Scott Morgan – co-founder of Ferme Pastel, a flower farm located in Grand-Metis
I was born in Lethbridge, Alberta, and went to a French immersion elementary school (the only one in Lethbridge) as it was right next to my house, and my parents said ‘why not, coconuts?’ Worked out well for me; it’s the reason my French is actually passable.
Then I went to college in Oakville, Ontario and studied illustration. I lived in Toronto in my twenties, then travelled for a few years: Europe, USA, Caribbean. In Taos, New Mexico I visited the Earthships, (applicable later as we built the earthship greenhouse nursery here on the farm). I then settled on Salt Spring Island, BC, and lived there for 5-6 years. I was working on farms – doing portraits – working with kids (forest schools and art activities). This is where I met Ora-Maggie. We stayed on Salt Spring for a year or so and decided we didn’t want to settle there long-term, so we travelled east to make a home near her family, and have never looked back. Our three kids, Leonne, Alfee and Ferme Pastel were to follow. We have been in Grand-Metis for 5 years now and I’m building a school bus stop shelter as you read this, so I guess we are fitting to stick around. I substitute on and off at the Metis Beach School, I still draw and write often, and am a frequent face at the Heritage Public Library.”
Did you know about poutine before you arrived? Best place to get it if you do know? I did know about poutine, and had had a few here and there. but it was never until I arrived in Quebec that I understood what a properly done poutine actually tasted like. (For a properly done poutine please go to La Fabrique in Matane, the gravy is made with their beer, the cheese is fresh and the fries cut just right. It’s served with like 15 kinds of mayo!)
What is your favourite place in the Lower Saint Lawrence, and why? Wherever the sunset is the most beautiful, I guess the beach. Plus little saucette (a dip in the water) + campfire = feels. An unbeatable experience.
Your favourite pastime? I had played a fair amount of hockey as a kid, but I hadn’t played much during my young adulthood, but since living in Quebec I rediscovered ice hockey. And I mean full equipment, 10 player teams plus goalies, quick shift and board-battle kinda ice hockey. I love the thrill of competition. Didn’t know it was missing in my life until I started doing it again.
What is your idea of perfect happiness? I watch my two girls walk out of our greenhouse using their t-shirts as baskets full of cherry tomatoes and each chewing on half a cucumber and I think to myself, “my motivation and drive to support this scene as much and as frequently as possible is boundless, it has no limit.” Somewhere in the day-to-day work to make that a continuous reality, there is perfect happiness for me.
What talent would you most like to have? The talent to adapt, to be able to learn and grow with my life and the world as it grows and changes around me.
What is your greatest achievement? I would say that it’s the farm and Ferme Pastel as a whole. Providing sustainable local blooms year round for our community and seeing the ‘’flower effect’’ on people’s face and heart is something I’m super proud of. It was a lot of work to get to where we are now, especially with the winter flowers and two kids, so yeah, biggest achievement to date.
What is your motto? Boom Boom Toi! (the proverbial brushing of the hands after an accomplishment, or to demonstrate how easy said accomplishment will be to achieve.) For example “it’s easy, you do this first, then this, done, boom boom toi.” I say that all day, everyday.
Biggest regret? My biggest regret is that I don’t have a particularly good answer to this question.
Discover the beauty that Ferme Pastel has to offer—explore their unique offerings and learn more here:
https://www.facebook.com/fermepastelhttps://fermepastel.com/
