In a world where food often feels disconnected from the land, Little Fields Farm stands out as a thriving example of purpose-driven agriculture. Nestled in the quiet countryside of Bright, Ontario– about 35km southwest of Kitchener–the farm was built on a dream of good food, community, and care for the environment. From that foundation, Little Fields has grown into a vibrant, CSA-based farm that shows how sustaining and sustainable small scale can be.
A Farm Founded with Purpose
When Claire founded Little Fields Farm in 2015, she was driven by a love of the outdoors, a deep appreciation for good food, and a commitment to sustainability. As a first-generation farmer, she spent several years interning on organic farms in Ontario and British Columbia, gaining hands-on experience that would shape her own farming philosophy. In 2021, she was joined on the farm by her partner, Adam. The grandson of dairy farmers, Adam brought a lifelong connection to agriculture and over a decade of experience helping lead a community market garden project in Kitchener. Together, they shaped Little Fields Farm into what it is today.
Regenerative by Nature
Operating on 10 acres of land, the farm produces vegetables, eggs, chicken, pork, turkey, duck, goose, and cut flowers. Everything is grown based on a simple but powerful approach: work with nature, not against it. In other words, their decisions are about more than quick yields—they’re about building a resilient farm ecosystem that benefits the land, the animals, and the community. Adam and Claire use a variety of ecological practices, including cover cropping, rotational grazing, and organic compost, and strictly avoid chemical sprays or synthetic inputs.
The CSA: Community Supported Abundance
The farm’s core offering is its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program that serves around 150 member households each year.
“We primarily are a CSA farm. We sell mixed vegetables through CSA boxes. And we also do eggs and chicken, pork, turkey, duck, goose, and flowers to a small extent. We also bring in mushrooms from another farm and microgreens from a different farm. And we collaborate with two other farmers to do lamb shares and beef shares for our CSA.
~ Adam, Little Fields Farm
CSA shares include 8–10 seasonal vegetables per week—some familiar staples, others exciting new varieties to try. This diversity is a benefit to customers and farmers alike, ensuring there is always a bounty whatever conditions that particular season brings. “That’s one of the benefits of growing a diverse array of vegetables. Each season, some vegetables do okay, some don’t. That’s a big aspect of our kind of economic model.”
CSA pickups include a market-style station where members can choose some items, buy extras, and chat with the farmers. It’s more than a pickup—it’s a chance to connect, learn, and be part of something local and meaningful.
Supporting the Local Food Movement
As advocates for food and farming in Ontario, Claire and Adam are keenly aware of the strengths and challenges of Waterloo’s local food system. Over the years, they have observed that Kitchener-Waterloo has a strong local food culture, with many residents seeing the intrinsic value of knowing their farmer, supporting small-scale agriculture, and eating food that’s uniquely delicious and fresh.
“I think maybe it has something to do with the Mennonite influence or the proximity to small-scale local family farms that makes people more accustomed to buying local and to sourcing it, seeking it out. It’s more top of mind.”
While it’s gratifying to see this support, Claire and Adam also see an obvious area of improvement: land affordability, especially for young or first-generation farmers, remains a major barrier. “That’s what I’d like to see: more entrepreneurial supports for young people who want to farm and be on the land,” Adam explains.
A Future of Farming
A decade into running Little Fields, Claire and Adam have a modest but meaningful goal: to keep farming! As Adam explains, “Our goal is really just to keep farming. We’ve had a lot of growth in the last couple of years. So it’s kind of nice to feel a bit established—that we can just farm.” With a focus on staying sustainable, profitable, and family-friendly, they hope to keep farming for years to come.
If you’re interested in eating more local food, Little Fields Farm is a beautiful place to start. The main season CSA runs for 20 weeks from mid-June to the end of October, and a Winter CSA carries the bounty forward with another 16 weeks of produce and meat from November through February. Pasture-raised meats, including holidays turkeys and geese, are also available throughout the year. Learn more, explore CSA options, and see what’s in the shop now!
Looking for more ways to eat local, grow local, and give local in Waterloo Region? Check out our local food directory.