We, Brian and Kathy started our journey together in 2008 and in 2015 celebrated a wonderful wedding day at the farm with family and friends. That wonderful life changed when Brian passed away in May 2024.
With both of us coming from family farm backgrounds it was such a joy working together and living our passion,which was farming. We never found it work, as we enjoyed what we did. It was both challenging and rewarding, and we built some wonderful relationships over the years.
Now as I venture on my own with the direction the farm takes, I wish to continue to have the joy this work has brought us over the years. My both sons have been instrumental in ensuring that 2024 was as successful as it could be considering the circumstances. I know family on both my side and Brian’s will be in support of what brings me happiness :)

The Business 
We started our business together under the business name Red Isle Farms, a farm business started by Brian in 1989 and that began its transition to organic in 2002. It received its first accreditation from OCIA in 2010 and in 2012,the farm changed its' name to Crystal Green Farms, the original name of the farm property. It is now certified through TCO Cert.

Crystal Green Farms currently has approx.230 acres in certified organic production. The home farm has about seven acres, including the house and barns where the vegetables have often been grown over the years. We have been fortunate to rent land for our organic crops over the years from people who believe in the organic industry.

The decision to go from conventional to organic was not difficult to make because we didn't like what was happening to soils. As stewards of the land ,we believe in the organic principle of feeding the soil not the plant - allowing the plants to absorb and select all the nutrients found in the soil, giving them time to develop concentrated flavors.  

Healthy soil equals healthy plants and healthy eaters.

The property
The home property is located in Bedeque. The homestead is believed to be 150 plus years old and is surrounded by barns and  a warehouse,. The property was also owned in the late 1800s by Brian’s great uncle John Howatt, before being owned by the Woodside family, then Kathy’s father Dick Van Herk. A both wonderful and unusual connection for Brian and I so many years later. 

The farm started with 12 cows and grew, at its peak having 100+ cows. The Van Herk family as well as the previous owner raised pigs, grew turnip and potatoes in the early years. In 1975 electricity was installed in the house and more extensively in the barns. The dairy industry along with the raising of beef and dairy heifers became the main focus.  

The last warehouse was built in 1990, and the property continues to undergo redevelopments. Brian and I did do some renovating in the homestead and hosted the upper floor of the houyse through Airbnb for a couple years.