About Us
It all started with a dream of Bert’s – to own a ranch one day. In October of 2017, we found the perfect 404-acre property with three beautiful buildings, timber, and a few pastures. It was like the moment we met – love at first sight! We had been looking for property for years, but it was this property that spoke to us. It is just 2 km from the Village of Horsefly and 1 of those kms is our driveway! It was truly magic that we felt, as we turned the corner and saw the pastures and buildings, we looked at each other and said, “This is it!” Our search was over. Little Bear Ranch is ours. Dreams of horses, cattle, chickens, gardens, bees, and nature are now planted as we work and watch them grow.
Bert worked for the first four years in Vancouver running his own business, I (Wanda), stayed full time on the Ranch taking care of things. First the fences, then the horses, then the coop, then the chickens. Then the Pigs, then the pasture restoration began, with bacon as a by-product. Yup, we are “plowing with pigs!”
Bert grew up on a 50-acre vegetable farm, I lived in the country as a child and gardened with my father. This was a passion instilled in me as a child. Both my Grandparents were homesteaders in Miramichi, NB. My grandparents grew all their own vegetables and raised their own livestock. They only bought flour, sugar, and molasses as I remember as a child.
We have two grown children and two grandchildren. This legacy we build for our children’s, children’s, children, and beyond.
Many were worried about my being alone on the ranch but I liked it. I am a twin, so in over 50 years, I have always had a wombmate, roommate, husband, children and friends living with me. Now it was just me and my dog, Sugarbear! Every morning I made my coffee in peace and quiet and sat at the window watching nature, wild birds, and our horses and livestock as I sipped in the calm and quiet with my coffee.
Now Bert is here full time and we have our Scottish Highland Fold. We started with five in total, with 2 being pregnant heifers and 3 steers. Babies in 2021!
We always loved living as Organic as we could, and our desire was to raise our livestock this way and work with the land in a sustainable way with pasture-raised livestock with a strong emphasis on animal welfare. Many people have asked us, “What are you going to do with 404 acres?” and our reply is always the same, . . . “Anything we want!”.
Land, Gardens & Food
We are committed to being responsible stewards of the land and In tune with nature. We have approximately 70 acres in hay which we share with our neighbor who hays it for us. This is for our horses and cattle. We soon learned we had a huge problem with hawkweed, most local farmers spray to kill hawkweed, but after researching options, we decided to PLOW WITH PIGS. Turns out, pigs love hawkweed! We never thought we would raise pigs, but it was amazing what grew back after they rooted and grazed and what did NOT grow back! Sheep help as well but Pigs root and eat the roots of the hawkweed. We also soak the pig’s grain, so oats often grow back and other dormant grass seeds. This practice helps correct poor soil, and the pigs dig up the rocks too! I recommend tossing a few each day, this makes it easier! It is all about management as this path takes time and patience.
People often overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in five years.
We have an organic garden and greenhouse. I garden organically, bio-dynamic and sometimes use permaculture techniques. We store as many vegetables as we can like potatoes, carrots, and cabbage. We can freeze a bit and dry a bit. Whatever we have to share we can give/sell to family, friends and our local farmers markets.
Whatever locally we can buy from our farmers/friends, we do! Shop local! You may have heard of the 100 mile diet, well we have a 100 meter diet! I still need my mushrooms, bananas, lemons and avocados, but every bit I can grow counts. Soon bees and mushrooms, YES!
During the Pandemic, I took up sourdough bread making and pizzas. After much convincing, I am creating a Little Bear Ranch cookbook! I have been collecting and perfecting all my dishes. One of my specialties is in the section, One-Pot Wanda. I often use my dutch oven to make a soup or stew, and then store it in the fridge, and reheat and revamp it the next day!
I also took up a few online courses and good old-fashioned letter writing! Oh the joy of receiving a letter in the mail! I am also a member of the Horsefly Women’s Institute. Wonderful, kind, wise women helping in their communities, all over the World!
Horses
We love horses and took lessons from a friend when Bert was in University. Bert rode as a child with his cousin and dreamed of owning and riding horses. Well, the first fences went up in the Spring of 2018 and the horses came next. Bert learned natural hoof care and trims their hooves. They were 2-year-old quarter horses from a local breeder, and only halter broke. Bert has been training both horses since he has been home and they are coming around nicely. Reba and Rosie are their names.
Cattle
We have a small fold of Scottish Highland Cattle which we purchased locally as well. This is a heritage breed that can withstand cold winters and thrives on poor pastures and minimal intervention. They are a hardy breed and superb mothers of their young and generally quite docile. They are also very protective of their offspring. These cows can transform the native forage into a high-quality, fully grass finished beef. Their meat is lean and close to bison for the health benefits, such as lower cholesterol, higher iron, and just plain gorgeous creatures!
Dogs, Cats & Birds, OH MY!
Sugarbear is a black lab, who was only a few months old when we came to the Ranch, and now we have Miss Molly, our Livestock Guardian Dog. She is a Great Pyrenese/Maremma and ½ Akbash. Molly protects our livestock and chickens from Predators like Ravens, Owls, Fox, Coyotes, and Bears! (both Black bears and Grizzlies). Bears hate barking dogs, and Molly runs fast. They have been chased by a grizzly, and attacked by a cougar. Thankfully I was able to heal them up with help from a vet.
Batman, our cat did have a litter mate Spydie but she passed away. I planted a beautiful garden in her honor. Then we got 2 new kittens that were littermates, they are barn cats called Daisy-girl and Pika. Cats are important to help with rodent problems. Especially because we also feed the wild birds. We have mice, moles, voles, rats, and shrews. Keeping things clean is important, as well as proper storage of feed.
Every year we have new birds coming. Sandhill Cranes, bluebirds, whiskey jacks, pine grosbeak, chickadee (my Dad’s favorite), woodpeckers (many varieties), magpie, crow, raven, bald eagle, several hawk varieties, and owls such as bard, great horned, northern pygmy and more. Our neighbors are avid nature photographers and come occasionally to photograph our visitors. Some photos below.
Wildlife
Well, you name it, we have seen it. My first winter I saw a wolf, foxes, black bears, a cow moose and calf, deer, and coyotes. A few years in and then a cougar and several grizzly bears, 400 meters from our home.
We did have a Colombian Ground Squirrel (aka gopher) problem until the Badgers came to raise their babies. Badgers love gophers for feeding their growing babies. I could see a tug of war happening between the litter mates. Our local photographer came and got some amazing shots of the mama and pups. He said he waited a lifetime for that shot. Badgers are illusive and shy, not to mention aggressive if cornered. So keep away your dogs! Luckily they raise their young in a few short weeks and move on. I find it interesting how mother nature works. Rodent problem, –Owls, hawks. Gopher problem, –Badgers. This is why we do not use poison. Poison does not discriminate. It not only kills rodents, but all the birds like owls that eat the rodents. We occasionally have a skunk, but Miss Molly fixed that, but not before she was sprayed! I used a homemade skunk-off.
Chickens
We have layer chickens. I like the heritage birds that lay rainbow eggs of all colours. They are designed to thrive in cold climates and are disease resistant. I have been known to have a glass of wine and watch them free range in our yard. Who needs TV when you have chickens! They love to come see me when I take them leftovers, and when I am digging in the garden around plants, they watch for bugs and worms and eat them. They even catch mosquitos! Their cooing sounds are so calming and the heritage breeds are so beautiful! Pets with benefits, eggs! I am officially the crazy chicken lady.
Pigs
Every spring we get heritage piglets. They are natural foragers and rooters. They are specialists in hawkweed management! Yes, we are plowing with PIGS! We soak their feed (Oats, peas, etc.) and add Kelp, apple cider vinegar, and even my homemade Kombucha! They go nuts for the juice. By soaking the grain/feed it increases the nutrient value and digestibility making them require less water. Nothing goes to waste at Little Bear Ranch. First humans, then chickens, or dogs, then pigs, then compost if anything is left.
Bacon as a byproduct is fabulous! Tasty roasts, pork chops, breakfast sausage, smokies, and garlic coils. Lean and delicious it is, even the fat is tasty and healthy. I never ate pork until I raised it myself! They only have one bad day on our Ranch, harvest day.
Their entire lives are in clean, natural, rotated pastures to explore and enjoy being a pig. We even create a pig park, with fresh water showers on hot days. They wallow in the mud and play like children. They are also very entertaining. Did you know pigs can not sweat? That is why they wallow in the mud, to cool off. Helps with the bugs too. Also shelter from the sun is important, they love a wooded area for this reason.
Horsefly
In Horsefly, we have the Cariboo mountains, many lakes to fish, ice fish, swim, camp and boat. The Horsefly River is known for its Sockeye Salmon annual spawning. We have a small Village, School, Fire Department, Senior Centre (SAWS), Community Hall, Post Office, Pub, Cafe, a museum in the summer, Hair Stylists, and a General Store. We have a Saturday Market which is the highlight of the locals and tourists! Fresh baked goods, gardening plants and vegetables, beef, canning goods and so much more.
There are a few bed and breakfast inns, camping at Horsefly Lake Provincial Park, so come visit Horsefly! There are a few annual events as well. The Salmon Festival, Arts on the Fly, Fall Fair, 4 H Club, and many events at the Community Hall.