GETTING TO KNOW: CHRIS KNIGHT, FARMER AT AYRSYDE FARMS INTERVIEW BY CHRIS TIESSEN W HEN Y O U G E T T H E C H A NC E T O V I S I T WI LLI BALD F AR M DI S TI LLE R Y & BR E WE R Y I N AY R S OM E T I M E I N T H E NE A R F U T U RE ( B E C A U S E, R E ALLY , Y OU’ VE GOT TA GE T T H E R E ) AN D Y OU’ R E S I TTING ON T HE F R O NT P A T I O O R A T T H E O UT D OOR BI E R GAR TE N , Y OU' R E LI K E LY T O S E E A H E R D OF C AT T LE G R A Z I NG C O NT E NT E D L Y I N T H E F I E LD T H AT ABUTS T H E P LAC E . T H OS E GALLOWAY C AT T LE A RE O N T H E W I L L I B A L D M E NU – I N TH E R E S T AUR AN T ’ S BUR GE R S AN D C H AR C UTE R I E, FOR EXAM P L E . A ND I F Y O U W E RE A BLE TO S E E JUS T BE Y ON D T H E C ATT LE , D I D Y OU K N OW THAT T HER E AR E P I G S E NJ O Y I NG T H E I R O WN DAY - TO- D AY LI VE S I N TH E F OR E S T N E AR BY ? TH E Y ’ R E T HE S AME P I G S T H A T A RE O N T H E M E N U – I N T H E P OR C H E TT A AN D H AM S AN DWI C H E S , F OR S T AR T ER S . F A RM T O F O RK , I ND E E D . BUT WH AT ’ S T H E DE AL WI T H T H E S E AN I MALS ? A F E W WEEKS BAC K, CH R I S F R O M T O Q U E T R A V E L E D T O AY R S O H E C OULD C H AT WI T H C H R I S K N I GH T , C ATTL E AN D P I G F A RM E R O F A Y RS Y D E F A R M S , TO LE AR N S OME TH I N G ABOUT WH E R E OUR F OOD C OMES FR OM. HE RE ’ S W H A T C H R I S ( K NI G H T) H AD T O S AY :
WHAT SORTS OF ANIMALS DO YOU RAISE A T AYRSYDE FARMS?
they’d be fun to raise, so we tried our hand at
We raise Galloway cattle, as well as a few heritage
learning experience. You can find our hogs out in
breed hogs. Galloways are an ancient breed that
our bush – digging and rooting all day.
originates from Scotland, and they’re perfectly suited to be kept outside year-round. They are exclusively grass-fed and, because we intensely rotate their pastures, they always have the best grass.
IN YOUR MIND, WHAT MAKES YOUR OPERATION SPECIAL? Ayrsyde Farms puts animal welfare first. We’re extremely patient when raising our cattle and pigs: we don’t rush them, but instead let them develop at their own pace.
WOULD WE BE FAMILIAR WITH ANY OF YOUR CLIENTS? For sure. We have a wide range of clients – from individuals to local butchers to restaurants and restaurant groups. We supply our next door neighbour, Willibald, with cattle and pigs, for example. And Pearle Group [Bread Bar, Elora Mill, Cambridge Mill, and more] is also a client of ours.
YOU STARTED WITH GALLOWAY CATTLE – WHY ADD PIGS? Pigs really started out of curiosity. We thought
raising heritage breed hogs. It’s been a meaningful
WHO WOULD BE A DREAM CLIENT FOR YOU? Our ideal client is someone who understands the benefits of buying meat that’s been raised to produce the healthiest product in the best setting for the animal.
WHEN YOU'RE NOT BUSY FARMING, WHERE DO YOU GO FOR LOCAL EATS AND ENTERTAINMENT? Truthfully, farming doesn’t really leave a lot of time
.
for playing, but we do enjoy sampling some of the fine products from our neighbours at Willibald and playing golf at Whistlebear
89
