Several eventful years would pass before he could begin to realize his dream. In 1961 he bought 1200 acres of land and founded Lyndhurst Farms Ltd. in Canning, Nova Scotia. In the beginning vegetables, tobacco and some fruit were the main crops. Knowing that the first recorded field of grain in Canada was grown in the Valley in 1635, he decided that it was a logical crop to grow. Tests were being conducted by the Kentville Research Station and local varieties were tried on the farm with varying success. One researcher gave several farmers each a bushel of the European variety Opal and suddenly the yields doubled. Interest grew but farmers were told that even a limited permit to grow more, depended on maintaining a continuous supply of pedigreed seed. A group of farmers pledged $3,000.00. Share Capital and Minas Seed Co-Operative was born.

After several years, the others found seed production too detailed so Minas was bought by the Peill family in 1976. Production of seed became an important part of the farm so Minas' capacity for cleaning, drying and storing was increased to accommodate not only Lyndhurst but the local farmers. As new seed was essential, Minas became a Breeder's Agent representing many new European varieties. In that capacity Minas was involved with introduction, selection, registration and distribution of genetic material. The need for suitable machinery resulted in representing and marketing several European machinery companies. The latest technique in cereal production from several other countries was transferred as an intensive cereal management package - increasing the yields once again in certain areas. The establishment of Dover Mills in Halifax offered farmers the challenging market of milling wheat, a welcome opportunity. Minas' distribution network over the years not only included the Maritimes but Ontario, Quebec and a network of testing sights along the Eastern Seaboard of the United States.

In January, 1989, Atlantic Seed Testing Laboratory was established, the only one receiving accreditation from Agriculture Canada in the Maritime Region. Its function is to provide prompt, accurate germination service for cereals, corn, beans, Soya's and peas with the interest to expand its activities into seed purity testing and germ plasm collection and conservation.

The untimely death of Jock Peill in 1991 brought more changes. Since Minas represented five European potato varieties, it was decided to construct Biogenetic Services Laboratory" in 1994. The purpose being the potato variety maintenance, plantlet multiplication, line maintenance and invitro establishment plus nuclear stock seed potato production. Working closely and assisted by N.R.C., A.F.D.A., Ag. Canada and the N.S. Ag. College, the lab will be used for research and development. A current research activity is the development of high quality pre-elite seed potatoes (minitubers) based on invitro microprogation materials and precision planting.

Several members of the family, together with a highly skilled and dedicated staff, are taking Minas Seed into the future.