YA Apprenticeship - Long Way Homestead & Ferme Fiola Farm

About Longway Homestead:// Long Way Homestead is a family owned and operated Sheep Farm and Wool Mill east of Winnipeg, in Ste. Genevieve, Treaty One Territory. The farm is situated on 140 acres at the edge of the Boreal Plains region. The land is a mix of forest dominated by Balsam Poplar, Jack Pine, and Black Spruce trees. Most of the farm is not cultivated, making it a perfect habitat for deer, coyotes, beaver, squirrels and many different species of birds. Cooks Creek runs through the property and much of the land is a thriving wetland – welcoming to Sand Cranes, downy woodpeckers, swallows, Canada goose, hummingbirds and cedar waxwings. // Long Way Homestead raise sheep and process wool in their very own wool processing mill. They also grow natural dye plants and are working on growing their own flax for linen. Anna, Luke and their kids love to host people and share what they have learned in the “growing textiles” world and hope that the farm becomes more of a learning hub. The sheep management is year round, but wool harvest is in late April and the summer is focused on wool processing. The natural dye gardens are active from May until September. // About Ferme Fiola Farm // Fiola farm operates on the 120-acre Fiola family homestead, located in the Franco-Manitoban community of Ste-Geneviève. We currently sell direct market; pasture raised lamb and wool products, pasture-raised chicken, hay and straw in small square bales and some grains (oats and some ancient gains). // Currently, our flock consists of 25 breeding ewes. The majority of our ewes are Rideau Arcott with some Shetland, Rambouillet and Romney crosses. We use purebred rams to achieve our desired lambs. Every year in the fall we select a few ideal candidate ewes to sell as breeding stock. Send us a message if this is of interest to you or if you would like more information about our breeding program. // As stewards of the land we want to ensure that the land will be healthy for generations to come. It is in this spirit that each decision we make is based on four key values: earth-friendly, sustainability, respect, use what nature has to offer. // About the apprenticeship: // The apprentice will work along side Anna at Long Way Homestead and Christel of Ferme Fiola Farm to help with and learn about the care and management of sheep, chickens, and other small livestock. This includes: feeding, watering, health checks/vaccinations/hoof trimming, lambing, shearing, moving electric fence, moving chicken tractors and the day to day operations of small livestock farming on pasture. The primary focus is on fibre production, and textile agriculture. // The apprentice will also be involved in maintaining and growing natural dye gardens and vegetables, this includes: planting, weeding, garden prep, new garden bed work, harvesting, irrigating etc. The apprenticeship would include an introduction to small animal hide tanning and the production of wool into yarn. The apprentice would be included in on-farm events and workshops, including farm tours. The apprenticeship would include some wool production in the wool mill. And in addition to fibre farming, the family grows a big garden, all their own veggies and some meat too.