Rhubarb is a resilient plant that thrives in cooler climates and returns year after year. That makes it ideal for regenerative and sustainable farming. But what truly sets our approach apart is how we use every part of the plant—not just the bright red stalks. We’ve built a circular model around this humble perennial, making sure every stalk, leaf, root, and byproduct serves a purpose. By reducing waste and creating new revenue streams, rhubarb has become a symbol of how sustainability and profitability can grow hand-in-hand.
From Field to Fork – Culinary Uses of Rhubarb
We harvest the stalks for our farm-fresh rhubarb products, including:
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Jams, chutneys, sauces, and syrups – Many different rhubarb preserves are crafted in small batches
- Baked goods – Experimenting in our own kitchen and partnering with local bakeries to offer pies, tarts, and other goodies
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Drinks – Rhubarb is pressed for its juice and used in cider, wine, and craft beer production
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Ice Cream – Rhubarb ice cream crafted with roasted rhubarb is a family favourite
- Flour – A unique gluten free product that is made from dried and milled rhubarb pulp that is left over after juicing
Rhubarb Leaves
Rhubarb leaves are toxic due to oxalic acid, but that doesn’t mean they’re useless. We put the leaves to work and turn a potential waste product into a closed loop input. We do this through:
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Composting: We compost the leaves and use the finished material to enrich our rhubarb beds and other crops.
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Natural pest deterrents: We are experimenting with a rhubarb leaf fermented brew to create a natural insect repellent for our other garden plants.
Soil and Crop Health
After several years of productive growth, older rhubarb crowns are divided to propagate new plants or returned to the soil as organic matter. The plant’s extensive root system also helps to prevent erosion, improve soil structure, and maintain fertility in our crop rotation system. Perennial plants like rhubarb create more stable habitats for pollinators, soil organisms, and beneficial insects, in turn increasing ecosystem resilience and pest control naturally.
The Circular Payoff
By treating rhubarb as a system rather than a single-product crop, we’ve been able to created new revenue from byproducts and value-added goods. We have noticed a reduction in organic waste and decreased out input costs through composting. By developing new and diverse products as well as on-farm education we have increased our customer engagement. Our rhubarb model proves that sustainability isn’t a cost—it’s a multiplier. When we think in circles instead of lines, we unlock value hidden in plain sight. What started as a seasonal crop has become a year-round engine of innovation. If you visit our farm, you’ll see that nothing goes to waste—especially not the rhubarb.