Ironwood Farms
Rupert
Jannasch, of Avonmouth Farms, wishes for a day when the work of farmers
is fully appreciated and when someone might ask something like "who's
your farmer?" in the same fashion as we ask, "who's your doctor?" –– in
the recognition that health and healthy food are pillars of human life.
Situated
at the mouth of the Avon River in Hants County Nova Scotia, with a
quaint 1850's farmhouse, a large greenhouse, a smaller mixed garden and
a brightly coloured, vibrant highbush-blueberry field, Avonmouth Farm
is a place to take time to "smell the roses" (so to speak). Looking
around the farm and gardens is a chance to notice the little details
that show the generations of care invested in the farm. In the
distance, lush forest surrounds the open acres of farmland; a little
closer a happy cat slowly makes its way through clusters of small trees
that act as a windbreak for the new crops of high-bush blueberries;
even closer still - a squash happily dangles from the branch of a tree
that shades the farmhouse. Avonmouth Farm is a place to slow down and
notice the little, delightful aspects of farm life. And you're bound to
find some sort of treat: like raspberries ripening in late October ––
tricked by the Indian summer.
Rupert did not grow up
on a farm, however he has been involved in agriculture for as long as
he can remember. Rupert revisited his European roots after high school
and worked as an apprentice on a German farm. He traveled and worked on
farms across Europe, as well as Israel & New Zealand, where he
followed his interest in sheep farming. Later, he received his Masters
degree at the Agricultural College in Truro.
Rupert
purchased Avonmouth Farm in 2004 from an elderly friend. He grows ten
varieties of highbush blueberries, raspberries, squash, different
varieties of grape tomatoes (available seasonally in Sobeys
supermarkets, other stores, and the Halifax Farmers Market) and
greenhouse and heirloom tomatoes.
Rupert is committed
to operating an "ecological farm," which is largely self-sufficient. As
part of this plan, he is starting a small livestock enterprise to
supply manure and compost. He looks forward to his farm becoming an
integral part of his community and is well on his way! Rupert's ideals
and farming philosophy have already influenced many of the farmers in
Nova Scotia, and it is starting to spread to local consumers,
occasionally to the point where people are beginning to ask:
"Who's your farmer?"
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