If you want fun and adventure this weekend, why not check out Alberta Open Farm Days?
On August 17 and 18, host farms open their doors to visitors, and you can get a first-hand look at farm operations and some sweet deals on local farm produce and products.
Open Farm Days is an exciting cross-Alberta event now in its 13th year.
On-farm visits show where your food comes from and how local food is produced. There are plenty of activities across Rocky View, Mountain View and Foothills Counties to participate in!
Hosted by the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies (AAAS), the event allows attendees to explore farms, homesteads, greenhouses, distilleries, and other businesses involved in agriculture and food.
The event also features chefs, and many rural communities host farm-to-table culinary events using products sourced from Alberta.
Farm-to-table means that the food you eat comes directly from a farm.
Typically, farmers rely on middlemen like wholesalers, retailers, and brokers to sell their produce. While this sounds convenient, farmers make much less from their products using middlemen who take a percentage of the sales or pay a lower wholesale price to the farmers.
Instead, farm-to-table cuts the middleman out of the equation, so the farmer’s product is sold directly to the consumer, primarily individuals/families and restaurants. For example, the produce you buy at a farmers’ market is farm-to-table. Farm-to-table experiences are a great way to support local farmers.
Open Farm Days are the perfect chance to see how some of your favourite products are made and visit local livestock up close.
A New Theme Every Year
Last year, Open Farm Days’ theme was “Year of the Bison,” and we celebrated all things bison.
This year, the theme is “Year of the Alpaca.” Alpacas are an important part of the Alberta fibre industry.
Alpacas are relatively new residents on Alberta farms, but their journey to Canada is fascinating.
While a few alpacas made their way to Alberta in the 1980s, the most significant influx occurred in 1992. That year, 362 alpacas arrived at Edmonton International Airport in Nisku, Alberta, after an epic journey that began in Chile.
Since their arrival, alpacas have thrived in Canada, with their numbers growing to 28,500 by 2020, nearly 40% of which are in Alberta. These alpacas have become integral to Alberta’s booming fibre industry, including cashmere from goats, sheep wool, and hemp.
Native to the high Andes of Bolivia, Peru, and Chile, alpacas have adapted well to Alberta’s climate and have proven to be a valuable addition to local farms. They’re prized for their fibre and make excellent companions for other livestock.
Did you know that alpaca fibre is free of lanolin, providing hypoallergenic wool that doesn’t require harsh chemicals and high temperatures during processing?
A great place to see full production of Alpaca fibre is Sunnyhill Alpacas and Twisted Sisters Mill near Leduc, where you can learn everything from harvesting to processing the fibre.
Custom Wollen Mills near Carstairs is another spot that processes fibres from alpacas and wool from sheep and goats. What sets Custom Woolen Mills apart is its use of historical textile equipment, with the oldest piece dating back to 1895.
More Food, Less Fibre?
If you are more interested in filling your tummy than your sock drawer, there are some amazing events this coming weekend that still have space for you.
One of our favourite regenerative farms, EH Farms near Strathmore, hosts “Let them Eat Pig,” a 12-course long-table Garden Feast event prepared by Chef Dirk McCabe on August 16. The menu features EH Farm’s grass-pastured, sustainably and ethically-raised Managalitsa pigs and fresh garden produce.
For other culinary events across the province, check out the Open Farm listings page listing.
If you’re not into a feast on the farm but are looking for good food, all the farms listed will have goodies for sale, so be sure to bring cash.
Make the most of your weekend by using the Open Farms “Plan Your Trip” APP to get directions to all your favourite local farms.
Open Farm Days are open to everyone and free of charge.
