Alberta is home to a wide variety of unique farms. The province’s continental climate allows for diverse plant cultivation and animal husbandry. Alberta also enjoys more sunshine than any other Canadian province. Here’s a selection of the most fascinating farms in the region, as featured on calgary-name.
Saskatoon Berry Farm
In the 1980s, Paul and Karen Hamer acquired a barren barley field where the Highwood and Sheep rivers converge in the Foothills region. Over the next three decades, they poured their hearts into creating a farm. With their gardening expertise and a dream of living and working in the countryside, Paul and Karen planted every tree and bush by hand and built each structure themselves.
The farm eventually expanded to include numerous greenhouses filled with plants and flowers. Visitors can explore unique gift shops with eclectic treasures, enjoy a restaurant with a patio, visit a seasonal farmers’ market offering local vegetables, and much more.
Ellis Bird Farm
Located in the heart of Alberta in Range Road rural park, this bird sanctuary is home to the province’s oldest granary, built in 1937. The farm itself was established in 1982.
This non-profit organization focuses on the conservation of eastern bluebirds, tree swallows, and other species. Visitors can enjoy a tea house, picnic areas, and a large collection of functional birdhouses. Butterfly, fruit, and wildflower gardens are interconnected by a network of pathways, including wheelchair-accessible trails.
Solstice Berry Farm
In 1994, a young couple from Calgary sought the perfect rural spot to call home. They eventually found a quarter section of land in the Dogpound area near the Rocky Mountains’ foothills. The land offered breathtaking views, agricultural fields, pastures, and clusters of trees.
Shortly after moving in, they purchased 100 sheep and began raising lambs and producing hay, much of which was exported. The majority of the hay was sold to Japan for feeding dairy cows, with some also sent to the UAE for racing camels and to Florida for racehorses.
In 2003, the farm pivoted to berry production, planting alder-leafed saskatoon bushes known for their antioxidant-rich, flavorful berries. Over the years, the farm has adopted modern cleaning, sorting, and packaging technologies, allowing for higher-quality and larger-scale production.
Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm
This award-winning farm near Edmonton is an ideal spot for year-round events and leisure. Visitors can enjoy corporate picnics, petting zoos, wagon rides, a corn maze, gem mining, garden centers, seasonal festivals, pumpkin patches, and haunted houses for Halloween.
Butterfield Acres Farm
Located in Calgary, this farm features numerous domestic animals for visitors to interact with. From April to September, popular activities include horseback riding and goat milking. Visitors can also enjoy picnics and shop for souvenirs like colorful T-shirts, earrings, and stuffed animals. A food venue called Gobbles and Gulps offers refreshments.
Kirk’s Alpaca Farm
Opened by the Kirk family in 2019 near the town of Three Hills, this alpaca farm became public in August 2020. Visitors can feed and observe the alpacas. The farm also features play areas for children, basketball courts, picnic tables, and ample running space. The onsite shop sells alpaca wool products, such as socks and accessories, as well as handmade homeware.
Amazing Field Maze
This incredible corn maze in Leduc offers visitors the chance to get delightfully lost. Hidden letters throughout the maze can be collected to decode a message carved into the 10-acre cornfield. Additional attractions include domestic animals, lawn games like horseshoes, and relaxing around a campfire.
Kraay Family Farm
Located in Lacombe, this family farm features another corn maze that changes design annually. Established in 1999, the farm also offers over 40 activities, including bouncy pillows, corn cannons, tire carousels, tricycle tracks, tube slides, hay mountains, pedal bike trails, and mini-golf. Visitors can also enjoy a petting zoo and sunflower fields.
Gentle Giant Acres
This farm, located south of Lethbridge, offers therapeutic horseback riding sessions for individuals with visual impairments. In addition to horses, visitors can interact with other domestic animals. Picnic areas and rest zones are available, along with a shop selling preserves, homemade meat products, and crafting supplies.
Gone Green Farms
Situated in Westerose, this charming farm offers a retreat for those seeking nature and simple rural life. The farm sells naturally raised meat and eggs and features a large garden and greenhouse. Children can enjoy a petting zoo, hay and sleigh rides, and guided farm tours.