How We Found a Name for our Farm

When we decided to buy the land, we started looking at house plans. I knew I didn’t want to the typical “farmhouse” style. While I admire Chip and Joanna Gaines, I do not care for their “farmhouse” aesthetic that’s taken over the country. You’ll not find a cotton wreath or shiplap anywhere in my house. And also, because we may open our farm to special events, such as weddings I didn’t want to give the same typical vibe that you could find at a dozen other farms in the area.

I’ve always been drawn to the dramatic stone cottages in Québec, and the stately homes of the French Quarter. I knew I wanted French inspired design, but wasn’t sure what style within that realm.

So it was design plan my husband and I agreed on is considered “Acadian.”

I immediately started googling “Acadian” homes, and I knew this was what I was looking for. Then I started researching more about the name, “Acadia.” It’s short and a pleasant-sounding word, but there’s a lot of things named “Acadia” (a famous national park in Maine, GMC SUV, other farms, etc.), so it probably wouldn’t stand out enough. That’s when I looked it up in French. How would the French have said it? Fortunately, the French pronunciation isn’t hard (sounds just the way it’s spelled) doesn’t have any special characters and isn’t used often in the USA. 

Acadie is the French form of the word “Acadia,” which might sound more familiar since there’s a National Park and a GMC vehicle with that name.

But before I delve further into how the name of the farm came about, I need to mention…

Je ne suis pas Française. Je ne suis pas Canadienne. Je ne suis pas Acadienne ou Quebecoise.

I am not French. I am not Canadian. I am not Acadian or Quebecoise.

If we want to get technical, I am French descent, but from 1600’s genealogy records. According to records and DNA I’m English, French and Scandinavian. However, I’m a Kentucky native who grew up in the foothills of the Appalachians and would identify my background and culture as Appalachian.

However, I love the French aesthetic, and especially French food (who doesn’t, right?) I’ve visited Quebec and New Orleans, where both places have solidified my love affair with the Quebec and Acadian cultures in particular.

How did we name the farm? I had intentionally avoided French names at first. I didn’t want another Fleur de lis on a logo.

Before the land purchase was complete, we had already met with a local builder to draw up plans for our new home. As I looked through millions of floor plans on Pinterest, the ones I kept coming back to were ironically classified as “Acadian.” I didn’t even realize that was a particular style of home.

That got me to thinking…the word “Acadia” has a pretty sound to it, and would be a more subtle nod to the French influence I adore. But Acadia is a widely used name in the United States. There’s the Acadia National Park in Maine and a GMC SUV. So despite my earlier refusal to go with a French name, I found myself looking for the French form and spelling.

Surprisingly, Acadia in French is simply an “e” as opposed to an “a,” so it’s “Acadie.” And it’s pronounced just as you would expect.

Short, simple and hardly used.

In fact, I had no trouble scooping up the domain name, email or LLC with the state.

Acadie Farm was born.

Ç’était le destin.

It was fate.