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About Us
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King Lake Farms is a family-run operation with roots that run deep in Ontario soil. The Van De Slyke family has been farming here for generations, ever since Remi’s grandparents arrived from Belgium after World War I, looking for a new start and a place to call home. What began as a small tobacco farm near Lake Erie has grown into the thriving homestead that now anchors King Lake Farms.
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Raised on the family farm, Remi always knew the land was where he belonged. After studying Agricultural Business at the University of Guelph and completing the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program, he built King Lake Farms into a diverse operation that grows ginseng, corn, soybeans, and rye, and offers custom ginseng washing and straw baling. His dedication to innovation and quality has earned recognition, including the Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence.
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Remi’s wife, Martha, brings her own blend of science, creativity, and heart to the farm. With a background in biochemistry and customer service, she helps run the business side of things and keeps their family connected to good food, grown right at home. Together, they’re raising their children to appreciate the land, hard work, and the small joys of rural life. They support and compete in local fall fairs and have gathered some impressive ribbons, including the coveted “giant pumpkin” award and “best dog!” for the family black lab, Ruby.
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Located across Norfolk and Elgin counties, King Lake Farms is a place where innovation meets tradition. Every field, crop, and project reflects a simple belief: that strong communities grow from good soil, fair work, and deep respect for the land.
Community Focused
King Lake Farms believes in giving back to the community. We sponsor and support a local soccer team, our local agricultural fair, the literary arts, our faith community, and many animal sanctuaries and rescues. Caring for our land also means caring for the people and creatures who share it, and we’re proud to invest in the places that make our region feel like home.
About Ginseng
Did you know ginseng is native to Ontario and yet we ship most of our crop overseas? Next time you’re walking in one of Ontario’s deciduous forests and see the provincial flower, the trillium, take a look next to it and see if you notice a leafy green bush with red berries. That’s ginseng! Be careful though, wild ginseng is protected just like the trillium, so it’s illegal to dig it up.
That is why we at King Lake Farms grow the ginseng root from our own heritage seed that we refer to as “Ontario’s Treasure.” You’ll recognize a farm field growing ginseng due to the swaths of black fabric or “shade” that covers the crop and mimics the climate of the Ontario forest. The moist, sandy soil of Norfolk and Elgin counties creates the perfect terroir for ginseng to grow and thrive. We use all our own seed to reduce carbon footprint and keep the crop hyper-local.
Why take ginseng? Ginseng boosts energy and cognitive function and strengthens the immune system. By regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, ginseng helps the body adapt to stress and balance hormones. Ginseng can also assist with skin health, liver function and improving symptoms of erectile dysfunction, inflammation and anxiety.
As with any other supplement, please consult your primary healthcare provider to make sure that ginseng is the right choice for you.
The content found on this website is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice.
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Cooking and Baking with Ginseng:
Ginseng is primarily used in Chinese medicine, but can also be taken in a variety of ways at home. Add ginseng powder to your favourite smoothie recipe, add root while you’re making broth to give the stock an earthy flavour, boil some root to make tea, or add some ginseng to your coffee for an extra boost.
Living Wage Certified
At King Lake Farms, we believe the strength of our community starts with fair pay. Being Living Wage Certified means we voluntarily pay our employees a wage that reflects the real cost of living in our region — not just the minimum.
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A living wage is calculated by the Ontario Living Wage Network and represents what a worker needs to earn to cover basic expenses like housing, food, transportation, and childcare, while still being able to participate in community life.
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By choosing to pay a living wage, we’re investing in our team, our families, and the long-term health of rural Ontario.
