The Commons

The Commons is a place for community projects and fundraising efforts for the co-operative. This is where the pumpkin patch and blueberries are grown and where we hold our annual Pumpkin Festival.

The Lohbrunner Growers, also known as Loh Gro, grow food collaboratively in this space. The Commons has been home to other fundraising and research projects in the past, including a flower project and potato variety trials.

Lohbrunner Growers (Loh Gro)

Are a group of enthusiastic co-op members who manage and organize together to cultivate and harvest food for themselves in a non-profit model. Loh Gro members grow things like carrots, potatoes, garlic, winter squash, onions, beets, and more. 

If you are interested in becoming a part of Loh Gro, you will be required to complete an application to join the group and purchase a Hands in the Soil membership. Please note after the first year as a Loh Gro member, there will be a review at the end of the season to consider if this is a good fit for you and the group. Learn more about becoming a member on the Get Involved page.

Pumpkins

We grow over 1000 pumpkins every year at LCFC as a fundraiser for the co-op. Our most popular community event at the farm each year is Pumpkinfest, held in October. See our calendar for details on this year’s event. 

In the spring, we are lucky to have students from the community to plant almost 1000 pumpkin seeds. During the growing season, our dedicated volunteers and members nurture hundreds of pumpkin plants, transforming our fields in the Commons into a sea of green and orange. 

We cultivate a wide range of varieties, from adorable Jill-Be-Little mini-pumpkins to impressive Atlantic Giants so large they require a tractor for transport! We also grow specialty pumpkins, heirloom varieties, and gourds perfect for creating stunning fall displays. 

All the proceeds from Pumpkinfest go to support the co-op. As always at Lohbrunner, all our pumpkins are certified organic. We value the opportunity to bring people onto the farm, and we hope to see you there! 

Berries

Since 2011, when 300 berry bushes were first planted in the Commons, our blueberries and black currants have flourished. Each year, our dedicated Berry Brigade of enthusiastic members and volunteers tends to the plants and helps with the harvest. 

Our berries may be sold alongside our farmers’ strawberries at local farmer’s markets, and we offer u-pick opportunities for members and volunteers. From time to time, we also offer u-pick to members of the public. 

There’s something truly magical about sitting among the berry bushes, surrounded by the hum of bees and birds, savoring blueberries nearly the size of grapes. The revenue from selling our certified organic berries supports the co-op and our commitment to sustainable farming and community engagement.

PAST PROJECTS 

The Commons has been home to other fundraising and research projects in the past, including a cut flower garden and potato variety trials.

True Potato Seed Project

From 2020 to 2024, Scott Harris led the True Potato Seed (TPS) Project at Lohbrunner to preserve the historic Ozette Nootka potato, and develop new varieties tailored to our local climate and resilient to climate change. Ozettes are knobby, with a firm texture and a nutty flavour. 

Unlike most potatoes that were brought from South America to Europe and then to North America, the Ozette Nootka came here with the Spanish in the 16th century. It was adopted and cultivated by First Nations communities, and has been grown on the Pacific coast for over 200 years. The TPS Project grows potatoes from seeds rather than tubers. 

Since Ozettes are challenging to propagate due to infrequent flowering and male sterility, Scott uses an electric toothbrush to hand-pollinate the plants with pollen from other varieties with desirable characteristics. This method has resulted in over 300 unique potato varieties so far.

For more information click here.

Flower Power

From 2020 to 2023, Joan Varley ran the Flower Power project at Lohbrunner, with a mission to embrace the beauty and power of the flower, to support our many pollinators, and to create some revenue for the co-op. 

Flower Power included a u-pick flower garden, market sales, and gorgeous organic bouquets for special events. The beautiful cut flower garden, called Birdsong Garden Farm, was run completely by Joan, who donated her time to do everything from planning to planting to bouquet arranging. 

Although Flower Power is at an end, the Dazzling Dahlias field lives on, filling the farm with colour!