Why Mario Still Works at the Farm Even Though He's Retired

By James Niyomugabo, Marketing Director — Paradise Fields & the Paradise Network

My name is James Niyomugabo — Marketing Director at Paradise Fields and the Paradise Network. Most days, I’m behind the scenes: camera in hand, or heads-down on the website, making sure the story of this farm gets told the right way. I don’t usually write articles like this.

But then I saw something that made me stop and think: I have to write this.

I was on my way to the greenhouse the other morning — camera ready, looking for content — when something caught my eye. There, in the orchard at our Binbrook farm, was Mario. Pruning shears in hand, moving methodically from tree to tree, completely in his element.

I almost did a double take.

Mario is the founder and owner of Paradise Fields, one of the most beloved local farms serving Hamilton, Binbrook, and the greater GTA. He built this place. And here he was, sleeves rolled up, tending the orchard like it was just another Monday — because for him, it is.

I couldn’t help myself. I walked over and said, “I didn’t know you worked here.”

Without missing a beat, he looked up with a grin and said, “I’m hoping to get a raise after my performance is assessed.”

If you know Mario, you know that’s exactly the kind of thing he’d say.

The Orchard Is His Happy Place

Mario has a particular passion for the orchard here in Binbrook. There’s something about fruit trees — the patience they demand, the years of care before they truly give back — that mirrors the way he thinks about farming and life in general. Pruning isn’t just maintenance. It’s a conversation with the tree. You’re shaping its future, removing what doesn’t serve it, making space for what will.

He’s been having that conversation for a long time — and the orchard shows it.

Those are the very same trees you can now bring home. This season, we’re offering a limited number of our mature, organically grown apple trees — 5 to 6 years old, already fruiting, professionally pruned — for pickup right here at the farm. Mature trees start at $29.95, and younger Gala trees (perfect for starting your own orchard) are $19.95.

Reserve yours here → Quantities are limited & first come, first served.

Humility as a Practice

Here’s what strikes me most about seeing Mario in the orchard: he didn’t have to be there. As the owner of a thriving community farm in the Hamilton area, he could easily delegate every physical task and no one would question it. But that’s not who he is. He shows up. He gets his hands dirty. He works alongside the team, not above them.

That’s not a management strategy — it’s a value. Humility, at Paradise Fields, isn’t something we put on a poster. It’s something the owner models every single morning in the orchard.

Health Is the Foundation

There’s also something to be said for what this kind of work does for a person. Moving through the orchard, breathing fresh air in the Binbrook countryside, using your body with intention — it’s not just good for the trees. Mario is living proof that staying connected to the land keeps you sharp, grounded, and well. Health here isn’t a product we sell. It’s a way of being that starts at the top.

It’s one of the reasons families across Hamilton and the GTA keep coming back to Paradise Fields — they can feel the difference that genuine care makes.

Teamwork Means Everyone Shows Up

When the owner is out pruning trees on a Monday morning, it sets a tone for the whole team. No one is too important to do the work. Everyone contributes. Everyone belongs to the same mission. That’s the culture at Paradise Fields — and it doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because Mario shows up and makes it real.

I got my greenhouse content eventually. But honestly, the best shot of the day was the one I didn’t take — Mario in the orchard, doing what he loves, leading the way he always has.

Some people retire from their work. Others just keep showing up because the work is who they are.

Mario is the latter. And Paradise Fields — your local farm in Binbrook, Hamilton — is better for it.

If this story moved you even a little, come see it for yourself. Take home one of Mario’s trees this season. Pickup is Thursdays and Fridays, 11 AM – 5 PM, right here at 3355 Golf Club Rd, Hannon, ON.

— James Niyomugabo, Marketing Director, Paradise Fields & the Paradise Network