Grainswest - Tech 2025

Tech 2025 grainswest.com 33 “It has been an adventure to make Fifth Gen a sustainably profitable endeavour that allows me to indulge my passion for agriculture.” —Kristin Graves The creation of this farm-based business has not been easy. I’ve had to learn the ins and outs of product development, packaging and labelling as well as marketing and sales, both online and at farmers’ markets. It has been an adventure to make Fifth Gen a sustainably profitable endeavour that allows me to indulge my passion for agriculture. Early on, I was told garlic wouldn’t grow well in Alberta’s tough climate. I’ve never really been one to do as I’m told, so I tried anyway, and was surprised by just how well it does grow. Hardneck garlic, especially, thrives in Alberta. I stick to Russian Red and Music varieties, which are exceptionally flavourful and vigorous. Though I’ve made mistakes along the way, the business has grown. Over seven seasons, my crop has expanded to roughly 75,000 bulbs on five acres. For efficiency, we now use specialized garlic equipment, such as a seeder, finger cultivator and harvester. It’s a delicate and beautiful dance to co-ordinate the garlic operation with production of the farm’s other crops. When it’s time to seed wheat or canola in the spring, the garlic is already growing. I harvest the garlic scapes just before our second cut of hay in July. The bulbs are usually ready for harvest within the first two weeks of August, which allows me to seamlessly switch to swathing. We work hard through the fall, with my dad in the combine and me in the grain truck. In late October, our final job of the season is to plant the garlic. I then spend winter in the commercial kitchen my father built in our old calving barn when he farmed trout, yet another unique project. I peel, smoke, dehydrate, grind or cook the garlic and heat-age cloves to produce caramelized black garlic, which has a somewhat sweet taste. Once packaged, I sell my products online and at farmers’ markets throughout central Alberta. People often ask me why I chose garlic. First, the flavour of locally grown bulbs can’t be beat. Also, there is no such thing as too much garlic. Though there are many garlic growers throughout the province, there is still a high demand for quality bulbs for cooking and seeding. I have shared my journey from scrubs to coveralls on social media, doing my best to be authentic and educate followers about farm life. It has given me community and incredible opportunities. I’ve been a guest on The Trailblazher Podcast , The Rural Woman Podcast and Rural Unrecognized and collaborated with fellow food entrepreneurs to create black garlic macarons, black garlic stout beer and garlic scape hot sauce. Storey Publishing found me on Instagram, and in September 2024, released my book, The Garlic Companion: Recipes, crafts, preservation techniques, and simple instructions to grow your own. I have become an integral part of my family’s grain and hay operation and continue to find joy in creating flavourful agri- food products of my own. I don’t know exactly what the future holds for our family farm, but I am proud to be a part of it. To order Fifth Gen products, visit fifthgengardens.ca .