We are committed to growing year-round, ecologically sound, top quality, nutrient dense food for our local community.

We are a family farm located on Westham Island, just outside of Ladner, BC. This land has been home to many. We acknowledge the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory territory of the Tsawwassen and Musqueam First Nations and of all the Hun’qumi’num speaking people, who have been stewards of this land since time immemorial. 

We sell our bounty at Vancouver Farmers Markets, to local restaurants, through our Farm Stand and through our CSA programs. We cultivate twenty four acres of mixed vegetables and cover crops.. All of our produce is Certified Organic with PACS.

We believe in building healthy soil through cover cropping, crop rotation, reduced compaction and compost. We believe healthy, nutrient rich soils create healthy, nutrient dense food.

Ecology and biodiversity are key. We are often in awe of our earth, from the flocking of snow geese in the fall to awaiting the barn swallows return each spring. We are proud to dedicate time and space to barn owl boxes, to planting hedgerows and flowering plants for beneficial insects and wildlife, alike.

We believe that our crew health is just as important as crop health and we are proud to be a training ground for future farmers, with many ‘alumni’ having started their own farms.

We are life long learners, always seeking to improve our farming methods through simply walking the fields and observing, to talking to other farmers, to soil testing, to keeping up with the latest research.

With the help of staff, family and the fertile farmland of the Fraser Delta, we are able to produce some of the best Certified Organic produce in our region.

We love what we do and are grateful for your support.

Meet the Cropthorne Farm Family

Lydia

Lydia is the owner and head farmer at Cropthorne and has always had a passion for farming. She obtained her BSc in Agriculture (Olds College & ULeth) out on the prairies. After a few years of working on farms throughout Alberta and BC, she moved back to her hometown to start her own farm in 2009.  She is currently involved with the Delta Farmers Institute, the Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association and sits on the Agricultural Advisory Committee for the City of Delta. In 2014 she won BC’s Outstanding Young Farmer award and oh, she is a mum of 2!

David

Lydia’s partner David, grew up as a ‘city kid’ in Coquitlam and has a BSc in Agroecology  and a MSc (focusing on the impact of Snow Geese on the farmland on the Fraser Delta).  He works off the farm as a wildlife biologist yet happily puts in the second shift here at the farm, getting wrangled into farm work, especially if it involves running the tractors. David used to be Program Manager at Delta Farm and Wildlife Trust, a local non-profit working to conserve agricultural and wildlife resources on the Fraser Delta. Lastly, amazing papa of 2!

Rachel

The farm is also home to Lydia’s sister’s flower farm. Rachel is the resident farmer-florist and owner of River and Sea Flowers. She sells to many local florists and her blooms can also be found at the Cropthorne Farmstand. Rachel is also mum to daughters Isla and Adelaide. Husband John, who works off the farm, lends a helping hand with his great carpentry skills and makes the most amazing squash and caramelized onion pizza.

Sarah & David

Parents, Sarah and David, are mostly retired, although not sure if that is really a thing for farmers as they both are still quite busy. We get all sorts of help from them from watching the grand-kids, to tractor driving to suppers during the busy spring plant and fall harvest. Above all they have been great mentors and have passed on the passion for agriculture.

The Next Generation

Lydia and David are also raising the next generation. Their daughter, Freyja, arrived in 2016, just after the spring field work was done and son, Gus arrived in early 2019 amid seed ordering and crop planning. Their dog brother Riske also calls the farm home, and loves digging in the compost pile as well as snacking on blackberries.

Cropthorne Farm Team

We also employ both full time and seasonal staff, without these dedicated members of the farm, all of this would not be possible. Our 2023 farm crew is Olivia, Bruno, Nina, Sarah F, Yuma, Silvano, Teo, Nat, Carly, Juan, Marco, Claire, Cindy, Martin, Hannah, Lindsay and Sarah S.

Interested in being a part of our crew? Check out our employment page for more info.