Katie’s Farm and Organic Dog Bakery
(Photo courtesy Shari Tucker Photo)
Jude Major had been farming since the seventies, but had never really given her farm a name. That is until 2001, when she decided to open Canada’s first and only certified organic pet bakery. From that point on, the farm was named after Katie, a small black dog who supervises all of the activities on “her” farm.
Katie’s Farm can be found on the eastern shore of Nova Scotia, where it grows all of its own ingredients for the dog bakery. Chickens, eggs, garlic, herbs, and vegetables are all grown according to Maritime Certified Organic Growers (MCOG) standards, and organic grains are purchased from the Speerville Mill in New Brunswick.
Jude certified the farm as organic when she decided to expand commercially. Up until that point she knew all of her customers, and they knew her methods of production. However, the addition of the organic pet bakery meant dealing with a lot of new people, and she wanted them to be assured of the integrity of her products.
“I do things organically because I think it’s important,” says Jude. “I’m an old hippie from the sixties, I learned a long time ago about the issues involved in food production, and that was just not where I wanted to go. I’ve always done things organically.”
Farming in a non-agricultural location can be a challenge, and Jude is the only person in her area who makes a living from her farm. She feels that the challenge is worth it though, and that her organic pet bakery is an important first for Canada.
“People are understanding why it is important to do things organically and eat organically, but there is still a blind spot around dogs and cats. We feed our livestock organically, but what about our pets? There needs to be an extension of the respect we show to our livestock,” explains Jude.
Jude does her part by playing the role of “dog chef”, a position she has proven to be quite successful in. She whips up ten different types of dog treats, including “Pup”ernickel Pups, Doggie Bagels, and Peanut “Better” Bears, along with several special treats for dogs with allergies. There are also Pup Cakes, tasty little cakes adored by dogs and humans alike. Of course, cats are also catered to, with both Seaside and Garden treats. Treats from Katie’s Farm never containmeat, salt, sugar, corn, or soy, and Jude is more than happy to prepare special customer orders or custom formulations.
Having recently bought more land, Jude is looking to expand her vegetable beds and bakery. Her dream is to eventually open a storefront dog bakery. Until then, culinary creations from Katie’s Farm Organic Dog Bakery are available at the Halifax Farmer’s Market, Global Pet Foods, The Henhouse, Great Ocean Natural Foods, P’lovers, The Grainery, and by phone or mail order. Pet lovers can also visit Katie’s Farm online at www.katiesfarm.ca.
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