About Us
Ferme Lanthorn is a regenerative farm growing sustainable materials for fine arts and functional craft, in the thriving arts and maker community of Wakefield, Quebec. We specialize in basketry willow with over 20 specialty varieties for weaving, furniture making, living structures, and sculpture. With backgrounds in Arts and Education, we host residencies, workshops and cultural events. To inquire about our residencies or about hosting your event at Ferme Lanthorn, visit our Events page.
Our family moved to Wakefield in 2018 with three generations of aspiring farmers. Motivated by our love of good, healthy food, community, our insatiable need for creative outlets, and a desire to hold space for a better relationship with the land, we purchased 113 acres of mixed field and forest and started getting to know it. After 5 years of small scale experiments, learning, and remediation, we have systems designed to work for our family and for our ecosystem. We always strive to expand our understanding of our impact on the land and share our learning.
Deer Refuge
In 2019, we unexpectedly became home to a herd of Sika deer. The project was in response to an urgent call for help in collaboration with the Humane Society. After a small zoo was closed by its municipality for animal cruelty, the deer would have all been euthanized if a suitable home wasn’t found and ready to accept the animals within two weeks. Two herds of Taiwanese and Japanese deer are now cared for every day by our family, in 3.5 acres of fenced pasture and woods. Barns, hay storage, and other infrastructure was generously funded and built by the Humane Society. More information about our Sika Deer can be found on our refuge page.
Willow
Our willow plantation began in 2021. After 3 years of growth and development, we are finally ready to open shop in 2024. In addition to willow, we grow many varieties of perennial herbs, flowers, and woodies for craft. To complement these products in a sustainable way, we have integrated our animals and plant crops at half their potential stocking rate, with strips of forage between rows wide enough to run our poultry and ruminants for grazing. By doing so, we hope to manage this already amazing plant in an even more ecological way, for longer lived plants, healthier soil, and more carbon sequestration. Any willow that is unsuitable for use in craft is a nutritious and medicinal supplement to our ruminants diet, helping us to raise them in a more natural, harmonious way. Our ruminant and poultry programs also produce eggs, milk, and meat for our family. We also grow a small quantity of wool which we process and use on the farm. As we grow, we hope to offer some of these products in our shop. For more info about our willow, click here or go to our shop for willow products.
