We recently visited John Quimby of Dunn Creek Farm who was kind enough to have us over for a tour of his certified organic farm in Murray Harbour North.
He was also kind enough to stuff us full of organic veggies at his kitchen table and send us home with baskets of organic potatoes, yellow beans, carrots, head lettuce and sweet cucumbers.
Cameron and I first met John last year at the Dundas Plowing Match, where we were admiring his table of veggies. One thing led to another, and suddenly Cameron and I were munching on broccoli, and John and I were exchanging blog addresses.
John’s farm is depressing inspirational. Where our garden is (a) non-existent; and (b) overgrown; John’s got tidy, bountiful rows of produce.
Here I am in awe of John’s organization. I am trying to look tidy and straight, can you tell?
John showed us his hay-loft, barns, chickens, horses, greenhouse, house, and fields, during which I asked very astute questions:
Laura-Jane: “How do you plant the seeds in there?”
Dunn Creek Farm: “We broadcasted these. It’s fun.”
Laura-Jane (pauses): “Um, broadcasted, like, threw them in?”
Dunn Creek Farm (laughs): “Yes, exactly.”
Laura-Jane: “What are these, grains?”
Dunn Creek Farm: “Yes, these are oats.”
Laura-Jane: “Ah, of course, oats.”
(30 seconds elapses.)
Laura-Jane: “Uh, what are these grains again?”
Dunn Creek Farm (patiently and with a smile): “Oats!”
Country living… I like it, but it doesn’t come naturally to me.
Big thanks to John for a lovely afternoon. Be sure to check out John and family’s blog and podcasts!
Hi L-J
Wow!
Looks like you had a good day…
I am sure that one of these days I might get to meet John too.
I must admit that I haven’t followed John’s blog, really (other than the occasional look) since following his road trip from California last spring. Sorry John…
I do love the fact that he does a podcast (weekly I think) and that my understanding is that he is a professional voice over back in California. I even believe that he works (at least part of te year) by telecommuting from wherever is happens to be.
All this and an organic farmer as well. wow!
Please straighten me out if I am in error on any of the above statements. Thanks!
If not, then again WOW! John is an amazing felow…
Smiles :o)
Gary
Hi Laura-Jane
I’ve now bookmarked this wonderful Dunn Creek Organic Farm blog. Thank you!
It’s so interesting to be able to peek into the lives of people who’ve made their way to greener pastures, where they came from and how they’ve arrived. I love it and it helps to solidify our decision to forego our city jobs and eek out living on a shoestring budget in an economically oppressed part of Canada. The beauty and serenity of these parts is the best reward of all so it’s a fair trade, me thinks.
I hope you are able to do the same thing! I say we all gotta bloom where we’re planted, for in doing so, we’ll be satisfied pretty much anywhere we land. yah… something like that.
PS: I’ve been adding to my lonely little blog if you care to… have time to come and visit. Please let me know if you do.
Michelle
When I met Laura-Jane and Cameron I was immediately struck by their adventure – much like ours but, so much more intriguing to me since they committed to their adventure so much SOONER in life than we did! It took us soooooo looooong to work up the courage to start, and we’re still not here full time!
Since coming to PEI, I have been pleased to meet our neighbors. They give me a sense of place and an awareness of the gentle pride that comes from being where you belong. I also find that I am excited to meet like minded spirits, mostly from “away”, who bring their unique adventures and sensibility to this place.
In both cases, these are mostly positive, can-do people and I find them encouraging. There’s nothing that islanders like better than trouble shooting. And newer residents, like the University academic and his wife who stopped in for produce during Laura-Jane and Cameron’s visit, bring a wealth of experience and intrepid endeavor!
The gracious and humble Laura-Jane didn’t reveal that her (this) blog and the personal insight she shares inspired me to expand our blog, photos and conversation about moving from “living in the city to life in the country”. We’ve been rewarded, finding that islanders have been interested in our “Green Acres” life on the farm, while our city friends and family in California are attracted by the beauty and (seemingly) simple life on the farm.
This fall, as we head home again, I’ll continue the farm blog for islanders and others who might enjoy a peek at our lives in Southern California.
Thank you so much Gary Gray for the kind comments and background, thanks Michelle for the bookmark – please add comments! And thanks again Laura-Jane and Cameron for coming to the farm.
This winter, I’ll drop you a line or two and nudge you into imagining a vegetable garden!
Laura-Jane, thanks for the heads-up. I don’t know if we’ll have time this year to visit him, but next year for sure.
We did grow a garden this year – against my will. I asked hubz for 4 small raised beds to play with; the man went crazy and I ended up with ten various sized beds, walkways, trellises, the works.
Gardening is hard work. Yes, I enjoyed the bounty but weeding sucks, and then preserving the bounty took valuable hours and hours and hours away from my reading/napping/relaxing time.
I envy those tidy, weed-free patches. Mine will never be that way … ever!
btw: love that shirt!
@Gary – Right on the money, I think! You are well-informed. :)
@Michelle – Glad to have pointed you in the direction of John’s blog. It’s helpful and inspiring to read like-minded peoples’ stories.
@John – Thanks for your kind words…… :) Yes, nudge away re: gardening… We respond well to nudges. :)
@Kim – Weeding versus napping… This is a decision I hope I won’t have to make.. Lol. At least your husband is an over-achiever. There is something to be said for that!! Re: the shirt, thanks! It was $5 find at a second hand store in the Down East Mall in Montague.. :)
A mighty oak from a small acorn grows. Shall too your garden Laura & Cameron. I grew a tiny coffee plant once and though it yielded just two beans, I was happy. I wasn’t aiming for a plantation, just one cup of coffee and I succeeded. On a side note to John Quimby, you are where you need to be, right now; arriving at the time that was meant. How else would you have made these new friends and neighbors you know now? We get our basket filled with our needs and desires at the right time and place. Everything before is just the preparation to make sure we’re ready to handle it.
Wow, Bradley, WISE WORDS. I needed to read those right now.
Glad to see you blogging again. Had to stop checking as I was so disappointed when there was nothing new. For some strange reason I always feel closer to what will be my Island home when I read your posts :)
Went to Johns’ site and enjoyed reading it. Looking forward to the day I can buy his organic produce, especially the mesclun greens!
Hi L-J
Remember, I mentioned that Rain is on the Island.
She has changed her blog to a new name “Island Sunsets” and here is a link.
http://ocean-sunsets.blogspot.com/
Smiles :o)
Gary
P.S. her pictures are awesome!
@Julie.. I know… I suck!!!!! You’ve inspired me to post another post about my snow boots. :)
@Gary – Thanks for passing on Rain’s new blog. I’ll have to see how she’s making out on this here fair island! I’ve been equally bad at keeping up with my favourite blogs over these past six months. Thanks for showing me to Rain’s new home.