Brian & Barb's Organic Gardens

Geography and community have played key roles in the success of the Craigs’ organic farm. Brian and Barbara’s eighty-acre farm sits high on a hillside overlooking Prince Edward Island’s Hunter River Watershed. Most of the couples’ customers are tourists who come to the island to enjoy the beautifully furrowed fields; brightly coloured wildflowers blooming across the lush countryside; terracotta beaches; and the deep blues of the North Atlantic. Located on a major artery connecting the island’s north and south shores, Brian and Barb’s Organic Gardens is perfectly situated to sell fresh local vegetables and fruit from their welcoming roadside stand to visitors heading towards the endless beaches of the north shore, or for a day of sightseeing in the picturesque patchwork of farmland that stretches across western Prince Edward Island.

Originally from New Brunswick, Brian received a business degree from the University of Prince Edward Island, followed by a degree in agricultural sciences with a specialization in entomology from the University of Guelph. Since 1983, he has been working as a pest management specialist for the Island’s provincial government. Brian’s love for farming and the natural world began as a child growing up on a 400 acre mixed family farm outside of Woodstock, which his father eventually sold in the late 1960s. His interest in agriculture continued to grow, and when he married Barbara, originally from Prince Edward Island, the couple decided to purchase land on the island and start their own farm. In 2004 they decided to certify 10 acres of their farm for organic production. The remainder of the land is rented out to local farmers who grow grain and soybeans on it. Because of the steep contours of the land, conventional potato farming is prohibited in their area, a clear advantage for aspiring organic farmers.

Brian and Barbara’s vegetable gardens fan out luxuriously around their home. The rows of yellow and green beans, carrot tops, tomato plants, and lettuce leaves quiver gently in the breeze. The healthy deep green leaves of the potato plants form a thick carpet of speckled green; the large heart-shaped leaves of the rhubarb plant create a patterned canopy of shade interrupted by slices of sunlight; and the blackcurrant bushes are heavy with the sweetness of clusters of berries. Small patches of herbs are visible scattered throughout the garden: the pungent aroma of basil; earthy tones of rosemary, and the thick, refreshingly cool scent of mint. Throughout the day, happy customers stop to fill baskets and bags with brightly coloured, freshly harvested island produce. The couple are strong supporters of the Buy Local effort on the island. As Brian says, “Prince Edward Island has an image of healthy, fresh, tasty food grown by local families that no other province has got.” Inviting visitors onto their farm to purchase their food is one way of nurturing a tourism industry that helps strengthen this image.

The Craigs feel that being certified organic communicates to their customers their commitment to give back to the land. Despite having worked in the conventional agricultural field for so many years, Brian says that he still has a lot of questions about synthetic chemicals that have not been answered. He is concerned that the large corporations that are taking over the agriculture industry often do not respect the health of the local environment and communities. He says “it is a privilege to do business here on the island, not a right.” The feeling that they are privileged to be farming the land is reflected in the Craigs’ farming practices. They want to farm using inputs that they grow on their own land. Although they are not yet at the point where all of their inputs are locally available, they do plant crimson clover, beans, peas, buckwheat, oats, winter rye and alfalfa to build up nitrogen in the soil. The Craigs’ fields are planted in small blocks rather than large open areas to help reduce erosion. The couple is also interested in saving seeds rather than having to go to outside sources to purchase them. Nature lovers, they have left 50 acres of hardwood standing on the farm for local wildlife, as well as to allow the possibility of exploring opportunities to market sustainably harvested wood, and medicinal plants that thrive under the forest canopy, such as hemlock.

Having a supportive community has also been very important to the Craigs. Just up the road is another organic farm, and next-door is a family that grows asparagus and runs a seasonal raspberry U-pick operation. The Craigs are members of the Organic Co-op and ACORN, and networking with organic growers has introduced them to individuals who have become mentors to them as they learn about organic farming.

For Brian and Barbara organic farming is way of life that respects the integrity of the landscape and wildlife for which the island is so well-known: the crystal clear rivers teeming with trout and salmon; the diversity of birdlife that nests on the island; the red fertile soils; small family farms scattered across the countryside; and the wide open waters of the Atlantic Ocean, yielding delicious seafood. The couple has a passion for their home that they hope to communicate to islanders and visitors alike through sharing their colourful, healthy, fresh island-grown produce.