The Oneka farm is located in Frelighsburg, Quebec, Canada. It is our foundation, our playground, and a limitless source of inspiration. It is the birthplace of some incredible medicinal plants, that are carefully selected, harvested, and assembled in a formula that has become Oneka's signature. All plants grown and harvested on the farm are certified organic by Ecocert Canada. The farm is also the place that keeps us grounded, all of us at the Oneka team, where we witness nature's beauty and generosity season after season, it is where we learn and grow together. In return, it is only natural that we operate in a way that reflects our interconnectedness with nature, and that is through the principles of permaculture.
Permaculture, in a nutshell, is the design of human habitats that are completely sustainable. It is a lifestyle. It is a philosophy. It is the idea of giving more than we take, and of creating less harmful products and situations.When we come to the realization that we are a part of nature, we can adjust our behaviours and patterns to live in harmony with our environment rather than resisting or destroying it.
Permaculture is also a framework and a design system. It is learning how to give back to the earth in our activities. It is a full-circle approach to ecological land planning. Following the patterns and systems we find in our natural ecosystems we can then model the design of our landscapes, social systems, and our decision-making processes after them to have a positive impact on the environment.It is a well-rounded way of learning how to exist in a changing climate and in the changing social and economic systems.
We want our farm to be a safe haven for biodiversity. That is why we leave some parts of our land alone so it can regenerate and rewild itself. It allows for a variety of plants and shrubs to grow; it attracts birds, pollinators, and all sorts of insects to feed and feel at home.And it is beautiful to see!