About Holdfast

Tim Morcom, raised in South Africa, the UK, and New Brunswick, made Nova Scotia his home in 2014 when he moved here to study agriculture. He learned how to farm and ran a student-led market garden on campus, helping teach other students how to grow their own food. He then completed his master’s in plant science at Dalhousie University, for which he researched the exciting potential of biochar as an organic, slow-release fertilizer that also sequesters carbon—making ecosystems healthier rather than contributing pollution in the way of many conventional fertilizers. Holdfast was born during Tim’s master’s degree on rented land graciously shared by a local farmer in Salmon River, just outside Truro, Nova Scotia, home of the Agricultural College. Tim and his family moved to the Annapolis Valley when he began work as the province’s vegetable specialist. Holdfast was put on hold. But Tim is a grower at heart, and when his second child was born decided he needed to get back onto his own land. We are so excited to return to the simple joys of selling the things we grow, sharing our love for them with our community and doing our part for food security in Nova Scotia.

Other faces you’ll see at our market table are Amy, Rowan and Mabel, the newest addition—and if you’re really lucky, loyal farm dog Bailey!