My name is Minda, I'm the founder of Anokian Nature, and for over 20 years I've been growing on our farm in Hemmingford, Quebec. What I do today started with a simple observation, made long ago: I noticed that several wild root vegetables, like wild carrot and wild parsnip, survived under the snow. If they could do it, I wondered why their cultivated cousins couldn't as well.
I've carried this question since childhood. My aunt taught me from a young age to observe nature closely, to notice how certain plants find ways to endure, season after season, through our harsh winters. It's this habit of observing rather than fighting the climate that has shaped my entire way of growing.
Twenty years of selection, one variety at a time
Developing a truly cold-hardy seed isn't something that happens in one season. Every year, I personally select the most resilient plants: the ones that germinate well despite the cold, that resist late frosts, that produce even when conditions aren't ideal. Year after year, this patient selection has allowed me to develop our collection of cold-resistant seeds, varieties I've tested and proven right here, on my own land, not just in theory.
It's slow, almost invisible work, but it's exactly what makes these seeds reliable. I didn't choose them for their resistance on paper. They've proven, year after year in my garden, that they can produce despite our winters.
Through my research and years of observation, I've come to a deep conviction: a seed carries a memory. Every seed I select holds within it the imprint of what it has been through, season after season. It's this memory, passed on and reinforced year after year, that makes our varieties able to withstand our winters.
How to grow through winter in Quebec
Winter gardening takes a bit of planning, but it's much more accessible than people think. Here's what I recommend:
Direct sowing in the ground: most of my cold-hardy varieties can be sown directly outdoors between August and the end of the month. It's the ideal time to start one last harvest before winter.
Sowing under a cold frame: if you want to extend your season even further, a small cold frame lets you sow until mid-October. I recommend 10-12mm polycarbonate, which offers much better protection than a simple row cover, especially if you really want to grow through all 4 seasons like I do.
These aren't complicated or expensive methods. It's simply a matter of working with the rhythm of the seasons instead of against it. Here's a real example filmed at home:
Want to go further?
Twice a year, I also host a workshop at my home, on the farm, to help people grow a productive vegetable garden simply, without unnecessary complications. Dates aren't set yet for this year, but if you're interested, sign up directly below to be notified as soon as a workshop is announced:
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A matter of patience and observation
What these 20 years have taught me most is that nature always gives clues. You just need to take the time to notice them. It's this patient, observant approach that still guides how I select and develop each new variety today.
In fact, I grow my cold-hardy varieties myself in an urban setting, with limited space. If you don't have room for a greenhouse or a cold frame, don't worry: a simple low tunnel over your rows can be enough to extend your season and protect your seedlings from the cold. It's a simple, inexpensive solution, perfect for small gardens like mine.
If you'd like to try growing a garden that keeps producing even when the cold sets in, there's still time to plant.
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