Nestled between the mountains in the Annapolis Valley is the beginning of Cardinal Valley Farm. Our dream from the outset has been to create a business that combines two passions: woodworking and gardening.
We have been operating the woodworking side of the business successfully for a few years now, and with the recent purchase of a small farmhouse, we are starting to plan the farm's foundation. Cardinal Valley Farm is a first-generation farm, but it is enriched with generational history.
Thomas is spearheading the farm. The green thumb is strong in his family: his grandfather ran a successful fruit farm in Granville Beach specializing in peaches and pears, while his grandmother was a keen, award-winning gardener in Granville Ferry.
Rilla spent her early years on a hobby farm with sheep and chickens. Her grandparents sold preserves and breads through Strawberry Hill Farms, which held a stall at the Annapolis Royal Farmers Market. Family members tell us that Rilla’s grandmother used to buy peaches from Thomas’s grandparents’ farm to make jams and jelly.
While we are several years away from running an operational farm, we have big plans and are excited to share them with you now.
Cardinal Valley Farm will be a market farm specializing in a variety of vegetable and fruit crops operating in Annapolis County between Upper Granville and Granville Beach. The farm will include a seasonal shop to sell fresh produce and local goods by others. We also envision a small café with patio seating. Looking even further down the road, we may expand to provide a rentable event space on the farm. (It’s important to dream big!)
We want to put community first and offer community-supported agriculture (CSA) options for interested members. Please stay tuned for more on CSA opportunities and other progress updates.
Get in touch
If you have any questions about our farm plans or want to discuss getting involved, we would love to hear from you!