Hartell Homestead – Foothills First Farm Store
Nick Shipley lost his job to Covid early into the pandemic. For most, this would have been devastating, but not for Nick. A farmboy to the core and resilient, he and his wife, Alli, surmised this was as good a time as any to start farming their 30-acre farm. Soon, neighbours and passers-by began to buy their products at the “gate” – mainly herbs, vegetables, and eggs. These short stops soon extended to longer ones as guests were keen to visit the farm and enjoy the farm animals that were treated more like pets than livestock. And so, the word went out quickly, and a steady stream of visitors started to show up. Pleased with the response, the idea of a farm store emerged in what seemed to be a natural next step.
Nick grew up on a farm in southern Ontario but graduated from Alberta’s Old’s College in Agriculture (specializing in livestock nutrition). Hooked by Alberta’s big skies and promises of untapped potential, he made the province his home. Back home, he grew up knowing a familiar concept unknown to our area – Farm Stores. Even though the concept had not been formally applied in the Foothills, he felt the community was ready for this. Much work went into developing the model and negotiating agreements with local governments. The Shipleys’ hard work, though, paid off. Hartell’s Homestead is now a destination for local communities and the “Sunday drive” crowd.
Farm Stores are the ultimate expression of farm to table stores. Their purpose is to sell a farm’s products directly to consumers. But the Shipley’s went a step further. They connected with over thirty local producers – vegetables, dairy, meat, preserves, honey, bread, craft and they offered to sell their products in their store and share in the emerging business. Thus, the Hartell Homestead farm store sells only sustainably produced products made locally.
Today the Hartell Homestead is a bustling Farm Store that comes complete with activities for the whole family. You can walk around the farm and check out the garden, chickens, ducks, and the cutest Highland cows. Or, if you call a couple days ahead of time, you can book a private educational tour. In season, you can u-pick vegetables, sign up for canning classes, composting workshops, gardening lessons, sausage making and even learn about animal husbandry.
Speaking to Nick, I quickly realized that his love for farming was equally matched by his passion for local history. With a deep sense of place and storytelling skills, he relayed the tragic story of the Hartley community. A once-bustling small town that disappeared overnight in a grass fire on February 14th, 1944.
Imagine a town with over eleven shops, two boarding houses, and a tent city for the oil workers and their families. Gone in smoke overnight! The remaining couple of buildings and standing church of Hartell was eventually moved to Longview. Hartell did not recover. Turner Valley and Longview became the town centres.
The gently rolling hills of Hartell are inviting but discrete. To find Shipley’s farm store, it is best to Google “Hartell Homestead”. The farm is essentially halfway between Turner Valley and Longview. Look for a small sign and sandwich board that advertise the farm located on the Northside of Hwy 543, East of Highway 22.
Visiting the farm is a pleasant way to spend a beautiful day, learn about where the food comes from and stock up on quality products at decent prices. To learn more about the Hartell Homestead, visit www.hartellhomestead.com or call 587-873-6027. They are open all week except on Wednesday.
Renée Delorme
Sommelier
www.tastingpleasures.ca
403.200.9961
mail@tastingpleasures.ca
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