About Farmer Jer
Growing food isn’t just a hobby. It’s a relationship with the land beneath your feet.
Most people think urban farming means a few pots on a balcony or a raised bed squeezed into a corner of the yard. I used to think that too, until I started paying attention.
Paying attention to how the soil changes through the seasons. To which plants thrive in the same spot year after year and which ones quietly tell you they need something different. To the satisfaction of eating something you grew, something you know, from seed to table.
That shift in perspective changed everything for me. And it’s the foundation of everything I share here.
My Approach: Organic, Intentional, and Rooted in Real Experience
I don’t garden for aesthetics, though there’s plenty of beauty in it. I garden for results. That means:
Working with the soil, not against it. Healthy, living soil is the starting point for everything. Before I think about what to plant, I think about what the soil needs.
Observing before acting. Nine years of photographing my plants every season has taught me more than any book could. Patterns emerge when you pay close enough attention.
Keeping it practical. I live and garden in Ontario, Canada. That means real seasons, real challenges, and real solutions that actually work in a northern climate, not advice written for someone in California.
Organic by default. Not because it’s trendy, but because it works. Synthetic shortcuts tend to create longer-term problems. I’d rather build something that sustains itself.
A Bit About Me
My name is Jeremy Shantz, Jer to most people, and I’ve been growing food and documenting the process for over a decade.
I’m a member of the American Horticultural Society, which keeps me connected to the broader world of horticulture, research, and the community of people who take growing seriously. My background is anything but linear, I’ve worked in music, hospitality, and industrial operations, but gardening has been the through-line, the thing I come back to every spring with new questions and renewed curiosity.
Over the years I’ve built up a library of 80+ articles, guides, and deep-dives covering everything from soil health and composting to crop planning, organic pest management, and harvesting for maximum yield. And I photograph everything, the wins, the failures, the unexpected surprises, so you’re seeing real results from a real garden, not curated stock imagery.
Why I Built This Site
There’s a lot of gardening content on the internet. A lot of it is vague, generic, or written by people who haven’t actually gotten their hands dirty in a while.
I built Farmer Jer to be different. To be a place where the knowledge is earned, the photography is original, and the advice is grounded in what actually works in a backyard-scale, organically managed urban garden.
Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been at it for years, there’s something here for you.
Start Here
The best way to dig in:
- Browse the blog — posts covering everything from soil to harvest
- Get on the list — I send out seasonal tips, guides, and what’s happening in the garden right now