Oil industry worker of 2 decades looks to the land for his future
‘Nothing spoke to me like farming did’
Colby Redsky worked abroad in the oil industry for almost two decades, until he decided to change career paths. The 41-year-old chose farming and since he started three months ago, he hasn't looked back.
Redsky's career took him all over the world, to places like New Zealand and Iraq. He said the first time he thought about farming was when he was in Mosul, in northern Iraq.
"At the time I was staying in a camp 25 kilometres outside of Mosul. ISIS has taken over the city of Mosul and the Americans were trying to free it. It was absolute chaos," he said.
He said he remembers seeing people fleeing to the desert for their lives.
'Suited in body armour'
"I would see families and all they would have was whatever clothes they had on, plus a bag full of seeds and a couple of goats," he said.
"They would try to find some place along a river where the ground was fertile enough to plant the seeds and there was some grass for their goats.
"Meanwhile, I was being suited in body armour sitting in a bunker and preparing to also flee in armoured vehicles," he said.
Redsky said he had been thinking of quitting the industry ever since he started but his first thoughts of farming came from watching people survive.
'Nothing spoke to me like farming'
"Once I began reading about farming I grew more interested and began to think about it as a way of life or career."
He said it wasn't until the last four or five years, that the urge to leave became more powerful.
"I tossed around a couple other ideas. Nothing spoke to me like farming did. I had an interest and a passion and decided to go after it," he said.
'A little miracle'
Redsky said so far, he's happy with his decision.
"It's been great. It's been eye-opening, and a little nerve-racking at times. But it's been a great experience. I'm really enjoying it."
Last winter, he found an ad on Kijiji for an apprentice position at Sweet Clover Farm in Montague, P.E.I. Gary Clausheide, the farm's owner, was looking for someone to rent the farmhouse on his property.
Clausheide said Colby showed up and was really interested in learning the trade.
Included in the rent was a plot of land to farm on, as well as a set of farming ethics that Clausheide put forth.
"It was like a little miracle that I spotted that and I answered it," Redsky said.
'I figured he'll figure it out'
Redsky said he signed the agreement last fall and began farming this spring.
"Gary and I kind of hit it off right away," he said.
Clausheide is an organic farmer and Redsky has followed in his footsteps, learning how to grow vegetables such as carrots, spinach and squash.
Clausheide said one thing he's taught Redsky is there are two parts to farming.
"There's growing produce and then there's selling it, and they're two very different operations," he said.
"I figured he'll figure it out. Farming is not an easy occupation, especially if you're trying to make money at it."
'Do what makes you happy'
Most days, he farms barefoot, uprooting beets and tilling the soil. He said the journey has been worth it.
"You gotta do what makes you happy I guess … don't stay in something if it makes you miserable."
Redsky has already purchased a farm in Panmure Island where he'll be moving in November. For now, you can find him at various farmers markets, selling his goods under the name New Radicles Market Garden.
His last piece of advice?
"Buy local!"