Nestled in the “buckle of the potato belt” in Freetown, PEI, is an organic needle in the haystack of conventional potato growers: Barnyard Organics.
Mark and Sally Bernard are not only the sole organic producers in their area of the Island, they are also among the youngest. At Barnyard Organics, a former conventional potato farm was given a new lease on life as an organic grain and livestock operation.
After graduating from Mount Allison University, Sally attended the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Truro where she met her future husband, Mark. After college, Mark and Sally returned to Mark’s family farm on P.E.I. to begin the transition to organics. The production of organic grains and oilseeds continues to be the main focus of the farm but Sally brought with her to PEI a love for raising livestock and took the opportunity to diversify the farm further. She took up her own family’s trade and decided to become somewhat of a shepherd, keeping sheep for specialty, certified organic lamb. And so, Sally’s flock made the trek across the Confederation Bridge from New Brunswick to Freetown.
The farm produces certified organic grain, soybeans, hay, chicken, and eggs. While grains are the focus of the farm, their farm specialty is without a doubt Sally’s fresh lamb.
Currently, Sally keeps 25 ewes and is increasing the flock as time goes on. Each year she feeds a number of her lambs for the fresh lamb market. The lambs are born in the spring and are ready for market at approximately six months of age in September and October. The sheep are all pastured raised and as young lambs receive a diet of organic oats and soybean to produce a flavourful lamb product that is certified organic. The Bernards take great pride in the fact that they grow all of their own feed, so they know exactly where everything comes from.
Mark’s parents still live on the farm and his father, a former potato farmer, is a great help. Though he had struggled with the idea of organics at first, Mark’s father has come around over the years. “I used to do that as a kid,” he says while learning about new organic methods.
“It seems to me,” says Mark, “that I’m starting to farm more and more like my grandfather did, which generally seems more sustainable and more viable.”
The young couple are bound to have an exciting farming career on the Island; while they are successfully revitalizing their little corner in Freetown,, their efforts extend beyond. They are both active volunteers in the organic and farming community; Mark is involved with the the Certified Organic Producer’s Co-op, and both are active members of Young Farmer’s of PEI. Despite the initial reception of these two (where people were sceptical of the “young hippies”), it is clear they are now set to make a great impact.
