Dale Richardson and Matthew Roy speak to the Queens Garden Club about an innovative greenhouse project in Shelburne. (Rick Conrad)

The conditions are ideal for Queens County to become a local food powerhouse just like the Annapolis Valley, advocates say.

The area’s temperate climate and natural biodiversity are two big factors in its favour, members of the Queens Garden Club heard on Thursday evening.

The club’s Mary White says it’s time to devote some resources to harnessing that potential.

“We want some green initiatives here in Queens County,” she said. “We have some very lovely spots that they could go in and that not only could it help with things like food security, it could help with our economics. There’s no reason why everybody should go to the Valley and not go here.

“We have the same resources, and we’re able to do the same sorts of things.”

About 30 people gathered at the Thomas H. Raddall Library in Liverpool on Thursday to hear how that might be done.

The garden club invited Dale Richardson, a municipal councillor in Shelburne, and farmer Matthew Roy to talk about an innovative solar-powered and geothermal greenhouse project in Shelburne. Both were involved in the project.

The Community Garden and Foodshare Association of Shelburne County got a $142,000 grant from the Nova Scotia government in April. 

The volunteer-run project is about 90 per cent complete. It will produce thousands of kilograms of fresh produce year-round for the community to help combat local food insecurity. 

Roy is co-owner of Coastal Grove Farm in Upper Port LaTour, Canada’s only certified organic tea grower and the country’s only certified saffron grower. The farm is also the largest commercial vegetable producer in Shelburne County.

He said communities in southwestern Nova Scotia need to start thinking seriously about becoming more food independent. 

“Nova Scotia in general only has three days of food in the province,” he said. “Just digest that for a moment. … The rest of it has to get imported from other places, which isn’t bad when there’s not geopolitical issues, when there’s not climate change issues that bring dryness or droughts or interrupts transportation. … I think it’s really relevant to be thinking about where is our food coming from? And do we have the local production?”

Roy said that with only 19 registered farms in all of Queens County, there isn’t enough capacity to put food on the shelves if disaster struck.

“What has happened in Shelburne, I think would be really beneficial to have that replicated up and down the southwestern shore.”

Milton resident Kathy Chute said she’s impressed with what they’re doing in Shelburne.

“I’m jealous. I think we could do it here, no problem. and maybe even up in Milton. You know, that unused area by the swimming pool, we could put a nice greenhouse in there.”

White says farming could be as big an industry in Queens County as forestry and fishing.

“This area in particular was more about forestry and fishing, that sort of thing, and really they just let other people provide the food for them. And now it’s time for us to take that resource back. … It’s time for us to look at another natural resource that we have, and that is our outdoor space.”

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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The Privateer Farmers and Artisans Market in Liverpool is participating in the $10 farmers markets voucher program announced Tuesday by the Nova Scotia government. (Privateer Farmers and Artisans Market Facebook page)

The Nova Scotia government will be helping local farmers markets attract new customers this summer.

The province announced Tuesday that it will be giving students from grades Primary to 12 a voucher that they can spend at farmers markets this summer.

The $10 coupon can be redeemed toward any locally grown, harvested or crafted product at participating farmers markets around the province.

“Farmers’ markets are community hubs that can provide wonderful learning opportunities for students,” Susan Corkum-Greek, minister of economic development, said in a release.

“These markets showcase the diversity of products produced here and emphasize the benefits of buying and supporting local, including reductions in greenhouse gas emissions related to transportation and improved food security.”

It’s a partnership between the government’s Nova Scotia Loyal program and Farmers Markets of Nova Scotia. It’s aimed at broadening markets’ customer base.

Nova Scotia has the most farmers markets per capita in Canada.

The $10 voucher will be distributed this month in public schools. 

Justin Cantafio, executive director of Farmers Markets of Nova Scotia, says the initiative will help educate younger consumers on the importance of food sovereignty and the local economy.

“As we know, that dollar spent locally recirculates locally,” he said in an interview.

“And every single dollar renewed through this program is going directly to small-scale owner-operated producers throughout Nova Scotia. And we also know that it’s good for helping to rebuild food soevereignty in a time when less than 15 per cent of the food that Nova Scotians consume is from Nova Scotia. It’s very exciting to work towards rebuilding that. It’s also an opportunity to help build the next generation of buy-local consumers.”

During a 2023 pilot project, about 13,000 vouchers were distributed in four school districts. Cantafio said that about 30 per cent of the vouchers in that pilot were redeemed, which he said was quite high for a program like this. He said that pilot was launched later in the year, with limited promotion. 

This year, about 131,000 students across the province will receive vouchers under the program. Cantafio points out that’s potentially a $1.3-million injection into local economies.

“If you haven’t been to a farmers market yet, or you haven’t been for a long while, it’s an incredible excuse to get out there and just celebrate what it means to live in the province that has the most farmers markets per capita in the country. We have an embarrassment of riches here and incredible producers. There are over 1,500 vendors that sell at our markets.

“We’re looking forward to a focus on local and getting connected, especially at a time when it’s never been more important to support our local producers.”

The government says Nova Scotia Loyal is meant to support local products and businesses. Officials say they will release more information on the program this summer.

There are two regular farmers markets in Queens County, in Liverpool and Caledonia. Only the Privateer Farmers and Artisans Market in Liverpool is affiliated with Farmers Markets of Nova Scotia.

To see a list of participating markets, visit the Farmers Markets of Nova Scotia website.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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