I must admit that when I was first invited to Marion Estates, I was equal parts excited and curious. AND (to be completely candid) maybe just a little confused! There was no farm stand, no flower stall, no obvious “come-buy-produce-here” sign. I had expected to roll up to a bustling little farm shop or stand (as I usually do), but instead found myself on a quiet, picturesque property with no hint of commerce in sight.
And then I met Harjit. It is always so inspiring to meet someone whose passion and energy breathes life into everything they touch, and Harjit, the heart behind Marion Estates, is one of these magical people.
Her story began, as many beautiful ones do, with a disappointment. Harjit had her eyes set on an acreage in the Fraser Valley; a piece of land she believed might be “the one.” But before she could put in an offer, it was sold out from under her. Disheartened, she decided to take a drive (more for peace of mind than property hunting) and that’s when fate stepped in.
Cozied at the foot of the Vedder Mountain Range was this intriguing property with a tired-looking for-sale sign. Something about it pulled her in so she contacted the owner, Andy, a man who had poured his own dreams into the land over the years. He was very reluctant to sell as the acreage meant everything to him, but his children had no interest in continuing his legacy.
When Harjit met with Andy and shared her vision for the land (keeping it true to its roots, breathing new life into it while honoring its history) he felt a shift. Her dream mirrored his. He knew he wouldn’t be passing the land to family, but in Harjit, he found someone whom he trusted to keep his dream for it alive. The sale finally went through with the formal papers and signatures and with a deep mutual understanding.
Harjit and her husband, Sukhi, moved to the Fraser Valley from England in the 1980s, have built a life here raising their family and building businesses. But Marion Estates is more than a project- it’s Harjit’s soul work. A forever home. A space where “retirement” doesn’t mean rest, but instead a joyful return to the land and a lifelong dream of building something deeply meaningful.
The road wasn’t entirely smooth. Some of the neighbors (who’ve been farming in these parts for multiple generations) were understandably a little protective of the land. At first, they viewed Harjit as an outsider. But true stewardship has a language all its own and slowly, with hard work and integrity, she earned their respect.
What’s astonishing is that Harjit didn’t grow up farming. Raised in the North of England, her only connection to growing things was through small garden plots in her childhood homes. But she always loved the earth, loved getting her hands dirty, and loved watching life take shape from patience and care. And you can see that clearly at Marion Estates in everything she does.
On my arrival, she greeted me with a huge smile and a big, warm hug like we’d known each other for years. She had some errands to handle in the house first so she invited me to explore the property on my own, especially pointing me toward the raised bed garden near the barn.
It. Is. Phenomenal.
Gigantic cabbage heads, vines heavy with kiwi, a sea of trees bearing ripening fruit, a grape trellis, bursts of flowers with their divine pops of colour weaving through rows of herbs and vegetables. She’s even planted a large dahlia patch full of impeccably-labelled tubers. Along the house, she’s designed a unique strawberry planter filled with everbearing berries, sweet and ripe for the picking.
What started as an act of necessity has now become her mission. A few years ago, Harjit began noticing that certain fruits would cause her throat to swell after just a few bites. At first, she was baffled. But over time, she realized the issue wasn’t the fruit itself, it was the chemical sprays used on conventionally-grown produce. When she ate homegrown or organic no-spray fruits and vegetables, she had no reaction at all. That discovery was a turning point. If her body was reacting so strongly to what was supposed to be healthy food, what did that say about the quality of what most people were eating?
Now, she’s committed to growing no-spray, pesticide-free produce not only for herself, but for the community. Through her fresh garden boxes, she offers a mix of freshly-harvested veggies, herbs, and flowers. Her goal is simple but powerful: to nourish others with clean, healing food, grown the way nature intended.
As we toured the land together, she paused periodically to point out what her future plans are for every nook and cranny with contagious excitement. Her vision is immense, but so is her heart. She’s already hosting weddings and events at Marion Estates, but this is just the beginning.
To honor the man who entrusted her with the land, Harjit is raising a sign on the barn that reads “Andy’s Barn.” It’s a symbolic gesture, but one full of meaning. Without their shared vision, Marion Estates might never have been born.
Harjit may not have started out as a farmer, but you’d never know it walking through her gardens. The land is thriving under her care. It’s not just fertile with food and flowers; it’s fertile with intention, legacy, and love.
And she’s just only getting started! Harjit has huge plans for Marion Estates, and she and Sukhi are side-by-side, hand-in-hand, deep into the work of bringing them to life. This land is transforming before our eyes and every section, every fruit tree, every thoughtful touch is part of something much, much bigger. From future garden beds to orchards to wellness spaces and community events, the story of Marion Estates is still unfolding.
Though I made a promise to Harjit not to divulge the specifics of her plans (yet), I CAN say that what she has planned is truly AMAZING. So stay tuned for the big reveal because when Harjit and Sukhi finish building the property of their dreams, it won’t just be a farm. It will be a beautiful space to share with her community- one that nourishes, inspires, and enriches the lives of everyone who visits.
