HARMONY EVANS
Farm Lady | Wild Ginger Farmstead | Echo Bay, ON | INSTAGRAM
Meet Harmony Evans, the off-grid farm lady behind Wild Ginger Farmstead. From sunrise animal chores to greenhouse days, market prep, and fixing whatever needs fixing, Harmony’s work is rooted in grit, good food, and a deep love for the land. In this Women at Work interview, she shares what farm life really looks like, how she learned by doing, and why workwear designed for women makes her feel like there’s nothing holding her back.
What does a day in your work life look like?
Life on the farm is never boring, and the day-to-day changes frequently! Mornings are always early. I like them that way - I love watching the sunrise and seeing the farm come to life at the start of my day. We start by caring for the animals, giving some love to our pack of six dogs who guard the farm, and bringing feed and water to the cows and chickens. The rest of the day is usually spent in the greenhouse or gardens, tending to the plants which we grow to bring produce to market.
What made you start doing the amazing things that you do?
I have always loved watching things grow, working hard, and getting dirty! Farming has always felt right, but the more I grow, the more I realize the importance of a strong local food system and how vital this farm is to our community.
Did you complete any training? If not, how did you learn your trade/skill?
I worked at farms from a young age, picking strawberries at age 12 and finding more farming and gardening jobs after that. Everything I know about growing food was either learned by working on farms or by just giving it a try! As a farmer you have to be able to do a lot more than just put a seed in the soil and water it. There's machines to fix, irrigation lines to run, endless things to build, and a healthy amount of the most random tasks! Being off grid and far from town, my husband and I have gotten good at working with what we've got and gained some pretty intense problem solving skills! Sometimes I feel like there's nothing we can't do, we just have to try, and that's kind of how I learned how to farm!
What do you have to sacrifice to be good at what you do?
Our lifestyle is a bit different than most folks. We don't go out often, usually only driving to town on Saturdays for the farmers market. The farm needs constant attention, so it keeps us busy and close to home, but we love it that way! We've begun to build a community of beautiful people who share an interest in the land and the good food we grow, and lately the farm has been a happenin' place, with folks here lending a hand and enjoying the life force and energy that the farm holds.
What are you doing when you’re not working hard?
In the summertime, once I've completed the farm tasks for the day, I love to take the four-wheeler down our dirt road to the lake for a swim! Our little piece of earth is surrounded by beautiful forests and lakes, rocks, and rivers, and we love to explore them!
How do you encourage other women to start doing what you do?
Believe in yourself! It can be a little dangerous sometimes, or a lot of fun...but I really believe there's nothing I can't do! And believing that makes you think of solutions, try things, and eventually find the thing that works. If you have a dream, follow it, and don't take no for an answer!
If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
Enjoy all of it, every moment.
Do you have any special projects or cool things you want people to check out?
Instagram has become a very fun creative outlet for me, sharing and romanticizing pieces of our off-grid farm life, because it really is quite a dream! I love sharing the story of building and growing this farm through pictures, and videos, and overly detailed captions, and I love the community I've been able to build on there who excitedly follow along and bring so much encouragement!
What does workwear designed for women mean to you?
I'm in workwear for probably 95% of my life. If I'm on the farm, I'm working, and if I'm not on the farm, I'm carrying produce to the market or picking up sacks of chicken feed or a truck load of lumber... so I'm always wearing workwear. But just because I'm a working girl doesn't mean I want to look like a cardboard box! So having workwear designed by women that are functional and actually look good makes me feel like a queen! I love that the women behind the designs have made the workwear to keep up with a woman's full capabilities - there ain't nothing holding me back, and that makes me feel like someone believes in me, in women, because we really are pretty amazing!
