The farm and business
Six years ago, I moved back to NL from BC and started working on building the family farm into a business. The hope is that the farm will contribute to NL and the local community by re-introducing fresh healthy food to local people.
Six years ago, I moved back to NL from BC and started working on building the family farm into a business. The hope is that the farm will contribute to NL and the local community by re-introducing fresh healthy food to local people.
I'm formally trained as a forester, and that training has provided me with the knowledge of plant physiology and soil dynamics that are the core of the skills base used for growing the delicious food.
Over the past five years 15 acres of land has been acquired in the little shire of Eastport for the farms expansion. With just over 5 acres of land under organic production, we are currently seeking certification and expanding our operations yearly.
The soil
Some of the fields I plow have been in production for over eighty years by four successive generations of my family. Since starting to convert it back to organic production (something which came to an abrupt halt in the late 50's) the soil has been recovering from years of fertilizer and chemical applications. Though most of the fields were lightly used for the past 15 years or so, the constant bombardment of salt based chemical fertilizers played havoc with the soil organisms and other life so necessary for healthy soil.
By applying kelp, horse manure, capelin (a small pelagic species of fish abundant in the area), crab shells and ever increasing amounts of compost the soil is turning darker and richer every year. Here's a video of what the beach (1/2km away) looks like after a spring storm.
The two local independently run fish plants supply crab shells, capelin, shrimp casings and fish offal. A local hardwood plant supplies sawdust for the horse stalls and footpaths, as well as ash from its kiln to help us balance the soils pH levels.
About half of the fields have been made into raised beds over the past 3 years. Raised beds allow for quick water runoff in the spring leading to higher early temperatures, less tilling and better root penetration. The other half of the productive field area is in a rotation of hay, clover and root crops.
Goals for the future
The development of a truly sustainable and healthy farming system.
