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Farmstead experience on Blue Hen Farm

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After the four and a half hour drive from downtown Toronto we arrived at the Blue Hen Farm.  Right at the turn we saw an old cupboard filled with jars of homemade preserves and a sign “Honk for Service”…  And we saw the farmhouse in the opening between trees.

Blue Hen Farm Entrance sign

Bed and Bale sign in front of the entrance of Blue Hen Farm

Blue Hen Farm jars for sale, Lanark County

Blue hen Farm road stand

Farmers Jeff and Leslie greeted us and as we entered the house we were amazed by the old fashioned setting of the rooms – furniture, chandelier and even the old upright piano that produced some wonderful melodies after our evening meals…

Dinner at Blue Hen Farm, Executive Chef, Costas preparing dinner for Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

Executive Chef, Costas preparing dinner for Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

 

Piano music, Blue Hen Farm

Piano music after dinner at Blue Hen Farm

Leslie and Jeff used to live in Ottawa and have jobs as many of us do… The idea of farming came up after some changes in jobs and also as a result of research of the food industry, commercial farming and agriculture.

Great Food with Costas

Executive Chef Costas

Later, after getting settled in our rooms we headed down for dinner made by Chef Kostas who came out to tell us about the ingredients he used in his cooking, the dinner was amazing and filling.

As farmers do every day after dinner, we went into the barnyard to help with evening chores.

Lanark County, Blue Hen Farm

Farmstead experience in Blue hen Farm, Lanark County

 

Morning routine Feeding calves at Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

Feeding Calves at Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

 

Working with pigs on Blue Hen Farm near Perth, Ontario

A day on Blue Hen Farm, Lanark County

We found all the work surprisingly entertaining; we unloaded some 20 stacks of straw that will be used as bedding for the animals, fed the calves and pigs, brought the sheep and goats back to the barn and herded the chickens into their coop.

Egg- specting at Blue Hen Farm. Farm experience in Canada

Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

Farmstead on Blue Hen Farm. Farm life in Canada

Egg-specting on Blue Hen Farm near Ottawa

There was a special place where hens lay eggs, so we picked our breakfast! The eggs were dark and light brown, white and even light blue…

Once the chores were done, tired we went to our bedrooms; may be the mattresses were so comfortable or the day was long – falling asleep was no problem at all.

Blue Room, Blue Hen Farm, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada

Farmstead accomodations at Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

White Room, Blue Hen Farm, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada

Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

Yellow Room, Blue Hen Farm, Lanark County, near Ottawa

Yellow Room, Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

In the morning we woke up around half past six to the mouthwatering smell of bacon and eggs…

Breakfast at Blue hen Farm, Ontario, Canada

Breakfast during Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

And after breakfast we went to the yard to do morning chores which repeats the evening in the back order – letting the sheep and chickens out,  showering and feeding pigs… and saying hello to all of the farm animals.

Fun with pigs in the Farm near Perth Ontario

Washing Pigs, Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

Feeding calves, Lanark County Farmstead, Ontario

Evening chores during Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

Fun in Lanark County, Blue Hen Farm, Ontario, Canada

Fun time! Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

Fun time in Blue Hen Farm

Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

 

The goats are very young and new to the farm and don’t know the barn yard, so they we carried to the pasture  like babies!

Fun time near Ottawa, Canada

Calf is sucking a finger, Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

Pigs are having fun, Farmstead near Ottawa

Pigs are also having fun in Blue Hen farm

Blue hen Farm near Ottawa, Canada

Morning chores at Blue Hen Farm

Real Farm experience in Lanark, Ontario

Farm experience at Blue Hen Farm, Lanark County

Although all of the chores seem like quite a lot to do, they were our favourite part of the day. We also found that doing chores and waking up that early in the morning was very refreshing which was useful since we had a long day ahead of us. We found all of the animals so cute… and especially the three kittens that roam around the barnyard. There are also two dogs that help farmers by guarding  the barn yard from foxes and other invaders.

Evening time during needle felting workshop, Blue Hen farm, Lanark County

Quiet time in Blue hen Farm

Kitty , Blue Hen Farm

Kitty and Me, Farmstead experience

Dog in a hat

Guss wearing a hat

Free time at Blue hen Farm, Lanark County

Free time at Blue Hen Farm

Leslie and Jeff ask that visitors do not  bring or wear any fragrances on the farm including mosquito spray, however they do supply their own free of charge so that you do not get bitten by pesky flies.  Leslie makes her own natural soap – I found it very smooth and took a little piece home as a souvenir. Around the house we also found natural fragrances, bug spray and soap – all handmade from natural ingredients that smell like summer fields…

Environmental Farm, Blue Hen Farm

Road sign “Ontario Federation of Agriculture” member, near Blue Hen Farm

Their mission statement is free range thinking, meaning all of the animals are free to roam the field and raised with no antibiotics or chemical supplements at all. “Being a novice in such a tedious business as farming should be challenging for city folks” – I asked… yes, and they learn every day.

Farmstead near Ottawa

Farmstead in Lanark County

We also had a chance to learn – about how to feed pigs and chickens and how to take care of sheep and goats;  we would join Leslie to let the animals out of the barn with the first rays of sun and get them all back in the evening…

 

For us it was just two days – but these days were filled with smiles and laughter, delicious homemade meals and that feeling of love and happiness…

After dinner chat at Blue Hen Farm

After Dinner Chat at Blue Hen Farm

We took a lot of pictures that will remind us about this wonderful place and people that are so enthusiastic about  what they do.  Thank you Jeff and Leslie for teaching us some very basic skills that we miss in our city life!

Blue Hen Farm

Welcome to Blue Hen Farm

Farm fun

Weekend in Blue Hen Farm

So, time to leave The Blue Hen Farm… I think I  saw tears in some eyes…, we hope to come again.

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