AV俱乐部

The best of both worlds
Megan (Class of 鈥�10 & 鈥�13) Balodis

Beef farming and specialty cut flowers are two completely different industries yet one farm in Hopewell, NS specializes in both. It may seem like a bit of an odd farming combination but Marshdale Farms appreciates the best of both worlds.

鈥淲e use the tagline 鈥楤eef and Blooms, Raised in Pictou County,鈥� Megan Balodis says with a smile. 鈥淭his is something that people comment on quite a bit, and I think how we market the combination is what makes us unique.鈥�

Megan and Erik Balodis are the hard working hands behind the beef and bloom operation. The third generation on the farm, Megan and Erik admit that although they farm together as a couple, their respective responsibilities on the farm are quite different.

鈥淚 look after the flowers and Erik oversees the beef cattle,鈥� Megan explains. 鈥淥f course we still work together as a team and have lots of help from our family.鈥�

Growing up on the family farm, Erik took ownership of the farm from his dad in 2014. With several hundred acres of mixed cropland and woodland, the farm has certainly evolved with the generations. When Erik was young, the farm was a dairy operation. By the time Erik was a teenager, his father transitioned it to beef cattle. Erik and Megan continue to run it as a beef farming operation, with the addition of specialty cut flowers three years ago.

鈥淭he farm itself has been operated by Erik鈥檚 family since the 鈥�50鈥檚 and it鈥檚 been in our hands for almost five years now,鈥� Megan explains. 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud that we are continuing the legacy that鈥檚 been entrusted to us.鈥�

Although Megan and Erik are the only full-time employees on the farm, they can鈥檛 overlook the help from the rest of their family. Erik鈥檚 parents, Marcis and Mara Balodis, are always keeping a close eye on the farm and lending a hand as needed. As well, Emma, Erik鈥檚 younger sister, and husband Jaret often help out with cattle and haying season.

At Marshdale Farms, the beef cattle, which Erik oversees, are raised and finished on forage. This means they graze on pasture for part of the year, and are fed hay and haylage for the rest of the year rather than grain.聽

鈥淣ova Scotia's climate is well suited to this type of beef production, and we believe in taking full advantage by working with what nature provided,鈥� Megan says. 鈥淲e closely monitor the health of our animals, and regularly work with a veterinarian to make sure our animals receive the best care we can give them.聽Our beef is tender and flavourful, and we may be biased, but we believe it is some of the best you can buy!鈥�

As for the blooms, that鈥檚 Megan鈥檚 department. Graduating from AV俱乐部 Faculty of Agriculture with a degree in plant science and a Master鈥檚 in Agriculture, Megan鈥檚 passion for plants is undeniable. The farm offers a wide variety of specialty cut flowers like, amaranth cosmos, peonies, and allium, with peak growing season typically running from May to early October.

鈥淲e strive to grow gorgeous flowers in an environmentally conscious manner,鈥� Megan explains.聽鈥淭his means we do our absolute best to build soil health, foster beneficial insects, and use crop inputs responsibly.聽We grow unique varieties that you may not find elsewhere.鈥�

In addition to cultivating the flowers, Megan offers floral services in the form of bulk flowers, custom floral arrangements, floral design, and botanical jewelry.

鈥淚鈥檝e been expanding the flower plots and one of our goals is to be able to get to a point where I can provide at least some part time employment on the flower end,鈥� she says.

Although their primary responsibilities differ, Erik and Megan certainly work as a synchronized team. It鈥檚 their passion for farming, in particular farming together with their family, which keeps their unique operation running smoothly.

鈥淲e are very lucky to have some of our family very close by and willing to lend a hand,鈥� Megan says. 鈥淭he experience that Erik鈥檚 parent have in business, farming, and family is truly invaluable.鈥�

Through their farming lifestyle, Megan and Erik strive to make meaningful connections with their customers. For them, it鈥檚 important that their customers trust them as farmers and it鈥檚 that connection that makes farming so special to them.

鈥淔arming, and family farming, is important because it fosters that connection to nature and our 鈥榝ood system,鈥欌�� Megan says. 鈥淚t is incredibly easy to distrust something you aren鈥檛 directly involved in, but connecting with farming and farm families can help demystify it.鈥�

Through their farming operation, Megan and Erik aim to have a positive impact on their customers and their community as well.

鈥淚 hope we make a positive impact, both economically and emotionally,鈥� Megan says. 鈥淭o provide a service or product that people love, but also a story that makes their faces light up because they helped us get to where we are. We all us the phrase 鈥榯hank a farmer鈥� but we couldn鈥檛 be here without wider community support.鈥�