Polishing the Jewel

2021 Annual Clean up the Farm day – Everyone welcome

Friends of the Farm will again scour the fields and bushes and the trail that runs through the Experimental Farm on Saturday, May 8, 9 am on their annual Clean up the Farm day. We will gather behind Ravenwood.  

The Farm, 88 acres of splendid greenery, sits in the heart of our Capital City. Friends of the Farm (PEI) Inc, incorporated in 2004, is an association of volunteers concerned about the future use of that land within the City of Charlottetown commonly referred to as “The Experimental Farm”.

The “Friends” wish to see the land preserved as green space with the possible inclusion of such facilities as gardens of different kinds, an arboretum, walks, and agricultural demonstrations, for the use of the general public. 

The Friends invite and welcome anyone interested in becoming a member to join them. Please share our website Friendsofthefarmpei.ca

Building Partnerships: Exploring Nature On PEI

The Friends of the Farm recently held a special evening with guest speaker Dan McAskill.

Dan’s presentation was titled “Building Partnerships: Exploring Nature On PEI.” He began his talk by giving thanks to his many mentors, including Diane Griffin, Kathy Martin, Dr. Ian MacQuarrie, Professor Darryl Guignon, Rev Charlie Cheverie, Dr. Ed Johnson, Dr. Louis Hanic, Dr. Lawson Drake, JP Arsenault, Dr. Stephen Manley, Dr. Doug Sobey and Bill Glen, Geoff Hogan, Scott Makepeace, Dwayne Sabine, David Seeler, Dwaine, Oakley, Ray Cooke, Rosemary Curley, Joy and Cam Finlay and Harry Baglole.

He further outlined several decades of cooperative projects undertaken with Nature PEI, Island Nature Trust, Nature Canada, Hillsborough River Association, Hunters for Conservation, Bald Eagle Festival, Birds Canada and the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation.

Following his presentation, Dan was presented with the Janice Simmonds Award. This award is given annually by the Friends of the Farm, in memory of Janice Simmonds, to an individual or group who have made a significant contribution to the creation, protection, preservation or management of public green spaces. Dan was thanked for his many years of outstanding work.

Nora Jenkins, President, gave the annual report.

The Friends of the Farm continue to be advocates to keep the land known as the Experimental Farm green. This land is owned by Agriculture Canada and is used for crop experimental purposes. The Board communicates with the local Agriculture Canada Manager who is responsible for the Farm. Permissions for requests however, come from Ottawa.

Projects that have been established are :

The Premier’s Grove,
Clean Up the Farm Day,
The Royal Crown Garden,
Public education and,
The Janice Simmonds Award.

The Friends of the Farm ( www.friendsofthefarm.ca ) is a group of volunteers who work on behalf of a large membership who wish to see the lands known as “The Experimental Farm” kept green in perpetuity

The members of the Board for 2020-2021

Nora Jenkins, Co-Chair,
Sharon Larter Co-Chair,
Libby Martin, Secretary,
Connie MacKay Carr, Treasurer,
Lane MacLaren,
Laura Lee Howard,
Catherine Hennessey,
Sylvia Poirier,
Linda Thomas,
Valerie Beer,
Lily Gillespie,
Frank Morrison and,
Steve Knechtel.

The New Crown Garden

The Crown Garden is planted with big thanks to Lane and Ron Richard of the Farm for their labour!

The Crown was made possible through funds provided by the City of Charlottetown and Friends of the Farm donors Bert Christie and Ardyth Smith.

2019 FARM CLEAN UP

Saturday May 11, 2019 at 9 a.m.
Annual Farm Cleanup
Meet Behind Ravenwood House
Rain or Shine

Friends of the Farm will again scoured the fields and bushes and the trail that runs
through the Experimental Farm on Saturday, May 11, 9 am on their annual Clean up the
Farm day. Please gather behind Ravenwood.

The Farm, 88 acres of splendid greenery, sits in the heart of our Capital City. Friends of
the Farm (PEI) Inc, incorporated in 2004, is an association of volunteers concerned
about the future use of that land within the City of Charlottetown commonly referred to
as “The Experimental Farm”. The “Friends” wish to see the land preserved as green
space with the possible inclusion of such facilities as gardens of different kinds, an
arboretum, walks, and agricultural demonstrations, for the use of the general public.
The Friends invite and welcome anyone interested in becoming a member to join them.
Check out their website Friendsofthefarmpei.ca

Greetings to Friends of the Farm – 2019

FRIENDS OF THE FARM (PEI) ASSOCIATION

The Board of the Friends of the Farm continues to meet and to advocate for the lands of the Experimental Farm to remain green and for all to enjoy.  The Board has met this winter with the manager of the Farm and with the Mayor of the City of Charlottetown, Philip Brown.

It was the wish of the membership at the annual meeting in November that the Friends of the Farm continue to plant and maintain the Crown Garden on the Farm property.  This is with the agreement of Ag Canada and with the assistance of the staff of the Research Station on the Farm.

The Friends of the Farm supply the plants which the Board works hard to find the best possible price.  It is costly with the bill amounting to $900.00 for the plants. The plants are selected according to the pattern for the crown.  The planting is done by staff and the maintenance during the summer by Board members.

In order to continue with this project the Friends of the Farm requires donations.  Some members at the meeting offered to make a donation as they feel strongly that this tradition of the Crown garden should continue.

The Board would appreciate donations from the membership and others at this time so that we can plan to plant this spring.  Thank you.

Donations may be mailed to Friends of the Farm, PO Box 265, Stn Central, Charlottetown, C1A 7K4 or please contact any Board member.  Thank you!


The Board 2019:

Nora Jenkins, Chair;
Libby Martin, Secretary,
Connie MacKay-Carr, Treasurer,
Sharon Larter,
Valerie Beer,
Linda Thomas,
Catherine Hennesse,
Laura Lee Howard,
Sylvia Poirier,
Gertie Purdy,
Lane MacLaren.

AGM 07-11-2018

FRIENDS OF THE FARM (P.E.I.) INC.
Wednesday, November 7, 2018

7:00 P.M.

  1. Call to Order
  2. Approval of Agenda
  3. Approval of the minutes November 7, 2017 AGM.
  4. Review of the years activities Lane MacLaren
  5. Financial Report Nora Jenkins, Treasurer
  6. Membership Report Gertie Purdy, Membership Chair
  7. Future of Crown Garden
  8. Nominating Committee Report
  9. Introduction of Guest Speaker Sharon Larter
    PEI Women’s Institute and the Roadside Cleanup Project
  10. Thank – you and presentation of Janice Simmonds Award Lane MacLaren
  11. Adjournment and refreshments

Minutes 2018 AGM

2018 EXPERIMENTAL FARM CLEAN UP

Saturday May 12, 2018 at 9 a.m.

Gather behind Ravenwood House, Experimental Farm

Rain or Shine

 

 

The Friends of the Farm will have the sixth annual Farm Cleanup morning.
Please come, bring family, friends or group for a pleasant walk around the Farm
and pick up litter from the winter.

Garbage bags will be supplied courtesy of the Women’s Institute Roadside
Cleanup which is also on May 12.

Comfortable shoes/boots and a pair of gloves are all you need to come join in.
Your help and support of this project of the Friends of the Farm is appreciated.

All hands welcome as we will fill the bags with the debris from this messy winter.

 

AGM 11-21-2017

Friend of the Farm’s Recent Annual General Meeting 2017

Friends of the Farm PEI recently held their Annual General Meeting. President Lane MacLaren welcomed everyone, including speaker Bruce MacNaughton. He acknowledged Board members present; secretary/treasurer Nora Jenkins, chair of membership Gertie Purdy, Catherine Hennessey, Laura Lee Howard, Sharon Larkin, Connie MacKay-Carr, Libby Martin, and Linda Thomas. Former Board member Bert Christie was also in attendance. 

Lane stated that the mandate of the Friends is to ensure The Experimental Farm remain green in perpetuity for all to enjoy. The current property status seems relatively stable, with Agricultural Canada increasing research activity on the property with a focus to organic food trials.

The Friends activities include the spring clean in concert with Women’s Institute. Doug MacDonald, recently resigned Board member, quarterbacked this. His efforts will be missed. Doug also led the Royal Crown Garden project, in collaboration with The Agricultural Research Station, City of Charlottetown, VanKampen’s and the Friends. VanKampen Green houses discounts over 1000 plants, The Farm staff plants and pulls them, the City waters,  and the Friends maintains it through the summer months.  It is truly a cooperative effort. 

Kite Day happens in the fall with the collaboration of The Agricultural Research Station, The Farm Centre, The Legacy Garden, Colorsky Kites and Gift Shop, the PEI Association for Newcomers, and this year,  the PEI Tool Library.  Beamish Organic apples and cider are shared while people create their own kites, led by Pat Beamish, or they can choose to fly a bought kite, or a donated kite kit.

Premier’s Grove- Friends have bought trees to plant and ensure there are plaques on each trees. In recent years, former premier Jim Lee’s tree was replanted, and Premier Wade MacLauchlan planted his tree. The public is invited to come and view the Premier’s Grove.

Gertie Purdy reported that there were 351 individual and/or family memberships. Now is the time to renew and/or purchase a membership for the new year. Doug Ezeard and his firm graciously prepare our financials annually, which is made up of memberships and donations.

Valerie Beer was nominated and ccepted as a new Board Member. Grant Johnson is thanked for his work with the Friends website: www.freindsofthefarmpei.ca

*****

Bruce began speaking about the MacEachern family, thinking of Janice, the gardens, creativity, and passion.  “Her passion stopped me in my tracks at the Farmer’s Market one day. Nothing worth doing can be achieved without passion. We are because I am passionate.” Bruce came to realize he didn’t enjoy chasing the world to make a living, instead he wanted to invite the world to his home. It’s “my hobby…Catherine (Hennessey) called to say thank you for buying the building. It’s become a place where lots of people visit.”  “I’ve given my life up to a higher power. There’s a chapel that sleeps 8 , a respite cottage booked 50% Canadian, 50% American, some stay no charge. About half are Women with mastetic breast cancer. Families as far away as Vancouver, California” . “The love we have seen expressed there –a family with one daughter who was deaf, blind, mute …she was so loved and cared for by her siblings. They said it was the best vacation in their life.”  What’s  next? –Henry Purdy assisted with a visual arts festival this summer. Some of the art s sold with proceeds going to the Garden, a convention came chose it as their charity of choice. There is a Hoyer lift, hospital bed, many volunteers, so many people donated items to help build the place.  The Gardens of Hope, 2 kms of paths, all the secret spaces, gentleman from Chile- came to spend time in PEI- his footprint and signature brought it to a lovely new level.

“In 2005, friend and world renowned photographer Wayne Barrett suggested a butterfly house. We had some setbacks, and then 4 years ago, back at it, spiders eat butterflies, so I find on the internet that John Brothers from right here on PEI, out of Montague,  makes screen for garages…so he designed screens for the butterfly house.” 

There are 70 butterfly farmers in the world. We import from two; Costa Rica, and the Phillipines.  In Costa Rica- it’s a cooperative with 80 families, they are buying Amazon lands, and they are doing eco- tourist.  The butterflies live only 1-2- weeks-se we import every one to two weeks.. CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency Approved). We account for every import, and everyone in either living in the green house, or expired in the deep freeze. They are brought in as pupae. The butterfly, is a story line of metamorphosis, the seasons of nature and of life.