Contact: Clarke and Nancy Gourlay Address: 403 Lowry’s Road Parksville, BC V9P 2B5 Phone: (250) 954-3931 Email: Gourlay@island.net Website: www.cheeseworks.ca

More Information:
Morningstar Creek once had its source in marshes to the southwest of the farm. Due to logging, draining of the marshes, and freeway development, the source of water for the Creek is now primarily rainfall. All the more reason for Clarke Gourlay’s commitment, through the Environmental Farm Planning Program (EFP). To construct three more ponds to add to the existing two ponds. This will conserve water year round for wildlife as well as improve the water table in the area around the farm. A five-meter strip along the interconnecting ponds and creek will be planted with additional native trees and shrubs, and maintained as wildlife habitat. In addition, deepening the existing ponds and digging new ones will provide habitat for cutthroat trout, where now the fish die in summer due to lack of water. Large numbers of birds and waterfowl call the farm home for part of the year. Along the south border of the farm, a thirty-meter wide shelter belt of fir, pine, and deciduous trees provide landscape interest and habitat diversity. Shelterbelts are being further developed and significant new planting is taking place to enhance wildlife corridors.

Morningstar Farm was a dairy farm up to about 15 years ago when the pastures began only to be used for hay. A hand-hewn log cabin, built in the 1880’s by Jim Lowry still remains at the entrance to the farm. The Gourlays envision the cabin as a ‘moo-seum’ of heritage dairy artifacts in the future. Since June 2004, the Gourlays have been reclaiming the 68-acre farm for dairy cows and cheese making. The health of the pastures is being restored with rye grasses and clover. Cows are rotated through the pastures throughout the year. Bee hives flourish on the land. The Gourlay sons are keen to build bat houses and to explore more about the benefits of the natural environments on the farm.