Chronicle Herald News Story
Riverview Herbs makes tastebuds happy
Maitland-based farms knows hard work pays off
Riverview Herbs greenhouse farm in Maitland has a variety of herbs to season, garnish and add a little infusion to your favourite meal.If you are lucky enough to visit Riverview Herbs’ greenhouse farms in Maitland, the first thing you will notice is the hard work it takes to run an operation that restaurants, farmers’ markets and independent customers look to for that unique flavour to season, garnish, preserve or add a little infusion to your favourite meal.
It takes dedication to provide the best herbs in southern Nova Scotia. Owners Crystal and Jamie Hiemstra know all about the trials and tribulations of running a greenhouse farm business. The couple bought Riverview Farms in 2019, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic started, then hurricane Fiona in September 2022, and its 100 mph gale force winds damaged four greenhouses and destroyed three. In 2023, devastating flooding caused widespread damage to several communities, including East Hants.
If you were to ask Crystal Hiemstra about their humble beginnings, she would say without hesitation that 2024 will be their year. When this couple is not battening down the hatches, they specialize in the year-round production of fresh-cut culinary herbs. Herbs are commonly used in cooking to enhance flavours and add aromatic compliments to dishes. They also occasionally experiment with exotic varieties. It is always best to check with them directly, as rare and unique offerings may change.
Their well-known seasonal herbs include oregano, basil, dill, cilantro, parsley, tarragon, rosemary, thyme, mint, sage and chives. There is a selection of specialty greens, baby spinach, a versatile edible leaf that is often used in salads, smoothies and sauteed dishes. They also have a variety of edible flowers such as borage, nasturtium, geranium, viola and microgreens, which are a popular choice for customers, said Hiemstra
“They take approximately a week to two weeks to grow, so they have an intense flavour, are packed with nutrition and are popular with restaurants.”
A significant advantage for Riverview Herbs is the availability of their year-round schedule, which allows them to take advantage of the busy restaurant season during the summer months and the farmers’ markets, which are typically busier in the fall.
Even though Riverview Herbs is not considered an organic farm, some of its sustainable practices for keeping its greenhouse running year round and maintaining a high-quality product include herbicide-free herbs, using nutrient-rich soil, cover crops to keep the insects away, and reliable furnaces and boilers pumping out 1.5 million BTUS** to heat its 12 greenhouses, which is roughly equal to the amount of power to heat 40 residential homes. When you buy from Riverview Herbs, you are getting the best quality money can buy in Nova Scotia.
Running a greenhouse farm business year-round is about finding that perfect harmony between warmth, light and hoping weather conditions allow you to yield a successful crop, said Hiemstra.
“Growing herbs during the winter, you need light to grow. If it’s overcast, the plants suffer. If it is too warm, they also suffer, so you need to find the right balance,” she said.
All of Riverview Herbs greenhouses have lights** when growing hours are shortened during the winter months.
Word-of-mouth advertising from restaurant chefs and farmers’ market patrons has helped earn them respect throughout the province. Hiemstra said they would like to grow more vegetables in the future and try to build their retail side of their business going forward.
Riverview Herbs is located along Highway 215 in Maitland and can also be found at the Seaport Farmers’ Market in Halifax, the Dartmouth Farmers’ Market at Alderney and the Truro Farmers’ Market.
Maitland-based farms knows hard work pays off
- The Chronicle Herald (Metro)
- 5 Sep 2024
- JAMES TARRANT THE CASKET james.tarrant @saltwire.com
Riverview Herbs greenhouse farm in Maitland has a variety of herbs to season, garnish and add a little infusion to your favourite meal.If you are lucky enough to visit Riverview Herbs’ greenhouse farms in Maitland, the first thing you will notice is the hard work it takes to run an operation that restaurants, farmers’ markets and independent customers look to for that unique flavour to season, garnish, preserve or add a little infusion to your favourite meal.
It takes dedication to provide the best herbs in southern Nova Scotia. Owners Crystal and Jamie Hiemstra know all about the trials and tribulations of running a greenhouse farm business. The couple bought Riverview Farms in 2019, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic started, then hurricane Fiona in September 2022, and its 100 mph gale force winds damaged four greenhouses and destroyed three. In 2023, devastating flooding caused widespread damage to several communities, including East Hants.
If you were to ask Crystal Hiemstra about their humble beginnings, she would say without hesitation that 2024 will be their year. When this couple is not battening down the hatches, they specialize in the year-round production of fresh-cut culinary herbs. Herbs are commonly used in cooking to enhance flavours and add aromatic compliments to dishes. They also occasionally experiment with exotic varieties. It is always best to check with them directly, as rare and unique offerings may change.
Their well-known seasonal herbs include oregano, basil, dill, cilantro, parsley, tarragon, rosemary, thyme, mint, sage and chives. There is a selection of specialty greens, baby spinach, a versatile edible leaf that is often used in salads, smoothies and sauteed dishes. They also have a variety of edible flowers such as borage, nasturtium, geranium, viola and microgreens, which are a popular choice for customers, said Hiemstra
“They take approximately a week to two weeks to grow, so they have an intense flavour, are packed with nutrition and are popular with restaurants.”
A significant advantage for Riverview Herbs is the availability of their year-round schedule, which allows them to take advantage of the busy restaurant season during the summer months and the farmers’ markets, which are typically busier in the fall.
Even though Riverview Herbs is not considered an organic farm, some of its sustainable practices for keeping its greenhouse running year round and maintaining a high-quality product include herbicide-free herbs, using nutrient-rich soil, cover crops to keep the insects away, and reliable furnaces and boilers pumping out 1.5 million BTUS** to heat its 12 greenhouses, which is roughly equal to the amount of power to heat 40 residential homes. When you buy from Riverview Herbs, you are getting the best quality money can buy in Nova Scotia.
Running a greenhouse farm business year-round is about finding that perfect harmony between warmth, light and hoping weather conditions allow you to yield a successful crop, said Hiemstra.
“Growing herbs during the winter, you need light to grow. If it’s overcast, the plants suffer. If it is too warm, they also suffer, so you need to find the right balance,” she said.
All of Riverview Herbs greenhouses have lights** when growing hours are shortened during the winter months.
Word-of-mouth advertising from restaurant chefs and farmers’ market patrons has helped earn them respect throughout the province. Hiemstra said they would like to grow more vegetables in the future and try to build their retail side of their business going forward.
Riverview Herbs is located along Highway 215 in Maitland and can also be found at the Seaport Farmers’ Market in Halifax, the Dartmouth Farmers’ Market at Alderney and the Truro Farmers’ Market.
**Please note a correction: though during the winter we do heat the greenhouses with a pellet boiler that produces 1.5million BTU and a wood boiler that produces 800K BTU, we only have plants under lights in a grow room and in a growing container.