Cardinal Valley Farm is a small, family-run farm located in Upper Granville, Nova Scotia. What began as a love of gardening, growing and cooking food, and working with our hands has become a long‑term vision: a market farm rooted in community, craftsmanship, and the natural beauty of home, the Annapolis Valley.

The farm is taking shape slowly and intentionally. Each season the vegetable gardens stretch a little farther, the young orchard settles deeper into the soil, and the belief that good things grow slowly guides every decision. We’re building something meaningful one growing season at a time.

Although Cardinal Valley Farm is first‑generation, it’s built on old roots. Thomas carries a strong family legacy of growing food: his grandfather ran a successful fruit farm in Granville Beach specializing in peaches and pears, and his grandmother was an award‑winning gardener in Granville Ferry. Rilla spent her early years on a hobby farm with sheep and chickens, and her grandparents sold preserves and breads through Strawberry Hill Farms at the Annapolis Royal Farmers Market. Family stories tell us that Rilla’s grandmother used to buy peaches from Thomas’s grandparents to make jams and jelly — a small, sweet connection that feels like the beginning of our story long before we knew it.

Woodworking played a role in our early identity, and it still lives quietly in the background. A reminder of where we started and the value of making things with care. But the heart of our work has always been the land. Today, we’re growing fresh produce, tending fruit trees, and creating a space where local makers and neighbours can come together. Our farm shop reflects that vision: homegrown food, small‑batch goods, and handcrafted items from local vendors. A celebration of the valley’s creativity and the people who shape it.

Cardinal Valley Farm is still becoming what it’s meant to be. Every season adds something new: a row of vegetables, a young tree, a fresh idea for the future. We’re building this place slowly, intentionally, and with a deep appreciation for the valley that surrounds us.

This farm is our story. And we’re grateful to share it with you.