Locals in the Loupe: Doug Stewart – Bonville Garden

Doug was one of our guests on “The Monday Morning Motivation Show” on Monday, May 25th this year, where we had a lot of fun discussing his ventures. (you can check out these shows on the Seeker Facebook Page

1 – Tell us a little bit about yourself. How and when did you decide to open this business? 

Bonville Garden is a small organic market garden and natural fertilizer distributor based a few miles north of Cornwall on McPhail Road, just off Hwy. 138 at the flashing light in Bonville. Our main crops are garlic. Heirloom tomatoes and Raspberries. I bought the property in 2015 with my wife Deb, after working in Northern Alberta for a few years. I wanted to apply my previous landscape maintenance experience to growing healthy fresh food. 5 years later we have learned a lot about soil and producing healthy food and a little about selling it. 

2 – What is your mission statement? 

Our mission is to provide the resources for people to produce and eat healthy local affordable food. 

3 – What is unique about your business? 

We mix our own fertilizers here, using a variety of certified organic ingredients from across Canada : Wollastonite, Humalite, Seaweed, Alfalfa, Vermiculite, Perlite, and Soil Activator . People can buy ingredients separately, or as a mix called Soil Science. All the ingredients are described in detail on our web site; bonvillegarden.ca

4 – How does your business improve or change the community at large? 

Interest in organic gardening has been increasing dramatically recently. There are a lot of really good gardeners in this area who need the best soil amendments they can find to help grow the best food possible. 

5 –  How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected your business? 

The Covid 19 crisis has been a tough hurdle for Bonville Garden. After slowly gaining experience and confidence in our business, we signed up for, and paid for 8 trade show booths this spring. The first one, Eco Farm Day, was held in February and we had some success. Unfortunately all the rest of them were cancelled. So we have not had an opportunity to display our fertilizers in person since then. We are relying on internet and word of mouth at the moment. Luckily, the Garlic Festival will be held as scheduled on August 30 in Lamoureux Park. As sponsors, we are looking forward to getting out into the community on that day! 

What is your contact info and how people can find you: 

Doug Stewart 

Bonville Garden 

17353 McPhail Rd, Bonville OntarioK0C 2A0 • 514-944-7875 

Website: bonvillegarden.ca 

Visit Doug at the Eastern Ontario Garlic Festival on Sunday, August 30th.