George's River, Cape Breton
My wife and I and our daughters live on beautiful Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. We are just 7 minutes drive from North Sydney. Our 27 acre farm looks out over the Bras D'Or lakes,and on a clear day we can see the cars at the lookoff on Kelly's Mountain! For that reason we have named the farm, Highland View Sheep Farm, est. 1997.There is a family of Bald Eagles who like to roost on my tallest tree and enjoy the view. Luckily they have not developed a taste for lamb, but prefer fish instead!
We are doing our
best to farm organically in compliance with the Standards set by
NSOGA. It is challenging , but at the same time very
rewarding. Happy children, happy animals and a happy environment
are the greatest reward!
Sheep
My flock presently
consists of Purebred Dorset, Suffolk and their crosses. My Ram is
Purebred Dorset Horn. I also have a strain of black Suffolk that
I brought with me from Prince Edward Island.
Herbs
My interest in herbs grew as a natural digression from the poisonous plants that my animals might be exposed to, and the spices that I love to cook with. Older sheep are remarkably wise in staying away from some of the common plants like: Lambkill, St. John's Wort, Nightshade, Blue Flag and Tansy Ragwort. Baby lambs aren't always that lucky. Plants such as St. John's Wort and Lambkill have been traditionally used as medicines, but they also contain toxins; and Lambkill or Mountain Laurel is particularily poisonous. Knowledge and experience can be the defining line between medicinal or toxic I collect both the herbs that I can grow in my garden as well as those traditional Folk and Mi'kmaw herbs that I find growing wild on my property. I am presently interested in exploring the qualities of Bayberry, Golden Thread, and Sasparilla.
