Soil Mates Farmers

Together we have been owner/operators since 2015. Our experience and knowledge base is a mixture of research and making many mistakes, which we wouldn’t suggest as a way to start a farm business though it has worked for us. It took us three years to gain enough traction, support of our community and introduction of other skilled labourers to become profitable. With each season we hone in our processes, make improvements and pivot when necessary.


  • Founder

    Raised on the South Shore of NS in Chester and is a graduate of StFX University with a diploma in Environmental Engineering. He was inspired to start the farm during his travels after university and is also interested in soils, forest ecology, tree crops, carbon sequestration and music - which he spends much of his “free” time engaging with.

  • Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario Marena moved to Nova Scotia to attend NSCAD in 2011 and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2015. She met Mykal, who was in the process of starting the farm, during her final semester at NSCAD and chose to stay to learn the art of growing vegetables. Marena has been an owner-operator of Soil Mates Farm since 2015. She maintains an art practice that includes painting, drawing, photography, textiles/fibre art, sculpture and performance whenever there is free time.