2010 Farmer of the Year Award
Mark and Sally Bernard
Mark and Sally Bernard with children Lucy and Wilson
Mark Bernard likes to think of their organic farm as the 'buckle of the potato belt', tucked away in beautiful Freetown, PEI. When asked what they produce they are likely to say, "Organic grains, for organic livestock feed", but there is a lot more to this operation than that simple answer.
It began when Mark left Freetown, for the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, knowing that his dad was retiring from the life of a potato farmer and leaving the future of the farm up to him. It was at NSAC that Mark began to consider organics and became convinced that farming organically was more sustainable on all accounts. Mark brought home more than a passion for organics from NSAC; he also met his wife, Sally there as well. She has brought her own farming background with her in the form of livestock. Mark and Sally continue to build and expand their farm, Barnyard Organics, paying particular attention to their ecological footprint and the quality of their products. Working with fertility options to maximize utilization of valuable nutrients, expanding buffer zones and planting more and more trees each year are just a few of the conscious steps that Mark takes annually to enhance the value of their soil.
The 550 acre, fully certified organic operation produces soybeans, grains, hay, sunflowers, lamb, chicken and eggs, but also maintains a grain cleaning operation and a soybean roaster, especially for the organic market. With customers from around the Maritimes, much of the organic livestock in the region could very well be enjoying Barnyard Organics quality grains.
On the livestock side of things, Mark and Sally take great pride in being able to produce all of the feed for their chickens and sheep, confident in the superiority of their grains and hay and knowing exactly where everything comes from. Sally currently keeps about 25 ewes and feeds a number of lambs each year for the fresh lamb market, selling directly to customers, with the ability to offer custom orders. Barnyard Organics livestock are all pasture-raised, and the chickens are no exception, spending their days basking the sun, pecking away at insects and grass. The chickens are always a huge success, leading to more birds out on the pasture every year.
Mark's parents still live on the farm, and his father, Wendell, is a great help. "It seems to me," Mark says "I'm farming more and more like my grandfather did, which generally seems more sustainable and more viable."
While the couple is busy on the farm, they are also involved in their community as well. Mark worked for a number of years with the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada and has been closely involved with the PEI Certified Organic Producers Coop, Atlantic Certified Organic and also sits on the Environmental Advisory Council for PEI. Sally sits on the boards for ACORN and the National Farmers Union and is the music director for the Sunday school program at Summerside Presbyterian Church. Mark and Sally are proud to be building a farm with a sustainable future for generations to come and their children, Lucy and Wilson are already showing a love of agriculture. Instilling that love of farming in their children is perhaps their proudest accomplishment of all.