NS Organic Farmers

• PEI Farmers
• New Brunswick Farmers
• Angelhoeve Organic Farm - Come visit this old fashioned mixed farmlocated in Canning.
• Ballymena Farm - organic grains galore
• Boates Farm - An experienced father-son team of apple farmers.
• Boulangerie La Vendeenne - Try their fresh organic breads at various locations throughout the province.
• Bruce Family Farm - A mixed farm that has been in the family for generations.
• Casson Family Farm - This vegetable farm, located in Tatamagouche, is a great place to visit
• Ecocentric Organic Farm - organic culinary herbs
• Farmásea Co-op Ltd. - handcrafted organic salves and ointments
• Farmer John’s Herbs - This organic processor packs a lot of spice into its business.
• Forever Green Organic Farm - Seven generations of high quality farming.
• Four Seasons Farm - Innovative and experimental, variety and quality.
• Foxmill Ltd - local and organic specialty oils: flax, sunflower, canola and more!
• Hope Seeds and Perennials - organic heirloom seeds for all of your vegetable needs.
• Horse and Garden Farm - CSA, raspberry U-pick, horses and more.
• Inglis Orchard View - 32 varieties of apples!
• Ironwood Farms - a place to slow down and notice the delightful aspects of farm life.
• Joe's Juice Co. - Healthy wheatgrass super juice!.
• Katie’s Farm and Organic Dog Bakery - Dogs deserve organic too!
• Lazy Brook Farm - Organic blueberries and a healing touch.
• Nova Bluewater Farm - Organic vegetables grown on a seaside hill-top in DeBaies Cove.
• Oakhaven Organic Farm - Try delicious organic granola and fresh bread in Granville Ferry.
• Oakmanor Farm - You can find this mixed farm in Hants County.
• Pinnacle Farm - Animals cared for with love and compassion.
• Pumpkin Moon Herb Farm - Vibrant and fresh herbal teas.
• Shani's Farm - organic food for life.
• Stewart Organic Farms - Apples, apple cider, highbush blueberries, and other mixed berries.
• Suprima Farms - Come visit this Kyoto friendly orchard, located in Sheffield Mills.
• TapRoot Farms - 2010 Outstanding Young Farmers with the largest CSA in Atlantic Canada.
• Van Meekeren - unique organic apple variety "wink".
• Waldegrave Farm - Combining old techniques with new ideas.
• Wild Rose Farm - organic gourmet farm

Casson Family Farm

“I’m making my living without taking anything from anyone, and I’m leaving a small footprint,” says Marcus Casson, of Casson Family Farms.

Marcus has been farming commercially for 10 years, four of which have been at his current location in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia. His 60-acre property, which is located on top of “a mountain and a gravel pit”, includes three greenhouses and six acres of field gardens.

“I grow almost all vegetables, except potatoes,” says Marcus, “11 varieties of peppers, 9 kinds of tomatoes, 6 types of squash, watermelon, cantaloupe, spinach, and beet greens!” His products are sold at the farm and at the Truro Farmers Market, along with some independent grocery stores and restaurants.

Casson Family Farms has been certified by Maritime Certified Organic Growers for about three years.

In his earlier years of farming, Marcus had a small customer base that knew he farmed organically; therefore, he didn’t find it necessary to certify. When Marcus wanted to expand this base, he decided that it would be beneficial to obtain the organic certification. At the present time, he still sells a lot of his products as conventional, but he is hoping that in the future, as people develop a greater awareness of the benefits of local organic produce, being organically certified will become more profitable.

Growing vegetables has always been a passion for Marcus, who started his first garden in high school, and when he decided to grow commercially, he knew it would be using organic standards. “There was never any doubt in my mind about farming organically,” states Marcus. He says he has seen too many instances of pesticide use gone wrong and does not want to use chemicals on his products.

Marcus currently sees many challenges in the farming industry. Public support for farmers is weak, and it is difficult to get long-term, hired farm help (Marcus’ father, who is a graduate of the Agricultural College, some friends, and WWOOFers currently provide much the labour for Casson Family Farms). The weather has also proven to be a challenge this year, as it has been extremely rainy in Nova Scotia, “and this means that our prices must increase.”

Yet, Marcus Casson remains optimistic. In the future, he’d like to produce “a larger volume of better products,” build sales, and create a farm that will continue for generations to come. In Marcus’ mind, organic agriculture is “a way for a little guy to get back into the market”.

Casson Family Farm