Anna and Patrick Brunet of Dream Small Farm are a lovely couple who, with their two children, set out in 2019 to create a sustainable organic farm – and they are making it happen.
The farm sits on 60 acres near Alexandria and offers visitors a chance to experience the beauty and tranquility of the property, while also being able to purchase certified organic produce that was grown with equal parts of love, dedication, water and sunshine.
Dream Small Farm is just coming out of what Anna and Patrick call their “quiet” winter, where seedlings are planted and growing in a heated barn, detailed schedules have been set and planned quantities needed to grow to meet their markets have been double checked. The rows and rows of seedlings are bright green, beckoning the warmth of summer. Clearly quiet is subjective and Anna and Patrick have been busy all winter – and it’s about to get much busier.
With Spring’s arrival, the hoop houses have been prepared to receive the tiny seedlings where they will begin their next growing stage. From there, some vegetables will continue to be grown in the hoop houses, similar to a greenhouse but covered in plastic instead of glass, while others will be taken out to the eight acres of land where most of the produce is grown. The vegetable growing acreage is divided into six parcels, each approximately three quarters of an acre. On a rotating basis, two parcels of land are always planted with vegetables, while the other parcels are on a cover crop cycle schedule to maintain the soil’s health. And with a spring-fed pond on the property, the growing crops are irrigated with fresh water, adding to the sustainability of Dream Small Farm.
For three years, cover crops such as timothy, alfalfa and clover are cultivated, stopping the lifecycle of most pests that could ruin the vegetables being grown. After the third year, a tillage crop is raised such as radish or buckwheat to further improve the soil, suppress weeds and attract beneficial insects and pollinators. The clay loam soil is harder to work but is high in nutrients. By improving the biodiversity and natural ecosystem of the farm, the produce grown is healthier and even better tasting.
The Brunets have also established an apple orchard with 100 trees. These are disease-resistant, dwarf varieties of Akane, an early season apple; Liberty, an apple excellent for fresh eating, baking, and cider; Novamac, an apple which is great for eating and keeps for months if stored in a cool place; and Freedom apple trees which bear large, juicy fruit that also stores well, providing fresh apples through the winter months.
The Brunets have a mission to provide healthy, seasonal produce to their communities and beyond. Visitors come from Montreal and Ottawa for vegetables at the Dream Small Farm market, but for 18 weeks from June to October, through the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, consumers can also get a weekly box of produce.
This program began when everything closed due to the pandemic. Anna and Patrick needed a way to market their produce, reaching out to friends and family. The initiative was successful, with 40 families participating in the first year.
The Brunets, six staff, along with their children and Partrick’s mom, sell at area markets and supply local restaurants.
By Kim Burton-Schram, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on May 22, 2026 at 11:35
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