NIKIAN Farm began in 2002, when Niki and Ian returned to Nova Scotia with a truck-load of plants sampled from their West Coast gardens. Alongside the farm, they opened an organic nursery and landscaping business, which became well-known in the area for their vibrant designs and mixed ornamental/edible gardens, including dramatic stone walls and features. 

 

Propagating plants with both cuttings and open-pollinated seeds has become a major contributor to the farm's unique landscapes. Niki and Ian continuously experiment with cultivating new varieties, with the goal of enhancing biodiversity on the 25-acre farm and developing resilience in their living environment. 

 

While experiencing the joy of living in NIKIAN Farm’s stunning park-like setting, Niki and Ian have been producing and preserving nearly all of their own food, and much of the material they have needed, using only organic methods. They recently retired from their landscaping business, and made the decision to seek out a partner for NIKIAN Farm. Paramount to them is ensuring that their vision of the vitality and importance of organic farming is maintained in the future, and most importantly that NIKIAN Farm remains an accessbile and meaningful asset for the local community. 

 

Niki and Ian met Alex in 2024, through Farm Link, a site dedicated to matching experienced farmers and farms with emerging farmers looking for land.  They immediately connected over their shared love of organic farming, healthy local and exotic food, and an appreciation of nature, biodiversity and cultural experiences. 

 

Alex spent his childhood developing an appreciation for growing and eating organic food from his grandparents' gardens. He later spent several years working and learning about market gardening at Le Refuge Farm in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. 

 

He moved back to Nova Scotia in 2023 with the dream of starting his own farm. Alex, Niki and Ian developed a succession plan based not on monetary exchange, but rather on a model of co-ownership,  the exchange of knowledge and experience, and a shared vision for the farm's future and potention for an ever-increasing contribution to community. 

 

Niki, Ian and Alex’s sincere hope is for their succession story to inspire others to explore alternative models of governance and succession with the goal of ensuring the incredible farmland in Nova Scotia continues to be used to feed local communities, while nourishing the cycles of nature that formed it.

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