July 31st marked the end of an era as April’s Diner at 231 Main Street in Central Butte closed their doors for the last time. Owner/operators April Meersman and Pierre Coderre are looking forward to their new venture.
“We want to thank everyone for all your support over the years. It means the world to us.”
The couple has spent the last 11-and-a-half years serving the community hot food and drinks to find themselves being pulled in a new direction. What started from an allergic reaction has grown into their passion. So, coming this fall, April’s Diner will be renovated and changed over to HydroGreen’s Urban Farm.
HydroGreen’s will grow leafy greens using the Nutrient Film Technique or commonly known as NFT system. A thin layer of water flows down covered channels. The environment will be regulated to minimize factors like harsh weather, soil conditions and pest issues. The plants will be chemical free.
The seeds sprout and grow in a porous growing medium. The roots easily wind their way through the medium spreading out into the channels. Special grow lights give the delicate plants just the right amount of dawn, midday and dusk light to be most efficient in their growing process.
The couple’s new venture will include growing leafy greens such as lettuce, bok choy, swiss chard and wonder wok to name a few. In the future, dutch buckets will be added giving them the option of growing vine plants like tomatoes, cucumbers and melons.
It should be noted that Pierre has been the main cook at April’s Diner since the beginning. He is also incorporating freeze dried foods into the new venture.
Freeze drying maintains a higher percentage of nutrition as compared to dehydration. One of the foods he is prepping is watermelon. After it has been freeze dried it then has a cotton candy texture. So, for parents, that means no preservatives and no added sugar. Great for kids or moms on the go! They will also have some of Pierre’s famous soups, sauces and more available at the shop.
April, on the other hand, has three books published and all are available at the shop or on www.amazon.ca
The new way of doing business is using social media to showcase your progress. Pierre and April are going to document the transformation from small town diner to their farming adventure on their YouTube channel.
You can also find them on Instagram at hydrogreens_urbanfarm. They welcome you to join them.
The shop will be open to the public to purchase their products projected for early November. For updates check on their Facebook page.
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