Seasonal
Beef & Pork
Raised on our farm in Newton Mills.
- Options
- Contact us for cuts, quarters and sides
- Pickup
- At the farm, by arrangement
208Acres
6Enterprises
1Family
NSColchester County
Our businesses
One farm, several ways of working the land
ARK Agriculture Limited is building a diversified, self-sustaining farm in Nova Scotia. Each part of the operation supports the others.
Today
Livestock
Cattle, pigs, laying hens and meat birds raised on our own land for beef, pork, chicken and eggs.
Beef, pork and eggs ›
Today
Maple
Pure maple syrup from our own sugar bush, made each spring.
Maple syrup ›
Today
Woodlands
Managed woodland producing firewood and lumber.
Wood products ›
Crushed stone
Compost
Manure
MulchAs available
Compost & Aggregate
Crushed stone, compost, manure, soil, mulch and peat moss in bulk for local customers and contractors.
Materials ›
Today
Farm Implements & Supplies
Farm implements and farm supplies, available right here on the farm.
Implements and supplies ›
Planned
Greenhouse & CSA
Two heated greenhouses growing vegetables all year for a weekly share program, in planning.
See our plans ›
Planned
Farm Energy
Solar power, battery storage and a wood-chip heat-and-power system that will also heat the greenhouses.
Our energy plan ›Our integrated farm system
Everything here feeds something else
We turn useful outputs from one farm activity into inputs for another wherever it is safe and practical. Manure becomes compost, compost builds pasture and crops, crops feed livestock, and the woodlot supplies firewood, lumber, maple and, in future, wood chips to power and heat the farm.
What we stand for
Our values
Looking for beef, eggs, maple or wood?
Tell us what you need and we'll let you know what's available.
About us
A family farm in Newton Mills
Owned and run together by Bob, Kenneth and Andrew.
Who we are
Building the farm in stages
ARK Agriculture Limited is a family farm in the Newton Mills area of Colchester County, Nova Scotia. Across roughly 208 acres we raise cattle, pigs and poultry, make maple syrup, manage our woodlands for firewood and lumber, and offer farm implements and farm supplies.
We are building the farm in stages, using what the land gives us wisely and relying on outside inputs as little as we can. Some of our projects, like year-round greenhouse growing, are still in planning, and we're always clear about what we offer today and what we're working toward.
The family
The people behind ARK
Bob
Partner in ARK Agriculture, sharing the work and the decisions.
Kenneth
Partner in ARK Agriculture, sharing the work and the decisions.
Andrew
Partner in ARK Agriculture, sharing the work and the decisions.
Our vision
Food, livestock, forestry and energy supporting one another
To develop ARK Agriculture into a resilient, productive Nova Scotia farm where food, livestock, forestry and energy support one another.
Our long-term aim is dependable year-round local food production, responsible land stewardship and a business that can adapt to changing seasons, input costs and market conditions.
What we stand for
Our values
Our farm
One integrated system
Instead of depending on a single crop or product, each part of ARK supports the others.
How it connects
Outputs become inputs
Turning what one part of the farm produces into what another part needs keeps costs down and makes the whole farm more resilient to seasons and supply-chain pressures.
- Livestock manure is composted
- Compost builds pasture, hay and crop ground
- Pasture and crops feed the livestock
- The woodlot supplies firewood, lumber and the maple sugar bush
- Planned: wood chips from the woodlot fuel a heat-and-power unit that warms the greenhouses
The five parts of the farm
What each area does
Today
Livestock
Cattle, pigs, laying hens and meat birds for beef, pork, chicken and eggs. Manure and bedding go back into the soil.
Today
Maple & forestry
Maple syrup from our own sugar bush, plus firewood, lumber and woodland management.
As available
Farm materials
Compost, gravel, soil, mulch and peat moss, with an on-farm sales pad planned.
Planned
Food production
Two 24 × 150 ft greenhouses growing tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and leafy greens year-round for a 200-member CSA.
Planned
Energy
Solar, battery storage and wood-chip heat and power, with the grid kept as backup.
Our energy plan ›Always
Land stewardship
Care for the soil, water, woodlands and animals that make everything else possible.
See what the system produces
Beef, pork, eggs, maple syrup, wood, farm supplies and more.
Sales & products
From our farm to you
Availability changes with the season. Contact us to check what's ready and to place an order.
Ask for availability
Eggs & Poultry
From our laying hens and meat birds.
- Options
- Eggs by the dozen; poultry in season
- Pickup
- At the farm, by arrangement
Ask for availability
Maple Syrup
Pure Nova Scotia maple syrup from our own sugar bush. We've made around 300 litres in a season and plan to grow from there.
- Price
- $20 per litre
- Season
- Made each spring; sold while it lasts
- Pickup
- At the farm, by arrangement
New · Spring season
Rent a Maple Tree
Have your own maple tree in our sugar bush. Rent a tree for the season and we'll send you home with pure Nova Scotia maple syrup from this spring's run.
- How it works
- Pick a tree for the season. We tag it with your name, tap it when the sap starts running in early spring, and boil the sap down in our sugar shack.
- You receive
- 1 litre of pure maple syrup from our sugar bush, plus a certificate with your tree's photo and where it stands.
- Pickup
- At the farm once the season's syrup is ready, by arrangement.
- A great gift
- For family, friends, clients, or anyone who loves real maple syrup.
- Price
- $79.95 per tree for the season
Prices in Canadian dollars, plus applicable taxes.
Ask for availability
Firewood & Lumber
From our managed woodlot.
- Options
- Firewood, rough lumber and other wood products
- Orders
- Contact us for quantities and pricing
Crushed stone
Compost
Manure
MulchAs available
Compost & Aggregate
Crushed stone, compost, manure, soil, mulch and peat moss in bulk for local customers and contractors.
- Materials
- Crushed stone and gravel, compost, manure, fill and soil, mulch, peat moss
- Coming
- An on-farm sales pad for easier pickup
- Orders
- Contact us for availability, quantities and pricing
Ask for availability
Farm Implements & Supplies
We offer farm implements and farm supplies on our farm.
- Options
- Farm implements and everyday farm supplies
- Pickup
- At the farm, by arrangement
- Orders
- Contact us for what's in stock and pricing
Projects & future plans
What we're building next
These projects are in planning. They are not available yet, and we'll update this page as they move forward.
Today
A working, diversified farm
Livestock, poultry, maple syrup, firewood and lumber, compost and aggregate on roughly 208 acres we already own. Each part of the farm is run as its own business line, so every one has to pull its weight.
Planned · Phase 1
Year-round greenhouse
We'll start small, growing in about a quarter of one greenhouse (roughly 900 sq ft) to prove the system, then bring the full 7,200 sq ft into production. Target crops are tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and leafy greens, with hydroponic growing to keep the harvest going through winter.
- Two 24 × 150 ft commercial greenhouses
- Concrete floors with hydronic in-floor heating
- Insulated end walls and a double-layer inflated poly cover
- Supplemental grow lights, ventilation and humidity control
- Washing, packing and cold storage for fresh produce
- Run as a commercial operation with professional horticultural expertise
900sq ft trial
2greenhouses planned
7,200sq ft total
4target crops
Planned
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
A weekly vegetable box, 52 weeks a year, with a goal of 200 members. We plan to offer our eggs, chicken, pork, beef and maple syrup alongside the vegetables. Interested? Let us know and we'll keep you posted.
200member goal
52weeks a year
10,400boxes a year at full size
Weeklyfresh pickup
Planned
On-farm energy
A farm energy system combining 200 kW of solar, 500 kWh of battery storage and a wood-chip heat-and-power unit. Heat from the unit will warm the greenhouse floors, so one fuel gives us both electricity and heat.
Future
Wood products & materials sales pad
An on-farm sales pad for gravel, soil, mulch and peat moss, alongside expanded firewood and lumber sales.
Future
Mountaintop wedding venue
An exclusive wedding venue at the top of our mountain, overlooking the valley, with summit ceremonies, a valley-view reception hall and farm-to-table dining.
Future
Farm visits & agritourism
We hope to welcome visitors to the farm one day. Nothing is open to the public yet.
Future plans · Wedding venue
A mountaintop wedding above the valley
We're planning an exclusive wedding venue at the top of our mountain, overlooking the valley. It is in the planning stage and not open for bookings yet.
The vision
One celebration on the mountain at a time
An intimate, private venue for couples who want something truly special: a ceremony at the summit, dinner as the sun sets over the valley, and a team that looks after every detail.
We plan to host a limited number of weddings each season so every couple has the whole mountain to themselves, with no other events sharing the day.
- Exclusive use of the venue for your day
- Panoramic views across the valley
- Farm-to-table dining from our own farm
- Personal planning from first visit to last dance
What we plan to offer
Every part of the day, in one place
Services are still being designed and may change as the project moves forward.
Planned
Summit ceremony
An open-air ceremony site at the top of the mountain, framed by the valley below, with a sheltered option for weather.
Planned
Valley-view reception hall
An elegant hall with walls of glass facing the valley, for dinner, speeches and dancing late into the evening.
Planned
Farm-to-table dining
Chef-prepared menus featuring our own beef, pork, chicken, eggs, maple syrup and greenhouse produce.
Planned
Bridal & groom suites
Private, comfortable suites to get ready, relax and take in the view before the ceremony.
Planned
Full-service planning
A dedicated coordinator for décor, flowers, music, photography and the timeline, so you can enjoy the day.
Planned
Rehearsal dinners & celebrations
Rehearsal dinners, engagement parties, anniversaries and other private events with the same care and setting.
Interested?
Be among the first to know
Join our interest list and we'll let you know as plans develop and when we begin taking enquiries for dates.
Energy · Planned
Power and heat from the farm itself
We're planning a hybrid farm energy system: sun and wood chips from our own woodlot make electricity, and the heat that would normally be wasted keeps the greenhouses warm.
The plan at a glance
Four parts working together
This system is in planning and not built yet. Sizes are our current design targets and may change as engineering is finalized.
200kWGround-mount solarMain source of renewable electricity
500kWhBattery storageStores daytime solar for evening and night
30kWWood-chip powerElectricity on demand, day or night
95kWRecovered heatHot water for the greenhouse floors
How it works
One fuel, two products
Wood chips run a gasifier and engine that turn a generator. Instead of letting the engine's heat escape, we capture it from the coolant and exhaust and send it into the greenhouse heating system.
ElectricityHeatBackup
The parts of the system
What each piece does
Planned
Solar array
About 200 kW of ground-mounted panels. We have the land, it keeps weight off the greenhouses, and it makes snow clearing, maintenance and future expansion easier. Solar supplies farm loads first, then charges the battery.
Planned
Battery storage
About 500 kWh of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) batteries. They store surplus daytime solar for evening loads, trim peak demand, steady the farm's power and cover short outages.
Planned
Wood-chip heat & power
A gasifier turns dry wood chips into fuel gas for an engine and 30 kW generator. Fuel comes from the farm's own woodlot, so the energy is local and renewable.
Planned
Heat recovery & storage
About 95 kW of heat is captured from the engine and stored in a hot-water tank. Stored heat keeps the greenhouses warm even when the generator isn't running.
Planned
Heated greenhouse floors
Hot water runs through PEX tubing in the concrete floors. The slab stores heat and releases it slowly, with air heating for quick temperature drops.
Planned
Grid & propane backup
We'll stay connected to the grid and keep automatic propane heat. A Nova Scotia winter greenhouse can't rely on a single heat source.
Why it matters
Built for greenhouse growing
Year-round greenhouses need a lot of light and heat. Grow lights alone can draw 70 to 120 kW, far more than one generator can supply, which is why solar, storage, wood-chip power and the grid work as one system.
- Lower purchased electricity and heating fuel
- Waste heat put to work instead of lost
- Fuel from our own managed woodlot
- Backup power and heat for reliability
A typical winter day
- Daytime: solar runs the farm and charges the battery, while wood-chip power adds electricity and fills the heat store.
- Night: the battery, wood-chip power and grid share the load as needed.
- All day: stored hot water keeps the greenhouse floors warm.
Building it in stages
How we'll put it together
We'll build the system step by step and use real data from the greenhouses to decide what to expand.
Step 1
Electrical backbone
Main distribution, controls and metering designed from day one for solar, battery, wood-chip power and grid.
Step 2
Solar array
The ground-mounted array and inverters.
Step 3
Battery storage
Battery bank and power-conversion equipment.
Step 4
Greenhouse heating
Floor tubing, manifolds, pumps, hot-water storage, heat exchangers and controls.
Step 5
Wood-chip heat & power
Chip handling, gasifier, engine and generator, heat recovery and controls.
Step 6
Backup
Automatic propane heat and reliable fallback for critical loads.
Step 7
Fine-tune and expand
Use real power and heat use to decide where to grow the system.
Interested in farm energy?
Suppliers, contractors and partners are welcome to get in touch.
Farm weather
Weather in Newton Mills
The current conditions and 7-day forecast for the farm, plus a daily record of the weather saved at the end of each day.
Loading the forecast…
Next 24 hours
7-day forecast
Daily weather record
What the weather did each day
Each day's high, low, rain, snow and wind for Newton Mills, saved once the day is over.
| Date | Conditions | High | Low | Rain | Snow | Max wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading the record… | ||||||
Download the full record (CSV) · Weather data from Open-Meteo.
Equipment rentals
The right machine, without owning it
Rent farm and land-clearing equipment from a working farm in Newton Mills. Our machines are maintained by our own service program, so you get a machine that's ready for the job.
Why rent
Pay for the job, not the machine
Most equipment sits in a shed for most of the year. Renting lets you use a capable machine for the days you need it and hand it back when the job is done.
$No big purchase
Keep your money for your farm, home or business instead of tying it up in equipment that sits idle.
✓Maintained for you
Every machine is on our service schedule. No oil changes, repairs, insurance or storage for you to worry about.
⚙The right tool each time
Need an excavator this month and a tractor next month? Rent each one for the job instead of making one machine do everything.
↺Try before you buy
Thinking of buying? Rent first and find out what size and features you really need. Some machines are also for sale.
Rent or buy?
Work out what owning really costs
Put in your own numbers. This is a rough guide, not a quote.
Owning, per year–
Owning, per day you actually use it–
Renting, per year–
Owning cost = (price − resale) ÷ years + yearly upkeep. Doesn't include interest, fuel or your time. Example numbers only; ask us for a real rental quote.
How it works
Four simple steps
Tell us the job
Send a message with what you need to get done and your dates.
Get a quote
We'll confirm what's available, the price and any terms like deposit or delivery.
Pick up and go
We'll walk you through the machine before it leaves the farm.
Bring it back
Return it on the agreed date. We check it over and log the hours.
Jobs our equipment handles
What could you get done in a weekend?
Clearing brush and stumpsDigging ditches and drainageGrading a driveway or laneMoving gravel, soil and mulchSnow clearingHauling logs and firewoodTilling a garden or food plotFence and post work
Rental fleet
Available to rent
Questions
Rental FAQ
How much does it cost to rent?
It depends on the machine and how long you need it. Send us the job and your dates and we'll give you a quote.
Do I need experience to run the equipment?
Tell us what you've run before. We'll go over the machine with you before it leaves, and we'll let you know if a job is better suited to an operator.
Can you deliver?
Ask us when you request a quote. Pickup is from the farm in Newton Mills, Colchester County.
What if something goes wrong while I have it?
Call or message us right away. Every machine is on our maintenance program, and any terms for damage or breakdowns are covered in your quote.
Can I buy a machine I've rented?
Sometimes. Check our For Sale page or ask us about a specific machine.
Have a job coming up?
Tell us what you need and when. We'll check what's available.
Equipment for sale
Farm-maintained equipment for sale
Machines and implements from our own farm, with known history. Ask us about any item for photos, hours and a price.
Available now
For sale
Every machine here has been on our maintenance program, and we're happy to tell you its service history.
✓Known history
We know how each machine was used and serviced, because we ran it.
↺Rent it first
Some machines are also in our rental fleet, so you can try one on your own job.
?Looking for something?
Tell us what you need. If we have it or hear of it, we'll let you know.
Don't see what you need?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll keep an eye out.
Contact us
Get in touch
Questions about products, orders, materials or our plans. We'll reply by email.