Jim Newson picked up an interest in organic agriculture during his long career as an Agrologist. After a mixed career in agriculture that took him all over the world, he worked almost twenty-three years with the P.E.I. Department of Agriculture. Jim was an advocate for organic production methods during his Agrologist career on the Island, and he looked forward to being able to retire and practice what he preached. In 2002, he retired professionally and began to realize his organic dream on 45 pastoral acres in New Glasgow PEI, where he and his wife Betty decided to set up a Bed and Breakfast. With an amazing view of the River Clyde and Rustico Bay from their back deck, Caleb’s Outlook, organic farm and B&B, boasts one of the best views on Prince Edward Island.
Jim started growing organic vegetables to supply the B&B while his wife, Betty Newson, as a professional dietician and the hostess of the B&B, cooks with the fresh garden produce – adding fresh tomatoes to her morning omelet or fresh strawberries to the fruit mix. “It’s very complementary to have a B&B and an extensive garden,” says Jim.
Pretty soon though, Jim’s “garden” outgrew their own needs and the needs of the breakfast plates for the B&B. Jim decided to apply to become certified and set up a farm stand beside their driveway. The farm stand sells some mixed vegetables, but the most popular items from Caleb’s Outlook are the small fruits.
Strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb and black currants are Jim’s specialties, and in fact they are famous world wide for them – as their B&B guests are from all around the globe. Guests are always delighted to discover fresh organically grown fruit in the backyard and Jim has worked hard to make the landscape (already boasting an amazing view) as picturesque as possible. The amazing view is painted with the lush green patches of rotational forages between his impeccable berry gardens.
Though many of Caleb’s Outlook’s berries are sold as preserves to the Japanese market, it doesn’t mean that they don’t have any leftover berries for the local market, in fact, the U-pick strawberries are much in demand both by Islanders and summer guests.
Jim’s future aspirations for the farm include continuing to develop the agri-tourism business by offering more educational opportunities. Jim is also looking at experimenting with permaculture techniques and developing a rose and herb garden where he can serve tea or lemonade. Jim’s father is a prize winning rose grower and has won first prize for his roses in the Charlottetown competitions for the past number of years. Jim plans on taking advantage of his father’s green thumb and experience to develop his own rose garden, which he began to plant in 2007.
A quiet and well-respected couple – Jim and Betty Newson have found their own perfect niche amongst the picturesque hills of New Glasgow, PEI with the small organic farm and their B&B! They welcome visitors in season and encourage guests to breath in the view while they enjoy the fruit and vegetable gardens.
www.peisland.com/calebsoutlook
