No matter what kind of crop or livestock they harvest, farmers have to wear many hats. Whether it’s being able to fix an old tractor that’s acting up or getting an ornery cow milked, the life of a farmer revolves around solving a complex array of problems. But for one young Pontiac couple, diversity is more of a blessing than a curse.
Robin and Jennifer Judd own and operate Starborn Farms, 240 acres of hilly, rock-studded land tucked away off of Front Road in Clarendon. They purchased the former beef farm in the fall of 2015 and have been busy turning their vision for the property into reality.
“I don’t know where I pictured myself setting roots but I’m so glad we landed right here surrounded by family, friends and great neighbours,” Jenn said.
The pair began farming together 10 years ago and both grew up on farms close by. They both studied agriculture in college, but have different areas of specialization.
“I really enjoy the livestock. He really loves the crop part so it works out well,” Jenn said with a laugh. “It’s really a team effort.”
Rob also repairs agricultural equipment out of a shop on the property. Jenn works as a herdsperson at the Canadian Agriculture Museum in Ottawa four days a week and helps raise a small herd of goats, sheep and 20 beef cattle at the farm on her days off.
The first thing that grabs your eye when you drive by Starborn is the enormous, wooden cathedral of a barn that towers over the yard. The metaphor is even more apt when you venture inside and witness a space that’s been transformed into a vast dance hall, complete with chandeliers. Having already hosted several large meetings and casual parties, the Judds will be hosting their first wedding at the venue in August of this year, with several more already booked for 2018.
“It’s a really cool structure,” Jenn said, explaining that the barn was originally three separate barns that were taken down and formed into one about 100 years ago. She added that renovations have been ongoing for about a year.
“There were a lot of walls, it was all sectioned off,” she said. “There was about three feet of chaffed straw. First we cleaned it, then we worked on repairing the floors.”
Wood that was stripped off the wall is being reused as flooring, though Jenn explained they hope to eventually put down plywood. She added that the barn is the biggest venue of its kind in the Ottawa Valley. They plan on renting the old farmhouse on the property out through Airbnb or using it as lodging for wedding parties and the like.
“It’s kind of neat, if people want a private event, they have the whole property and you’re not disturbing anyone,” she said. “Considering we’re not done, we’ve got a lot of people interested which is encouraging.”
From the upper storey of the barn you can see the star-shaped organic garden filled with vegetables and herbs in the front yard. They also have a sizeable plot of organic buckwheat in the fields above the barnyard.
“We both grew up with conventional farming,” Jenn said. “Organic was of interest to us. It was about the amount of space we had.”
She explained that since they only have 140 tillable acres, they decided that getting the farm certified organic would be the way to go. The Judds are still working becoming certified organic, as the process takes several years.
“To make a living off cash crops, nowadays you need like 1,000 acres,” Rob said. “Organic is considerably less but it’s more hands-on and takes more time.”
He explained that killing invasive plants is a bit trickier when you can’t just spray them down with herbicide, though his skill with farm equipment and knowledge of crops has proven very handy.
“It’s a lot more timing. You have to kill all your weeds when they’re really small,” he said. “A lot of the old equipment for killing those weeds is really cheap now because everybody sprays.”
Though there is more effort put into the crops, the profit margin and demand are much higher than conventional farming.
“The demand is incredible,” Jenn said. “If you have a good product, it’s easy to sell at top dollar.”
Currently, Starborn sells herbs and produce to local restaurants like the nearby Pine Lodge or Café 349 as well as at their stall by the road.
As if all of this wasn’t enough, the Judds also have a small vineyard that provides a wistful backdrop for the events held on the property as well as an alternative revenue stream.
“They’re a lot of work and it’s been a really big learning curve but we have family that are in the business so they’ve been a really big help,” Jenn said, referring to Rob’s brother Scott and his family, who operate the Little Red Wagon Winery just outside Shawville.
The couple has many ideas about what the future could hold for the farm. They have a sugar bush on their property that could be put to use in the coming years. Both Rob and Jenn discussed additions to the barn such as a winery or a storefront so they would be able to retail more of their products directly from the barn.
Judging by what the Judds have already accomplished in their short time at the reins, Starborn Farms is sure to have bright things in its future.
