About Us
Our Mission
About Faspa Farm
Faspa Farm is 960 acres found in southern Manitoba, Canada. It is managed by the Klassen family and has been in the family since our great-grandparents emigrated to Canada as Russian refugees in 1924. They purchased the current land we farm in 1939 for their two sons, Jacob and George.
Since 2018, we have diversified our crop rotation to include, wheat, rye, oats, barley, peas, faba beans, hemp and canola. We also grow cover crops or a green manure field every year to help manage weeds, build soil health and provide nutrients to the next year’s crops without using synthetic fertilizers. We also are avid hobby gardeners and grow most of the vegetables we need for the year and are still in the process of expanding our fruit orchard so we can have year-round fruit as well!
We take inspiration and learn from our Mennonite ancestors who lived self-sufficiently, reused, recycled and upcycled when they lived in Poland, Russia and when they moved to Canada.
We acknowledge that we are in Treaty 1 territory and that the land is the traditional territory of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and the homeland of the Métis Nation.
George Klassen
is a farmer at heart and by name[1]. He grew up on Faspa Farm, and starting farming with his cousin Arthur at a young age. They made their farm machinery out of wood strips and tied springs by string to the toy tractor to make harrows.
He has a Diploma of Agriculture from the University of Manitoba and starting farming on his own when he was 21 years old, almost 50 years ago. He loves the Manitoba seasons and the changes they bring. Farming ties the past with the present and is always presenting new challenges every year, every new season.
[1] The name “George” comes from the Greek name Γεωργιος (Georgios) which was derived from the Greek word γεωργος (georgos) meaning “farmer, earthworker”, itself derived from the elements γη (ge) “earth” and εργον (ergon) “work”. https://www.behindthename.com/name/george
Karen Klassen
has an undergraduate degree in Nutrition Science, became a dietitian and worked at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, then in London for 8 years. She had been ‘dabbling’ in research since she started working, and finally decided to formalise her love of research by doing a PhD. She moved to Australia to complete a PhD at the University of Melbourne and then worked as a research fellow until deciding that it was time for life to come full circle and move back to Manitou. You can read some of her academic work here (Research Gate or LinkedIn).
Karen brings her love of food and expertise in nutrition and research back to the farm, where good food begins.
The Rest of Our Family
Eileen Langeman Klassen
Tam Klassen Pinto & Aaron Pinto
