Hello Friends of the Farm. Please find below the minutes from the most recent meeting of the Board. 

Friends of the Farm Meeting January 25, 2024

Present: Sharon Larter, President, Valerie Beer, Nora Jenkins, Stephen Knechtel, Deborah Gross, Connie Carr, Frank Morrison, Lily Gillespie, Sylvia Poirier

Future of the Farm

Sharon, Nora and Sylvia met with Sean Casey MP to discuss the possibility that the Experimental Farm might be used to assist the housing situation in Charlottetown. Sean indicated that no movement to develop the Farm could be made without  agreement of First Nations. He indicated that the Federal Government has no intention at this point of making any changes to this 88 acre parcel of land.

Farmers’ Market

Steve indicated that the Farmers Market has been on the Farm property since 1986.The Farmers Market owns their building but they do not own the land the building sits on. As a result, their hands are tied with respect to any expansion.

Crown Garden

The Friends have been planting a Crown garden made up of annuals for several decades. This has meant considerable expense and labor. It was agreed that the Friends should plant an environmentally friendly perennial garden which would eventually require less labor and less water. The City will be approached to ask for funding support for this project as they have in the past. Ron Richard will be consulted for input as to the plantings.

Ravenwood

This historic building dates back to the 1820’s and is presently unoccupied. Friends expressed concern for the upkeep and future of the building. A meeting with Lawrence MacAulay MP will be requested to determine what the Federal Government plans are for this building.

Website

Friends has a website which we pay to maintain. Deborah posts letters and pictures and other related information which she also sends out to the membership. Deborah agreed to add individuals and like minded groups to our email list so all can be kept up to date with the activities of the Friends.

AGM

It was suggested that Friends might want to consider having the AGM in the spring rather than in November. It was agreed that this timing would be timely for the cleaning up of the Farm as well as the maintenance of the garden. Several names were suggested as possible guest speakers. No decision was made.

Agriculture Canada contact

The current contact is Gary Williamson 902 365 8499

Deborah Gross