WELCOME TO
THE FARM
Passionately tended by Shelley Burns, Early Girl is Nanaimo’s premier Microgreen Studio, producing thousands of pounds of microgreens, culinary and medicinal herbs, edible flowers, tomatoes, chilies and other niche crops on Vancouver Island since 2012. The first urban half-acre property to receive official farm status in Nanaimo, Early Girl is a one-of-a-kind farm, growing things her way.
OUR STORY
Founded over a decade ago, Shelley was drawn to cultivate an environment where everything planted served a purpose or was edible. Like the generations of women before her, growing good food was in her blood. Finding her way through chaos to throw down a few random seeds, her wild slice of paradise exploded with life & an abundance of food to share. A chance encounter with a local chef sparked the concept to transform the land into a sustainable, potager style urban farm, supplying a handful of discerning local chefs with fresh Island-grown produce. With row on row of herbs and way too many tomatoes, Early Girl was born in 2012.
Sustaining a farm, even a tiny one, is a huge feat. As a solo farmer, Shelley quickly recognised the need to hone her skills and introduce a niche crop. Microgreens were a beautiful fit.
Today Shelley supplies premium quality microgreens, herbs, edible flowers, tomatoes, chilies and other niche crops year round primarily to chefs and independent grocers. She enjoys working closely with her clients, and has commisioned specialty crops for some of the top chefs on Vancouver Island. Personally planting, harvesting and delivering her crop to the blooming Early Girl community.
EARLY GIRL GUIDING PRINCIPLES
We set clear and positive intentions before every planting.
We honour the lunar, solar, and stellar cycles that serve as a guide for sowing, planting and harvesting crops.
We rely on nature’s signals and we tune to the rhythms of each season.
We respect the beauty of the land and create space to support a peaceful lifestyle.
EARLY GIRL IN PRACTICE
We conserve and manage water flow by collecting rainwater, tree planting, and using terraces and swales.
We practice diversity & companion planting to intensify flavour, to attract beneficial insects and pollinators and deter pests and disease.
We never use synthetic/toxic pesticides or fertilizers.
We use certified organic seed and non-GMO Canadian products.
We compost everything onsite and feed it back to the earth.
We plant cover crops to regenerate the soil and prevent erosion.
We preserve rare and heirloom seed varieties for future generations.
We raise free range, happy hens to support the landscape and contribute to the diversity.
GROWING FOOD LIKE WE USED TO
Early Girl represents a holistic, kinder way to farm. It’s a dynamic, living place where food and community come together in the simplest of ways.