A Behind-The-Scenes Look Into Our Faba Bean Trip To Saskatchewan
Bringing these farm stories to life is an adventure, filled with excitement, planning, and plenty of behind-the-scenes moments. These trips are about forging relationships, hearing the farmers’ stories firsthand, and sharing them with you bringing more traceability with the food you eat.
Here is a behind-the-scenes look into our recent trip to visit Klondyke Farms in Saskatchewan. They grow the organic faba beans which provide the clean, plant-based protein source in our Sprouted Protein Oatmeals and Granola.
Saskatchewan is known as Canada’s Bread Basket
We arrived in Saskatoon to warm, sunny weather. It was amazing to see farms as far as the eye can see while up in the air. Saskatchewan, the “Land of the Living Skies” is a world leader in agriculture and known for its sweeping prairies, glorious sunrises and sunsets, and is home to some of the darkest skies in Canada. 1.
Our first sunrise in Saskatoon
The following morning, we woke up early and hit the road by 6AM. We had a bit of a drive to reach Klondyke farms.
Lots of sights during our drive to Klondyke Farms
As we journeyed through the rolling prairies, we passed countless farms, small towns and wonderful sights.
The Saskatchewan Wheat Pool
One memorable sight was the historic Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. Wheat Pools were farmer-led cooperatives formed in the early 20th century, when local growers banded together to secure fair prices for their crops. While over 1,250 Saskatchewan Wheat Pool elevators once dotted the province, fewer than 275 remain standing. These towering wooden structures serve as enduring symbols of Saskatchewan’s rich agricultural history.2
Water from Lake Diefenbaker flowing as part of the region’s irrigation system
Another sight we were lucky to see was Lake Diefenbaker. Some farms around the area make use of the water from this lake to water their crops which is probably the reason why land is so fertile out here. We drove over a road that had the river flowing under it to get to Klondyke Farms.
Drone footage of Lake Diefenbaker from Klondyke Farms
Lake Diefenbaker is also the largest and longest lake in Southwest Saskatchewan. 3. This lake is formed by two dams on the South Saskatchewan River.
The Koenig family showing us around Klondyke Farms
Kathy and Alonna were introduced to Marcus and Maurice, who were already out on the field by the time we arrived. We spent a few hours in the barn with the Klondyke family and team, learning about their story and how they became involved in organic farming.
Alonna and Kathy speaking to Marcus and Jessie in their new barn
Marcus introduced us to the two students who were working on his farm for two months on an exchange program from Germany. He also shared his experiences with organic farming and the challenges that he managed to overcome, including falling ill from farming on conventional farms that used chemicals. Marcus was born in Switzerland, and Jessie was born in Taiwan. Their passion for farming and growing clean ingredients is something that they passed down to their son Maurice, and listening to their story was nothing short of inspiring.
Maurice shared what motivated him to follow in his dad’s footsteps and embrace the life of an organic farmer. For Maurice, the path wasn’t just about continuing a family tradition—it was about honoring a way of life rooted in care for the land and the community.
With organic farming, Maurice believes passion is essential—it motivates farmers like Marcus and himself to innovate, learn new techniques, and spend countless hours tending crops. The work is demanding and the days long, but the reward lies in knowing every grain is the result of dedication and a commitment to providing quality food. For Maurice, organic farming isn’t just a job—it’s a calling that connects him to his roots, his family, and the mission of growing healthy food.
Maurice and Marcus walking the grounds of Klondyke Farms
We spent the rest of the day walking the lush, beautiful fields of Klondyke Farms with Marcus, Maurice, and Jessie. They invited us just before harvest season so we were so lucky enough to see the crops fully grown.
Marcus showing Kathy and Alonna the faba bean stem and pods
Marcus and Maurice showed us the faba beans growing in the field, which produced a tremendous yield this year. We enjoyed learning about the innovative organic practices that they use to ensure healthy crops and a great yield this year. Here we see Marcus opening up a pod to show Kathy and Alonna the faba beans.
Our sprouted protein granola and oatmeal in the faba bean fields
We brought a few of our products back to the fields that grew them. Here is a bag of our protein granola in a field of organic faba beans and a shot of our protein oatmeal. We are always proud to bring the products grown by our farmer partners back to their fields.
Marcus and Maurice standing in the oat fields of Klondyke Farms
On Klondyke farm, Marcus and Maurice grow both faba beans and oats, which we have to say have been some of the lushest fields we have come by. As seen in the picture, the oats in their field are half the size of Marcus, which is what every oat farmer wants. Sometimes with drought, oats grow as high as knee length, so considering the height of these crops, we can tell how proud both Maurice and Marcus are of their yield this year.
The Smith family being introduced to a local farmer who was passing by
While visiting their oat field, we met one of Klondyke’s neighbours who was passing by on his tractor. We enjoyed meeting him and gave him some of our oats to try.
Our videographer Ethan capturing the story of Marcus and Klondyke Farms
With organic farming, there is always hard work and investment. Walking through their beautiful crop-filled fields, we can tell the love and passion behind every ingredient they grow. Our journey to Saskatchewan was met with immense hospitality and opened our eyes to the history, hard work, and dedication of farmers like Marcus within the community. Seeing what goes into growing ingredients makes us appreciate every meal that ends up on our table.
Alonna, Kathy, Jessie, Marcus and Maurice
This behind-the-scenes peek is just a preview of the story and the connections we made when visiting Klondyke Farms. The full video and story can be found here: Klondyke Farms
REFERENCES
- Saskatchewan Fun Facts Available from: https://www.canadiansky.co.uk/saskatchewan-holidays/saskatchewan-fun-facts Accessed on: September, 2025
- Saskatchewan Wheat Pool Available from: https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan-wheat-pool Accessed on: September, 2025
- Lake Diefenbaker Available from: https:/lakediefenbakertourism.com Accessed on: September, 2025
