Sébastien Angers & Guylaine Buecheli*
Sébastien Angers & Guylaine Buecheli run Les Viandes Rheintal, an organic livestock operation that produces its own feed using primarily pasture and grass-fed methods. They raise pastured pork and grass-fed beef and manage intensive pasturelands while also growing grain to supplement their pigs’ pasture diet. Français
Paul & Sandy Arnold
Paul & Sandy Arnold, the owners of Pleasant Valley Farm in Argyle, New York, are a wealth of farming and overall agricultural knowledge. They own 60 acres of land and lease 120 acres, and produce over 40 varieties of diverse fruit and vegetable crops on about 5 acres of land. Their produce is sold almost exclusively at near-by farmers’ markets year-round and to a few restaurants. The farm is certified through Certified Naturally Grown and they are a NOFA-NY Pledge member.
Mike Beamish*
Mike Beamish started Beamish Orchards by planting the first apple trees in 1990 and planned to be organic from the beginning. After some struggles, they were able to move to certified organic in 2004, selling their harvest primarily as u-pick. Mike retired from teaching in 2012 and has used the extra time to work on some value-added products like apple butter and has some more products in the pipeline.
Andrea Berry*
Andrea Berry’s interest in seed saving started with her farm apprenticeship in Ontario in 2001. Moving to the Maritimes in 2002 she brought that passion for organic seed farming to her role as Organic Agriculture Coordinator at Falls Brook Centre in New Brunswick. In 2004 she became the owner and principle seed grower for Hope Seeds, which has blossomed from a “spare room” home hobby to a full-time business with a network of organic seed growers, customer base across the continent, and a growing employee base in Belleisle, Nova Scotia. Andrea is on the steering committee of the Eastern Canadian Organic Seed Growers Network (ECOSGN), and has helped bring seed issues to the forefront of the organic farming community in Atlantic Canada. She is the happy mother of Ruby (15 months), and is delighted to be learning more about horse farming and small grains growing with her partner Rick on their farm in the Annapolis Valley.
Brian Boates*
Brian Boates was raised on a family farm in Woodville, NS. He only ever wanted to farm, so besides 2 years at NSAC and gaining a BBA at Acadia University, that is what he has done. Brian farms with his parents (Keith and Charlotte) and shares his life with Karma and their two boys Kaleb (8) and Clark (5). Over the years, the farm has increasingly focused on self-marketing all of the farm’s output: apples, pears, plums, sweet cider and various vinegars. Other value-added ventures include a u-pick, a table at the Historic Farmers Market in Halifax, and growing organic pears in bottles for a local distillery. The farm has been producing organic produce since 1996 and slowly converting to a fully integrated organic farm through new plantings.
Graham Calder
Brought up on 75 acres of subsistence farm, Graham was in the garden before he could walk. With a BA in Human Environment, minor in ecology from Concordia University, he completed his Permaculture Design Certificate with Pacific Permaculture. After having founded his social enterprise in 2009, P3 Permaculture Design, he then received an apprenticeship with Geoff Lawton at the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia. It was there that he also took his specific PDC Teacher Training Certification and an Earthworks certification. He now seeks to enhance the application of the people care ethic within his courses. This is done through sponsoring local farmers and supporting community groups. In the coming year of 2014, he will be traveling to teach in Nova Scotia, Quebec, Lebanon and many other destinations in need of food security. Français
Michael Carr*
Micheal Carr grows organic vegetables, strawberries and potatoes at Jemseg River Farm in Jemseg NB. He grew up and worked on dairy farms in New Brunswick and after pursuing other careers returned to farming in 2009. The farm quickly grew from four acres in 2010 to over eight acres in 2013 and now supports an 85-member CSA, farmers’ market sales and wholesale accounts. Michael sustains a passion for sustainable agriculture and educating new farmers through an internship program.
Peter Chapman
Peter Chapman understands the Canadian food industry. Benefit from this valuable insight as Peter helps you understand your customers and how to sell more products to them. Peter’s company, GPS Business Solutions, provides services to producers and manufacturers who want to increase their sales to large, centrally structured retailers or specialty stores. Prior to starting GPS Business Solutions, Peter worked for 19 years with Canada’s largest food retailer, Loblaws. Peter was responsible for produce, floral, lawn & garden, deli, home meal replacement, seafood and bakery in Atlantic Canada.
Edward Charter
Edward Charter is a professional engineer who trained in both Bioresource and Chemical Engineering at UBC in Vancouver. He has over 20 years of experience working in and for the food and bioscience industry in Canada developing food products for commercial production. He also teaches an introductory course in food product development for chefs at Holland College in Charlottetown.
Alyson Chisholm*
Alyson is not from a farm but worked on farms in Canada and overseas, eventually joining a group of people in Abbotsford, BC, to form a co-op and buy and run an organic vegetable farm. She ran her own business there selling salad greens and eggs for almost 10 years before meeting Will and moving to NB to run their own farm in McKees Mills. Now Alyson and Will run a 100 member CSA, sell their vegetables at a farmer’s market and also raise goats for meat and milk. Alyson teaches an organic gardening course in Moncton each spring to anyone interested in learning how to get started in organic vegetable growing.
Kent Coates
Kent’s experience on his parents’ farm instilled a deep desire to grow food. In 2007, after 12 years as an engineer and with little horticulture experience, Kent (and his wife Ruth) started Nature’s Route Farm with a 28-person CSA and the Sackville Farmers’ Market. In 2012 they built their first vegetable building and stored almost 60,000lbs of root crops. Business has been so good that they will triple their cold storage in 2013. They have grown their CSA to over 250 people from June until November and sell at the Sackville Farmers’ Market and Dieppe Market all year long.
Loïc Dewavrin*
An engineer by training, Loïc transitioned the family’s 1500-acre grain operation 20 years ago. The farm boasts an oilseed cold-pressing facility and a flour mill in the works. Loïc is also an active board member of La Coop Agrobio du Quebec, a small co-op formed by 22 organic grain farmers. Français
Gilberte Doelle*
Gilberte has been farming (directly or indirectly) since the age of 12. A graduate of NSAC, with a B.Sc. (agr) specializing in horticulture, she has worked for many years with vegetables, small fruits, and greenhouses. Gilberte has been managing Wild Rose Farm since 1995, using mainly French intensive wide beds and permaculture techniques. Certified organic in 2006, the farm (0.58 acres total) produces over 7,000 lb of produce each year (winter too!), supplying farmers’ markets, restaurants, and the general public. Wild Rose Farm’s CSA program was launched in 2005 (Nova Scotia’s longest running CSA – small but mighty!), and they launched their own line of herbal tea blends in 2010. Gilberte also grows seed for commercial production, working primarily with Hope Seeds in the Annapolis Valley, NS. In 2011 Gilberte received the Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Digby Board of Trade.
Matt Dykerman*
Matt Dykerman is a third generation vegetable farmer from Prince Edward Island. Having grown up learning the business of conventional vegetables, Matt believed that there was opportunity to grow and sell organic vegetables to the wholesale marketplace. In 2009, with the support of his family, he started Red Soil Organics, a farm dedicated exclusively to organic production. Today, they farm 60+ acres of mixed vegetables, including carrots, broccoli, green and yellow beans, cauliflower, cabbage, and rutabaga, as well as 100+ acres of grains and cover crops. Red Soil Organics is solely focused on selling their vegetables to retailers and distributors in Atlantic and Eastern Canada.
Rob English
Rob English currently works with the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture as a project consultant. Prior to coming to the Department, he farmed for 25 years with Jolly Farmer, was part of the management team and was heavily involved in the production of compost and greenhouse mixes for 20 years. Rob has been active in the agricultural community for many years, serving as president of Maritime Certified Organic Growers Coop, was a director of ACORN during its formative years, and most recently served as president of the Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick, and he remains a strong advocate for agriculture.
Claude Gélineau
Involved in the development of the organic and biodynamic movement in Québec since 1977, Claude Gélineau has shared his knowledge and research as a teacher and a lecturer. From 1980 to 1999, Claude gave many courses in biodynamics and to dairy producers in transition to organic production. Since 2000, Claude has been a full-time teacher at ITA La Pocatière, an agricultural technical school. His main field of focus is vegetable and fruit production. In 2006, Claude started a research project for table grape production in cold climates. Over 75 varieties were trialed to determine the most suitable for our northern climate. Since the fall of 2009, Claude has been teaching a course on organic table grape production. Français
Amanda Hachey
Amanda has Bachelor of Business Administration from UNB Saint John and a Master’s in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability from Sweden. With economic and community development agencies she has worked with small-to-medium sized enterprises, co-operatives and communities in strategic planning, civic engagement, facilitation and capacity building. She gained a global perspective during projects in the US, France, Panama, Vietnam, and Sweden. Amanda has been working as a Co-op Developer with the Co-operative Enterprise Council of NB since October 2010 assisting groups form co-operatives and social enterprise businesses. She is a founding member/board member of La Bikery Co-operative and a board member of OMISTA Credit Union. Amanda works passionately to help communities, and organizations leave this beautiful world even better than we found it! Français
Dr. Andrew Hammermeister
Dr. Andrew Hammermeister grew up on a mixed grain and beef farm in southeast Saskatchewan. His interest in agriculture led him to studies in soil science which later expanded to graduate work in land reclamation and applied ecology. With an interest in applying theory to practice, Andy became interested in link between ecology, soil and organic agriculture. He started working at the OACC in 2002 and has since worked on projects including crop rotations, soil amendments and soil fertility management and weed management for crops including cereals, soybean, flax, pumpkin, potato and most recently small fruits like black currant and haskap. Andy is now Director of the OACC, and oversees the Organic Science Cluster, the national science program for organic agriculture funded by organic stakeholders and AAFC. Français
Roger Henry
Roger Henry is currently working in the soils and water program at AAFC and has extensive background in composting and organic production systems. Roger has also worked throughout the region directly with farmers and various levels of government in a wide-range of extension capacities. He was the regional organic diary specialist for Organic Meadow when they set up the organic dairy production on PEI. Roger is also a farmer himself, operating a small livestock operation in Stanely Bridge, PEI.
Dan Kittredge
Executive Director of the Bionutrient Food Association and Real Food Campaign, Dan Kittredge is the son of prominent leaders in the organic movement, and has been an organic farmer since childhood. His experience managing organic farms and developing sustainable agriculture techniques has connected him to farmers in Central America, Russia, India and the United States. Dan is passionate about raising the quality of nutrition in our food supply through collaboration with committed individuals, businesses, and organizations that support the value of people growing and eating really good food. Français
Jodi Koberinski
Jodi Koberinski has made a career of transforming food systems as an entrepreneur and as an advocate. A pioneer in small scale organic processing, Jodi has experience with product research and development, certification, organic sourcing, marketing, and business planning. Jodi has served on numerous working groups and Boards including Certified Organic Associations of BC, Small Scale Food Processors Association, Food Secure Canada, and Sustain Ontario. Recently, Jodi was invited to join the Organic Value Chain Round Table based on her diverse experience and contributions within the organic sector, and has served as the Organic Council of Ontario’s Executive Director since 2009. Français
Jodi E. Lew-Smith, Ph.D.*
Jodi Lew-Smith, Ph.D, Director of Research and Development for High Mowing Seeds, joined the seed company in 2003 as the Seed Disease Specialist. She earned her undergraduate degree from Smith College in 1989, her M.S. in Botany from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in 1992, and her Ph.D. in Plant Biology from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 1998. She studied turnip crinkle virus infection of Arabidopsis thaliana for her master’s degree, and then regulation of telomeric DNA ends for her doctorate degree. From 1998-2002 she was a Senior Editor on the BioKnowledge Library™ family of scientific databases. In that position she developed a comprehensive database of protein information for the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. At High Mowing Seeds she established a seed testing laboratory for evaluating germination rates, seed health, and diagnostic consultation on plant diseases. More recently she established the breeding program at High Mowing and oversees organic breeding projects in the crops of cherry tomato, butternut squash, kabocha squash, summer squashes, pumpkins, peppers, and sweet corn. The breeding program focuses on development of varieties that do well in organic production systems, have unique combinations of traits, and are selected primarily for flavor, quality, and reliability.
John Lewis
John Lewis provides expertise and advice primarily to the small fruit industry. He specializes in strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, blueberries, grapes and other minor berry crops. His particular strengths include nutrient management, plant physiology and soil chemistry. He is also interested in alternative production systems and innovative technologies. For 15 years John has coordinated and participated in the Nova Scotia Strawberry and Raspberry Plant Certification Program and has been instrumental in the introduction of the plasticulture system of strawberry production to Nova Scotia. He is the project leader for the Temperature Microclimate Survey of the Annapolis Valley, a project designed to provide data on grape site suitability necessary to foster Nova Scotia’s expanding wine industry. He has also performed cranberry extension and development work.
Tim Livingstone*
Tim Livingstone grew up on a farm in New Hampshire and helped with the care of a variety of livestock. He also managed pasture for grazing sheep. His family grew a big vegetable garden every year as he was growing up. He worked for about 20 years in the greenhouse industry primarily raising bedding plants. In 2001 he started with the production of organic soils and then compost and compost teas. In 2003 Tim and Kirsten took training in soil biology and biological farming. This training continued into 2006 meanwhile Tim worked with growers, landscapers, and farmers to use more biological methods of growing and incorporate compost teas, etc. Ever since his time with the sheep, he’s wanted to have the opportunity to manage pasture again and he loves to take on the challenge of growing crops, now all organically. During the last three years, Tim has been the grower for Jolly Farmer’s outdoor vegetables and been heavily involved in their weekly box program. He now owns and operates Strawberry Hill Farm, a mixed vegetable and livestock operation in Pembroke, NB.
Angus Mellish*
Angus Mellish has been working at Vesey’s Seeds for 10 years, starting out at as the vegetable horticulturist and is now the seed manager. Through his work at Vesey’s he has worked with a wide range of successful vegetable growers, from very small to very large. This cooperation with growers, along with his experience trialling thousands of varieties in the Vesey’s vegetable trials, has given him a good insight into what varieties work for growers here in the Maritimes. Angus has a B.Sc in Plant Science from the NSAC and an M.Sc. in Plant Breeding from the U. of Saskatchewan. In his spare time he grows the seed production for York rutabaga on his home farm in New Perth, PEI and has a roadside pumpkin stand.
Dr. Deb Moreau
Dr. Debra Moreau is a small fruit entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Kentville, Nova Scotia. Her research program focuses on the identification, biology, control and management of insect pests in small fruit cropping systems. In 2011, she confirmed the first record of Spotted Wing Drosophila, a new and invasive pest to Nova Scotia. Since that time, her lab has been actively monitoring this pest in the Maritime Provinces. She is now leading a study that is looking at the biology, associated risks and management of this pest throughout Atlantic Canada. Recent efforts also include collaboration with provincial partners to monitor strawberry aphids, known vectors of viruses, as part of an investigation to evaluate the impact to local strawberry crops.
Chef Stefan Müeller
Chef Stefan Müeller has been leading the kitchen team at the Delta Beauséjour since January 2002, when he was appointed Executive Chef at this property. Born and trained in Germany, his career has taken him from Alberta to the Maritimes. From June through September, Chef Müeller and his team showcase the culinary specialities of the region with his 100 Mile Menu featured at the CAA Four Diamond Windjammer Restaurant. With a passion for fresh local produce, Müeller loves to incorporate herbs and garnishes from the hotel’s rooftop garden and to tend the bees in the garden’s beehives.
Josh Oulton*
Josh Oulton, along with Patricia Bishop and their three children, owns and operates Taproot Farms, the largest Community Supported Agriculture program in the Maritimes, with over 500 members. In 2010, their hard work was recognized when they were awarded as Atlantic Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers.
Jean-Pierre Privé
Dr. Privé attended Lakehead University, University of Winnipeg and obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Guelph in 1991. He is recognized nationally and internationally as an expert in environmental stress physiology, notably abiotic impacts on the biotic constituents of horticultural crops including organic physiology. Nationally, Dr. Privé serves as adjunct professor at two universities and continues to teach a plant physiology course at the Université de Moncton. He has served as associate editor for the US-based Journal of Small Fruit and Viticulture, associate editor for the Canadian Journal of Plant Science (2000-2007), organizing committee member for the 2002 International Horticultural Congress, past publication policy member to the Agricultural Institute of Canada and has served in management for AAFC as acting national Science Director and Research Manager. Currently, he is the CEO of Plant Medic Inc., a horticultural consultant company. He delivers invited presentations in both official languages to scientific communities, universities, producer groups, and for newspaper, radio and television stations. Français
Dr. Julia Reekie
Julia Reekie is an organic tree fruit researcher with post-graduate training in plant physiology, ecology and taxonomy. She works at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Kentville, Nova Scotia. Her current work focus is the use of non-chemical, orchard floor management techniques in weed management, a project funded by the first Organic Science Cluster grant, and pest management strategies including the testing of promising organic pesticides to control apple pests.
Reekie is an active participant of a number of apple research related organizations, including co-chair of the Maritime Organic Apple Grower and Researcher Organization; Integrated Fruit Production Committee of the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association; and provides input to the weekly ‘Orchard Outlook’ newsletter on apple management (2006-present).
She is an adjunct professor at Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S.; she gives lectures on organic apple management yearly to students at the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus. She regularly reviews manuscripts for scientific journals and has served as an associate editor for the journal NJAS (Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences) since 2007.
Diane Savoie
After a 17-year career in the airline industry and also travelling the world to discover cultures and their cuisines, Diane Savoie followed her childhood dream of becoming a culinary professional. She obtained a Cordon Bleu diploma from the Beverly Burge School of Cooking, as well as diplomas in Baking, Chocolate, Confectionery and Ice Cream technology from the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec. Today, Diane works in the field of Food Security; she is a Community Food Mentor and is the Founder of the first Slow Food Convivium in NB – Slow Food Cocagne Acadie. Français
Roger Snowdon
Roger has more than twenty years experience as a journalist and nineteen years as a communications specialist as the owner of Media Magic. He has trained and coached thousands of corporate executives, leaders, and politicians to improve the way they communicate with the media and other audiences. Specialities include Media/Communications coaching, Perception and Charisma.
Ken Taylor
After leaving the 10-children family farm near Asbestos, Québec and taking city living (academia) for 9 years, Ken Taylor returned to his farming roots with 70 acres of land on Ile Perrot with his wife Lorraine. His college teaching paid the bills while he worked on “Taylor-made” selections of fruit, nuts, berries and veggies. Ken has now spent 40 years adapting and acclimatizing varieties for our harshest northern climate and more recently, has turned his energy to making these varieties known to the public through workshops at ACORN, Guelph Organic Conference, EcoFarm Day, etc. These workshops focus on how to create, select, propagate and grow regionally adapted genetics for a future Canadian food supply.
Eltjo van Cingel
Eltjo grew up on a farm in The Netherlands and New Brunswick. Eltjo received a B.Sc. (Soil Science) from NSAC and a Masters degree in Plant Soil and Environmental Sciences from the University of Maine. Following graduate school in 1992, he started learning about the Albrecht System of soil nutrient balancing. Eltjo worked for Havelock Lime for 10 years, and now works as a consultant in Canada, USA and Europe, working with many different crops using the Albrecht System.
Susan Walsh
Susan Walsh is the Executive Director of USC Canada, an international organization committed to the building of vibrant family farms, strong rural communities, and healthy ecosystems in Asia, Africa, Latin America and now Canada. Its award-winning Seeds of Survival program begins with attention to the first link of the food chain and features farming practices that respect farmers’ right to grow their own food in sustainable ways. Susan holds degrees from Simon Fraser University and a doctoral degree in Development Anthropology from the University of Manitoba. During a year of applied research in the Bolivian highlands, she studied the resilience strategies of indigenous potato farmers. Her forthcoming book about that experience — Trojan Horse Aid: Resistance and Resilience in the Bolivian Andes and Beyond (Spring 2014) makes the case for a farming systems’ approach to food production that starts with local knowledge and farmers’ long-standing agro-ecological practices. Susan is an experienced trainer in cooperative conflict resolution and a university lecturer, having taught courses at the University of Winnipeg and Carleton University. She is also active in international policy fora, sitting, for example, on the International Steering Committee of the More and Better Network that seeks to transform our broken food system. Français
David Wides
David Wides is a member of the AgSquared User Support Team and a farmer living in Sorrento, British Columbia. David provides support for the growing community of farmers who use AgSquared for farm planning, management and record-keeping. David holds a Bachelors Degree in Sustainable Agriculture Systems from Evergreen State College and has worked for the Washington State Department of Agriculture. His experience includes developing CSA farms from the ground up in both the U.S. and Canada. David’s passion for farm record keeping and his expertise with the AgSquared software will inspire you to start planning your next growing season.
Richard Wiswall*
Richard Wiswall is owner/operator of Cate Farm in East Montpelier, VT, where he has been farming organically for over 30 years. Known for his work on farm profitability and appropriate business tools, he has consulted with over 60 farmers in New England, helping them increase profitability and meet their long term goals. Richard is author of The Organic Farmer’s Business Handbook: A Complete guide to Managing Finances, Crops, and Staff- and Making a Profit, and gives workshops frequently on the subject of farm business. To learn more about Richard and Cate Farm, visit www.catefarm.com and www.richardwiswall.com.
Tegan Wong-Daugherty
Tegan Wong-Daugherty is the co-founder of Buckwheat Flats Natural Foods, a long-time organic gardener and organic inspector for the Maritime region. She and her husband, Leland Daugherty, live in a strawbale-solar-powered home in South Knowlesville with their three children and are part of a growing Community Land Trust initiative aimed at providing options for families and individuals interested in living organically and off-grid in South Knowlesville. Tegan has been making her own organic whole grain breads using Speerville Flour Mill flours for 15 years and her wood-fired sourdough bread is available at local farmers’ markets and also as part of the Buckwheat Flats monthly food service. Last spring Tegan had the pleasure to take Stone Turtle Baking School’s Wood Fire intensive cooking course with expert baker Michael Jubinsky. In partnership with Speerville Flour Mill, she will be preparing bread for the ACORN Conference using their Panyol wood-fired oven.
* = certified organic operation
ACORN Organic Conference - ARCHIVE SITE 