Pioneer Farm
Street Address
1835 MacDonald Road
City
Glenwood
State/Province
Prince Edward Island
Postal/Zip Code
C0B1V0
Country
Canada
Year innovation began
2002
Geotourism Challenge Addressed by Entrant
Quality of tourist experience and benefit to tourists
Place your video embed code here from YouTube, Google Video and other video sharing websites. How to embed a video from YouTube.
www.pioneerfarm.ca/movies/Eastlink_256k.wmv
Indicate sector in which you principally work
Tourism-related business
Main insight addressed
Education through hands-on experience
Geographic location
Rural, Coast.
Name Your Project
Describe Your Idea
What is the goal of your innovation?
Demonstrate operating a mixed farm off the grid and expose people to friendly farm animals
How does your approach support or embody geotourism?
The one mile of ocean front and 150 acres of woodland is perserved and protected while allowing the tourist to observe and learn.
Describe your approach in detail. How is it innovative?
Being off grid and presenting friendly farm animals is a powerful draw. The parents want to see my solar and wind power and the children just love the animals.
What types of partnerships or professional development would be most beneficial in spreading your innovation?
"Petting Farms" should be available so the children don't forget where our food comes from.
In one sentence describe what kind of impact, change, or reform your approach is intended to achieve.
slow down...treat animals with respect...walk softly on our planet
Describe the degree of success of your approach to date. Clearly define how you measure quantitative and qualitative impact in terms of how your approach contributes to the sustainability or enhancement of local culture, environment, heritage, or aesthetics? How does your approach minimize negative impacts? 200 words or less
We use profitability as a mile marker and unfortunetly, we are not there yet. Another important marker is the interest of the tourists and the questions that they think of.
How does your program promote traveler enthusiasm, satisfaction, and engagement with the locale?
Well signed nature trails and hands on with the farm animals. We also have campfires and tell stories of years gone by.
Describe how your innovation helps travelers and local residents better understand the value of the area’s cultural and natural heritage, and educates them on local environmental issues. How do you motivate them to act responsibly in their future travel decisions?
People understand a wetland better when they are able to walk through one. Animals will be loved if the children are able to touch them
In what ways are local residents actively involved in your innovation, including participation and community input? How has the community responded to or benefited from your approach?
We have active volunteers from the local community. I believe we have been sucessful in raising the awareness of people to the issues of global warming. We are invited and participate in many local parades and fairs.
Issue Selector
Is your initiative financially and organizationally sustainable? If not, what is required to make it so? What is the potential demand for your innovation?
This is year five and we are still loosing money, however we are confident this will be the year we break even. I believe the demand is growing each year.
How is your initiative currently financed? If available, provide information on your finances and organization that could help others. Please list: Annual budget, annual revenue generated, size of part-time, full-time and volunteer staff.
Our operating costs are about $10,000.00 and last year we took in $6,900.00. All the staff are volenteers.
What is your plan to expand your approach? Please indicate where/how you would like to grow or enhance your innovation, or have others do so.
First we must break even. Our expansion will be to have buildings available for large groups to conduct retreats.
What are the main barriers you encounter in managing, implementing, or replicating your innovation? What barriers keep your program from having greater impact?
Money is the biggest issue by far. We want to provide a clean farm with facilities and that costs money.
Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers' marketing material.
see #1 above
What is the origin of your innovation? Tell your story.
Judy, British by birth, was born in Hong Kong and spent her formative years traveling overseas with her family. Jim, from London, Ontario, served with the Canadian Armed Forces for 22 years. They met in Cyprus in 1981 where Jim was on U N duty. After early retirement Jim moved to Guelph into civilian life. As the result of a series of downsizing and in the wake of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center they became disillusioned with the life they were living. A yearning for a simpler and more basic lifestyle became important and the purchase of 150 undeveloped acres on Prince Edward Island became the birthplace for Pioneer Farm. Guided with respect for nature and the environment, they have created this living exhibition. When you visit us you will have a glimpse into the way farms may have operated in bygone days but with a twist, Pioneer Farm embraces modern technology, which puts nature first. You’ll enjoy learning about our off-grid farm on beautiful Prince Edward Island. Adults and children will delight in meeting our community of animals. Learning stations provide interesting information on how farm animals can be raised with care and respect, introduction to our wind and solar power system, and all the facilities of the farm for trails and picnics.
Please write an overview of your project. This text will appear when people scroll over the icon for your entry on the Google map located on the competition homepage.
Pioneer Farm is 150 acres of secluded oceanfront woodland. We use only wind & solar power to live an environmentally responsible lifestyle, while promoting a balance between technology and nature. Come and visit us to experience some of life's simple pleasures and learn about living with renewable energy. We offer: Alternative Energy Information & Tour Guest Cabin - Stay & Experience Life on Pioneer Farm Petting Farm Animals Wagon / Sleigh Rides Llama Treks (Take A Llama To Lunch) Picnic Provided! Nature Trails For Hiking / Snow Shoeing Market Garden Vegetables & Homemade Preserves Custom Designed Group Activities
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