Words Jo Barnes
Photos Sarah Hartley Photography
It’s morning, and for some of us, we’ll awaken to a toddler jumping onto our bed or an alarm clock ringing or perhaps a loved one asking about coffee. For Danielle Litke, her morning starts with the steady gaze of hungry sheep peering through the window.
Danielle and Jordan Litke, owners of 3 Sheeps to the Wind farm in Brentwood Bay, lead busy lives not only raising a family but also a flock. “I wake up to see four sheep standing there looking in my window waiting for breakfast!” shares Danielle. “It is a lot of work but a lot of fun too.”
The whimsical farm name refers both to the farm’s livestock and Danielle’s family roots. She grew up on the adjacent property, Eurosa Farms, well known on the Peninsula for its production of beautiful cut roses. Danielle’s parents – Hans and Debbie Bulk who own Eurosa Farms – are also long-time sailing enthusiasts.
“We’ve done a lot of sailing in our family. My parents have a larger 40-foot sailboat. The farm name is based on the phrase ‘three sheets to the wind,’ but we substitute the word ‘sheep’,” relates Danielle, adding with a laugh: “It’s of course grammatically incorrect, but I think it works great!”
Since moving to the property in 2018, the couple has worked hard to raise livestock and enhance the farming site with new structures and growing areas. “We put in a vegetable garden and we have a variety of animals here including sheep, horses, a miniature horse and chickens,” outlines Danielle. “As well as lamb, we have 30 meat chickens and 50 layer hens. They are all raised for family consumption and not for commercial sales.”
Initially, the couple took over the care of four ewes then purchased a ram so that they could begin a breeding program. “We have both Charollais and Suffolk sheep, and we breed each year,” says Danielle. “Lambs are born towards the end of February or beginning of March usually.”
The proximity to family is not only valuable in terms of building strong family relationships but also practical farm support. “There are three generations of family farming here, all on neighbouring properties,” says Danielle. “Life on the farm only works when all the family work together, that is, my parents, four siblings, spouses and 11 grandchildren.”
Before the couple started the farm in 2018, Danielle worked full-time as a radiation therapist. With three growing children and the demands of the farm, she stepped away from the medical field. Revisiting the farming lifestyle in which she was raised has brought renewal. “I love seeing something start and grow,” relates Danielle. “I love getting my hands in the dirt and also just being outside.”
The family farm means plenty of work to do, but tasks are often shared. “My husband and kids all help,” says Danielle. “My husband, who is a full-time land surveyor, built all the major structures like the shelters and farm fencing. This year he built me a chicken coop which is really great.”
As well as being a versatile source of wool and meat, the sheep are great companions on the farm and offer benefits to the younger members of the family, such as learning how to care for animals. “We shear the sheep once a year, and I use the wool to make dryer balls,” says Danielle. “My kids help feed the lambs. I have a great memory of my daughter skipping down the road one day and singing ‘Mary had a little lamb’.”
Danielle shares that raising sheep has been a learning curve, especially when it comes to monitoring their health and watching for signs and symptoms. “I have learned through a lot of trial and error. Sheep are stoic, and if they are not feeling well, they hide that fact,” comments Danielle. “So, you play catch-up with this. It is hard if they are going downhill fast.”
In addition, the sheep birthing process is not always straightforward and can bring surprises and challenges. “In our first year, we thought ‘Sheep know what they’re doing when it comes to birthing.’ But lambs have come out backwards, headfirst, and two at a time! We had one lamb that wasn’t strong enough to nurse, so we had to bottle feed it for 12 weeks,” she says. “My older sister is a Veterinary Technician, so if we have any lambing troubles, she can really help us out.”
When lambing season arrives, the sight of tiny woolly wonders springing about the farm prompts smiles on the faces of visitors and passers-by. “People sometimes are walking down the road, and they really want to feed the lambs,” relates Danielle. “It’s pretty fun.”
It’s a busy family farm where locals find the livestock “woolly wonderful” and where the farmers have discovered “shear” joy.
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