Conservation on this farm means the careful practice of eco-forestry, the protection of Garry Oak meadows, and organic practices.
More Information: The original orchard – the oldest on Salt Spring was restored in 1990-94. The sheep pasture was re-cleared from alder and an organic garden was established in the old pasture. The garden has supplied islanders with market produce for over a decade. Sheep, chickens, pigs and ducks have been raised. Chickens still are raised on the farm and sheep still over-winter in the heritage barn, built in 1897. Patches of Garry Oak with wildflower meadows occur on the southern slopes of the hill and adjacent to the garden and orchard. White fawn lilies abound in the meadows and they are home to many species at risk including turkey vultures, Propertius, Duskywing butterflies, and Roesner’s fescue. Wave Hill is an internationally recognized model of Natural Selection Sustainable Forestry. The farm works with the natural growth cycle and harvests a sustainable portion of the weaker growth, leaving the stronger trees. A fully functioning ecosystem with the natural diversity of species always remains, including the characteristics of the old growth forest. A carefully designed road system, following the contours of the land with gentle gradients, accesses the forest. A farm tractor winches selected logs to the road’s edge where a forwarding trailer takes them to be processed at the farmstead’s mill site. |
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