Caring for our land with long-term vision
It’s true - we live and farm on a pretty amazing piece of land. It feels like our piece of Eden. We wake up every day to the sound of the birds, wind in the trees, river gurgling, or the frogs and crickets croaking.
The river meanders through the property, and a large part of our 80 acres is covered in an old-growth oak forest. We enjoy our home along with wildlife, birds, plenty of edible plants, even some rare species.
The secret bush and it’s haunts that I played in as a kid still exist. In fall, we explore the bush trails and then ski them in winter. Wild beaches along the river become a perfect summer swimming oasis. Some areas of the farm my parents re-wilded, and are filled now with saskatoons and chokecherries we enjoy foraging for summer desserts. Wildlife abounds in acres of untamed bush and we enjoy a bit of hunting every fall. Watching rare species flourish on our land, such as Western Silvery Aster, fill us with just a little bit of awe.
Sound like a dream?
In a world, where trees are being cut down at an incredible rate, where habitat for birds is being quickly replaced with development, where topsoil is being lost and resources are being used up faster than they are replenishing, words cannot express how thankful we are that our parents stewarded their corner of the world well.
We’re definitely not perfect, but we also attempt to care for the land with a long-term vision.
How does that affect how we farm today?
We attempt to leave the trees, rare species and many spaces on the farm to remain wild. We celebrate the plants and trees that thrive here and we teach our children the importance of stewarding nature carefully. Although there are times we must cut down trees, we do so selectively. We allow the river front to have a large wild buffer zone - riparian area is so important for the wildlife and birds.
We improve our soil productivity naturally. Using regenerative and rotational grazing principles, we aim to increase productivity on our small pastures and fields so that we don’t have to bulldoze the forest down to make a living. We incorporate livestock into all parts of the farm, so we can use manure for natural fertilizer.
We limit our use of chemicals. Of course, we have a realistic view of the tools at our disposal. Plowing also isn’t great for the long-term health of the soil, so occasionally we do have to pick the lesser of the two evils. But we do so carefully and consciously.
We manage holistically. We enjoy and revel in a simple life. Sure, money is essential – but harmful development is not an option. We focus on living simply and enjoying our every-day lives here on the farm.
Lastly, we aim to pass our land to our children when we retire. Who knows - maybe they won’t want anything to do with the farm and that aspiration will change with time. But meanwhile, thoughts of leaving the land a better place for future generations totally shifts our perspective and the way we make decisions.
