by Jo Barnes | photos by Kathryn Alvarez Photography –
Let’s see, what do I need? Hmmm … salad greens, tomatoes, zucchini and maybe some pork chops for dinner. Now where can I find all that?
For most of us, we would search the aisles of a grocery store. But for the owners of Campion Farm in Saanichton, the answer is closer to home: their backyard!
Julie Collins and Simone Segato began actively farming four years ago, with a strong desire to grow their own food, share it with the community, and to enhance their land in the process.
“We wanted to grow food, but we wanted to be able to preserve where we live for our children and their grandchildren. We wanted to be responsible in the way we live,” shares Julie.
“Farming gives me an appreciation of the food cycle, and it brings me closer to the whole farm to table process,” adds Simone. “We get the opportunity to farm first-hand and experience this lifestyle as a family.”
The six-acre farm, nestled in the heart of the Hunt Valley, features a variety of livestock including chickens, goats, sheep and pigs, as well as a flourishing market garden of vegetables and flowers. Before starting the farm, the couple and their two children, Sophie and Adam, were living in the Dean Park area where they had a small backyard garden and chickens. When they saw the current Saanichton property listed for sale in 2019, they seized the opportunity.
“We were living in North Saanich and had a small vegetable garden and 10 chickens we were raising for eggs. It was fun, rewarding, and we enjoyed it,” relates Julie. “But we wanted to do it all on a bigger scale. We were really happy to find the Campion Road property because we have strong ties to the community on the Peninsula. We both have families who live there.”
While neither Simone, a software manager, or Julie, an accountant, have a farming background, they have accomplished a lot since buying the property. As well as establishing market garden beds, an irrigation system, animal housing and enclosures, they’ve sourced animals, learned animal husbandry, and worked out budgeting and marketing. They started by doing a lot of research including what kind of sheep to raise.
“We were looking for a breed of sheep that we didn’t need to shear regularly. It took a year of searching, but we found a sheep breed that has good natural internal parasite resistance,” notes Julie.
Hard work and dedication have brought success and also new discoveries along the way. “In 2020, we rototilled the hay field and planted a vegetable garden. But the hay, which puts down deep roots, kept coming back and strangled the vegetables,” relates Julie. “We bought two pregnant sows. We found out pigs are nature’s plows! The pigs dug up and ate the roots. They also gave birth to 23 piglets, so we started selling pork. We sold out for the first couple of months!”
Raising livestock not only provides income, but as Julie relates, it’s key to the health of the farm.
“Animals are an integral part of the eco-system because they replenish the soil. Their manure is used as fertilizer on the field. They replace machinery as they do a great job of tilling.”
Regenerative farming is practised where the focus is enhancing and rehabilitating the ecosystem with a goal of sustainability into the future. “We use organic methods. We do hand-weeding, companion planting and crop rotation,” says Julie. “Rather than eradicating all pests, we try to find balance with organisms. Ladybugs and predatory wasps, for example, keep aphids at bay.”
The farm tasks can be challenging and demanding, but it all brings rewards too. “The process takes hours and hours, and it’s difficult when an animal dies or a crop fails,” says Julie. “But seeing everything grow, pigs giving birth and seeds germinating, it is all so satisfying.”
Sophia and Adam add with a smile: “What we’re eating comes from own backyard!”
The couple are enthusiastic farmers who enjoy sharing not only what they’ve grown, but also what they’ve learned. “We encourage people to come to our farm, see the animals and where food comes from,” says Simone. “We’re still learning and that’s all part of the lifestyle as well.”
Adds Julie: “I am a huge advocate of helping people grow their own food. Even if you grow a few herbs, you can have control over the tiniest aspect of the source of your own food.”
Whether it’s a planter box of herbs on your apartment deck or rows of backyard vegetable beds, growing your own food can be satisfying to the palate and the pocketbook.
Currently, the farm is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers a variety of pork cuts, as well as green beans, salad greens, cherry tomatoes and homemade jam. For more details, visit www.campionfarm.ca.
