Lazy Brook Farm
“You are what you eat," claims Darlene Hill, a natural health practitioner and co-owner and operator of Lazy Brook Farm – specializing in certified organic high-bush blueberries.
Darlene and Gerry were excited to live in accord with the land. In 2000 they began searching for a property that would satisfy their desires to live in the country and came across the place they currently own: Lazy Brook Farm. Situated by a lazy brook, just outside Waterville, they purchased the deserted "rotten wreck of a place" and soon after purchasing the land started to re-establish the acres of neglected high-bush blueberry crops.
"We pruned & chopped heavily when we first moved into this place," says Darlene, surrounded by her three friendly dogs. In order to nurse the orchard back into a healthy state of production, Darlene and Gerry had to be very creative. Noticing that their soil was nitrogen deficient, they began searching for a way of adding naturally to the soil. The solution: pine needles – high acid and full of nitrogen, pine needles are the perfect fit for blueberries. They began collecting from nearby campgrounds to source the needles and as they began to use them, they saw a huge increase in the blueberry production. The pine needles create acid soil, act as a mulch, increase moisture levels and act as a natural fertilizer – adding nitrogen and regulating the pH balance in the soil to make it appropriately high acid for blueberries. All of that work has led to a successful blueberry operation with 2100 bushes of blueberries on a full four acres of land they are producing approximately nine tonnes of blueberries in a season!
While busy in the fields they have also managed to renovate the house, build an additional blueberry storage and processing facility as well as an entire facility where Darlene runs part of her business: Lazy Brook Healing Centre. Specializing in personal wellness, and practicing healing techniques including Reiki, Colonics, Jin Shin Jyutsu (accupressure) and Raindrop massage, Darlene is well aware of the healing properties of organic blueberries! Blueberries are high in antioxidants, therefore they decrease your risk of cancer, reduce bad cholesterol, guard against neurological diseases, combat aging, and are also known for memory and vision improvement.
Darlene and Gerry value-added their delicious product by making organic, fresh pressed blueberry juice concentrate – thereby increasing the bio-availability of the many health benefits of organic blueberries. But Darlene and Gerry are not only concerned about the health of their human friends – they also make and market dog treats from their organic blueberries!
Their dedication to quality and creativity make Darlene and Gerry unique blueberry producers in Nova Scotia. Their fresh blueberries are available from the 3rd week of July until the 2nd week of September, and they have frozen berries available until stock sells out. Their blueberry juice is available year round. |
