Small Holdings Farm is an ecological farm in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. It’s owned and operated by Keltie Butler and Michael Coolican. Both Keltie and Michael are first-generation farmers. For Keltie, becoming a farmer comes from her love of food and its ability to bring people together. Michael says, “I wouldn’t want to do anything else.”

Keltie and Michael are heading into their sixth season at Small Holdings Farm. They continue to turn hay fields into garden beds to grow a rainbow of vegetables, herbs and flowers. And, this is always done without the use of pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers. The couple are driven to contribute to the health of the soil and the larger ecosystem of their farm and their community. They sell their products seasonally, spring through fall, at the New Glasgow Farmers Market and through their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Because of help from their customers and community, Small Holdings Farm is able to raise funds to provide 20 CSA shares to families facing food insecurity in their region.

Keltie and Michael spend their winters shoveling snow, cooking, snowshoeing, and preparing for the busy season ahead with seed orders and crop plans, infrastructure projects and repairs.