While the provincial winner of the 2018 Woodland Owner of the Year award for the western region may thrive on the changes of the seasons, Kevin Veinotte says it’s really the challenges of life on the farm that keep him going.
Kevin and his family of West Northfield, Lunenburg County, operate Out to Pasture Farm, a 162-hectare (400 acres) plot that combines their farm, forest and Christmas tree U-pick and a recently added poultry processing plant.
The family also won the award 11 years ago. Since then, they have taken on new initiatives which include developing a carbon management plan.
“That’s something that I’m still learning about, but I know that protecting our land and the environment is very important,” Kevin says, pointing out they are now motivated to take whatever steps are necessary to achieve that goal.
For Kevin and his wife Susan, they say it’s an honour to be recognized for the work that their family does at the farm.
“Our philosophy is a simple one,” Kevin says. “Always leave the land in better shape than when you took over, and that’s what we try to do, but not only that, we also try to improve it.”
He believes, like his father before him, that it’s important to be good stewards of the land so that it can be sustained for future generations. And he knows a thing or two about leaving his land for the benefit of future generations, as all three of his sons work on the farm and have been doing so since they were youngsters.
Today, his oldest son, Neil, works full time on the farm while his youngest, twins Luke and Mark, work part time in their woodlot as they both have other jobs.
“We run a family operation,” Kevin explains. “That means we all pitch in and do whatever has to be done.”
Since it’s a working farm, he points out, there is always work to be done, from little chores to major jobs. “But that’s the way life is on the farm.”
The Veinottes enjoy trying new things and sharing their experience and knowledge with other woodlot owners. Their livestock is sold at local farmers markets, carrying on the tradition of living off the land. They work with forestry organizations to promote responsible ecosystem-based forest management and have worked with Ducks Unlimited to establish duck ponds on their property.
“This award is important to me because it gives people the opportunity to view sustainable forestry and spend some time in the woods,” says Kevin. “We plan to keep working the farm and woodlot. It’s very diversified and our work changes with the season. Variety is the spice of life.”
There will be a public field day on the Veinotte property on Saturday, Sept. 29. During that day, visitors will be invited to tour the property and to witness, first-hand, many of the techniques being used today in modern farming operations including logging operations and selective cutting.
Representatives from Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation and Adopt-a-Stream will also be on site to talk about the Veinottes’ efforts to protect waterways on their property as Kevin says managing the water on the land is just as important as every other component of the farm operation.
Visitors to the farm that day will also be able to enjoy a hot a meal, but Kevin chuckles, “We are still working on the menu, but I can promise, it will be something really good.”
Nova Scotia Lands and Forestry Minister Iain Rankin said, “The Veinottes are pushing the forestry industry forward with innovative and sustainable practices.”
He added, “This award gives them the well-deserved recognition for their continued efforts. Congratulations to the Veinottes for demonstrating exemplary practices in woodland management.”
The Department of Lands and Forestry has presented the Woodland Owner of the Year Award program since 1990. Nova Scotia residents who own 20 to 2,000 hectares (50 to 5,000 acres) of woodland are eligible for woodland owner awards.
Nominations are accepted at Department of Lands and Forestry offices until April 15 each year.
