WANTED: Land for Sustainable Livestock Farming

Quennell Lake Livestock Conservancy is a breeding facility for endangered livestock, poultry and equines. Now in its 8^th year, QLLC is a social enterprise with the following goals:

·         To maintain viable breeding populations of selected endangered breeds and promote these breeds to the farming community and the general public

·         To develop and promote environmentally, socially and economically sustainable farming practices that are well adapted to our local landscapes and climate

·         To provide learning and training opportunities for children, young people and those with challenges

We are looking for land to lease or buy in the Cedar/Yellowpoint area of Nanaimo to allow us to grow, expand our programs and provide medium to long term security. 25 acres or more preferred, rough grazing or brush welcome. A residential home is not essential, which may make this an interesting opportunity for retiring farmers who wish to continue to live on their farms and maintain farm tax status or other property owners with unused parcels of land. We are open to “creative” arrangements as well as straightforward commercial transactions.

Please contact Maria Castro for more information or with interesting offers!

mariacastro@shaw.ca 

Another Milestone in the Life of a Horse

Our little mustangs had their hooves trimmed for the first time. Thanks to Shane, Laura and the horse whisperer from Kamloops!

Quennell Lake Livestock Conservancy and the Farm at Cedar Woods Part Ways

2010 saw a new joint venture between our farm, Quennell Lake Livestock Conservancy, and the Farm at Cedar Woods. QLLC is a breeding facility for endangered livestock and poultry. The Farm at Cedar Woods is a healing and training environment for people with challenges. It seemed like a good fit. QLLC's herd of rare San Clemente Island goats, and the horses, spent the year clearing brush on Cedar Woods'  28 acres while giving students and visitors an opportunity to see and interact with the animals and learn something about livestock care. Cedar Woods also acquired chicks from us which they raised for sale and and a laying flock of their own.

The goats were very popular with all and did an admirable job on the blackberries and broom which are overrunning the property.

The students enjoyed working with the horses to move the electric netting we use for rotational grazing. They learned about trimming the goats'  hooves, and watched the farrier at work. They got to hold newborn goats in their arms.

Cindy, QLLC's farm help, and her daughter Nia taking up electric net with Apache

While we had been looking forward to our continuing collaboration with Cedar Woods in 2011, something very unexpected happened: the Board of Directors made the decision to continue operating the Farm at Cedar Woods without any livestock. We do not know the reasons for this decision. They have asked us to remove our animals by end January and will also be dispersing the Cedar Woods sheep.

QLLC will of course carry on with its breeding programs. We also wish to continue to offer learning and training opportunities in sustainable livestock management, particularly for children, youth and people with challenges. We now face the difficult task of finding another suitable piece of land - at very short notice.

If anybody happens to have 25+ acres of land sitting around in the Cedar/Yellowpoint area south of Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, BC that they would like to see put to a meaningful and rewarding use - please let us know!