the farm

80 acres in the alberta foothills

the lay of the land

The property sits in the Alberta foothills, about 20 minutes south of Calgary. The mountains are visible to the west on any clear day, which is most days. Sheep River runs nearby and the sky is the kind that makes you stop what you're doing.

The land has been farmed, ranched, subdivided, and restored. It has fed cattle, grown food, hosted travellers, and survived decades.

not just an aesthetic, It's an actual farm.

Cows, chickens, turkeys, pigs, ducks, horses, cats, and a friendly Doberman. They all live here. The animals rotate through the pastures on a schedule that makes sense to them.

There are three food forests, several gardens, a passive solar greenhouse, and a compost operation. The goal is to grow more than we need and share what's left. We're not there yet, but we're getting closer every season!

Restored, not replaced

The main house was built in 1951. The barn is older. The house has been brought back by hand with more patience than speed. Some buildings are still waiting their turn.

The interiors are a labour of years: hunting down the right vintage pieces, layering eras, finding things that belong here.

It's the kind of place that's easier to feel than explain. You just have to see it.

the land has a long memory

"This property has been a place of hospitality for well over a century. Robert Turner, a Scottish immigrant and one of the brothers after whom Turner Valley was named, helped found the Millarville district and acquired the land in 1903. He raised purebred Clydesdales, called the place Clydesdale Ranch, and was known for throwing parties that according to Foothills Echoes, were "notable, decorous occasions."

In 1951, sisters Enid and Iva Knoepfli bought the land. Their father Jacob had come west on the CPR's Last Best West campaign and built the York Hotel and St. Regis in downtown Calgary. The sisters, along with Iva's husband Les and their budding family, built the main house that still stands today. They moved in and continued the hosting tradition. Especially the pool parties.

We became the 3rd owners when we arrived in 2019. The house had been slated for demolition at one point. But some things are worth saving.

you notice things here

The vintage and antique pieces here have been collected over a lifetime and are available for shoots, productions, and creative projects. The kind of things you can't source from your average guest ranch.

The wood-fired sauna take time to heat. The hot tub takes longer. Most folks find that's actually the best part.