Portrait of our producer Martin Drouin from Saint-Didace
One rainy September day, just before the first frost, I visited the gardens of Martin Drouin, a producer at Semences du Portage since we opened in 2015. He is the proud owner of a farm at the top of the hill in Zamette, in Saint-Didace, where he produces vegetable baskets for people in his region. A part-time gardener at Jardins du Grand-Portage, he has been interested in seed production for several years. This year, on nearly 4 acres of arable land, he is producing seeds of around twenty cultivars, including Brandywine, Mountain Princess, Petit Moineau, Sicilian Saucer, Blue Mountain, White Peach and Maria tomatoes, Milan turnips, Lutz beets, the soft Merveille des Quatre Saisons lettuce, to name just a few, as well as Gold Rush, Green Masaï and Royal Burgundy beans. I took the opportunity to ask him a few questions!
How is your 2020 season going?
At the beginning of the season, it was really difficult because of the cutworms and the groundhogs, then, with the drought, there was no choice but to water. Otherwise, it produced really well. At the beginning of the season, I lost a lot of plants, but in the end, everything that remained survived.
What is the reason or person who motivated you to start a garden, to produce seeds?
It started with the idea of growing gardens. When I was young, I wanted to be self-sufficient. Eventually, I saw that there might be a way to create a job with that as well.
Have you managed to be self-sufficient?
Not really. I love fresh vegetables too much to tell you. Frozen broccoli isn't the same thing, but I certainly manage it six months a year without any problem. In the winter, I still have vegetables to store and preserve. As for seeds, it was more your father who suggested the idea to me, Yves Gagnon, not to name him. It was by producing seeds that I realized that it creates a balance. I realize that, when I make my baskets, it's stressful to harvest each vegetable at the perfect time, whereas here, it's even ideal to leave them on the plant to make seeds. Martin with our largest tomato in the catalog, the Sicilian Saucer. New ornamental flower for 2021, the Datura! New determinate tomato for 2021, the green Huy tomato!
Do you have any downtime? Yes, I have some, let's say, quieter times. Seeds last until January, and then after that, we get into sowing pretty quickly. It's a quieter period.
Do you have employees?
Almost. I have a friend who comes to help me on basket day. In exchange, he leaves with vegetables. He mainly helps me with the picking. Also, I have another friend who came at the beginning of the season to help me sow and mix the manure. But I'm actually thinking of hiring one of my friends to help me plant my garlic next year. Especially to help me mix the manure. I also use Actisol to give my plants a little boost at the beginning of the season. I really see a difference when I use it. I also have my own compost thanks to my rabbits, my chickens, and the dead leaves that I collect in Saint-Gabriel in the fall.
What do you like best about your job?
It's mostly about working and seeing the results every day: it's growing all the time. It's like creating life. It's a great motivation. Especially selling vegetables to people who really appreciate it. It's not like selling a box of vegetables to a grocery store. You don't even know if it's going to sell, if it's going to end up in the trash.
What is your favorite vegetable?
Are we supposed to have a favorite vegetable? My favorite vegetable... I'm going to name them all, that's what happens. Sure, tomatoes, the ones from the grocery store, are so daunting. But, garden vegetables are so much better. I also love lettuce. Fresh carrots are so good in season.
Portrait of Martin Drouin, always in Culture Nature
Contact: 450-835-8375
Catherine Gagnon-Mackay Director of Seeds of Portage
