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Are you an aspiring market gardener who wants hands on experience working the land and living rurally near a wildlife area and valley? Dunrea Farming Company near Margaret, Manitoba might be the place for you!
About the Farm
Dunrea Farming Company is a rural market garden focused on regenerative practices located on the South side of the Souris Valley just north of Margaret, MB. They have a farm stand, where people come to buy vegetables raised on the farm. The farm also has a newly renovated Bed and Breakfast with a focus on agritourism.
The folks at Dunrea Farming Co. believe that the land is for everyone, humans, animals, plants, insects, all living creatures. They know that biodiversity is a good thing and they strive to encourage diversity and make it a good home for anyone.
Kara’s husband is a full time grain farmer and farms a 10 minute drive from their home farm.
On the home farm and in the market garden they grow and sell garlic, vegetables, herbs, dried herbs, teas, and pickles.
They sell through their on-farm stand, 1-2 farmers markets per week June – September and to restaurants in Brandon.
They value soil rebuilding and strive to put more and more energy into this by building organic matter, using organic mulch instead of plastic mulch, water use management, minimizing tillage, and using organic practices. They also value hand powered food growing to keep a close relationship to the land and not become overly mechanized. They work with the season in the field instead of too much season extension and irrigation.
And they really enjoy bringing people to the farm to give folks a sense of rural life living close to the Earth. They do this through agri-tourism and hosting woofers.
Why do they farm? IT’S FUN! The quality of the food, the variety of the food, and nutrition really matters to Kara and her crew. She is motivated by working with the environment instead of completely controlling it. She loves the physical labor and working outside.
The Souris River Valley is just on the north boarder of the farm and has a wildlife management area within walking distance to the farm. This makes it a beautiful undisturbed place with a view from the family’s home. There is a lot of wildlife, plants, and the river to check out. Langscrossing, which is at the bottom of the river valley is an old wagon crossing, and for sure an ancient river crossing. The family recognizes and the traditional lands that they farm and give gratitude and honor to the Indigenous people who lived here and took care of this beautiful land. Kara says the area is grassland ecosystem and the oak forest is about 125 year old. She thinks that if there were more controlled burns and greater grassland management this land would look a lot different and be able to thrive more.
Check out Dunrea Farming Company online:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dunreafarmingco
Website: https://dunrea-farming-co.myshopify.com/
Workplace Culture
Brian and Kara have 2 school aged children who are a big part of the farm, they are essential farm workers. They also have many seasonal workers including employees and WOOFERS. They have a workplace culture of respect and meeting people where they are at. Sharing a lunch meal is an important bonding time for the farm team.
The people who take initiative to be curious will get more out of the experience. Lots of things will be learned through experience of doing the farm tasks. If an apprentice wants to learn a particular skill, please ask and they will see what we can do.
About the Farmers
Kara Burrell will be the main mentor for the apprentice in 2026. She will be leading the season in the Market Garden.
Kara was born into farming, her great grandmother was a milk maid and she has a long line of farming family. Her husband, Brian Meaud is a grain farmer who grew up farming just down the road and continues farming there to today. His family farm is where they moved as a couple and then bought their current home farm in 2020 just a 10 minute drive away. They both are 4th generation farmers.
Kara organizes the Ninette farmers market. There is a possibility of apprentices attending some local festivals or event markets with the family.
About the Apprenticeship
In Spring the start time is 9am as the mornings are still cool and the days are still getting longer. During this early season Kara works closely with everyone and the main tasks will be infrastructure maintenance and seedling care.
In May there will be more field work and planting in the garden.
After May is weeding, watering, mulching.
Mid June harvesting starts for markets.
3-4 days a week will be spent harvesting and prepping for market.
Later in the season harvesting storage crop and doing fall work will take priority.
The work becomes more independent July onward. The roles become more clear and defined as people are more trained.
There will be a possibility of short animals chores in the mornings and evenings throughout the growing season.
5 days/week, 25-40 hours/week.
Work will likely be Mon-Fri or Tues-Sat.
Some parts of the season are slower and there are certain busy weeks, but otherwise we are fairly flexible for time off. Time off will be discussed with applicant.
The ideal duration of employment is April 1 – October 30
There will be a small fee for room and board. (Details below)
The job requirements are:
- Has full drivers license.
- Has their own vehicle for off farm travel.
- Be able to handle physical and outdoor work.
- Can lift 40-50lbs
- Able and enjoy working with coworkers (Woofers).
- Willingness to engage with public (at markets and farm tourism).
Apprentices are willing to learn these skills:
- Techniques to minimize tillage
- Harvesting crops,
- Cover-cropping
- Implementing weed control strategies
- Getting harvest to market
- Seeding & transplanting
- Compost making & application
- Truck & tractor basic operation
- Carpentry basic
- Customer service
Compensation
They offer minimum wage or more depending on experience and ability.
About the Community
The farm is located in rural southwestern Manitoba. The farm borders a wildlife management area on the Souris river, a popular spot for hiking, river sports and hunting. They are surrounded by mainly grain farms. The nearest city is Brandon (45 mins away), which has all amenities. Nearby towns that service their area are Ninette – a lake community with sailing, a few restaurants and a farmers market and Boissevain – a small town with a vibrant arts community and the nearby Turtle Mountain provincial park.
“We acknowledge that we farm on treaty 1 territory and that Manitoba is located on the Treaty Territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline, Nehethowuk and Metis Nations.” – Kara Burrell
Accommodation
Almost all lunches and suppers are eaten in community on the farm. In-season vegetables and preserved food will available in plenty with a few possible restrictions that will clearly be identified. Any frozen meats or eggs will be shared with the apprentice. Sourdough bread and other baking is often available. Breakfast will be independent unless the apprentice is staying in the main farm house. Snacks, specialty drinks and junk food are the apprentices responsibility. Meals are largely plant based diet, so a vegans/vegetarians are easily accommodated.
Accommodation details: 2 options:
1) Possibly a room in bed and breakfast – shared kitchen, bathroom
2) Cabin (no running water) – shared laundry and shower in the family house
Accommodations may be shared with public bed and breakfast people, all bedrooms are private.
Pets permitted: maybe, will need to be discussed before
Guests permitted: yes
Rent: 200/month
There will be set hours for the family house to ensure there is some privacy.
Generally, in the summer, the family house is open 9am-9pm. If that changes, it will be communicated to staff.
The folks at Dunrea Farming Company look forward to seeing you!
