Hamingja – Heritage Farm & Nature Preserve

Farm / Hamingja – Heritage Farm & Nature Preserve

Farm Type: Livestock Conservancy/Heritage Farm

Welcome to Hamingja (Icelandic for Happiness) – Heritage Farm & Nature Preserve

We are a small Livestock Conservation Farm for awareness & preservation of the ancient Scottish Soay Sheep breed and  Navajo Churro, as well as landrace Icelandic chickens and Rouen ducks. The farm also showcases Gotland and Icelandic Sheep and Rainbow Trout.

Our 2026 guided farm tours provide a real time focus on why ancient breeds of livestock have a place in agriculture today as we explore these historical livestock through interactive demonstrations of carding and felting, viewing the rare and unique Soay (one of the world’s oldest sheep breeds), Navajo Churro, Gotland and Icelandic Sheep, meeting our livestock guardian dog “on the job”, and learning about aquaculture. With our farm’s location on the lands and waters of the Blueberry Springs Trout Hatchery, we are offering a close look at the process of raising rainbow trout along with the water and pasture needs of farms, communities, and our province. Throughout tours, the farm shares awareness of the challenges in current drought conditions, water quality, and effective water and pasture management.

There are interactive opportunities for visitors to:

• enjoy guided farm tours at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. OR feel free to explore on your own
• *Sign up for a 20-30 minute “Wild Wool Workshop” for felting and fiber art to create your own art to take home!  Must be 10 years and up – $15/person. Limit of 8 per workshop. Supplies are provided. Pre-registration and payment required to hold your spot. Email vikingsoul-2@hotmail.com.  Workshops are at 12 and 2 p.m. in the Longhouse.
• feed the rainbow and brook trout in the Big Pond
• explore the world of “Traceable Trout” with John who has been hatching and raising trout for 43 years. Share in the journey of these Northern Stillwater Trout eggs to maturity.
• Take a “pea break” and feed peas to our Rouen ducks, one of the “watch” duck breeds of the Livestock Conservancy 
• **Interested in becoming more involved with water conservation? We are happy to share information about local watershed groups, Cows & Fish (co-existence with beavers) and ways to participate in caring for our waters. Please ask us for ways you can become involved…
• Interested in Heritage Livestock Conservation or the Livestock Conservancy – come and find out about ways you can help!
• Heritage Workshops – ask about our Viking Culture, Music of the Land, and Fleece to Fiber Workshops
• Enjoy a short walk to the nearby Blueberry Creek National Healing Forest, one of two Alberta forest sites officially designated towards Truth & Reconciliation, and take the opportunity to explore the labyrinth there

Healing in Nature, we provide opportunities for all ages to connect with land, waters & life.

There will be light snacks, water and coffee available at low cost (cash only), but you are also welcome to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the Valley visit!

**No dogs or pets please due to livestock onsite.

Artisans and vendors on site are:

• Art by The Métis Mama
• Love Light Reiki (TBD)
• Ryley’s Pretzels
• Wild Wool Craft
• Beaded by Clara – Indigenous beadwork created by Denesųliné Artist
• West Country Greenhouse, canning and baking too!

Your Open Farm Hosts welcome you:

• Janina, “the city girl with a romantic view of farming” is a member of the Soay and Boreray Sheep Society from the UK and the Livestock Conservancy.  She is a passionate shepherdess, teacher, musician and naturalist who will tour you about the farm and regale you with names and stories of these rare and unique “critters”.
• John is a fish farmer, shepherd, tradesman, bee keeper and musician who is a strong advocate for water stewardship. He is a river man, canoeist and has a passion for everything about water – especially FISH!
• Beulah is an educator, world traveler, and a fibre arts mentor and artisan who’ll involve you in felting, fibre fun, carding and other close up looks at the fleeces of our Soay and Icelandic sheep.

At Hamingja – Heritage Farm & Nature Preserve, we are sincerely grateful to live, learn, work, and travel within Treaty 6 and we recognize and  honor this ancestral and traditional homeland of the Nehiyaw, Dene, Niitsitapi, Saulteaux, Stoney Nakoda, and members of the Metis Nation of Alberta who live, carry the knowledge of, and travel these lands for time immemorial.  

• Profile Username to assign to farm listing: HamingjaFarm
• Farm Type: Livestock Conservancy/Heritage Farm
• Host Name: Janina Carlstad
• Phone Number: (250) 219-2771
• Email Address: vikingsoul-2@hotmail.com
• Website URL: https://www.hamingjaheritagefarm.ca
• Is your farm accessible: Yes
• Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026
• Start Time: 10:00 am
• End Time: 4:00 pm
• Address:

  115 Blueberry Meadows Lane, Leslieville, AB T0M 1H0

• Directions:

  We are 32 km east of Rocky Mountain House. Take Hwy 22 from Rocky Mountain House up to Highway 12. Turn east and travel to RR5.2 where you'll turn left and follow that road up to a T intersection and Blueberry Meadows Lane on the left. Turn on to Blueberry Meadows Lane and follow it to the end, where you'll see our farm.

  OR, coming from the east, meet up with Hwy 12 and come to the junction of TWSHP 761 and Hwy 12. Continue past the WPW Yard to the west a couple of km's and turn right on RR 5.2. Follow 5.2 up the hill to the T intersection where you'll see the Blueberry Meadows Lane sign on the left. Follow that Blueberry Meadows Lane to the end and you'll see our farm.

• Latitude: 52.474017
• Longitude: -114.630642
• Price: Fiber Workshops $15/person over 6 years
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069886441916
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hamingja1?igsh=MW1iZmFxcjYzYjEyMg==