Iranian immigrant makes new life as a P.E.I. farmer

Aman Sedighiis proud of his organic farm in Brookfield P.E.I. his fields are filled with everything fromlush green herbs, to enormous watermelons, todozens of varieties of colourful fruits and vegetables.

"My business has grown 100 per cent each year,"Sedighisaid.

When the Iranian immigrantarrived in P.E.I. in 2010, he started working on a dairy farm. He began farming on his ownin 2014 andnow has two different farms, about 43 hectares (107 acres) of land in total, and employs five people.

His business name is A-OK Gardens, which stands for AmanOrganic Kitchen Gardens.

He sayssometimes as little as three hours passes between when the crop is cut andwhen it is served.

"There's no pollution, no chemicals, and no spray on them. Theyare fresh, fresher than you think,"Sedighisaid.

'I love my job'

AlthoughSedighiwas not afarmer in Iran,he did workas an agricultural researcher thereand he's been able to apply that knowledge to his work in the fields here.

"I love my job," he said.

He works long hours, sunrise to sunset, but says it doesn't bother him.

"I don't feel tired, trust me."

He says he wanted to come to Canada to give his familya safeplace to live. It wasa place he'd thought of since he was a child.

"Canada is a secure country," he said.

Sedighilives here with his wife, an adult son andhis 17-year-olddaughter.

He marvels at P.E.I. and the capacity of the Island soil.

"It's amazing it's a special place and it can produce a lot of things," he said. "It's like heaven for me."

He sells his produce to restaurants and a local wholesaler who also distributes his products.

Belief in organic

Sedighi'sfarm is right beside a major highway.He points to the regular stream of cars passing by his field.

"Look at that road, hundreds of cars pass from this road daily," he said.

He saysit's a reminder to him of that source of pollution,how the climate is changing and the role farmers can play.

"If we want to reduce the carbon dioxide, the farming and the farmers can do that, " he said.

Sedighiexplainedhow hisplants' leaves help with absorbing carbon dioxide and how buying local helps reduce emissions from transportation.

"I think as humans we have to clean the environment for the next generation," saidSedighi.

'In awe of what he's done'

Papa Joe's Restaurant in Charlottetown was one of the first businessesto buy Sedighi'sproduce.

Joanne Jabbour, co-owner ofPapa Joe's, still remembers when he came in to talk to the owners about five years ago.

"I can still see him walking through the door, he had a little Rubbermaid bin and it was filled with some of his vegetables he had grown," said Jabbour.

She said at first they thought he was just peddling a few things he had grown in a garden and theydidn't realize how serious he was about his business.

"In hindsight we know he was developing a concept," she said.

They are still buying his vegetables and herbs and can't wait to see what he bringsduring his weekly visits.

"They're beautiful. You are in awe of what he's done," she said. "He has pride in his product."

Sedighi even takes specific requests from the chef at Papa Joe's for certain types orsizes of vegetables.

Bright future

Sedighiis optimisticaboutthe future and hopes to expand his farmfurther, togrow even more types of produceand employ more people.

He also hopes to raise awareness about successful immigration stories and businesses that are making a difference in P.E.I.

"I think government can encourage usand help us."

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