Shane Rozeveld and his wife Emma began Aslan Organics in 2017 on two 8‑by‑12‑foot plots at the Yarrow Ecovillage in Chilliwack, British Columbia—just a hobby that grew into a serious venture as yields multiplied.
The turning point came when Shane quit his desk job to farm full time, and the couple acquired a greenhouse, cooler, and other market‑garden gear from a departing ecovillage family. Their first commercial plot covered only a third of an acre, and they even used scissors to cut greens until they could afford a harvester.
In 2020 they moved to Ontario, and by 2021 they re‑launched Aslan Organics in Sarnia, a city of 75,000 with an indoor‑outdoor farmers’ market that operates year‑round. Although the market initially rejected organic produce, the Rozevelds secured a foothold by delivering fresh salad mixes that locals said they’d never tasted before.
Revenue climbed steadily: from $173,000 in 2024 to $200,000 in 2025, the first time the farm crossed the $200,000 threshold. Weekly sales exploded from a modest $1,000 to more than $10,000 during the peak summer season, driven by farmers’ market stalls, online orders, and a growing farm‑share program.
The farm‑share plan, which started with 24 members, now counts 80 customers who choose their own produce each week and can skip summer months. This flexible model has helped the Rozevelds keep cash flow steady while they expand the acreage.
Looking ahead, the couple plans to add more customers and broaden the farm’s reach, targeting a weekly sales volume of $20,000 by next year while maintaining the organic integrity that earned them a loyal following in Sarnia.