Our Family & Story
About
The 1818 Farm Story
It all started in 1990 when Ken and I moved an old farmhouse from its original location in Kanata to a three-acre plot in Carp to raise our children.
As our family grew, so did Ken’s business, and soon, he was on the hunt for office space nearby. We found the perfect place: a home on a 25-acre plot of farmland close by with an orchard, crop fields, and a barn. The land was simply lavish with potential.
Over time, the land and house on the property were transformed into a quiet escape where Ken and his team could work and be inspired together.
Fast-forward to 2020: a time when like many others, our family began to take inventory of our lives. Conversations around the dinner table led us to realize we haven’t yet fully unlocked the potential of our land.
At the same time, trying to feed a household of 7, I was discouraged by what I was seeing at the grocery store. Much of what I saw then, is what we still see now: poor quality, heavily packaged food, most of them shipped to us by big, dirty trucks and cargo ships from very far away. I felt a growing distrust in the companies that were feeding us.
Much of what I saw then, is what we still see now: poor quality, heavily packaged food, most of it shipped to us by big, dirty trucks and cargo ships from far away. I felt a growing distrust in the companies that were feeding us.
Meanwhile, here we were sitting on the most beautiful, abundant acreage, brimming with life, crying out to be used for more. It was almost a moral calling. It seemed a sin to have this farmland and not use it to actually feed people.
With more time to dream than we’ve ever had, we decided to collaborate as a family…
-
Ken saw an opportunity to bring his building and development skills into the project, and made plans to relocate an abandoned post office from Kanata North to serve as a ‘Cidery’.
-
Karl, our son, was eager to make the most of the abundance of the land by expanding his knowledge of farming organic vegetables and animals.
-
Wes, our son-in-law, became passionate about the idea of creating organic ciders with the old orchard and wild apples on and near the property.
-
I (Denise) had just retired and was looking for a business to pour my creativity into, as well as an outlet to invest in the well-being of my family and community.
And thus, 1818 Farm and Cidery was born!
Today, the land has begun its regeneration; growing, harvesting, nourishing, and feeding our community in abundance.
Our produce is now available for purchase at our farmstand or through our Harvest Box program, where you can receive our freshly harvested, organically-grown produce throughout the season, on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
And guess what? Soon, we will also have our naturally fermented, organic apple ciders available for purchase, as we are currently making progress with our Cidery production project and facility. So, be sure to check back often for updates!
From our family to yours, we invite you to embark on this journey with us. Come and experience the difference that “local” and “family-owned and operated” makes. We know you’ll enjoy the fruit and vegetables of our land as much as we love growing it.
See you soon!
Denise & The Team
1818 Farm & Cidery
-
1.5 Acres
Organically-Grown Crop Fields
-
300+
New Growth Cider Trees
-
7000+ sq ft.
Repurposed Cidery
-
75
Heritage Apple Trees
-
3000 sq ft.
Vegetable Greenhouse
Our Team
-
![]()
Denise Hoppner — Owner
Denise is a retired special education teacher who sees the world creatively and empathetically. Goal-oriented, she loves bringing people together to achieve a common goal. Her heart is deeply connected to the the people and families of Kanata, Stittsville, and Carp area, and she desires to pay forward what she’s been given to the community she loves.
-
![]()
Karl Hoppner — Director of Farming
Karl has a passion for all things that grow. He’s dedicated the past five years to learning and embracing the farming lifestyle. With a background in business, he grasps the balance and necessity of sustainable agricultural practices while maintaining a strong business plan with his farming.
-
![]()
Wes Hunter — Cidermaker & Hospitality Director
With 22 years dedicated to the hospitality industry, Wes is equipped to provide our guests with an experience that elevates the standard of cider-making and hospitality. With a background in wine production, he aims to express the varietal characteristics of the land and in turn, produce ciders that are a celebration of both the fruit and our farmland.
-
![]()
Peter Bissett — Orchard Manager
A purist through and through Peter offers a vast array of skills and experience to the overall operation of 1818 Farm and Cidery. A lover of nature and all that grows in it Peter will oversee and help establish our on-site Orchard which will be a main focus point for the business and for guests coming to 1818 Farm and Cidery
By shopping locally & sustainably, you’re supporting our family dream of nourishing our community.
With every Harvest Box brought home or visit to our farmstand for your Sunday shopping, you make it possible for us to provide fresh, wholesome food to the community we love.
We are a family, just like yours. We gather around the dinner table as often as we’re able (yet somehow never often enough.) We delight in passing steaming serving dishes across the table and beside us, creating a glorious frenzy of colour, scents, and flavours. We laugh. We share. Sometimes we just sit in silence because the food is that good.
Our Commitment to Quality
We know that both what we eat and how we live play a vital role in our well-being. When it comes to food, as with time spent with our loved ones, quality matters. We pursue quality to the core — or should we say root — by adhering strictly to organic standards. These time-tested practices bring nourishment and nutrition to the soil and ultimately, eventually, our bodies.
Choosing Real Over Processed
Real food, fresh from the ground without alteration is something many of us aren’t used to. But being as passionate about quality as we are means we accept and appreciate the imperfections, knowing they are markers of nutrition-preserved. Sometimes this means your kale won’t look as pretty as the bundle you bought at the grocery store imported from Mexico. Before you loved it in a salad dressed with balsamic vinegar, goat cheese, and beets, a slug or a snail may have loved it a little first. And we hope you’re okay with that as much as we are. Because letting go of perfectionism and instead making room for real, unadulterated, nourishing substance — as unglamorous and imperfect as this can sometimes be — is a practice each of us should hope to extend beyond our plates.
From Our Family to Yours
So as you wash the dirt off your radishes, chop cherry tomatoes for your bruschetta, or sip on a cider, know that we’re as grateful for you as we are for rain before harvest. Thank you for journeying with us. We look forward to seeing you at the farm.
Thank you for being here.
Farm-Fresh, weekly.
Harvest Box Program | New & Expanded 2024 Season
More fresh and closer to home than your local grocer. Receive organically-grown produce all season long, weekly or bi-weekly basis.
