Humans Who Grow Food

Meet Jean-Martin Fortier Jean-Martin Fortier from Quebec, Canada 🇨🇦

“Most people call me JM. I’m a farmer, educator, eco-entrepreneur, author, and podcaster dedicated to human-scale ecological agriculture. Over the past two decades, I’ve launched multiple mission-driven projects — from farms to training institutes to ethical businesses — all united by the same purpose: empowering small-scale farmers and building a regenerative food system.

My journey began with a dream to live close to the land in harmony with nature, to feed people, and to build a life of meaning and autonomy. I grow food because I believe it’s the foundation of both personal freedom and collective resilience. Beyond feeding communities, farming is about repairing our relationship with the earth. It’s also the engine that powers everything else I do: education, tool design, media, and entrepreneurial ventures that help others grow food too.

One of the challenges is cultural: convincing society to value small-scale, ecological farming in a world dominated by industrial models. This is why I’ve expanded beyond farming itself into education, media, and business — to shift perception and give farmers the tools and knowledge to succeed.

The tangible reward is food: vibrant, nutrient-rich vegetables. The deeper reward is the ripple effect. Seeing students, peers, and communities thrive because of what we’ve built — that’s the true return on investment.

Farming is not just about growing vegetables. It’s about cultivating a better way of life — one that is ecological, profitable, and deeply human. Every seed planted, every bed flipped, every market stand set up is part of a much larger story of regeneration. We all have a role in writing that story.”

Market Gardener Institute