Live communally and sustainably in beautiful Nova Scotia - Canada's Ocean Playground

This opportunity is for people aspiring to go back to nature, live communally and *sustainably* in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, and learn about the alpaca fibre business. You do not need to be an experienced farmer.

Eventually, I would love 6 individuals/couples to be part of this, but I know it will take time to find people who share my goals and outlook and who have good chemistry with me personally. I’m a quiet, middle-aged guy who mostly keeps to himself, but I also love good conversation around the dinner table or the woodstove. Currently, about 4 people seem serious about this, from posting it earlier on FB, but I’m certain they won’t all go ahead with it.

Rather than asking for a lot of rent or asking you to work 40 hours a week, I just want 10 hours per week of your help and a $500 monthly contribution to the household expenses (which covers your shelter, meals, and wifi). At the end of each calendar year, I will give you 10% of the farm profits (which currently come primarily from alpaca fibre products, airbnb, and a small biennial blueberry harvest). By pulling together on the activities listed below, we can increase the farm revenues so that your profit-share at the end of the year is a few thousand, instead of a few hundred.

I have a pair of beautiful riverfront hobby farms, each with a large 4-bedroom house. There are 3 acres of wild blueberries, 6 acres of pasture, and about 8 acres of woods that provide more than enough firewood to heat both homes without having to clear-cut any areas.

Over the last 4 years, my partner and I raised a good herd of alpacas and developed a thriving fibre business around them. She and the alpacas are gone; so, I will rebuild the alpaca herd and continue to grow the diversity of products we derive from the fibre. A small portion of my food comes from the property, and my vision is to increase that slowly and steadily every year.

Some of the new areas of activity that I want to undertake (once the right long-term cohabitants are found) are:
-bee-keeping (which will also help pollinate the blueberry field)
-developing blueberry condiments and other blueberry products
-permaculture
-large vegetable and herb gardens
-poultry (for both meat and eggs)
-farm store for the alpaca products and blueberry products
-fishing our 1500 feet of river
-alternative, renewable energy to reduce our dependence on the grid
-art studio, as there are a lot of tourists here in the summer

If you have a family, the rooms won’t work you, but I am amenable to you building a tiny home on the property and then I would forego the room and board contribution, obviously.

Send me a private message if you are interested in living and working together. :-)

Hi Art;   Big Welcome to Permies!
You sound like our kind of guy. Please keep us posted on your project.
Your offering a super opportunity for a few folks in a beautiful location!
If I was a young man I would beat feet to the border and come check things out!
I hope you find the right people to expand your dream.

Thank you for that warm welcome, Thomas. :)

Hi Art, I'm curious to learn more about this opportunity.
I am an herbalist with organic gardening experience and permaculture education, looking to learn more. SEnd me a message if the opportunity is still available.
Blessings
Aspen

Art, that's gorgeous country. I visited Nova Scotia years ago and loved the people, the music, the countryside, the beer.

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:Art, that's gorgeous country. I visited Nova Scotia years ago and loved the people, the music, the countryside, the beer.

Thanks, Douglas. Yes, I love it here. I moved here from Toronto.

Hi Art;

This sounds like a wonderful opportunity!  I'm currently posted to New Brunswick with the Canadian Army, but am looking at options on releasing (Especially if a mandated vaccine policy comes down! Yikes).  Please keep me in mind. Cheers.

Stephen.  

Stephen Chled wrote:Hi Art;

This sounds like a wonderful opportunity!  I'm currently posted to New Brunswick with the Canadian Army, but am looking at options on releasing (Especially if a mandated vaccine policy comes down! Yikes).  Please keep me in mind. Cheers.

Stephen.  

Hi Stephen. I'm just a few minutes from the NB border. Come on over and take a look at the place once the border reopens. My email is arthurbrown101@gmail.com if you'd like to discuss this.
Art

Hi Art! I believe my wife and I saw you as a host on workaway. It’s great to see you on here. How are things going on the farm? Have you started the alpaca herd?

Cass & Taylor

Cass Hazel wrote:Hi Art! I believe my wife and I saw you as a host on workaway. It’s great to see you on here. How are things going on the farm? Have you started the alpaca herd?

Cass & Taylor

Wow, very observant. Yes I do a lot of workaway. I have two volunteers here right now, as a matter of fact.
I did, in fact, restart the alpaca herd. I have 6 beauties at the moment.
Feel free to follow the farm on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AlpacasBerriesChickens

Hi Art,
I'm Pandora,
I just signed on to permies this morning. I'm from Ontario and seriously thinking about moving to Nova Scotia once the virus restrictions settle down and I can freely travel. I love NS. I lived there for a while in my early twenties. Your property looks beautiful! I have a 20 ft. tiny house that I'll be bringing out with me. The only person I knew in NS passed away last year so it's be nice to find some  community of like minded people out there.  What town is your farm nearest too? I'm interested to learn more about your plans. My background is in organic flower farming and animal husbandry. ☮️

Pandora Hathaway wrote:Hi Art,
I'm Pandora,
I just signed on to permies this morning. I'm from Ontario and seriously thinking about moving to Nova Scotia once the virus restrictions settle down and I can freely travel. I love NS. I lived there for a while in my early twenties. Your property looks beautiful! I have a 20 ft. tiny house that I'll be bringing out with me. The only person I knew in NS passed away last year so it's be nice to find some  community of like minded people out there.  What town is your farm nearest too? I'm interested to learn more about your plans. My background is in organic flower farming and animal husbandry. ☮️

Hi, Pandora. :-) The nearest towns are Amherst, Parrsboro, and Springhill ... all about equal distances. The nearest big centre is Moncton, which is an hour away. Drop me a line at arthurbrown101@gmail.com, and we can discuss further.
You're making a great move. I, likewise, came here from Ontario.

Art

Hi Art,
What a beautiful site. My partner and I are looking to move out of the city and create in community. We are into permaculture. She is an artist looking for new ways of expression.
However we are in Maine, US citizens. I looked into Canadian citizenship a while back and it seemed an unlikely possibility.  So...    Meanwhile we can visit, post Covid.
Thanks,
  Toxtli

Toxtli Melloh wrote:Hi Art,
What a beautiful site. My partner and I are looking to move out of the city and create in community. We are into permaculture. She is an artist looking for new ways of expression.
However we are in Maine, US citizens. I looked into Canadian citizenship a while back and it seemed an unlikely possibility.  So...    Meanwhile we can visit, post Covid.
Thanks,
  Toxtli

Sent you a direct message, Toxtli.

Art Brown wrote:This opportunity is for people aspiring to go back to nature, live communally and *sustainably* in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, and learn about the alpaca fibre business. You do not need to be an experienced farmer.

Eventually, I would love 6 individuals/couples to be part of this, but I know it will take time to find people who share my goals and outlook and who have good chemistry with me personally. I’m a quiet, middle-aged guy who mostly keeps to himself, but I also love good conversation around the dinner table or the woodstove. Currently, about 4 people seem serious about this, from posting it earlier on FB, but I’m certain they won’t all go ahead with it.

Rather than asking for a lot of rent or asking you to work 40 hours a week, I just want 10 hours per week of your help and a $500 monthly contribution to the household expenses (which covers your shelter, meals, and wifi). At the end of each calendar year, I will give you 10% of the farm profits (which currently come primarily from alpaca fibre products, airbnb, and a small biennial blueberry harvest). By pulling together on the activities listed below, we can increase the farm revenues so that your profit-share at the end of the year is a few thousand, instead of a few hundred.

I have a pair of beautiful riverfront hobby farms, each with a large 4-bedroom house. There are 3 acres of wild blueberries, 6 acres of pasture, and about 8 acres of woods that provide more than enough firewood to heat both homes without having to clear-cut any areas.

Over the last 4 years, my partner and I raised a good herd of alpacas and developed a thriving fibre business around them. She and the alpacas are gone; so, I will rebuild the alpaca herd and continue to grow the diversity of products we derive from the fibre. A small portion of my food comes from the property, and my vision is to increase that slowly and steadily every year.

Some of the new areas of activity that I want to undertake (once the right long-term cohabitants are found) are:
-bee-keeping (which will also help pollinate the blueberry field)
-developing blueberry condiments and other blueberry products
-permaculture
-large vegetable and herb gardens
-poultry (for both meat and eggs)
-farm store for the alpaca products and blueberry products
-fishing our 1500 feet of river
-alternative, renewable energy to reduce our dependence on the grid
-art studio, as there are a lot of tourists here in the summer

If you have a family, the rooms won’t work you, but I am amenable to you building a tiny home on the property and then I would forego the room and board contribution, obviously.

Send me a private message if you are interested in living and working together. :-)

Your place looks amazing. Too bad I am "old" now and in the US lol. Hopefully I can set up a visit one day when the boarders open.

Sure! I'd love a visit from you when the border reopens, Mari. :-)

Art

Hi there Art!

I'd love to discuss more with you. Emailofmichaelburrelljr@gmail.com

Thank you. The plan you laid out sounds amazing. I've had some really negative experiences with work trade and host keeping up to their agreements but otherwise I am always will to try.

I helped heard 4000 alpaca in Colorado. Prize winners.
I don't have the science but moving em, herding them, and cleaning stalls where my Job while I was there are months.

Only been at the farming since 2019 Aug so my knowledge is limited but my work effort is a plenty.

Hi, Michael. I assume that you meant that your email address is michaelburrelljr@gmail.com
I've emailed you at that address.
Art

Art Brown wrote:Hi, Michael. I assume that you meant that your email address is michaelburrelljr@gmail.com
I've emailed you at that address.
Art

Oops lol, that didn't work. Okay, tried the longer one that you posted now.

This is kinda an old thread, but if you're still searching, you can PM me.  We have tons in common :)

Fae Right wrote:This is kinda an old thread, but if you're still searching, you can PM me.  We have tons in common :)

Yes, I am still looking for people.  :)  I should maybe freshen up the post a bit.
In the meantime, I inboxed you, Fae.