In a Facebook statement last week, McFarlane said, “Shannon [Ashe-Fox, Community Engagement Specialist] & her colleagues at Atlantic Gold [Atlantic operations of St Barbara Ltd.] have provided the bay space for us to set up production,” adding: “As my mum provided her guest suite for me to make a home, same as my son-in-law is providing a guest coop for George & the Cherry Hill chicks to chill out in.”

“It’s similar in size to what we had before,” she said. “It is one big room, whereas in the old place we had purpose-built spaces. So, we’ll put up wood frame and plastic tents for processes like curing that we need to keep separated.”

McFarlane makes soap and laundry powder for individual and retailer customers – including 86 Sobeys stores – across the Maritimes.

Atlantic Gold’s communications manager Dustin O’Leary would not comment on the specific financial or lease arrangements. But, he said, “Here’s a local business who had a horrible situation happened to them and needed some help, and this is a space [the fire hall] where a commercial business could happen. We wanted to be a member of the community and help where we could.”