horses, which motivated me and gave me confidence when I encountered a problem.
The owner of the land was your friend, I imagine, originally?
At first, I wanted to rent some land in the village, but eventually there was a problem with the lease, and in February 2019 I found myself looking for a lease on certified organic land, so I knocked on Mathieu's door.
Tell me about your team or your techniques to make your work easier?
My team consists of two woofers, in May and June and two in September and October. Josée, my mother, comes to help me once a week and gives me a good hand. The most important member of the team is called Queen, the Belgian mare. It's thanks to her that I'm able to accomplish everything I do. I'm not interested in tractors. For my production scale: 1 acre, 1.5 acres, it's ideal and I could ask for even more. It was a bit of a stress factor in the sense that there are no models of seed farms using animal traction and very few models of farms, even market gardens, using animal traction. OK, how will it work? I don't live there! She is boarded at Mathieu's, but also I had no experience with horses, I had never done that in my life, but in the end it was the part that worked best and that I enjoyed the most. We can chat while working! There is no machine noise! Queen knows her job, it's impressive we are telepathic, she knows how to walk straight, she knows that she must not step on the plants, she is careful. They are really intelligent animals!!!
What do you like best about your job?
My horse is what I'm most proud of. Speaking of semen, I love cleaning semen; it's my little obsessive side.
What is your favorite vegetable?
Asparagus! Because it's the first vegetable of spring and after that we don't know what to do with it, but it's so good that we eat more of it!
We wish Marie-Claude all the success she deserves. I hope that this short interview has conveyed her passion to you, and that you have felt the determination and rigor of this young seed producer. I conclude by tipping my hat to her. It is no small feat to produce organic seeds in Quebec while minimizing their impact on the environment through unconventional, judicious, and thoughtful choices. What a great idea to follow your dreams and respect your values!
La Radicule is certified organic by the Ecocert organization.
Contact: radiclefarm@gmail.com
Catherine Gagnon-Mackay Director of Seeds of Portage
