Welcome to Homegrown Roots! We are Mark and Cassidy Scharringa, a young couple building our small farm and family in Ariss, Ontario.
While neither of us grew up on a farm, we were both raised with a respect for hard work and a willingness to learn new things. When we started raising grass-fed beef cattle on a neighbour’s farm, our dream of farming and living the country life quickly began to take shape. What started with a few cows has since grown into a thriving herd with pasture-raised chickens and turkeys growing alongside them.
As our family has grown, we’ve developed a greater appreciation for knowing where our food comes from. We have two young boys, and the meat we raise goes on their plates at almost every meal. Our goal is to raise food with care and integrity, knowing it will be shared around the tables of families much like our own.
Our cattle are grass-fed and grass-finished, raised on a combination of fresh pasture and nutrient rich haylage, which we grow ourselves. Our chickens and turkeys are raised outdoors on pasture as well, where they are moved regularly to fresh grass and have plenty of room to forage, get fresh air and sunshine, and develop naturally, resulting in tender and flavourful meat.
We offer individual cuts of beef, chicken, and turkey, along with freezer boxes and bulk beef packages for families who want to stock their freezers with quality, locally raised meat. Bulk beef has become an important part of what we do over the last few years, and we have especially enjoyed seeing families return season after season for their bulk beef pick ups.
We also recently opened our own small farm store, giving our customers the option to browse and purchase our products in person. We know how important it is to be connected with the people behind your food, and this has been an amazing way for our customers to get to know who we are and what we care about.
Alongside our meat products, we carry a selection of products from other local producers that we use and enjoy in our home, including JT’s Bees & Co honey and select preserves from Country Flavour. We also work closely with Cluck & Squeal Seasonings & BBQ Rubs, a local brand whose high quality, thoughtfully-made seasonings have become a staple in our own kitchen and a natural complement to the meat we sell. We love being able to support other small businesses in our area who share our passion for providing quality food to their communities.
We’re based in Ariss, Ontario, and serve families in Guelph, Fergus, Elora, Kitchener, Cambridge, Waterloo, and surrounding areas. You can place an order with us online, or make an appointment to visit our farm store and browse what we have available!
*Farm store visits are by appointment only.*
