How we came to be where we are today…
We met 19 years ago while living and volunteering at a community farm in upstate New York that cares for people with developmental disabilities. Justin worked on the farm with the animals, including a 30 head hand-milked biodynamic dairy operation; and Suzanna worked in the biodynamic Healing Plant garden and the elder care homes. From the beginning we dreamed of having a farm together, and we knew that a big part of that dream would be building community and creating therapeutic and holistic-living offerings. Having both grown up in Camphill Communities, we recognize that community, where all have inherent value, is how human beings are meant to live, in harmony with nature. We are meant to work in relationship with each other, with the land, and with all of life.
Our goal is to create a community farm where everyone works together with common shared values of love and respect for the natural world which we are a part of. We also aim to offer farm and nature experiences to those seeking more connection to traditional ways of being.
Justin is a clinical social worker, specializing in mental health. Suzanna combines a background in psychology with extensive knowledge of health and wellness. Both are farmers, always learning and evolving with each season that passes.
We homeschool our two children based on Waldorf education, and have started a Waldorf-inspired Farm School.
We are passionate about honing traditional skills and learning to live a less toxic and wasteful life. Some skills that we enjoy exploring include, woodworking, fibre crafts, art, music, movement and meditation, foraging, holistic health and first aid, gardening and permaculture systems, survival and bushcraft, traditional farm tool use, and much more.
We practiced these skills for many years before finding the land we now steward in Oxford, Nova Scotia. However, we would never claim to be experts, for we believe that learning is a continuous process rather than an end goal. No matter where one is in the process, we are all both teacher and student. We have so much to learn and teach one another, and we are all stronger and more capable when we evolve together. Farm School helps us all connect with the world around us and learn from each other.
We hope our paths will cross some day as we traverse this great adventure called life. Thank you for reading a bit about us, and thank you for participating in the forming of more resilient and loving communities.
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