Tour of the Ottawa Experimental Farm - Overview

When I first moved to Ottawa, I was surprised to see dairy cows out my back window. I soon discovered there were more animals, like the happy pig shown above. It just happened that I had moved in near the Central Experimental Farm, a research center and working farm within the city of Ottawa. Established in 1886, its role is to help resolve farm production issues. There is a network of farms like this across the country and they have played a major role in developing the Canadian agrifood industry. This one is now encircled by the city.

If you are interested, you can read more about the system of research stations here.

Driving by various parts, you might see farm fields, buildings, experimental crop plots or the cows in the field but when you arrive at the farm's center, there is much more. For the visitor, the major attractions are the Tropical Greenhouse, Ornamental Gardens, Arboretum, and the Canada Agriculture & Food Museum.

Last Friday, I decided to walk around and take some photos to share with you. This post is an overview and I will be updating it with links to even more photos.

I parked my car beside the greenhouses. Only the Tropical Greenhouse is open to the public although there are occasional tours through the others. It's a beautiful 1,600 sq ft heritage building that has been here on the farm since 1938 and open to the public since the 1970s.

Inside the greenhouse

From there, I walked up the street towards the barns. There are administrative buildings scattered around and some are quite pretty.

As I'm arriving from behind the museum, I now have to walk around its fence to the entrance on the other side. I passed a barn complex which you will see later and then this pretty barn with a fancy steel roof.

Walking past the sheep pen, I met this good looking sheep. We're half way to the entrance. Baaa!

Okay, I paid the admission and we're inside the fence. To the left, we have goats. They love to climb and here they have their own play structure.

More goats

Now for the first barn. I entered it and promptly met the two clydesdales that pull the Tally-ho wagon. Visitors can sometimes take wagon rides. There were also a couple of beef cattle including one with a new calf.

From there, I checked out the small chicken coop. I peered through the chain link fence, not expecting to see a bunny in there!

I'm not sure what kind of domestic fowl they are.

Now, we have a whole barn complex ahead of us here. The building is beautiful and so well kept. Towards the right of the photo is the original museum entrance to the food exhibits and old farm implements. Downstairs, is the prize dairy herd and a grain exhibit.

There are kitchen demonstrations here. I had a timetable of events for the afternoon and I hurried through here because I didn't want to miss the cow wash! The museum has many things for children to do and even a summer farm camp.

There was a room full of old farm implements. How do you like this old tractor?

Back outside for the cow wash. A pretty Holstein cow named Tallulah was having a bath and it was just finishing as I arrived. I have to say that I'm always impressed by the cleanliness of the barns here too.

Inside the dairy barn, you will see pedigrees posted over some of the stalls. Most barns will list the breed and the animal's name but the cows also have ear tags. I said, "Hello Tallulah" and she's wondering how I know her name. It reminds me of a Far Side comic.

Visiting the dairy herd

Of course, we also have more exotic animals and this is the end of the trip for now.

References

Agricultural Research Stations - Canadian Encyclopedia
Central Experimental Farm - Wikipedia
Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
Friends of the Central Experimental Farm
Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site Management Plan

Images

All photos from the iPad of @kansuze.

I hope you enjoyed the tour! Please visit again as I fill in links to more photos.
@kansuze