Welcome to our family farm
Nestled in the heart of Cedar Valley on beautiful Vancouver Island, our farm combines rustic charm with coastal serenity. Founded by Bernadette, a proud Albertan with deep roots in the land, our farm is a testament to her lifelong passion for farming. After nearly two decades in the city, Bernadette made the bold move back to the countryside in 2022 to create a haven of tranquility and natural beauty.
Life here is all about embracing the simple pleasures. Imagine the gentle bleating of goats, the cheerful clucking of chickens, and the distant call of sea lions, all set against a backdrop of towering trees. From the moment you step onto our property, a sense of calm and peace washes over you.
The true magic of our farm comes from the people who visit us. Families seeking a weekend getaway, adventurous travelers looking for authentic experiences, and those simply wanting to soak up a slice of paradise all find a special place here. We are honored to share our little piece of heaven with each and every one of you.
Join us and experience the beauty, tranquility, and warmth of our family farm. We can't wait to welcome you!
Let us know if you'd like a farm tour and a chance to meet the animals during your stay! We have horses, goats, sheep, pigs, ducks and chickens. In spring and summer there's lots of baby animals here at the farm — you can likely even hold a baby goat and/or chick! Tours usually start at 10 / 10:30 am, but on occasion an evening tour is an option.
Tours are free for staying guests — just ask when you book, or get in touch.
Shirewoods is a working farm. Our animals are pasture-raised in a rotational grazing system, and our sustainability practices include feeding livestock with rescued produce and brewery grain — seasonal scraps, vegetables, and fruit from the LOOP farmers program rather than grain-heavy commercial diets.
Conserving rare breeds matters to us — we see their preservation as a form of agricultural activism. We raise heritage breeds chosen for resilience, self-sufficiency, and beauty, and manage our closed flock with an emphasis on hardy genetics, gentle disposition, and structural soundness.
Icelandic sheep
Our Icelandic sheep are truly at the heart of Shirewoods. This heritage, triple-purpose breed offers richly flavoured, mild meat, beautiful dual-coated wool, and the potential for milk — a future we may explore in coming seasons. Icelandics are naturally parasite-resistant, thrive on sparse forage, and lamb with ease, making them ideal for regenerative, low-input systems like ours.
Ossabaw Island hogs
We raise Ossabaw Island hogs because they're one of the rarest and most genetically distinct heritage breeds left — descended from pigs brought to North America in the 1500s and isolated on Ossabaw Island, Georgia. Ossabaws are slow-growing, forage well, and have deep-flavoured, marbled meat that chefs and ethical meat buyers rave about. They're listed as "Critical" on the Livestock Conservancy's Conservation Priority List — their preservation is part of why we farm.
Goats
Goats are adaptable and resilient animals, thriving in various climates and environments. Renowned for their milk, meat, and fiber, their inquisitive and friendly demeanour makes them popular on farms both large and small — and they're excellent at managing brush and overgrowth.