"We've always been interested in preserving heritage varieties of fruit, vegetables and livestock," says Tina Davies, of Emmerdale Eden Farm. Active members of both Rare Breeds Canada and Seeds of Diversity, Tina and Arthur Davies strive to have only heritage breeds and heirloom vegetables in order to preserve endangered species of livestock and plants. "It's a great way of promoting the importance of genetic diversity as well," claims Tina, "you never know when we'll need these breeds in the future."
Charmed by the quieter pace and rural atmosphere of the Island, Tina and her husband, Reverend Doctor Arthur Davies migrated east in 2004 from Central Ont. where Arthur had been practicing ordained ministry in the United Church of Canada since 1989. They longed to "get away from the hectic lifestyle and congestion" and return to a rural community, as they had been dairy farmers in Eastern Ont. during the 1970’s & 80’s. Slowly they began to realize their dreams by researching a possible move to the Maritimes to continue ministry as well as start an organic heritage livestock farm.
For Tina and Arthur, this meant researching organic agriculture techniques in order to extend their home garden (which Tina had always kept for fresh non-certified organic food to feed the family) into a full market garden. Tina spent two years attending workshops, Guelph Organic conference, EFAO kitchen table meetings, researching crops and learning alternative methods for livestock husbandry to prepare for the new venture.
Their dreams became a reality when they found an old Victorian farmhouse on 70 acres of land, with 35 acres cleared in Linkletter PEI, now known as Emmerdale Eden Farm.
Rev. Arthur continues to work both full-time positions, happy to be part of a sustainable family farm providing nourishing, chemical-free local produce to the community, as well as being part of the ministerial team at Trinity United Church in Summerside where he is a full-time Reverend.
Their son Alex, has also taken up the family business. In addition to helping out on the farm, he applies his skills and training to the creation and maintenance of the website and other marketing tools for the farm.
Tina and Arthur’s daughter Caitlin and her family followed from Ontario in 2006 to establish Bonniebrook Farm east of Summerside, an 8-acre parcel now certified organic as well. Sharing the family’s love and concern for sustainable living & endangered species, Caitlin also raises sheep, New Hampshire chickens, Small Beltsville White turkeys, Saxony ducks and maintains a large garden to feed her family.
Emmerdale Eden Farm is an old-fashioned mixed farm, with Large Black pigs, Dorset Horn sheep, and a variety of heritage poultry. A Shire gelding and a donkey complete the menagerie. Their market garden offers a wide selection of unique heirloom vegetables in a multitude of colours and flavours, which are offered year round at the Spring Street Farmer’s Market in Summerside, various Island restaurants, and at the farm gate. It is evident that their careful selection and research into organics and heritage varieties has led them to collect a special array of farm treats for their customers. In fact, Tina only uses heirloom seed varieties in her vegetable garden, relying one hundred percent on the cultivars of the past. Additionally, all of their livestock are on the Rare Breeds list! “Preserving endangered species and supporting genetic diversity for a sustainable future is incredibly important to us,” says Rev. Arthur Davies.
When asked why they chose to pursue certified organic agriculture, Tina and Arthur respond with heavy hearts, "In the ministry, we see so much illness all of the time, and we believe much of it is caused from food and the chemical ways in which we produce food today." They think that healthy organic food is part of the solution in bringing back a state of health to their community, both environmentally and physically. "We want to leave the land in better shape than when we first came and we believe that following organic standards of agriculture is a concrete way of showing that we're doing our best."
Tina and Arthur are rare breeds themselves, and PEI is fortunate to have them.
