Canada's only dedicated fibre farm is preparing to welcome visitors for Alberta Open Farm Days, offering a glimpse into their innovative approach to climate-resilient agriculture.
Located in the Rocky View County, the Providence Lane Homestead is a certified Animal Welfare Approved farm, which aims to use its rare breed sheep to continually improve climate resilience prioritizing the native grasses.
Providence Lane Homestead will open its doors for visitors on Aug. 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
As a 52-year-old first generation farmer, Tara Klager says, she is focused on using the heritage breed, which is also endangered-- Border Leicester sheep to build resilience in the environment by using a strategic approach to grazing that gives native plants a chance to build strong root systems while storing carbon and water underground, and building biodiversity.
It may not be common knowledge for some readers, but grasslands are the most endangered ecosystems in the world.
"These incredible ecosystems are under greater threat than the Amazon rain forest," Klager said. "We're doing everything we can to ensure their long-term viability."
That said, Klager says, the Open Farm Days schedule reflects not just their environmental goals, but also the way they value community building and collaboration.
"We want to work with other folks who share our values and together, we want to give the public a chance to engage in meaningful ways - whether it's watching talented fibre artisans from Traceable Textiles in Edmonton, or participating in a hands-on exploration with our partners from Cows and Fish Riparian Management Society, or walking the land with out community members to unpack new ways of looking at and interacting with land," Klager said.
"We want people to find something that's rich and speaks usefully to them," she added.
Alberta Open Farm Days is an incubator for agri-tourism and rural sustainability. The initiative brings together Albertans through educational and experiential agricultural-based initiatives to learn about where our food comes from.
To view the full list of farms registered to be featured in Alberta Open Farm Days, visit https://albertaopenfarmdays.ca/farms.
Klager along with her husband, Bob have been living at the Providence Lane Homestead since 2015.
"The whole farm thing took me by surprise-- it's been an adventure," she said.
