The Reference in Organic Farming
The Reference in Organic Farming
We are the Market Gardener Institute
And we are so happy you’re here
We aim to be a leader in the education of market gardeners by offering a comprehensive knowledge hub that brings together experts in the field.
We strongly believe that knowledge is the key to success and we are committed to providing free content and online training programs to educate and empower growers who are making a positive impact on the world through the simple act of growing healthy, nourishing food for their communities.
Our vision
Multiply the number of regenerative farms around the world and create a future where humans live in harmony with nature and each other.
Get Your Daily Dose of Knowledge
Our approach to
regenerative agriculture
We believe that healthy soil is the foundation of a healthy farm. We prioritize soil regeneration practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping, and using compost. By focusing on the long-term fertility of the soil, we are able to grow healthy, nutrient-dense produce while minimizing our impact on the environment.
We focus on maximizing the productivity of a small plot of land (roughly 2.5 acres or less) by optimizing systems and by intensifying production.
Our farming practices are at a human scale. Therefore, we mainly use hand tools, and the farm is designed accordingly. Those tools are not only more sustainable and cost-effective, but they also allow us to work more closely with the land and make more precise adjustments to our growing practices.
We believe that the best way to grow healthy, sustainable crops is to work with nature rather than against it. This means paying close attention to the natural rhythms and interactions of the environment to adjust our farming practices accordingly.
The ultimate goal of farming is to feed our communities. We hope to build a more resilient and sustainable food system that benefits everyone.
Meet Jean-Martin Fortier
With over 20 years of experience, Jean-Martin (JM) Fortier has dedicated his career to developing, testing, and perfecting biointensive growing techniques on microfarms such as Les Jardins de la Grelinette, the Ferme des Quatre Temps, and the Old Mill. As the author of the best-selling book “The Market Gardener”, which has sold over 200,000 copies, JM has become a renowned expert in small-scale, bio-intensive vegetable production.
JM’s mission is to promote the critical importance of human-scale regenerative agriculture in creating sustainable and resilient food systems. He achieves this goal by sharing his knowledge and expertise with thousands of farmers through the Market Gardener Institute. JM’s multifaceted roles range from CEO to technical specialist, mentor, and positive leader. Oh and we affectionately call him JM.
Meet the team
Our team is united for a greater purpose
We are driven by a deep conviction that our work should not only stem from kind intentions but also from the urgency of the moment. Our team is dedicated to bringing the most value out there while making our sense of community a priority through our actions.
We gather the best experts in their respective fields around us to share our collective knowledge and expertise with the world.
The Old Mill Farm
Discover Our Playground
Since 2022, we have been based in the picturesque town of Stanbridge East, Quebec, Canada. Our office is uniquely situated just 50 steps away from the gardens, where we can nourish our creativity, get our hands in the ground and watch seeds growing. It allows us to stay connected to the farming community, while also documenting every step of the process.
The Old Mill farm is JM Fortier’s new playground where he keeps experimenting methods on a smaller scale, so we can stay at the forefront of innovation and continuously improve our techniques.
OUR STORY
Inspire and Educate
The Market Gardener Institute was born out of our desire to inspire and educate as many people as possible, so we can collectively embrace a vision of agriculture that is human-scale, ecological and profitable.
The course Market Gardener Masterclass taught by JM Fortier was launched in 2018 and since then more than 4000 students have followed it. Since 2021, we have launched additional on demand farming classes to meet the different needs of the growers out there.
Dig Deeper in Our Farming Universe
If you’re new here, here a bit more about us!
Proud partner of Growing Change Program
We love sharing tips & tricks, successful stories and inspiration on our social media.
