Friends of the Farm P.E.I.

Looking Back: The Friends of the Farm Lecture Series

2010-03-11T08:41:00.000-08:00

The Friends of the Farm lecture series was initiated in 2002 with the intention of informing the Friends and the community in order to promote wise decision making concerning the future use of the Experimental Farm lands.

2002: Brian Mackay-Lyons, architect and urban planner, "Public Spaces and Spirit of Place".
2003:Julie Harris, historian and heritage consultant,"From Experimental Farm to Town Farm".
2004:Bernard Jackson,Memorial University Botanical Garden, "Development of a Botanical Garden".
2005:Andreas Haun, Kingsbrae Gardens, St. Andrews, New Brunswick.
Karen Achenbach, Annapolis Historical Gardens, Annapolis, Nova Scotia. Presented jointly with the PEI Garden Club.

Daniel Glenn, landscape architect and park planner,"Ravenwood Experimental Farm Concept Plan".
2006:Doug Shouldice, President, Friends of the Central Experimental Farm, " Ottawa's Central Experimental Farm, Preserved and Flourishing".
2007:Diana Beresford- Kroeger, botanist and medical biochemist," Island Trees , Island Treasures".
2008: Warwick Harris, Island Studies, " The Plants and People of the Chatham Islands".
Laura Lee Howard and Bert Christie, Island studies and Agriculture, The Future of the Experimental Farm, Conflicting Views".

2009:Larry Beasley, urban planner, "Buildings, Spaces and People: Making a Great City by Design".

Guardian letter by Errol Nicholson

2009-11-12T11:36:00.000-08:00

Editor:
We should keep the experimental farm land public. All cities around the world have set aside large tracts of land as public spaces — our capital Ottawa is no exception.
A study and proposal has already been published. It is very comprehensive and well thought out by land use experts. The bottom line is we need some open space for future generations to live in harmony with nature as our city continues to grow.
My parents’ home and the school I attended were close to this land. Our teachers took us on walking (no school buses then) nature trips to the Lily Pond and if we were lucky we got a glimpse of milking time. This was a wonderful experience for city children. Also our families used this property for weekend picnics.
It would seem that in this busy world we need space ‘to just enjoy being’ and not always ‘doing’. I realize times have changed and we can’t always look back, but we must be prudent in the planning for this land jewel for the future. In addition to the completed study and the several speakers brought in to discuss its future use, I have some suggestions to consider.
First the P.E.I. Department of Education and UPEI should see this land as a natural area for teaching our youth environmental skills. Many of our schools are very close.
With increased tour boat traffic to our city the many visitors may want a place within walking distance to enjoy nature and a break from organized tours.
Music and the performing arts are an important part of our cultural heritage so some of this land could be used for outdoor concerts and necessary parking.
The experimental farm was an important part in the evolution of the agriculture industry so some thought and planning should go into preserving its history.

06/11/09

2009 Board of Directors

2009-11-10T13:02:00.000-08:00

Honorary Chair: Lloyd MacLeod
Chair: Janice Simmonds
Vice Chair: Lane MacLaren
Secretary Treasurer: Nora Jenkins
Membership: Gertie Purdy
Bert Christie
Catherine Hennessey
Paul Hickey
Douglas Macdonald
Kenneth Macdonald
Connie MacKay-Carr
Elizabeth Martin

The Friends would like to thank our outgoing Chair Dr. Lloyd MacLeod for his years of dedicated service to our cause. Lloyd will continue working with us as Honorary Chair. We would also like to thank retiring members Laura lee Howard and Errol Nicholson for the many contributions each of them has made on the Board. Fortunately for the Friends, Laura Lee has agreed to continue to look after our publicity and Errol has agreed to work with Gertie on membership.

Annual Meeting 2009

2009-10-29T06:49:00.000-07:00

The Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Farm will take place on Monday, November 9 ,2009, 7:00 p.m., at the Carriage House , Beaconsfield. The topic of the evening will be the proposal that the Friends and the City of Charlottetown presented to the federal government to acquire the Experimental Farm property.

2009-10-16T05:41:00.000-07:00

Green spaces 'improve health'

There is more evidence that living near a 'green space' has health benefits.

Research in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health says the impact is particularly noticeable in reducing rates of mental ill health.

The annual rates of 15 out of 24 major physical diseases were also significantly lower among those living closer to green spaces.

One environmental expert said the study confirmed that green spaces create 'oases' of improved health around them.

The researchers from the VU University Medical Centre in Amsterdam looked at the health records of 350,000 people registered with 195 family doctors across the Netherlands.

Only people who had been registered with their GP for longer than 12 months were included because the study assumed this was the minimum amount of time people would have to live in an environment before any effect of it would be noticeable.

Health impact

The percentages of green space within a one and three kilometre (0.62 and 1.86 miles) radius of their home were calculated using their postcode.

On average, green space accounted for 42% of the residential area within one kilometre (0.62 miles) radius and almost 61% within a three kilometre (1.86 miles) radius of people's homes.

DISEASES THAT BENEFIT MOST FROM GREEN SPACES

Coronary heart disease

Neck, shoulder, back, wrist and hand complaints

Depression and anxiety

Diabetes

Respiratory infections and asthma

Migraine and vertigo

Stomach bugs and urinary tract infections

Unexplained physical symptoms

And the annual rates for 24 diseases in 7 different categories were calculated.

The health benefits for most of the diseases were only seen when the greenery was within a one kilometre ( 0.62 miles ) radius of the home.

The exceptions to this were anxiety disorders, infectious diseases of the digestive system and medically unexplained physical symptoms which were seen to benefit even when the green spaces were within three kilometres of the home.

The biggest impact was on anxiety disorders and depression.

Anxiety disorders

The annual prevalence of anxiety disorders for those living in a residential area containing 10% of green space within a one kilometre (0.62 miles) radius of their home was 26 per 1000 whereas for those living in an area containing 90% of green space it was 18 per 1000.

For depression the rates were 32 per 1000 for the people in the more built up areas and 24 per 1000 for those in the greener areas.

“ At least part of this 'oasis' effect probably reflects changes in air quality ”
Professor Barbara Maher, Lancaster Environment Centre

The researchers also showed that this relation was strongest for children younger than 12.

They were 21% less likely to suffer from depression in the greener areas.

Two unexpected findings were that the greener spaces did not show benefits for high blood pressure and that the relation appeared stronger for people aged 46 to 65 than for the elderly.

The researchers think the green spaces help recovery from stress and offer greater opportunities for social contacts.

They say the free physical exercise and better air quality could also contribute.

Dr Jolanda Maas of the VU University Medical Centre in Amsterdam, said: "It clearly shows that green spaces are not just a luxury but they relate directly to diseases and the way people feel in their living environments."

"Most of the diseases which are related to green spaces are diseases which are highly prevalent and costly to treat so policy makers need to realise that this is something they may be able to diminish with green spaces."

Professor Barbara Maher of the Lancaster Environment Centre said the study confirmed that green spaces create oases of improved health around them especially for children.

She said: "At least part of this 'oasis' effect probably reflects changes in air quality.

"Anything that reduces our exposure to the modern-day 'cocktail' of atmospheric pollutants has got to be a good thing."

Gerry Ritz says the Farm is not for sale- CBC

2009-08-09T22:10:00.000-07:00

The federal agriculture minister is throwing cold water on the City of Charlottetown's plans to redevelop a plot of land owned by Agriculture Canada and currently used for a federal experimental farm.

Gerry Ritz said Friday the 35-hectare green space in the middle of Charlottetown is not for sale.

The land was declared surplus in 2002, but that designation was withdrawn. That has not, however, stopped rival groups from submitting competing proposals for how to develop it.

Last month, the Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee said the land could be in the city's hands as early as March of next year. The city backed a development plan by Friends of the Farm that would leave 32 hectares as park and include a new fire hall.

But Ritz said the research that's done at the farm is still important, and there are no plans in the works to let the land go.

Lane MacLaren speaks at press conference

2009-08-04T14:41:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone, I would like to thank you for attending and I would also like to take this opportunity on behalf of Friends of the Farm to thank Mayor Lee and Council for their support on this very important project. The Friends of the Farm look forward to working with the city as a partner in our shared goal of developing the Experimental Farm as the next jewel in the city’s park system.
Our proposal today is consistent with the Friends of the Farm 2004 Ravenwood plan. The fundamental principle of this plan is respect for spirit of place. Every element of the plan relates in some way to the cultural, agricultural, and horticultural heritage of the Farm and to the characteristics, needs, and wishes of the community which surrounds it. This plan allows for the sale of two parcels totaling approximately 7 acres. The revenue generated from this sale would ensure the vast majority of the farm be retained as public space in perpetuity. The remaining approximately 81 acres will be protected from future development – translating into 92% of the existing 88 acres preserved for public space.
The Friends of the Farm consider this day to be symbolic. With 2009 marking the 100th anniversary of the Experimental Farm, we feel a symbolic seed has been planted for the future of the farm. Like the many seeds that were planted over the past 100 years providing knowledge to our agriculture community as well as natural beauty for the general public to enjoy. Our hope today is the seed we have planted with this proposal will "grow" and provide beauty and enjoyment for future generations.
In closing, on behalf of Friends of the Farm, I would like to express gratitude to the general public for their overwhelming support and encouragement as we move forward in this process.
Thank-you

2009-05-28T16:58:00.000-07:00

Open space in the public realm must be used to contribute to neighbourhood identity and amenity. Larry Beasley, May 26, 2009

2009-05-27T05:43:00.001-07:00

2009-05-27T05:27:00.000-07:00

Cities envy Charlottetown's green space, planner says

NIGEL ARMSTRONG
The Guardian

Larry Beasley, retired urban planner for the City of Vancouver, spoke in Charlottetown Monday at an event hosted by Friends of the Farm. Beasley said cities around the world would envy Charlottetown’s open space represented by the former Experimental Farm.

Larry Beasley, an urban planner of international renown, didn’t want to comment on thorny Charlottetown land use issues when he spoke in Charlottetown Monday night, at least not directly.
Invited to a public lecture by Friends of the Farm to mark the 100th anniversary of the Charlottetown Experimental Farm, his presentation attracted close to 150 people who attended at the University of Prince Edward Island.
Beasley built his reputation as the urban planner for the City of Vancouver. He has since retired from that post and is consulting and developing projects around the world.
He did say about Charlottetown, that “most cities would die to have that opportunity” of having open green space like the Experimental Farm lands.
“Most importantly, most cities will never have it,” said Beasley. “If you have big, contiguous, publicly owned open space, you want to be very careful about that.”
When asked about the Charlottetown waterfront, he praised the walkway but warned about over-development, suggesting the world standard is just 50 per cent of waterfront land be developed.
He warned that great effort needs to be put into a clear vision for the city, clear development guidelines developed and determination used to follow the vision.
He pointed to an example of a town that rejected a box-store design for Wal-Mart only to find the company back with a much more compatible, acceptable design.
“I discovered something that I didn’t know, these standard-density formulas were not so sacrosanct,” said Beasley.
When Edward Rice asked a provocative question about excess development of Victoria Park, Beasley replied: “I do believe Victoria Park is a treasure.”
Beasley said that demands for recreation construction in Victoria Park is all the evidence one needs that open space and recreation space is in great demand, is highly valued by residents and that more is always better.
He laid out general points for effective management of open space. The first point was to think of the future when deciding how to proceed. The need for people to grow food and have agriculture land within the city is a clear emerging trend around the word, he said.
Beasley said he has had his greatest success from being guided by the needs of families.
“Think from the point of view of a family of two or three kids, and not a rich family, an average-income family,” he said.
“If you design a city that works well for children, it seems to work well for everyone.”
He said that with his guidance, Vancouver has rules that no development can exclude families with children and that amenities for children and families must be part of any development plan.
He also said all parties, from developers to the public, need to be working well together so that all needs are met.
“Ask for a second proposal, a better proposal,” said Beasley. “Just be bold.”

Larry Beasley

2009-05-13T07:07:00.000-07:00

There is an excellent article on Larry Beasley on the National Post web site for April 4 , 2009. The title is " The Urbanizer".

2009-05-12T08:26:00.001-07:00

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

We simply wish to keep Farm green

Editor:

I would like to take this opportunity to respond to comments expressed in two recent articles which appeared in your newspaper.

On Monday, May 4, Mr. Jeff Brant, director of socio-economic development with the Mi'kmaq Confederacy of P.E.I., in speaking of the Confederacy's plan for the experimental farm, implies that anyone opposing the Confederacy plan was doing so for racial reasons.

The same issue was raised in a commentary in your paper on April 29 by Darlene Bernard, chief of the Lennox Island Nation Band, and Brian Francis, chief of the Abegweit First Nation.

It is unfortunate that people would attempt to raise a racial issue simply because various groups wish to keep the farm green and as free from development as is possible. I have personally attended numerous meetings in recent months regarding this issue and have never said or heard anyone referring to the First Nations people with anything but respect and dignity.

The Friends of the Farm were formed in 1994 with the objective of keeping the farm green. The Friends, as well as other groups, successfully lobbied against the farm as the location for CARI facility in 2002. The Friends of the Farm sponsored community meetings and came forth with an extensive plan for the farm in 2005.

Only recently has the Confederacy made known its interest in the farm and now appears intent on portraying anyone opposed to its plan as racist or against First Nations people - this is simply not true.

In closing, I would like to quote Chief Francis and Chief Bernard, "At the end of the day we may disagree, at the very least we deserve to be treated with respect and dignity for our efforts and intentions."

Lane MacLaren,

New location for lecture

2009-05-12T08:19:00.000-07:00

The lecture by celebrated city planner Larry Beasley will be held at the lecture theatre of McDougall Hall, UPEI business school at 7.M. on May 25.This promises to be a first-rate event.

2009-05-11T16:59:00.001-07:00

Let's keep the farm green
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Editor:

The Mi'kmaq Confederacy might be congratulated on the ambition of its plan to build, operate and maintain multiple government office buildings, two extensive apartment developments, an arts and leadership centre, a children's museum, a seniors assisted living centre, an inn, a restaurant, niche retail and professional offices and galleries on the Charlottetown experimental farm.

However, its plans do not respect the spirit of place of this property. Not one of the above-mentioned businesses has any relationship to the significant cultural, agricultural and horticultural heritage of the farm nor do they relate in any way to the character of the communities which surround the farm or the wishes and needs of their citizens.

The construction of these enterprises necessitates new streets and other infrastructure. The Mi'kmaq Confederacy plan calls for 470 new parking spots on the property in addition to the 160 that are already there. The beautiful stretch of road between Belvedere Avenue and Ravenwood which has maintained much of its 19th century character would be lined with parking lots and buildings. How can any level of responsible government allow this to happen to a property that is such an important part of the identity of our capital city? Could another site or sites be found for all of this construction?

With spirit of place in mind, let us as a community do everything in our power to keep the farm green and publicly owned.

Connie MacKay-Carr,

Charlottetown
11/05/09

2009-05-07T09:20:00.001-07:00

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Last updated at 9:49 AM on 07/05/09

Let's not 'pave paradise'; keep the farm green print this article
OPINION
DOUG MACDONALD

Re the Mi'kmaq Confederacy proposed master plan for the Charlottetown agricultural research farm. In the May 4 edition of The Guardian, Jeff Brant of the Confederacy was quoted as saying "you'd hope that in today's day and age, racial problems aren't an issue." This upsets me greatly. In making that statement, it is Mr. Brant who has introduced the race issue. And in doing so, he shows he does not appear to fully appreciate the main issue here.

It has never been about race, but always about development. The public is opposed to development on this site. People want to see it remain as public green space in the heart of the city for the use of everyone in the province. I am one of more than 5,000 people who have signed a petition to that effect.

I attended the presentation of the development proposal last week. While impressed by how much had gone into preparing the presentation, I was shocked to see how much development was planned for the farm property if turned over to this group. The concept of a Veterans Memorial Park, preservation of the Royal Forest, restored fruit orchard, and indigenous medicine plantings are commendable. But all of this is overshadowed by:

- a new road off University Avenue to an office complex with resultant parking;

- a road off Belvedere Avenue running through the heart of the farm almost to the Lily Pond;

- acres of farm land to be developed into three-storey high-density housing along Belvedere from Mt. Edward, almost two-thirds of the way to the rails-for-trails path;

- a future UPEI sports facility;

- an arts and leadership complex;

- an assisted living seniors housing complex;

- and by their count, some 470 paved parking spaces plus connecting roadways.

This proposal reminded me so much of Joni Mitchell's lament in Big Yellow Taxi where they "paved paradise and put up a parking lot."

The people of Charlottetown, and indeed P.E.I., have only one chance to get this right. If any of it is allowed to be commercially developed, it will be irreversible. Let's show some foresight, as our forefathers did in planning for parks in the old downtown core of the city. Other than a few playgrounds, there is no parkland north of Euston Street. Moncton has Centennial Park in the heart of the city. Halifax, Saint John and Fredericton have beautiful, unspoiled parks. Our federal, provincial and municipal representatives must not allow this golden opportunity to slip away.

One way to do this would be to declare it a national historic site under Parks Canada, as 'Ardgowan', across Mount Edward Road from the farm, now is.

The farm was one of the original Dominion Experimental Farms created 100 years ago this year. Hon. James C. Pope, premier of P.E.I. at the time the province entered Canadian Confederation in 1873, and younger brother of Father of Confederation William H. Pope who lived at 'Ardgowan', lived in 'Ravenwood', the beautiful old home on the farm property. Various members of the Royal Family have planted trees on this property over the decades.

It is not about race. Keep it public, and keep it green. We must not allow paradise to be paved for the sake of a parking lot.

Douglas B. MacDonald of Charlottetown is an engineering technologist retired from Foreign Affairs Canada where he was involved in the planning and construction of embassies and ambassadors' residences around the world.
07/05/09

2009-05-02T12:21:00.000-07:00

World Renowned Urban Planner Larry Beasley to Give Talk

Larry Beasley, one of the world’s top contemporary urban planners, will be in Charlottetown to give a talk on the elements of a sustainable city focussing on the essential contribution made by open space at the regional, local, street, and project level. Mr. Beasley who retired as Vancouver’s director of planning in 2006 was instrumental in transforming that city into one of the most livable cities in the world. During his years in Vancouver, he helped raise millions of dollars from the private sector for civic projects, led the revitalization of neighbourhoods, and developed a strong heritage preservation program. Presently, he is the Distinguished Practice Professor of Planning at the University of British Columbia and the founding principal of Beasley and Associates, an international planning consultancy specializing in land use planning and urban design. He chairs the National Advisory Committee on Planning, Design and Realty of Ottawa’s National Capital Commission and regularly advises other Canadian municipalities and numerous cities worldwide, such as Abu Dhabi, Dallas, and Rotterdam.

Mr. Beasley’s emphasis is on sustainable planning and the best use of natural attributes such as green space. He maintains that building things is only one aspect of urbanism. Good cities require good spaces and respect for the spirit of place. Form in design has to suit the people, the environment, the circumstances, and the tradition of a place. It has to feel organic.

Mr. Beasley has been recognized with numerous awards for architecture, city planning and landscape design. In 1996 the United Nations honoured Beasley’s work among the “World’s 100 Best Planning Practices”, in 2003 the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada conferred on him its Medal of Excellence as Advocate for Architecture and in 2007 he received the Kevin Lynch Award for MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning.

The talk which is sponsored by the Friends of the Farm will be on May 25th at 7:00 pm in the lecture theatre of the new business school at UPEI..

2009-05-01T04:33:00.000-07:00

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Last updated at 5:22 AM on 01/05/09

Friends differ with Confederacy print this article
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Editor:

I would like to respond to a recent article on the Opinion page of The Guardian ('A team approach to the experimental farm', April 29, 2009).

The authors quote me as having said in an interview that "I feel confident that we can come up with a plan that is acceptable to both groups." Both groups being the Friends of the Farm and the Mi'kmaq Confederacy of Prince Edward Island. What I also said was that the Friends and the Confederacy have different views regarding the ownership of the land. The Friends have always supported public ownership of the land (either the province or the city) and have wanted it maintained as green space. Ever since Friends of the Farm started in 1994, this has been our position. Unfortunately that part of the interview was never aired. I'm sure that if the complete interview is in the CBC archives, my statement can be verified.

The Mi'kmaq Confederacy, or at least Jeff Brant, director of socio-economic development, was informed of this position of the Friends. As late as Jan. 26, 2009, two representatives of the Friends met with Jeff, at his request, and he was told that the membership of the Friends would not support ownership of the land by any corporation. The Friends and other groups opposed the development of the CARI complex on the farm for the same reason, so are not singling out the Confederacy.

In the same article, the authors quote a previous report of a public meeting. According to the article, the meeting "resulted in efforts to block development, 'especially development by a Mi'kmaq corporation'." I was at that meeting and I do not remember anyone making such a statement; and Friends of the Farm have never singled out the Mi'kmaq Confederacy. Indeed we sympathize with them and would like to see them be successful in their endeavours. However, they could make a real contribution to the community and to the province by selecting some site other than the experimental farm for commercial development.

Bert Christie,

Stratford
01/05/09

Petition to keep the Farm Green and Public

2009-04-16T16:36:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all those who are circulating our petition. Please turn them in to Ravenwood when the pages are complete. Every name counts!!!

2009-04-16T05:59:00.000-07:00

2009-04-08T05:18:00.001-07:00

Friends of the Farm walk away from experimental farm proposal

JIM DAY
The Guardian

Friends of the Farm abruptly severed its participation Tuesday in the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of P.E.I. planning process to create a proposal for corporate development of the experimental farm property in the heart of Charlottetown.
The MCPEI invited stakeholders Tuesday to learn details of a draft by the consulting firm it contracted to help develop a plan for use of the property once it is declared surplus.
Bert Christie, a member of the Friends of the Farm executive, was joined by representatives of the Farmers Market Co-op and a group representing residents of Barrymore Court, in declaring they are walking away from this particular planning process.
Christie said the Friends of the Farm do not endorse any corporate ownership of the experimental farm.
“They (MCPEI) have been very emphatic that they want to have the land owned by a corporation … we felt there wasn’t much point in having any discussions with them,” he said. “We didn’t see much point.”
Jeff Brant, CEO of the Mi’kmaq Development Corporation, says he was very disappointed with the group’s position.
“It’s somewhat of a childish move, I think, but, you know, that is their decision,” he said of the group making their statement then marching out of the room before hearing details of the draft proposal. “I think it is counterproductive to not see what the results were (of the consultant’s report).”
Brant said the MCPEI still plans to go ahead with requesting the land be given to the Mi’kmaq once it has been declared surplus. He said the Mi’kmaq Confederacy will have a finalized document on its proposed development plan for the property within a couple of weeks and that conceptual design will be presented to the public.
“Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has consistently said that land is not surplus at this time and there is no plan to do so and we fully respect that,” he added.
“What we’ve done through this process is we’re sending a signal to government to say ‘look, should you decide to make it surplus, there is a vision for the property here that is really in the best interest of the city, the province and the Mi’kmaq as well’.”
Charlottetown Councillor Mitchell Tweel said the message he has heard loud and clear from residents of the city is the property must remain green.
“This is a legacy that we should be leaving for generations to come … this should be for all Islanders and the citizens of Charlottetown,” he said. “This is no disrespect to the Mi’kmaq Confederacy.”
Brant stressed, though, that the goal of the MCPEI is to develop the property for all to enjoy but also to ensure that it is sustainable.
“Our focus is responsible economic development that balances the need for green space. It’s a beautiful piece of property. We want to make it more open to the public … the public does not enjoy the full enjoyment that it could from the property as it stands.”
Christie said the Friends will continue to push the federal government to turn the land over to either the city or the province to provide for the development of a permanent cultural and ecological landscape, and to provide for gardens, arboretum, and agricultural demonstration area with historical and scientific interpretation for the use of the public.
08/04/09

Statement to O2 Design

2009-04-07T07:27:00.000-07:00

April 7, 2009
To: Doug Olson, O2 Planning + Design

On behalf of the membership of The Friends of the Farm we wish to state that we will not participate in the planning process scheduled for today. The reasons for this are the following:

1. The Friends of the Farm do not endorse any corporate ownership of the Experimental Farm
The representatives of the Friends who attended the charette on February 18, 2009, made it clear that corporate ownership and commercial development of the Farm property was not a position that we could support as it is directly opposed to the mission of our organization. Subsequent consultation with the membership of Friends of the Farm following the charette has re-affirmed this position.

2. The Friends of the Farm has always maintained that the land known as the Experimental Farm be owned by the citizens to ensure its protection and its use as a public green space, in perpetuity. Support for this concept has been well established

• In 2002 almost four thousand Islanders signed a petition to keep the Experimental Farm green and public.

• In 2004, more than 120 people participated in a charette hosted by MP Shawn Murphy and Friends of The Farm. This open public process was well publicized and the outcome was;
o Solid endorsement of the public ownership model.
o Solid endorsement of parks and green space.

• In 2005 the Ravenwood Park Concept Plan was well received by the public at an open house.

3. Without public ownership as a foundation there can be no joint planning initiatives

The objective and purpose of the Friends of the Farm is to provide for the development of a permanent cultural and ecological landscape, and to provide for gardens, arboretum, and agricultural demonstration area with historical and scientific interpretation for the use of the public.

letter to membership

2009-02-28T11:50:00.000-08:00

Dear Members,

On February 18th, the Mi'kmaq Confederacy of Prince Edward Island invited
Friends of the Farm to a charrette ( ie workshop) to discuss possible plans
for the use of the Experimental Farm property. A total of eight different
groups were invited to send 4 representatives each to the workshop. The
Confederacy have engaged a firm from Calgary,O2 Planning and Design, to prepare a plan for
the
development of the property, and that firm conducted the workshop.

The Executive of the Friends of the Farm sent 4 representatives and two more of
our members were there representing the Parkdale neighbourhood. All of us
felt the workshop was conducted in a very professional manner. The firm from
Calgary will prepare a preliminary plan and bring it back to the workshop at
the end of March.

Your Executive is anxiously awaiting to see the proposed plan. It is
possible that a plan may evolve which would satisfy both the Confederacy and
Friends of the Farm. However, there is one crucial point upon which we do not agree
with the Confederacy. The Confederacy have proposed that a private corporation own
the land; and the shareholders in that corporation would be the two Mi'kmaq
bands on PEI. The corporation would generate revenue for the bands. There
would be a board of governors for the corporation; and Friends of the Farm
as well as a number of other groups would have a seat on the board of
governors.

Your Executive have always promoted the idea that the city of Charlottetown
or the Province of Prince Edward Island should own the land. Upkeep would be
financed by revenue generated from admissions to a 3.5 acre botanical garden as well as some
development such as seniors’ housing, small-scale university research centres, or even small
centres concerned with wellness. Our plan has always been flexible and we would support just
enough development to maintain the property. Our idea of development is institutional not
commercial and it would have to be suitably designed and carefully placed.
All this was outlined in the proposal which was prepared for us by Daniel
Glenn Associates in 2005. That proposal was based upon the results of our
workshop, to which the public was invited ( and about 120 people attended),
plus interviews of a number of groups and individuals.

The Executive will be talking to civic, provincial and federal government representatives once
again. The Mayor has already reconfirmed his support of the Friends’ plan. The Friends must
decide whether or not to attend the next level of talks on the Mi’kmaq proposal.

The Friends of the Farm now have over 350 members. Every member’s opinion is extremely
important to us. Please give us your feedback at friendsofthefarm@gmail.com.

2009-02-13T07:23:00.000-08:00

Workshop to tackle future of Home Farm
DAVE STEWART
The Guardian

A new fire station and a military training centre are just two of the ideas being bounced around when it comes to the future of the Home Farm, also known as the Experimental Farm property.
The Mi’kmaq Confederation of P.E.I. is hosting a workshop in Charlottetown Wednesday that includes various stakeholders interested in the property — the confederacy, City of Charlottetown, UPEI, Holland College, Department of National Defence and the Friends of the Farm.
Jeff Brant, chief executive officer of the P.E.I. Mi’kmaq Development Corporation, said Thursday the whole idea is to advance the issue.
“We’ve always been open and honest as to our intent and desire to have the Home Farm come under the ownership of the Mi’kmaq in order to generate revenue,’’ Brant said.
“We see it as a potentially key economic engine for the First Nations.’’
Brant said the confederacy, which views itself as stewards of the eight-acre farm, wants to develop a common vision for the property, one where everyone wins.
“It’s just about getting everybody on the same page and how we develop the property in a manner that is respective of everybody’s needs and desires for the property its itself.’’
The Home Farm is still owned by the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and has yet to be officially declared federal surplus land. At that point it would be turned over to Canada Lands which handles all surplus land.
Bert Christie, with Friends of the Farm, said they’ve been invited to the workshop and will be sending four members. He said proposals on the property include building a new, central, fire hall at the corner of University and Belvedere avenues and moving the Queen Charlotte Armouries from the waterfront to the Home Farm but they’re just ideas being thrown around right now. The Friends want to see the property preserved as green space.
“Friends of the Farm is very concerned about all of this. We’ll have to wait and see what happens,’’ Christie said.
Brant wouldn’t comment on specific ideas for the site but he did say the vision definitely does not entail big buildings, malls nor does it have the flashy retail look of University Avenue.
“Putting skyscrapers there is not conducive to the needs of Charlottetown. There is a need for green space but you need to generate revenue that allows that green space to be maintained.
“We see the property as a chance to generate alternate revenue streams for the First Nation but, as well, it could be a huge economic generator for the province, for the city. We’re in a time of economic downturn so having new development is crucial in getting us through that. This has to be responsible development.’’
The Mi’kmaq Confederacy has hired O2 Design and Planning, a firm based in Calgary, to facilitate Wednesday’s workshop, compile all the ideas for the property and present a report that features a uniform vision for the Home Farm.
Brant said doing nothing is not an option.
“The position that we’ll be in in 10 years time if we haven’t (moved this forward), if no one has done anything with that property, I think everybody loses.’’

2009 Friends Executive

2009-02-13T07:15:00.000-08:00

Chairman- Dr. Lloyd Macleod
Vice-Chair- Janice Simmonds
Secretary- Treasurer- Nora Jenkins
Membership- Gertie Purdy
Lane Maclaren
Dr. Bert Christie
Laura Lee Howard
Connie Mackay-Carr
Errol Nicholson
Catherine Hennessey
Kenneth Macdonald
Libby Martin

2008-10-13T11:52:00.000-07:00

The Future of the Charlottetown Experimental Farm – Conflicting Views

2008-10-13T11:07:00.000-07:00

The Friends of the Farm P.E.I. are pleased to invite the general public as well Friends members to a presentation that promises to be most thought-provoking: The Future of the Charlottetown Experimental Farm – Conflicting Views. The presentation will follow a brief business meeting in the context of the Friends 2008 annual general meeting, to be held at 7pm on Wednesday, November 12th, at the Carriage House, Beaconsfield Historic House, West St., Charlottetown.

Dr. Bert Christie and Laura Lee Howard, members of the Friends executive, have prepared a power point presentation on the cultural, social, historical, and economical significance of the Experimental Farm as well as the issues and differences of opinion that surround its future. The presentation is based on a paper presented at the Island Heritage Management Conference, an international event held in Charlottetown in early October by the Institute of Island Studies.

The Charlottetown Experimental Farm was established in 1909 as one of a series of national agricultural research stations formed across the new dominion of Canada. For many years the Farm was a focal point for urban as well as rural activities. Both research and socio-cultural events took place on this common ground. When first established, the Farm was outside the city. By the year 2000, urban development surrounded it. The Farm was now an 88 acre green space in the heart of the city. Agricultural research was gradually shifted to newly established research stations outside the city limits.

Tensions mounted for this property in the winter of 2002 when it was announced that a double rink and pool would be built in the center of the Farm. The Federal Department of Agricultural and Agri-Food Canada had deemed the property surplus to its needs and intended to hand it over to Canada Lands Corporation, an arms length government body whose mandate is to dispose of surplus government goods at fair market value.

A petition with close to 5,000 names, the largest ever circulated on Prince Edward Island, was eventually presented to the Charlottetown mayor at city hall, effectively stopping the plan for a sportsplex in the middle of the Farm. The public discussion that ensued clarified that this piece of land held significant connections for both rural and urban dwellers, and indeed it connected Islanders from coast to coast.

The presentation will demonstrate the importance of the thoughtful preservation of the Charlottetown Experimental Farm for the generations of Prince Edward Islanders to come.

In 2009, the Charlottetown Experimental Farm will be celebrating its 100th anniversary. Please help the Friends of the Farm launch our celebrations by attending the annual general meeting and bringing along any photos, stories, or memorabilia you may have relating to the farm. We are hoping to publish a booklet commemorating the Farm’s centennial.

Membership renewal

2008-04-13T10:44:00.000-07:00

To renew your membership, please print this image and mail it to the Friends of the Farm.

2008 Executive

2008-04-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

Chair- Lloyd Macleod
Vice-Chair- Ken MacDonald
Secretary-Treasurer- Nora Jenkins
Bert Christie
Catherine Hennessey
Laura lee Howard
Connie MacKay-Carr
Lane MacLaren
Libby Martin
Errol Nicholson
Gertie Purdy
Janice Simmonds

2007-10-29T17:35:00.000-07:00

Annual Meeting 2007

The annual general meeting of the Friends of the Farm (PEI) will be held on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. at the Carriage House, Beaconsfield Historic House, West Street, Charlottetown.

Members and non – members are invited to attend the brief business meeting which will be followed a lecture by Diana Beresford – Kroeger entitled “Island Trees, Island Treasures”. Beresford – Kroeger says: "PEI has the climate, the soils, and the inclination to grow a treasury of trees: the kinds of trees that beat the stock market and keep the Island solvent in a most interesting way ...." The lecture is being co-sponsored by the City of Charlottetown and the friends.

Diana Beresford-Kroeger is a scientist and author specializing in classical botany and medical biochemistry. She is known for her captivating and well informed lectures and is the author of Arboretum America: A Philosophy of the Forest and A Garden for Life, about growing gardens for pleasure which are also eco-friendly. Her book, “Arboretum America”, won the American National Arbor Day Foundation Media Award in 2005, for an exemplary educational work on trees and forests. She is currently working on “Arboretum Borealis”, a sister book to “Arboretum America” about the great northern forests and the importance in the global eco system.

Diana Beresford-Kroeger is a botanist, medical and agricultural researcher, lecturer, and self-defined “renegade scientist” in the fields of classical botany, medical biochemistry, organic chemistry and nuclear chemistry. In

the area of popular media, she has regularly contributed to, written for, or hosted programs on CBC radio, National Public Radio (USA) and CTV. She is a regular columnist for the Canadian magazines, Nature Canada, and Eco/Farm and Gardens, and the community newspaper, the Merrickville Phoenix. Her articles also appear in Europe in journals such as those of Irish Garden Plant society, the Wiltshire Gardens Trust and others.

Diana Beresford-Kroeger was raised in Ireland and now lives outside of Ottawa. She has studied classical botany, medical biochemistry, organic and radio nuclear chemistry, and experimental surgery in Ireland, the USA and Canada. Her scientific publications appear in journals such as, The American Heart Journal, The Canadian Heart Journal, and The Journal of Microscopy. She has lectured at the University College Cork (Ireland) and at Carleton University (Canada) and received a fellowship at the University of Connecticut. She has worked as a research scientist at the Canada Department of Agriculture and the University Of Ottawa School Of Medicine, as well as the aforementioned institutions.

Her charitable work includes raising considerable funds for the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize winning group Medecins san Frontiers, the Shepherds of Good Hope Shelter, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, many

horticultural societies, arboreta and libraries. She is also an active scientific and educational resource for eastern Ontario schools. She continues to write and conduct research in her extensive private gardens at Merrickville, Ontario.

A documentary film completed in 2007, about her life and her garden, will be broadcast in March 2008 in North America and Europe.

Diana Beresford-Kroeger contact information. 613 269 4453

P.O. Box 253

Merrickville,

Ontario, K1G 1N0

Ravenwood Update

2007-10-05T16:54:00.000-07:00

In the past few years, there has been little outward change at the Charlottetown Experimental Farm (Ravenwood). However, many plans and proposals for the future use of this property have been put forward, and it is small wonder that the general public and even members of the Friends of the Farm are confused about its current status. In 2002, Agriculture Canada put the Charlottetown Experimental Farm on its surplus lands list, resulting in much public concern. The Friends of the Farm and other such groups whose objective was to keep the Farm green and public led a public awareness campaign to inform Islanders about the possibility that the Farm would be developed for profit. Agriculture Canada has since removed the Farm from the surplus list. Nevertheless, the future of the Farm remains in question as Agriculture Canada plans to move the Charlottetown Research Station to its Harrington site. At present, minimal research is carried out at Ravenwood.

Because of the high cost of maintaining the buildings at Ravenwood and the liability associated with property ownership, Agriculture Canada has begun a process of disposal of certain buildings deemed to be no longer useful or beyond repair. The Friends of the Farm have identified several buildings that have a historic or functional value and to date Agriculture Canada has agreed to remove them from the list.

Over the years, the Friends of the Farm have approached the various levels of government about preserving the Farm. Government's question has always been the same: what is your vision for the property? In order to answer that question, the Friends have hosted public brain-storming meetings. With funding from ACOA and the City of Charlottetown, the Friends contracted Daniel Glen, landscape architect and park planner, to incorporate the ideas presented at those meetings into a conceptual plan for the Farm. Of course, this plan is not set in stone. It would certainly evolve should the Farm become available to Islanders. The Friends of the Farm envision working with the Province, the City of Charlottetown, the First Nations, the University of Prince Edward Island, and any other groups interested in preserving and protecting this beautiful property for future generations.

The City of Charlottetown has designated the farm as a cultural and historic park in its master plan for the future of parks and recreation in the city. The city is to be congratulated on its foresight in developing this plan. However, the Ravenwood Experimental Farm remains the property of Agriculture Canada and ultimately it will be Agriculture Canada's decision as to how and when the Farm is transfered to its future owners. It is the opinion of the Friends of the Farm that the rightful owners of this property are the taxpayers of P.E.I. Our organisation continues to act as a watchdog for the Experimental Farm and to lobby government to keep the Farm green and publicly owned.

Rob Roy reviews Farm buildings

2007-07-10T10:49:00.000-07:00

At the request of the executive of the Friends of the Farm, contractor Rob Roy toured the buildings of the Charlottetown Experimental Farm with Mike Hennigar who is in charge of property at the Research Station. Rob concluded that 6 of the buildings slated for disposal could be useful in the future and would be worth preserving. These 6 are:

1. 5 car garage
2. Apple House Storage
3. Horticultural Building
4. Vehicle Storage Building [Bull Barn]
5. Cereal Barn
6. 8 car garage opposite Bull Barn

All of the above would require extensive work in order to be functional. We have sent a letter to Mike Hennigar to request that they be removed from the disposal list.

The Friends have no objection to the disposal of the following buildings which either contain mildew or pesticides or are in such a state that the cost of repair would be prohibitive :

1. Pea Vin Building
2.Small Equipment Storage
3.Birch Court
4.Sheep Barn
5.Fertilizer Storage
6.Pesticide Storage

The Friends of the Farm would like to express our sincere thanks to Rob Roy for volunteering his time and expertise to our cause. We would also like to thank Mike Hennigar for his patient cooperation with the Friends .

Parks and Recreation Master Plan

2007-05-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

The City of Charlottetown has a master plan for the future of parks and recreation in the city. The executive summary is available in pdf form here.

Friends of the Farm would like feedback from its members about this plan.

Facebook

2007-05-25T07:32:00.000-07:00

Welcome Facebook members.

We now have a group on Facebook for those who would like to show their support for this green space.

New members are also welcome to sign up using the forms on the right side of this page.

Thank you!

Feds may still want to oversee city farm

2006-10-28T13:15:00.000-07:00

From The Charlottetown Guardian, Monday, October 23rd, 2006:

Feds may still want to oversee city farm
Speaker says potential native land claims could impact future of major property.
By Nigel Armstrong
The Guardian

Agriculture Canada may want to remain owner of the 80-plus acre Experimental Farm in the heart of Charlottetown after all.

“I have the feeling that they do,” said Doug Shouldice, president of the citizen’s group that supports Ottawa’s Central Experimental Farm.

He was guest speaker at the annual meeting of Friends of the Farm P.E.I.

Shouldice said after the meeting that he has never been told on or off the record that the federal department wants to back away from plans to abandon the over 80 acres of land in the centre of Charlottetown. Rather it was a gut feeling he gets when dealing with his group’s issues in Ottawa.

For one thing, any change of ownership in the Charlottetown land could well open up aboriginal land claims as suggested by John Joe Sark in 2002.

“At one point, (Agriculture Canada) was going to close it, close it down,” said Shouldice of the Charlottetown farm lands.

“That was three, four years ago but it’s still here. Nothing, at this moment, is going to be closed.

“We went through that same thing in Ottawa.”

Sitting in the heart of urban Ottawa, the nearly 400 acres of the nation’s main experimental farm was being considered as surplus by Agriculture Canada officials.

A group of concerned citizens formed a support group for the Ottawa farm in 1988.

It offered to find groups and people to maintain parts of the farm and soon there were volunteer teams and organizations looking after the arboretum, the peony beds, the lilac trees and now there are plans of hand-planting 23,000 trees in the coming years. Books have been or are about to be published, there are fundraising events, Victorian tea socials, trails and public gardens.

“The most important thing we offer is the daily work we are doing, the labour, all volunteer,” said Shouldice.

In 2003, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada revitalized some research programs at the Ottawa farm and the group feels the land is now more securely in public hands as a working farm and public green space for the long term.

The same could happen in Charlottetown, said Shouldice.

“You can’t just say ‘I want the farm,’ ” he said. “You have to come with something you can add to (the uses for the land). They say no to us, as well, but there is a lot that they let us do. We are giving them 15,000 hours of labour a year and that counts for something.”

There was a strong hint at the meeting that the University of Prince Edward Island may want to use the Charlottetown land in some agricultural capacity.

“We have had meetings with the university and we are keeping our fingers crossed, hoping we will be included in their plans,” said Connie MacKay-Carr, a member of Friends of the Farm.

Annual Meeting

2006-10-14T09:21:00.000-07:00

Friends of the Farm Annual Meeting and Lecture

Doug Shouldice will address the annual meeting of the Friends of the Farm(PEI)
on Wednesday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m.. The meeting will be held at the Lecture
Hall in the K.C.Irving Chemistry Centre at UPEI. There will
be a brief business meeting following which Mr. Shouldice
will speak on the topic “Ottawa’s Central Experimental Farm
- Preserved and Flourishing.”

Doug Shouldice is President of the Friends of the Central
Experimental Farm in Ottawa. This is an organization of
approximately 400 volunteers whose mandate is to promote,
maintain, protect, and enhance The Farm.

The Central Experimental Farm was the first of the national
research stations, and has been declared a National Historic Site, and Heritage
Landscape.

Mr. Shouldice has been a career educator, and for the past 20 years a member of
the board of the Central Canada Exhibition Association. He has been a volunteer
board member of the Friends of the Central Experimental Farm for the last five
years. Among his pet projects is the creation of a shelterbelt to protect a corner of
The Farm from a busy, neighbouring thoroughfare. He works with volunteers, the
public and politicians at all three levels of government to protect and enhance The
Farm.

Friends of the Farm(PEI) continues to work toward the objective of to developing
a permanent cultural and ecological landscape on the grounds of the Experimental
Farm. Everyone is welcome and invited to attend the annual meeting and lecture.

History of the Farm

2006-10-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

The Experimental Farm was established in 1909 by the Canadian government. Later it was
designated as the “Charlottetown Research Station” and today ( 2006) its official title is the
“Crops and Livestock Research Centre”. However, the popular name is still the Experimental
Farm.

The land on which the Experimental Farm is located was one of the lots of the Common
surrounding the town of Charlottetown in the original survey done in the 1700's. This lot was
granted to the Attorney General for the Island, Sir William Johnston about 1820.Sir William
ordered the construction of a house, Ravenwood, in the early 1820's. When Prince Edward Island
entered Confederation in 1873, the Premier, the Honourable James C. Pope and his family,
occupied Ravenwood. Surrounding Ravenwood, were gardens, a cricket pitch, and a hop garden
to supply Mr. Pope’s personal brewery.

North of the present buildings, there is a row of trees along what was once “Pottery Lane”. In
1880 the Charlottetown Brick and Pottery Works was established near here. This site was
apparently chosen because of the presence of a deposit of brick clay. This pottery was in
production for about 15 years. However, the pottery clay did not glaze well, and ultimately the
plant closed.

A painting by Robert Harris illustrates Mount Edward road between Ravenwood and Ardgowan
about the time of Confederation. This painting
is owned by the Confederation Centre Art
Gallery.

In 1909, the Canadian Government assumed control of the property to establish an Experimental
Farm.

Historical Sites

2006-10-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

RAVENWOOD

Ravenwood is an example of the type of houses which the ‘landed gentry’ built in the lots
surrounding early Charlottetown. Only a few such houses remain. It was built for Sir William
Johnson in the early 1820's. It occupies an imposing site, and at the time of its construction, one
could see the harbour in the fall when the foliage had gone.

In 1909, when the Government of Canada assumed responsibility for the land, Ravenwood was
in need of repair. A verandah which was on three sides of the house was removed. The bay
windows, the belvedere and the portico were added in 1910. Because of the many alterations
which have been carried out. Ravenwood is a recognized historic site; rather than a designated
historic site.

Ravenwood was a home for the various directors of the Experimental Farm/ Research Station.
Dr. and Mrs. Lloyd MacLeod and their family were the last occupants. Today, Ravenwood is a
home for the offices of the Island Nature Trust.

In the concept plan prepared for this site. Ravenwood occupies a central position.

THE ROYAL FOREST

In front of Ravenwood is a large group of tall trees, and this area has been called the “Royal
Forest”. Various members of the British royalty have planted trees here when visiting Prince
Edward Island. Many of the Governor Generals of Canada have also participated in tree planting.
The first such tree is an American elm, planted on July 30th, 1912, by the Duke of Connaught,
then Governor General of Canada. H.R.H. Charles, Prince of Wales planted an English oak on
June 27th,1983.
Many of the Farm/Station directors have also planted trees here. A total of 29 trees have been
planted in this manner.

North of the Royal Forest is the picnic area and here a number of trees have been planted by
Premiers of PEI, and others.

The Lily Pond

One of the interesting attractions on the Experimental Farm has been the large lily pond. When
the Experimental Farm was established in 1909, there were three such ponds on the site. Clay for
the pottery had been extracted along the ridge located on the west side of the buildings. Two of
the sites were filled in, and water lilies were introduced into the remaining pond.

History of the Friends of the Farm

2006-10-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

Friends of the Farm began with a few people who were concerned about the future of the
land occupied by the Crops and Livestock Research Centre - still referred to as the
‘Experimental Farm’ by the people in Charlottetown. Katherine Clough, Dianne Griffin, and
Bert Christie, inspired by the Friends of the Farm in Ottawa, organized a group in 1994 to
consider the future of the land.
In 1996, a document, “A Vision for the Home Farm” was produced, and a public meeting
was held at the Research Station. Memberships were sold to generate some revenue. In the
succeeding years, a small group, representing an informal executive, met from time to time. This
group met with successive directors of the research station; and with mayors of Charlottetown.
Besides Katherine, Dianne and Bert, others involved in these discussions were: Catherine
Hennessey, George Kells, Barry King, Karen Lips, and Kate MacQuarrie. With limited funds,
and no indication that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada would be giving up the land in the near
future, the committee became inactive.
In January, 2002, it was announced that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada may declare
88 acres of the land as surplus and that this land would be turned over to the Canada Lands
Company, a crown corporation. At the same time, the Mayor of Charlottetown announced that a
recreational complex would be built in the centre of the site - between Barrymore Court and the
Confederation trail. The Friends of the Farm Committee organized a public meeting on February
20th to present information and discussions.
On March 4th, 2002, there was a meeting of all members of Friends of the Farm and the
following members were elected to the executive:

Chair - Lloyd MacLeod
Vice-Chair -Ken MacDonald
Sec.Treas. -Bert Christie
Directors -Connie MacKay Carr
-Catherine Hennessey
-Laura Lee Howard
-Gordon MacInnis

Today, 2006, there are over 200 members and the members of the Executive are:

Chair -Lloyd MacLeod
Vice-Chair -Catherine Hennessey
Sec.Treas. -Bert Christie
Directors: -Connie MacKay Carr
-Mike Conroy
-Laura Lee Howard
-Nora Jenkins
-Ken MacDonald
-David Morrison
-Errol Nicholson
-Janice Simmonds