Coghlan Cottage Farm was established in 2012 by Jeff and Stacey Langford.
The farm is named after Henry Coghlan who, with his brother Nathaniel, cleared this land and built our tiny Gothic Cottage farmhouse in 1892. We loved the reference to the historic building and our dream of starting a tiny cottage industry within its walls. Everyone who visits the house comments on it's "good vibe". We like to fancy Henry might have something to do with that, so we tip our hat to him and do our best to do his little home proud.
The farm and homestead were largely unused for 15 years prior to our family moving in. The past five years have been a labour of love (and lots of beer and swearing and hollering at the heavens 'What were we thinking'!??) as we slowly love our little farm back to life. That has meant lots of time clearing brush and more hours clearing blackberries than we care to count. But this old forgotten piece of land never fails to delight and surprise. Even still, five years in, we discover bearing fruit trees hidden under heaps of brambles. We are blessed to meet people full of stories of our home spanning over half a century. We love that this place holds those memories. Those stories are key to what makes this place so special.
Our farm is tiny. So tiny Jeff's family (of good farming stock) laughed when we told them how big (small?) it is. We have five acres, the back third of which is woods left largely in it's natural state. We are what other farmers call "grass farmers". We are working to slowly restore the pastures and soils of our farm using rotational grazing and other new-fangled, new-agey farming techniques. Really, what we do here is what used to be done most places, just tuned up for the challenges of our modern world.
On the farm we specialize in pasture-raised rare breed meat and eggs. All of our animals are raised outside in the fresh air and sunshine. That means we need to raise good, old-fashioned hardy breeds because, frankly, all those new hot-shot animals kind of suck at living. In the fields you'll find Berkshire or Gloucester Old Spot Pigs, Icelandic Sheep, Muscovy Ducks, Barred Rock, Light Sussex and Arucana Chickens and Toggenberg Goats. Our meat is processed in a government inspected facility and then turned into ridiculous sausages and other goodies by our local butcher. Meat is available seasonally directly from the farm only.
In addition to our farm goods, you'll find on the porch of our tiny farmhouse The Mercantile. This teeny tiny shop carries zero waste lifestyle supplies and packaging free household necessities like locally-made eco-friendly cleaners. Stacey's handmade soap can also be found in The Mercantile.
The farm is open to the public during the hours listed below. You are welcome to come and look around, visit the animals, and see where your food comes from.
The farm is named after Henry Coghlan who, with his brother Nathaniel, cleared this land and built our tiny Gothic Cottage farmhouse in 1892. We loved the reference to the historic building and our dream of starting a tiny cottage industry within its walls. Everyone who visits the house comments on it's "good vibe". We like to fancy Henry might have something to do with that, so we tip our hat to him and do our best to do his little home proud.
The farm and homestead were largely unused for 15 years prior to our family moving in. The past five years have been a labour of love (and lots of beer and swearing and hollering at the heavens 'What were we thinking'!??) as we slowly love our little farm back to life. That has meant lots of time clearing brush and more hours clearing blackberries than we care to count. But this old forgotten piece of land never fails to delight and surprise. Even still, five years in, we discover bearing fruit trees hidden under heaps of brambles. We are blessed to meet people full of stories of our home spanning over half a century. We love that this place holds those memories. Those stories are key to what makes this place so special.
Our farm is tiny. So tiny Jeff's family (of good farming stock) laughed when we told them how big (small?) it is. We have five acres, the back third of which is woods left largely in it's natural state. We are what other farmers call "grass farmers". We are working to slowly restore the pastures and soils of our farm using rotational grazing and other new-fangled, new-agey farming techniques. Really, what we do here is what used to be done most places, just tuned up for the challenges of our modern world.
On the farm we specialize in pasture-raised rare breed meat and eggs. All of our animals are raised outside in the fresh air and sunshine. That means we need to raise good, old-fashioned hardy breeds because, frankly, all those new hot-shot animals kind of suck at living. In the fields you'll find Berkshire or Gloucester Old Spot Pigs, Icelandic Sheep, Muscovy Ducks, Barred Rock, Light Sussex and Arucana Chickens and Toggenberg Goats. Our meat is processed in a government inspected facility and then turned into ridiculous sausages and other goodies by our local butcher. Meat is available seasonally directly from the farm only.
In addition to our farm goods, you'll find on the porch of our tiny farmhouse The Mercantile. This teeny tiny shop carries zero waste lifestyle supplies and packaging free household necessities like locally-made eco-friendly cleaners. Stacey's handmade soap can also be found in The Mercantile.
The farm is open to the public during the hours listed below. You are welcome to come and look around, visit the animals, and see where your food comes from.
YEAR TWO ON THE FARM
Our second year on the farm and the adventure continued!
Our family grew by two tiny feet, three hogs, two dogs, countless ducks and chickens . . . We battled the rats in the barn and the brambles in the fields . . . Strangers became customers, customers became friends greeted with handshakes and first names . . . Our babies and pretty much everything else grew and grew and grew (and ate us out of house and home) . . . We had heart break and losses, nursed wounds and injured pride when things went wrong and ate like kings when it went gloriously right.
Thank you for another incredible year. We are so grateful to all of you who have made this amazing life of ours possible. We couldn't do it without you.
As always,
Stacey, Jeff + the wee ones
"Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray."
-Rumi
Our family grew by two tiny feet, three hogs, two dogs, countless ducks and chickens . . . We battled the rats in the barn and the brambles in the fields . . . Strangers became customers, customers became friends greeted with handshakes and first names . . . Our babies and pretty much everything else grew and grew and grew (and ate us out of house and home) . . . We had heart break and losses, nursed wounds and injured pride when things went wrong and ate like kings when it went gloriously right.
Thank you for another incredible year. We are so grateful to all of you who have made this amazing life of ours possible. We couldn't do it without you.
As always,
Stacey, Jeff + the wee ones
"Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray."
-Rumi
OUR FIRST YEAR ON THE FARM
After years of daydreaming and driving around the countryside ogling farmland, in the fall of 2012 we finally moved our boxes and our young family into the farmhouse of our dreams.
Our first year was defined by a steep learning curve and the stark reality of living in a house built in 1892 on a property that had been neglected for over a decade.
And rain. Lots and lots of rain.
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
-Thomas Edison
Our first year was defined by a steep learning curve and the stark reality of living in a house built in 1892 on a property that had been neglected for over a decade.
And rain. Lots and lots of rain.
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
-Thomas Edison
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COGHLAN COTTAGE FARM HISTORYCoghlan Cottage, a Gothic Revival cottage, was built by Henry Coghlan in approximately 1892. Henry and his brother, Nathaniel, were two of the first homesteaders in the Fort Langley area.
There is a creek and school named after the Coghlan family and our road, 256th Street, was originally named Coghlan Road after the brothers. Our home is on the Langley heritage list. We are actively restoring the home and the surrounding farm, loving it back to life. |