Mountain Base Farm

Coldbrook Annapolis Valley

James and Amy VanderHeide and their three sons Jackson, Warren and Clay own Mountain Base Farm. Mountain Base Farm is a small Cow/Calf farm in the Annapolis Valley. They also operate Coldbrook Farms Ltd., a poultry farm owned by James’ parents John and Jenny. The VanderHeide’s having been farming for over 40 years on their farm.

James and Amy raise their beef calves to sell them to several local farms where they are finished for beef. The chickens they raise on the poultry farm are processed and sold through Eden Valley Poultry.

“We both love being farmers and can’t imagine doing anything else. From the connections we have with our land, livestock and mother nature, to being a part of Canada’s food system, we take pride in every step. Seeing the love of agriculture blossom through our children and watching their involvement on the farm is a big part of why we do what we do every day.”

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Creamy Potato and Hamburger Soup

Newville Lakeview Farm Ltd.

2740 Newville Road Parrsboro, NS

William, Christine and Yves Davison are proud farmers at Newville Lakeview Farm Ltd. in Newville, NS (just outside of Parrsboro). The Davison’s farm wild blueberries, maple syrup and have a forestry operation on about 2,000 acres of land. The farm started in early the 1800’s. By 1942, all of the farm’s Wild Blueberries were sold fresh, in pints. Most of the blueberries were harvested  by local mi’kmaq families prior to 1990. The blueberries are now harvested by a mechanical harvester. The Davison’s love talking to customers and explaining how they make their products. In1995 they opened their own ‘Cabin D’Sucre’ where they serve fresh made pancakes with maple syrup. You can find their wild blueberry and maple products such as maple BBQ sauce, and wild blueberry sauce at: Parrsboro Co-op, Dave’s Fruit Market, and Maritime Mosaic or online at newville.ca.

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Blueberry Cream Cheese Squares

Wild Rose Farm

6804 Route 1 Weymouth, NS

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Wilted Kale Salad

Meadows Brother’s Farm

Barton, Digby County

Meet Young Farmer Thian Carman. When Thian was 14 years old, he became the youngest registered farm owner in Nova Scotia! His passion for agriculture and internal drive to be part of this industry has got him to where he is today. Meadows Brothers Farm is located in Digby, Nova Scotia. Here, Thian and his family raise sheep, pigs, chickens, and geese. They farm over 150 acres. This farm started very small and has grown significantly over the years. Not only is Thian busy on the farm, but he is also a full-time student at Dalhousie University, Faculty of Agriculture.

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A&J Bent Farms Ltd.

Lawrencetown, Annapolis County

A&J Bent Farms Ltd. is a family dairy farm that has been in operation for more than 100 years. It is owned and operated by Allen and Jacqueline Bent, along with their children; Jen and husband Jonathan, Alana, Jonathan, and Adrian. The farm is located in Annapolis County. A total of 620 acres of land is farmed; growing corn, soybeans, winter wheat, and forages. This family is passionate about the work they do, and their daughter Alana says “there is always something different to do each day, and always something new to learn. I love working outside and watching the crops grow throughout the season. It’s amazing how one little seed over the summer months can turn into food for people and animals”. Their raw milk is sold to Agropur Cooperative.

Fun Fact! The Bent’s also have a small vegetable and cut flower stand on farm that provides fresh local produce to the community.

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Larry Weatherby Farm

Lower Harmony, Colchester County

Larry Weatherby Farm is located in Lower Harmony, Nova Scotia. The Weatherby’s specialize in beef production. Larry Sr. started the farm and it will be acquired by Larry Jr., making it a second-generation operation. Working along side the father and son pair is Marsha, Ellen Davis and Roy Weatherby. Larry Jr. enjoys being his own boss and watching the hard work put into building the farm pay-off. He also loves working with their animals. This family takes great pride in raising high quality beef cattle.

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Brookvilla Farms

Brook Village, Cape Breton

In 1974 Colin Campbell started registering purebred Holstein cattle. Colin is the owner of Brookvilla Farms in Brook Village, Nova Scotia. Working alongside Colin are his wife Cathy, son Cyle, daughter Cynthia and brothers Angus and Kevin. This dairy farm crops 330 acres. Their milk is sold to a local processor and can be found at local retailers.  The Campbells say “The milk in the store is never far from the cows that produced it!” This family is very passionate about farming and is very much a family farm. Together as a family they love talking about their cows at the supper table, driving around on the tractors, and greeting anyone who visits the farm. Cynthia says “Each goal that gets accomplished on the farm means so much more when you have people you care for to share it with”.

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Charles Keddy Farms Ltd.

North Bishop Road, Kentville

Charles Keddy Farms has been in business for 44 years now. This beautiful farm is located in Lakeville, Nova Scotia, and rests on 600 acres. This  family farm, owned and operated by Charles and Doris and their son and daughter-in-law, Phil and Katie grows sweet potatoes, and strawberry nursery plants. A young third generation is also involved on the farm; Charlie and Ben. In fact, Charles Keddy Farm Ltd. is the largest sweet potato producer East of Ontario. Their sweet potatoes can be purchased at Sobeys, Walmart, Avery’s, Foote’s Farm Market, and Sterling’s under the name of Valley Harvest Sweet Potatoes. The Keddy’s also sell asparagus roots, rhubarb crowns, along with raspberry & blackberry canes. Katie says that her favourite part about being a farmer, is that no two days are alike. She also shares that it is a privilege caring for and working with the land.

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Hollewand Farm

Canning, Kings County

Rene and Jose van Vilsteren started Hollewand Farm in 1989. They moved to Canning, NS from the Netherlands in 1988. Hollewand Farm is a pig farm. Originally, the farm was focused on raising weaner pigs but they have been transitioning to a breeder farm which now has roughly 1,000 sows. Their daughter Claudia works on the farm part-time, while also working full-time at Eden Valley Poultry. She says, “Even though I do not plan to take over the business after my parents retire, I will always have the pigs to thank for introducing me to the agricultural industry; an industry that I believe to be very important in many ways!” Claudia graduated with a degree in Animal Science from the Agricultural Campus in Truro.

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Trivee Farms Ltd.

St. Andrews, Antigonish

St. Andrews, Antigonish County is home to Trivee Farms Ltd. Mandy and William Vosman and their two young children Hayden and Mira operate this 65-year-old dairy farm. Mandy has been farming at Trivee Farms Ltd. for 4 years now but she has been involved in farming all her life. She grew up on a dairy farm Milford, NS. The Vosman’s farm a total of 300 acres growing haylage, and corn silage for their herd of Holstein and Jersey cows. They sell their raw milk to Agropur Cooperative, and products are made available in all grocery retailers.

When asked why she loves to farm she says it’s because she can be her own boss, which allows her to set her own business goals. “It’s very rewarding to see your business grow and it’s a great place to raise a family. Lots of things to learn on the farm!” In her spare time Mandy serves as a Director for Nova Scotia Young Farmers.

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Trivee Farms Ltd. Recipe

Archibald Dairy Inc.

New Town, Guysborough County

Dale Archibald and Jonathan Waugh are the owners of Archibald Dairy Inc. This dairy farm operates on 900 acres of land in New Town, Guysborough County, NS.

The farm is 85 years old, and Jonathan who is 24 years old, has spent a large portion of his life on the family farm, from part time during school to full time once he was finished school. Jonathan is a Director for Nova Scotia Young Farmers. The farm also has a custom drag line manure company. Cool!

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Archibald Dairy Inc.'s Recipe

David Bent Farms Ltd.

Middleton Annapolis County

The Bents have been farming for 26 years under the name David Bent Farms Ltd.  David and Pamela Bent, and their children Chad, Nick and Jillian farm together. They have a dairy farm milking 110 cows and cropping 600 acres. They grow forages and corn as feed for the cows. The farm is located in Middleton, Nova Scotia. The milk produced on the farm is sold to Agropur, which processes it into the dairy products such as cream, milk, yogurt, ice-cream, and butter. These products can be found at most local retailers.  In 2018, the Bent’s built a a major barn addition to add more stalls in a bright tarp barn, and their second robotic milking system. This family loves working together, with the animals, and enjoys that everyday on the farm is different. Jillian and her brother Chad have plans to take over the farm when their parents retire.

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David Bent Farms Ltd.s Recipe

Valleyside Holsteins Ltd.

Southside Road Upper Stewiacke

Rebecca and Alex Archibald dairy farm in Upper Stewiacke, NS on a farm that is more than 60 years old. Rebecca is the 5th generation to farm on their property in her family. Alex and Rebecca started farming on their own just over 3 years ago under the name “Valleyside Holsteins Ltd.” They milk about 35 cows and crop 180 acres of land as feed for the cattle. Both Rebecca and Alex enjoy showing cows at fairs and exhibitions.  They farm because they love the landscape, working with animals, and the close-knit agricultural community they are apart of.

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Valleyside Holsteins Ltd.'s Recipe

Wilmar Acres Ltd.

Sheffield Mills Kings County, NS

Wilmar Acres Ltd. is a family run farm in Sheffield Mills, Nova Scotia. The farm specializes in chicken and onion production. Young farmers, Rachel and her brother Matthew, work alongside their uncles Peter and John Swetnam. Wilmar Acres was originally started by their grandfather 62 years ago. Their products can be purchased at local retailers. The onions are marketed under Country Magic Produce.

Both Rachel and Matthew love farming. Rachel loves that there is always something new to learn, and Matthew loves that everyday brings different opportunities.

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Wilmar Acres Ltd.'s Recipe

den Haan Greenhouses

Lawrencetown NS

Luke and his wife Jodi operate 8 acres under glass just outside Middleton.  Their tomatoes and cucumbers are now available year round in Loblaws and Sobeys stores, as well as many farm markets and independent retailers across the Maritimes.

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Den Haan Greenhouses' Recipe

Apple Lane Farm Inc.

54 Prospect Rd Berwick

Doug and Marlene Nichols of Apple Lane Farm Inc. raised their four children on their family homestead that was once Doug’s grandparents. This 100-acre apple farm has been passed down from generation to generation. The Nichols operate primarily a fruit farm, with over 25 varieties of apples. They also grow pears, peaches, cherries, plums, raspberries, strawberries, vegetables, and fresh and dried flowers. Harvest begins in the summer with strawberries and stretches into early November as they finish off the apple harvest. Doug and Marlene continue to sell apples into the winter through the use of cold storage. They strive to produce a quality fruit, that is tree ripened and unmatched in flavour. Apple Lane Farm opens their roadside stand in early summer as things begin to ripen. The roadside stand is open rain or shine! Their fruit can also be found anywhere that Scotian Gold apples are sold. The Nichols have been blessed to share their farm and produce with many visitors and friends who stop by their roadside stand.

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Apple Lane Farm's Recipe

Van Dyk’s By Nature

696 West Caledonia Road Caledonia, NS

Van Dyk’s By Nature is a wild blueberry and honey bee farm located in Caledonia, NS. The farm is owned by Peter, Leo, Charles, Jeannie and Nichole Van Dyk. In total, 600 acres are farmed. The honey bees are used to pollinate the wild blueberry plants but also add honey products to their farm. The Van Dyk’s make 100% Pure Wild Blueberry Juice, Pure Gently Dried Wild Blueberries, Wild Blueberry Blossom Honey and Wild Flower Honey which is sold through their website, Sobeys stores, Wiles Lake Farm Market, just to name a few! They have been farming for 34 years and still run a blueberry harvester on one of their very first tractors bought in the 1980’s!  When asked what they love about farming, “It’s working with family, and teaching others about agriculture”.

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Wild Blueberry Lemonade

Country Magic Produce

1225 Middle Dyke Rd. Centerville, NS

Country Magic products are grown on more than 2,500 acres of the rich soils of the Annapolis Valley (Avonport to Middleton). Dykeview Farms Ltd, Blueberry Acres, and Vital Berry Farms, are the farming operations under Country Magic, while Nova Agri Inc. is the marketing arm focusing on packing, storage, research and innovation.  Dykeview Farms is celebrating its 50^th year of farming, proudly owned by six families who actively work in the operation each day. Their primary crops grown for domestic and export markets include highbush blueberries, onions, potatoes, grape tomatoes, blackberries, strawberries, with grains as rotational crops. Country Magic has quality control and research programs to explore new crops, new products and improved processes as part of their commitment to continual improvement, quality, and safe food choices for our customers. They are dedicated to producing quality Country Magic products that will be part of their customer’s healthy lifestyle.

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Country Magic Greek Style Lemon Potatoes

Little Dorset Farm- The Legg Family

10832 HWY 224 Middle Musquodoboit, NS

Little Dorset Farms was established in 1975 on a 143 year-old farm stead on 600 acres in the
Musquodoboit Valley by Maureen and Ambrose Legg. The farm is named after where Ambrose’s ancestors farmed for many generations in the Marshwood Vale district of Dorset, England. The Farm has remained a family run operation since day one and 45 years later Glenn (the eldest son) is now taking the reins for the next generation with a little one of his own. Little Dorset Farm grows a large selection of crops from Barley, Oats, Winter Wheat, Soybeans, Cattle Corn, Grasses and Clover which is used to feed the Beef, Hogs and Free Ranged Chicken they raise on the farm for their Musquodoboit retail store. Little Dorset Farms have been doing retail since 1982 and offer a large selection of choices, beef and pork cuts, whole chicken and pieces, homemade meat pies, homemade sausages, bacon, and hams.

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Little Dorset Farm Pork Stir Fry

Cochrane Family Farm

5324 Hwy 289 Upper Stewiacke, NS

Cochrane Family Farm, is a certified organic, family owned and operated 30 acre farm with a country store on farm. The Cochrane’s raise and sell local, homemade, organic products and aim to offer a wide variety of high-quality, nutrient dense vegetables, herbs and seeds following a permaculture methodology. They view themselves as partners with their customers, employees, community and most importantly their environment. The Cochrane’s aim to become a destination for providing their customers with not only high quality food, but also to educate and empower their clients to have the desire and the abilities to make better, healthier food choices. They offer on farm workshops throughout the year. Frank, Lisa, and Julie do not use any chemicals in their farming practices; no pesticides, herbicides, chemical cleaning agents or growth accelerators. Their main focus is producing vegetables, heirloom seeds and medicinal and culinary herbal products.

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D.R. Atkinson Farming Ltd.

225 West Brook Road Southampton, NS

David Atkinson farms with his family on D.R. Atkinson Farming Ltd. where he manages 200 acres of wild blueberries and 725 acres of woodlot. David also has an excavation business too. The farm is 100 years old with David farming for 24 years of that time. David enjoys being a farmer because he can be his own boss, have flexible hours, and work with his children Kensie and Claire. The wild blueberries produced on the farm are processed with Oxford Frozen Foods. In addition to the wild blueberries and woodlot, you can find a for-fun feature on the farm- an MX track!

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Wild Blueberry Jam

Revival Seeds

77 Delusion Road Middleton

The story of Revival Seed starts in 1903 with family ancestors moving to Canada and and farming in the Prairies. Today, a 4th and 5th generation of Byrka family seed savers are fortunate enough to have retained a few of the original heirloom varieties along with the growing knowledge and seed selection. The seed saving tradition was officially revived in 2017, almost 100 years after the original garden plots and trials were first carried out on the prairie soils near Riding Mountain, Manitoba. Revival Seeds is located in the beautiful Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada. The farm and business is owned and operated by Ken and Kathy Byrka, along with their daughters Rachel, Mallory, and Victoria. The  family is committed to providing hardy heirloom, open pollinated, and diverse seed varieties that are grown under organic production principles that contribute the tradition of the original family farm.

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Poynton Farms Ltd. (Newcombes Sweet Corn)

1111 Hwy 341 Upper Canard, Kings County

Poynton Farms is home to Newcombe’s Sweet Corn where Ian Newcombe and Andrea Palmer farm about 120 acres growing Sweet Corn, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Blueberries and rotational crops. Ian and Andrea operate a successful farm stand specializing in sweet corn.  They have developed a reputation for having the best sweet corn in the valley with a following that has spread throughout Nova Scotia. The farm stand is open from late July to Labour Day Monday. Ian and Andrea are proud that youth from their community have operated the stand for many years, including their now-grown children.

Over his 30+ years, Ian has carefully selected the best-tasting varieties to keep customers coming back for more. They serve with a smile, and share the proper cooking techniques for corn so that it stays as sweet as it was on the stalk. The secret?? Steam your corn for 3-5 minutes, just enough to warm it up and melt your butter. Some people even enjoy it raw!

Poynton Farm is also known for their large, painted signs that line the road leading to the stand. People love to pose for pictures with ‘Big Ian’ – and get a bigger thrill if Ian happens to be there to pose with them.

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Fresh Corn Salsa

Elmridge Farm

765 Bains Rd, Centreville, Nova Scotia

Elmridge Farm is a third generation family farm located in the beautiful Annapolis Valley. Owned and operated by Greg and Suzanne Gerrits, their two children Gillian and James and a dedicated team of local and international farm workers. They grow a wide variety of fresh market fruit and vegetables, the majority of which are grown pesticide free.

Pesticide free indicates that the item has been grown without the use of conventional pesticides by using natural biological controls and good management.  Compost and green manure are used as their main source of fertilizer. After 25 years of adopting safer, more natural ways to grow produce, they have reduced conventional pesticide use by 95%.  They continue to develop better ways of growing produce safely and naturally. Crops the Gerrits’ have successfully grown pesticide free are labeled as such so their customers know exactly what they are getting .

Their produce can be purchased at many farm markets and farmers’ markets throughout the province.

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Snowy River Farms

15439 HWY 224, Cooks Brook, Nova Scotia

The Hill Family operates a small family farm located in Cooks Brook, Nova Scotia. They are Mom (Amy) and Dad (David) to their children Ayla and Ezekiel and passionate growers of food that you can feel good about feeding to your own family.  Snowy River Farms is committed to providing consumers with pasture-raised, products created in a humane and ecologically friendly manner. They strive to use what nature provides to fuel our bodies, minds, and souls. Their livestock are pasture and woods raised, fed fruits and veggies and their feed is certified non-GMO so you can be comfortable knowing they feed them only what nature provides. Their produce and herbs are grown naturally without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or biosolids and focus greatly on companion planting methods. 

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View Snowy River Farms' Recipe >

Sullivan’s Family Farm

161 Sullivan Road, Nuttby, Nova Scotia

Sullivan’s Family Farm is a small family farm that sits near the top of Nuttby Mountain. The Farm has been in the Sullivan family for generations and although it hasn’t been active for many years, Ryan and Chelsea moved back with their family (7 year old, and 3 year old twins) and have started to reactivate it. 

The farm focuses on naturally raised meats! This includes a recognized Heritage breed of pig call Berkshire. They sell Berkshire Pork and Berkshire Piglets. Sullivan’s’ raise their Swine in a mix of pasture and wood lots, with lots of room to forage, play and thrive! Their Poultry (meat kings and laying hens) are certified free range meaning they have access to outdoors at all times. The Sullivan’s also sell live poultry which consists of Day-Old Meat Chicks, Laying Chicks and Ready-To-Lay Hens between Spring and Fall of each year.  You can pick up Sullivan’s processed Chicken and fresh seasonal veggies at the Farm. Dexter’s Butcher Block in Tatamagouche carries their free-range eggs and chicken. And- Sullivan’s also offer a portable Petting Farm which comes to you!

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Cornwallis Farm Ltd.

Port Williams, Nova Scotia

Craig, Geneve, Brian, Edna, David and Evan Newcombe farm together under the name Cornwallis Farm Ltd. This 10th generation family farm has been in operation since 1761 and consists of 1,700 acres in the Annapolis Valley and is home to dairy cows, laying hens, and broiler chickens.  In addition, the farm produces a number of crops and has an on-farm feed mill to provide feed for all of their livestock.

The Newcombes laying hen operation consists of 21,000 laying hens that produce about 20,000 table eggs daily. The eggs are shipped to Atlantic Poultry Inc. for grading and distribution under the Nova Egg label. They have six chicken broiler barns that produce 1.4 million kilograms of meat each year. Their broilers are shipped to Eden Valley Poultry for processing and distribution. Sixty-five dairy cows are housed in a free-stall barn. The cows are milked twice a day in a milking parlour. The milk is processed through Agropur Cooperative. All of their farm products are available in your local grocery stores.

The Newcombe’s take great pride in our family farm and in being able to provide Nova Scotian families with safe, nutritious food that is available in your local grocery stores.

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View Cornwallis Farm's Recipe >

Manning Family Farm

50 Oakdale Lane, Falmouth, Nova Scotia

Manning Family Farm started in the mid-1960s with Dean’s parents, Malcolm and Gail, purchasing the present farm location in Falmouth, Nova Scotia. It has since developed into a mixed farm operation consisting of greenhouses, vegetables, grain and beef cattle. Dean and Catherine returned to the farm in 1997 after completing their respective degrees in Plant and Animal Sciences at the NSAC and working off farm for about 10 years. For a long period of time, produce was sold through an on-site market, and is now sold by wholesaling to other local markets. Over the years they have also been able to extend our growing season to almost year-round production. Their commercial and purebred beef herd compliments the vegetable production with approximately 80 breeding females and 8 bulls. Dean and Catherine have two children who are both in university.

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View Manning Family Farm's Recipe >

My Grandfather’s Farm

1824 Middle River Road, Union Centre, Nova Scotia

Darrell and Vonda Roddick were looking for a place to live when they retired and Darrell’s Grandfather’s farm kept drawing the couple in, first as a cottage and now it’s a small farm! The farm was established in 2018.

The Roddick’s sell produce, berries, cut flowers, herbs, rhubarb, pickles, preserves, jams, jellies and beer bread! They also sell vegetables during the winter from their small greenhouse. My Grandfather’s Farm is hoping to have corn for popping this year and some apples, peaches and pears!

My Grandfather’s farm has a farm shop located at 1824 Middle River Road, Westville, NS and they also sell at the New Glasgow Farmers Market and have a Market cart they use to sell in Westville, Nova Scotia.

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View My Grandfather's Farm's Recipe >