ELPHIN MOUNTAIN CONNEMARAS

Farm Life

Elphin Mountain Farm is a 100 acre farm located in rural Lanark County in eastern Ontario. The land is rough and hilly, an excellent training ground for future event horses. About 50 % of the property is covered in bush, forest and swamp, while a creek runs through the back portion and the remaining land is pasture. The barn, constructed in 1917, is built in a rare stack-wall style, which can be seen in the background of some photos. It holds 10 stalls, a feed room, a large run-in area and an enormous loft. Other barns on the property include a small log barn for the sheep which was built in the '30s and restored in 1985, and a log pig sty, home to various critters.

Like the barns, the house is also log. It was constructed about 20 km from here, and resided there until the early '60s whereupon it was taken down, log by log, and transported here to be rebuilt on this foundation. One of our fields contains a graveyard in which the original settlers of this land are buried. The small plot is surrounded by a wrought iron fence, added later than the 4 graves, all with original limestone headstones. It is a beautiful resting place, we feel honoured to have it on the land.

We have lived here since 1983 and in that time raised numerous different breeds of livestock. Currently, as well as the Connemaras, we breed Border Collies and Black Welsh Mountain sheep.

We have had various and assorted species of fowl, ranging from chickens to geese and ducks to guinea hens. We always have a flock of laying hens, usually containing a few Auracanas, South American chickens which lay eggs with green or blue shells. At different times we have had Rouen ducks (the domestic mallard), Pekin ducks and Emdon and Grey geese. Currently we only have Muscovies and they are efficient flycatchers in the summer and very friendly and intelligent pets. Over the years we have also raised pigs, from weaners to market weight hogs. Typically, we get 4 piglets in the spring and again in the fall, raise them over the summer or winter, and then get them butchered. The meat is exceptionally tasty and lean, and is free from chemical additives, antibiotics or growth hormones.

Keeping our menagerie fed, watered and clean keeps us busy but I don't think either of us would trade it for anything, being farmers at heart!