Skip to content

Wool is the best way to enjoy winter

  • Wool Blankets
    • Throws
    • Queen
    • Wool Blankets & Bedding
  • Wool Bedding
    • Duvets
    • Pillows
    • Mattress Toppers
  • Yarn
    • Worsted Weight Yarn
    • Aran Weight Yarn
    • Fingering Weight Yarn
    • Join the Wool Circle Community on Facebook!
  • Topsy Merch & Honey
    • Topsy Farms Children's Book Series
    • Clothing & Drinkware
    • Cedar & Willow Prints
    • Don's Photos
    • Honey
  • Crafting & Handmade Products
    • Stainless Steel Water Bottle
    • Handmade Items
    • Crafting Supplies
  • Gift Cards & Donations
    • Gift Cards
    • Gift Boxes
    • Gift Wrapping
    • Adopt a Bee
    • Sponsor a Meter of Hedgerow
  • Sign in

  • About Topsy Farms
    • About Topsy Farms
    • Our Hippie Roots
    • Farm Stories
    • FAQs
    • Sign up for our newsletter
  • Events and Activities
    • Walking Trails
    • Experiential Learning at Topsy Farms
    • Kid's Farmyard Activities
    • All Upcoming Events and Activities
  • Contact Us
0

Topsy FarmsTopsy Farms

  • Wool Blankets & Bedding
    • Throws
    • Queen
    • King
    • All Wool Blankets & Bedding
    • Duvets
    • Pillows
    • Mattress Pads
  • Sheepskin & Lambskin
  • Yarn
    • Worsted Weight Yarn
    • Aran Weight Yarn
    • Fingering Weight Yarn
    • Join the Wool Circle Community on Facebook
  • Topsy Merch & Honey
    • Topsy Farms Children's Book Series
    • Clothing & Drinkware
    • Stainless Steel Waterbottle
    • Cedar & Willow Prints
    • Don's Photos
    • Honey
  • Crafting & Handmade
    • Handmade Items & Patterns
    • Crafting Supplies
  • Gift Cards & Donations
    • Gift Card
    • Gift Boxes
    • Gift Wrapping
    • Adopt a Bee
    • Sponsor a Metre of Hedgerow

Farm Stories

Old Granary Transformed

Posted on April 6, 2018


This is the story of how an old granary transformed into our shearing floor – recycling on a grand scale.

In the late ‘80’s, our rapidly growing sheep farm needed a proper shearing floor area. Our sheep deserve the top quality shearers; for efficiency, the workers need an adequate setup.

Our farmers investigated other Canadian shearing setups and talked to shearers.  We designed the upper story of our barn to become a shearing floor. Previous farm owners used the space to store loose hay, then square bales. The floor was not sufficiently sound or laid out for shearing use.

An elderly Island structure needed to be demolished. A major economic shift caused the granary at Emerald, one of two that provided a key hub of Island economic trade, to be abandoned years ago. The owners approached the farm with an offer – to take everything down and clean up (except for the grindstones) in exchange for all the wood.

Those who built the granary did a solid job, nailing flat board on flat board of Island spruce, with hardwood where needed, but the roof had failed. The demolition crew cut the corners off with a chain saw, carving the structure into manageable chunks that could be transported on tractor bale tines.

The intensive demolition labour produced about seven MILES of reusable wood.

Our preteen sons and friends were pleased to inherit the shorter bits, learning to build outdoor forts and walkways and outlooks, hammering often a dozen nails in each piece, hauling boards one at a time by bike.

The old granary transformed to our shearing floor – and has been in annual action since 1991.

Building the shearing floor in the second story of the barn took time, with labour for haying and sheep work taking precedence, but it was accomplished in time for the next year’s shearing. Here’s a wonderful speeded up video of shearing day action, taken by our good neighbour from Lynn’s Lids.

The wool gathered, sorted, bagged and shipped to PEI for washing, becomes wonderful wool bedding, sold online and from our Wool Shed. The blankets are even stored in the unused (most of the time) shearing area.

 

Farm Life

Leave a comment:

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

← Older Post

/

Newer Post →

Customer Care

  • Contact Us
  • FAQs
  • Shipping and Return Policy
  • Refund policy
  • Wholesale policy
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

About Topsy Farms

  • Our Hippie Roots
  • In The Media
  • Farm Stories
  • Friends and Allies
  • Volunteer/Employment Opportunities

Contact us

14775 Front Road Stella, ON, K0H 2S0

(613)-389-3444 x1

1(888)-287-3157 toll-free

info@topsyfarms.com

Connect with us

© Copyright 2023, Topsy Farms.
Powered by Shopify