Deep Roots Farm

Deep Roots Farm: A Central Alberta Homestead Growing Everything From Garlic to Gourmet Mushrooms

On Range Road 254 in Lacombe County, Alberta, Mark Visscher and Brenda Richman operate Deep Roots Farm on 4.5 acres of land that has been in the family for over 50 years. Nestled east of Red Deer in the heart of Central Alberta's agricultural belt, this small-acreage operation has built a devoted following by growing specialty crops that most Alberta farms overlook entirely, including gourmet mushrooms alongside their signature garlic.

Half a Century of Family Land

The land beneath Deep Roots Farm carries five decades of family history. That kind of continuity is meaningful in Alberta agriculture, where the economics of farming have pushed many families off the land and into the cities. Visscher and Richman chose a different path, transforming the family property into a diversified small farm that produces high-value specialty crops rather than competing in the commodity grain market that dominates the region.

Their approach reflects a broader shift in Alberta agriculture. As consumers increasingly seek out locally grown specialty products, farms like Deep Roots are finding that a few acres managed intensively can generate more revenue per square foot than hundreds of acres of canola or wheat. It requires a different skillset and a direct relationship with customers, but the model works.

The Garlic Foundation

Deep Roots Farm made its name in garlic. The operation currently harvests roughly 30,000 bulbs, about 2,500 pounds, per year, across varieties that read like a geography lesson: Tibetan, Bogatyr, Georgian Fire, Baba Franchuk, and Kostyn's Red. Each variety brings different flavor characteristics, growing requirements, and culinary applications. That diversity is intentional, catering to a market of consumers and chefs who understand that garlic is not a monolithic commodity but a spectrum of flavors.

From raw garlic, Visscher and Richman have built a value-added product line that includes pickled garlic, dehydrated garlic, black garlic, herb mixes, and rubs. The farm store, opened in 2021, serves as the retail hub for these products along with a curated selection of other local and specialty goods.

Mushroom Cultivation on the Prairies

Mushroom cultivation at Deep Roots Farm adds another dimension to an already diverse operation. Growing mushrooms in Central Alberta presents challenges that growers in Ontario or British Columbia do not face. The climate is drier, the winters are longer and more severe, and the supply chain for mushroom-specific inputs like specialty substrates and spawn is less developed.

But those challenges also create opportunity. Alberta imports the vast majority of its fresh mushrooms from other provinces, which means locally grown product arrives on the plate fresher and with a shorter supply chain than anything shipped from the Lower Mainland or Southern Ontario. For the restaurants and specialty retailers in Red Deer, Edmonton, and Calgary that increasingly prioritize local sourcing, a Central Alberta mushroom grower fills a genuine gap in the market.

The Farm Store Experience

Deep Roots Farm is not a typical drive-by farm stand. Visscher leads walking tours of the property where visitors can see firsthand how garlic and other specialty crops are grown, harvested, and cured. The farm participates in Alberta Open Farm Days, an annual event that invites the public onto working farms across the province. These experiences build the kind of customer loyalty that no advertising campaign can replicate.

The farm's perfect 5-star rating across 23 reviews reflects the impact of that direct connection. People do not leave five-star reviews for a bag of garlic. They leave them for an experience, for meeting the grower, for understanding where their food comes from, and for feeling welcomed onto a working farm that has been in the same family for half a century.

A Model for Alberta's Agricultural Future

Deep Roots Farm represents something that matters beyond its own 4.5 acres. It demonstrates that small-acreage farming in Alberta can be economically viable when it focuses on specialty crops, builds direct relationships with consumers, and adds value through processing and retail. For aspiring farmers in a province where land prices and commodity economics make conventional farming increasingly inaccessible, the Deep Roots model offers a practical alternative.

You'll find Deep Roots Farm on Range Rd 254 in Lacombe, Alberta.