Mission Statement

Doggart FarmStead is committed to the Nourishment of our Land, Customers, Family, and Animals.  We do this through fun, holistic, and sustainable farming practices and a commitment to enrich our community and land for generations to come. 

Holistic Goal

• We have strong relationships with our customers and community.  We actively work to provide consistent, nourishing, and ethical products and services that our customers trust in.  
• We have a loving healthy family in which each family member is respected and heard.  We will work together in harmony to grow our farm. 
• Our farmstead is part of our well-being and vice versa.  We work within the cycles of our land to eat, play, and relax. We respect the cyclical relationship we have with the land.
• We spend quality time with each other outside of our farm responsibilities and prioritize relationships with family and friends.
• We have a thriving family FarmStead that is appropriately scaled for our goals, land, and labor available.  It generates sufficient profit to pay for the variable and fixed overhead expenses and our lifestyle goals.

The Land

found in the quant community of River Jhon Nova Scotia at an altitude of 47M above sea level, we own 14 acres total. Heres what we know about the land:

1. The growing region is zone 5.
2. PH ranges from 5-5.5
3. The soil is rich in iron and dense clay and loam with very little porrosity or organic matter.
4. It was once cow pasture 10 plus years ago but is currently 10 acres of meadow and brush with 4 acres of dense overgrown forest with some old growth deciduous trees that survived hurricane Fiona.
5. There are two flat areas totaling 2-3 acres with three gently sloped hills coming together at the lowest point of the property where there is a seasonal marsh.
6. The Current eco system supports many polinators with lot’s of flowering wild raisin, yarro, and wild rose. It also supports a herd of deer, many different birds, and likely a bear or two that we saw signs of.
7. Usable plants that are on the land and already functioning within the eco-system are: 3 heritage apple trees, a large blackberry bush, 2 mountain ash trees (hawthorne berries), 2 maple trees large enough to collect syrup from, 10-12 spruce sapplings (for christmas trees), and native wildflowers like yarro and wild rose that horses will ignore and bees will love!

Crops & Enterprises Suited to This Ecosystem

Shitake Mushrooms, plenty of deadfall in the 4 acre wooded area, found some mushrooms already growing in the area.

Honey Bees, already a part of the eco-system.

Balsam Fir or Spruce Christmas Trees, tolerant of low PH, already on the land growing.

Free range Turkeys or other meat poultry, would be used to help improve soil, control pests, and cycle nutrients in the Christmas tree area.

Horse breeding and training, would help add organic matter to pasture and is an important part of Coreena’s well being.

Foraged Small Batch Mead using the honey we produce and ingredients found on our land like maple syrup, blackberries, apples, rosehips, and hawthorn berries

The Plan

To work holistically with the land and the existing ecosystem and stop the spread of invasive problem species like the wild raisin that is starving out all diversity.

First Two Years

1. (Fall 2024) Hire someone to mow the brush on the 10 acre area. (done)
2. (Fall / Winter 2024) Put in infastructure for living (driveway, electric, septic, well, and tiny house. (in progress)
3. (Fall 2024) Hire a local farmer to help us till the land, break up roots of wild raisin, incorporate organic matter, apply lime, and aerate the soil. (in progress)
4. (Spring 2025) The same farmer uses seed drill to plant our pasture blend of legumes and grasses suited to our soil, horses, and bees.
5. (Spring 2025) Harrow and roll the land without compressing it to ensure the terrain is relatively smooth for horse riding.
6. (Spring 2025) Plant 1.5 acres of Balsam fir, spaced well apart for free range turkeys and people to pick their Christmas Trees.
7. (summer 2025) Rent skidsteer mulcher to clear perimeter of land for fencing and clear a few paths through dense forest.
8. (summer 2025) Selectively log and thin the forest create a small meadow around apple tree as habitat for wildlife and hopefully keeping the bears up there and leaving the other apple trees and beehives alone.
9. (summer 2025) Build perimeter fencing around pasture and Christmas tree area.
10. (fall 2025) Innoculate and build 2-3 shitaki mushroom beds.
11. (Winter 2026) Rest, visit family.
12. (Winter 2026) Source bruid mares, establish breeding contracts, and build horse shelters and track system.
13. (Spring 2026) Put horses on land if pasture is established and bread for delivery the following spring .
14. (Spring 2026) Purchase turkeys or other poultry for sale of meat in Winter.
15. (Spring 2026) Harvest mushrooms for sale at farmers market and test out viability for upscaling.
16. (Spring 2026) Establish one small hive and learn the ways of beekeeping, use honey for baking only.
17. (Summer & Fall 2026) Test out markets and build plan to upscale the following year. Continue work on establishing equine services and clients.