Well…..we bought a farm! A really sweet 15 acre farm in River Hebert, Cumberland county. And tonight we’re going to sleep there!
Perhaps you’re wondering how this happened. We’ve spent this past year leasing land at Windhorse Farm in Lunenburg county. We loved our markets, our customers, our fellow vendors, our community members and neighbours. We definitely weren’t thinking of leaving this area.
Then one day, we went to look at a local property for sale. We were saddened by the level of neglect in the house (nobody had lived there for a year at least) and that the land had recently been clearcut. We said to each other, “We want to find a farm that has been loved and that needs to continue being loved and stewarded.”
The next day, we got an email from a woman who had heard of us through ACORN (Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network) and said that her elderly neighbour wanted to sell her place. Very affordable, good deep sandy loam, 15 acres, old farmhouse. We said we ‘d come take a look.
It was exactly what we’d been looking for (except the location….but we’re excited to meet all our wonderful new community members!). So, we went through the process of trying to acquire a mortgage. We tried Farm Credit Canada (FCC) first. They looked at our application. The measly dollars we’ve made in the last few years from working at farms. The amount we believe we can live on (I don’t think they believe). And said they’d reconsider if one of us got a full-time off-farm job. Which would require us to hire an employee. Which seems ridiculous to us. So, we tried our credit union next. They don’t deal in farm mortgages. And then we went to the Nova Scotia Farm Loan Board. They did their own assessment of our property, our farm business plan, and our finances. And said YES! So, now we’re the proud owners of a mortgage (and more importantly our very own farm!). So we’re now kind of in love with the farm loan board. And excited to make it home. And very excited for visitors! So, if you’re ever in our area, please contact us!
We’re so happy that you will be breathing new life into an old farm. We know you will make wonderful new friends and customers, but we’re sorry to see you go so far away from us. We look forward to following your adventures on-line. Love the story so far!
Much love, Wayne and Angie
Congrats! We will miss you at the Hodge Podge Garden and hope to see you suceed.
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