Located in beautiful Greendale, Skyland Acres is a family-run farm that offers free-range eggs, seasonal spray-free produce, & homemade preserves and jelly. We are currently stocked with their free-range eggs (1 flat or 1 dozen), blackberry jelly, hot cherry bombs and spicy cowboy candy. Curious about all these flavours? You’ve got to check them out! Visit their vendor page here. And we had the chance to interview Jolene from the farm about their operation and why they are so passionate about farming. So have a read below and let us know what you think!

What do you produce at Skyland Acres, and what products do you offer? 

We grow all of our meat & eggs and a large portion of the vegetables & fruit we consume throughout the year. In addition, we offer free-range eggs, produce & preserves for sale from our family farm. Another business we do with extended family is grow hanging baskets & planters, which we sell in May & June. We’re already busy by January as we plan & plant our designs, so they’re ready for Mother’s Day. 

What do you or your company stand for? 

Knowing what goes into the food we eat & how it is raised is very important to us. We grow our food without sprays, antibiotics or hormones, and with a whole lot of love. 

What’s the story behind it all? 

Both my husband & I grew up on acreages, and it was our dream to raise our family in the country. That opportunity came in 2014, and we haven’t looked back. We add more to our farm every year, from various animals to more chickens, a bigger garden. We also sold at Farmer’s Markets in the last two years, which was a fun experience. In addition, farming is an opportunity to teach our children responsibilities from a young age, and they learn how to nurture plants & animals in a caring way. 

How do you feel about the Lower Mainland/Fraser Valley and supporting local businesses?

We both grew up in the Fraser Valley & love it here. As small business owners, we know how important it is to support local businesses and source products as close to home as possible. Cheaper is not better for you in most cases regarding food. Also, with increasing development, it’s more important than ever to hold onto our farmland & grow food well.

What does the future have in store? 

We’ll continue to produce food & allow others to share in our products. I’d love to get into beekeeping, but we’re busy enough with everything we have going on at our farm. Our greenhouse production of flower baskets & planters has expanded this year, and I’m trying to refrain from planting an even bigger garden. 

How has your relationship with your customers evolved over the years?

We’ve been selling eggs to our customers since 2015, and every year we add to our flock to keep up with demand. In 2020 we added an egg vending machine to our roadside stand and additionally offered produce & preserves for sale. Farmer’s markets are an excellent opportunity to meet our customers face to face. However, we realize that online shopping is convenient for people who live further away and still want the chance to purchase wholesome food. And people don’t always have the time to go to many different places for their grocery items, so DirectFood.store is the perfect way to get it all in one place while still supporting multiple local farmers. 

What are some of your daily habits, and how do they positively impact your business? 

Our eggs are collected and packaged every day, ensuring maximum freshness. Our children have a significant role in our chickens, from feeding to collecting & washing eggs.

What do you enjoy most about doing what you do? 

Working outside with plants & animals is so very relaxing & rewarding. There’s nothing like weeding the garden after a summer rain to de-stress. Farming is an excellent opportunity to work alongside our children & teach them where food comes from & what it takes to get to the table. So much of the food we eat is Truly Farm to Table, which comes with much hard work and satisfaction.