About us

At Tierra Viva Gardens, we grow more than just organic vegetables: we cultivate a connection between the land and our community.

Our farm is located in Mirabel (St-Augustin) where we grow vegetables and fruits in greenhouses and open fields, and where we have chickens for egg production.

Tierra Viva means "living soil" in Spanish and reflects our vision: soil is not just a substrate for growing plants, it is a living and complex ecosystem that we respect and protect. Our approach is based on sustainable agricultural practices that promote biodiversity, enrich the land and produce tasty and nutritious crops.

The name being in Spanish is a nod to Cinthya's Mexican roots and native language. A wonderful way to honor her heritage while sharing our love for agriculture that cares for the land and those who feed on it!

Meet the team:

Cinthya Leyva Mancilla

Cinthya is the founder of the farm. She discovered her passion for agriculture during a summer internship on an organic farm in 2009.

Agriculture combines her passion for nature, science, community and eating in season.

She has a B.Sc. in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and a M.Sc. in Plant Sciences from McGill University.

Favourite tasks: Harvesting and market days

Favourite crops: Chinese broccoli, watermelon, and poblano peppers

Marianne Vallée

Marianne is entering her 3rd season at the farm. She has always been fascinated by nature and soil life, as well as by tractors and labor efficiency.

She holds an AEC in organic market gardening from Cégep de Victoriaville and a DEP in horticultural production from the Centre de formation agricole de Mirabel.

Marianne is also a beekeeper and manages a small artisanal apiary located in Huberdeau.

Favourite tasks: Maintaining greenhouse tomatoes

Favourite crops: Potatoes, greenhouse tomatoes and eucalyptus

Tim Maloney

Tim is the farm's resident tinkerer. He is always seeking for innovative, ecological, more efficient, and more ergonomic solutions. He enjoys designing and improving equipment that makes everyday life on the farm easier.

He is the creator of our multifunctional electric field vehicle, the CHAMP-E.

He has a B.Sc. in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences from McGill University and a B.Eng. in Electrical Engineering from Concordia University. He is an engineer at the Innovative Vehicle Institute.

Favourite tasks: Equipment design

Favourite crops: Acorn squash, cucumbers, and green onions

Diana Ishigaki

Diana is entering her second season on the farm. Growing up on a farm in the Canadian Prairies shaped her worldview and fueled her passion for where food comes from and living with the seasons.

She joined Tierra Viva out of a love for sustainable agriculture, a desire to learn from the team's expertise, the joy of growing her own food, and the pleasure of sharing this adventure with her husband and daughter.

Favourite tasks: Harvesting potatoes and asparagus, collecting eggs, caring for chickens

Favourite crops: Asparagus, peppers, cherry tomatoes, lettuce