Jessica grew up on the land she now farms in Creston, BC. Her family has been on the farm for over 25 years. After high school she left the valley looking for anything but farming. Three years in the oil industry in northern Alberta was all she needed to realize she’d better get her butt back home. Coming home to the Creston Valley was a breath of fresh air, literally. She was surprised at how much growing knowledge she had retained despite spending so much of her childhood trying not to learn about the greenhouse and garden. With the help of her grandmother she developed a love for the soil.
In 2008 Jessica created “Root & Vine Acres”. Originally the plan was to sell garden produce at one farmers market and now in 2014, Root & Vine Acres can be found at the Creston Farmers market, Nelson Saturday Cottonwood Market and the Wednesday Downtown Farmers Market. 6 years of markets has fine-tuned Jessica’s booth where she offers everything from veggies, fruits and culinary herbs to eggs, pork, turkey, lamb and goat. The pasture raised meat was started in 2010 with one pig named Annie. Annie is still on the farm as a pet but the number of animals has grown with over 10 breeding hogs, 20+ breeding sheep and goats. Jessica sells all cuts of meat from pork chops and roasts, dry cured salamis and whole turkeys to lamb and goat sausage.
The farm is open to tours in the summer and farm gate sales in Creston but her main focus is providing Nelson with good food grown the right way. The most rewarding aspect of her business is the customer relationships developed year after year. Jessica’s next steps will include an outdoor kitchen for value-added processing of fruits and vegetables and a wood fired oven for local grain breads. To learn more visit http://www.rootandvineacres.com/
“When I was a girl I dreamed I would be a business woman. I had no idea I’d do it wearing rubber boots!” – Jessica Piccinin
ot & Vine Acres in the news: http://kootenaybiz.com/creston/article/a_future_in_her_roots
