A True Northern Ranch

Blue Dot Ranch is located in the Athabasca region of central Alberta, a region with a unique climate and ecosystem. We border on the sub-arctic climate zone and enjoy distinct seasons. The landscape includes natural grasslands and boreal forests uniquely evolved to support herds of buffalo, deer, elk, bear and more. 

It is in harmony with this ecosystem that we employ regenerative farming practices, allowing cows, pigs and chickens to graze the natural pastures. Their grazing crops the grasses, their hooves turn the soil, and their droppings return nutrients to the soil. We carefully manage how long each type of animal is left to graze on any of our pastures, rotating them to take advantage of the natural and unique impact each animal has on the land. 

Our pastures are home to a mix of native grasses & legumes, which provide a varied diet including various Broomgrass, Red Fescue, Foxtail, Timothy, Alfalfa, Cicer Milkvetch, Red Clover, and many more. These natural prairie varieties nourish our livestock, and stabilize the soil. Our pastures are bordered with natural boreal forest, mitigating water and wind erosion, and providing natural barriers between grazing pastures.

Cows

The ecosystem of the prairies evolved largely around the vast herds of buffalo that once lived here. Cows are considerably easier to manage and have been domesticated and modified as part of the so-called ‘factory farm’ model. This means an overly un-natural environment and unnecessary suffering for the animals. Cows closely mimic the natural roaming nature of the buffalo, and with our holistic management they become an integral part of maintaining pasture soil health & biodiversity. 

Pigs

Open pasture-raised pigs encourage increased soil aeration, due to their natural feeding and rooting behavior. Their ground wallowing and movement encourages seed distribution, helping to increase grass diversity around the pasture. Through integrated management of pigs, they can be active and effective participants in promoting pasture health.

 

Chickens and Turkeys

Poultry birds are very efficient converters of grain to meat and grow quickly when allowed to freely graze. Their constant pecking at the ground helps to return nitrogen to the soil through this pecking and their droppings. Their comparative ease of management makes them an excellent addition to a regeneratively managed ranch. We raise heirloom birds: Orlopp Bronze turkeys, incredibly tasty, and Barred Plymoth Rock chickens ,which do well in our climate and taste like the chicken your Grandma used to make!.

Produce

Rich compost and healthy soils go hand in hand, and we enjoy fantastically flavourful and nutritious vegetables. Heirloom garlic, potatoes, carrots, onions, and more are seasonably available.