Johnson Lake Organics - Page 12

Johnston Lake Organic's is a fresh food business that breaks all the rules. Located at 1222 Struthadam Rd., which runs off the River Road between Roads 509 and Ardoch Road in North Frontenac, it is not exactly like a typical store in a suburban mall, surrounded by an asphalt parking lot and 100 other stores.

It is, on the other hand, a true destination store.

Janet Ducharme started the business as an extension of the farm gate sales that had developed from the 42 raised bed gardens that she cultivates. At first she had a small gift shop attached to her house to augment her fresh produce, and eventually she developed an organic store and has recently added a kitchen. She now runs a catering business and has take-out food available year round.

All of this keeps her busy, and her market stall at the Sharbot Lake Farmers Market on Saturdays from May to October has allowed her to not only establish a direct market in Sharbot Lake, but it has been an opportunity to promote her ever expanding store-front operation.

The store carries beef and pork, farm-raised chicken, a complete line of vegetables and produce, local in season, as well as gluten-free and organic products, many of them sourced from the Ontario Natural Food Co-op.

"I'm open seven days a week, from 6 am until 9 pm, as long as I am working on my gardens or in the kitchen," said Janet, who grows herbs, many lettuces and greens, kale, a large variety of squashes and tomatoes, and more.

Fresh bread, turnovers and croissants are made in-house, and at lunch time there are wraps, subs and salads available.

And yes, cottagers - pizza is coming this summer.

The store's long hours reflect the long hours that a farmer puts in. In between customers, they doesn't sit around waiting. Whether it is baking, preparing catering jobs, or working in the gardens, not a lot of grass grows under their feet during the day, particularly during growing season.

"I've been here for 15 years and producing food was always something that has been part of living here. At first it was laying hens and turkeys, and then when my husband died in 2005 I decided to live here and work the gardens and keep raising chickens and turkeys instead of moving to Mississauga and working in advertising and marketing, which was what I was doing. And as people look for different products close to home, I bring them in,' she said.

The store also carries exchangeable propane, ice and worms, and ice cream is coming this summer.

Whether it is for the year-round Ompah and Ardoch population looking for food close to home, fans of farm fresh or organic food, or the summer population on the local lakes, Johnston Lake Organics has become an unlikely success in North Frontenac.

And every year it offers more and more to the public.

For further information or to book catering, call 613-479-2898, 1-888-479-2898 (toll-free), or go to johnstonlakeorganics.ca.