Slideshow for Holistic business/Life workshop presented at the 2015 ACORN Conference PEI

1. Our Journey
www.strawberryhillfarm.ca

2. Starting point
 Original plans for farm
 Change of plans
 Lots of decisions
 Jumping in so fast brought a lot of
expenses right away
 Costs a lot to run a farm
 Employee issues
 Major – drugs, people leaving, crops left in
field
 Family issues

3. Need to Refocus
 Work became all consuming
 No weekends or time off
 Strained relationship – marriage in jeopardy
 Difficult to keep going as we were
 Winter packing and delivery challenges
 Kirsten’s Outlook
 Tim’s Outlook
 Go larger or go smaller
 Need to be on the same page

4. Where to go for Help?
 Other Farmers?
 Successful business person and advisor
 Went to see Andrew Hordyk in ON
 Aborist and business owner for 15 years
 Trainer
 Good work life balance
 Similar moral and family values

5. Personal Goals
 Goosebump meter
 Are you happy with current status
○ Business?
○ Personal life?
 Relationships
 Time with Family
 R&R away from farm
 Bucket List
 Volunteering

10. How can farm or business support
your personal goals?
 Smaller with fewer employees?
 Building a team approach?
 Our story
 Difficult to keep going as we were
 Winter packing and delivery challenges
 Market strong
 Business Plan

11. How did it work out?
 Were able to do all that was in the plan
and more
 Buy home for foreign workers
 Moved warehouse ahead one year
 Easier to pay bills
 Employee situation better but still need
improvement
 Finding, hiring, and keeping good help has
become #1 issue.
 Personal life improving