Monthly Archives: January 2015
“I just cooked our first leg of lamb from Topsy Farms. It was absolutely perfect…”
Grilled, boned leg of lamb
“I just cooked our first leg of lamb from Topsy Farms. It was absolutely perfect -a tender and delicious texture. You guys really know what you’re doing.
Sally – I used Jamie Oliver’s recipe (mostly, I rarely follow recipe perfectly). My English-Canadian in-laws are 2.5 days home from a month in China and were absolutely delighted by it. It was more than big enough for 5, so now I’m sitting down to find a leftover lamb stew recipe. I’m one happy Mama when I get 2 meals out of one cooking event! 
”
Alysha Dominico, Tangible Words, Bancroft, ON, December, 2014
“Picked up the Canadian wool blankets at the post office about an hour ago, they are, well what can I say – Fabulous!”
Queen Blankets, Topsy Farms
“Picked up the Canadian wool blankets at the post office about an hour ago, they are, well what can I say: Fabulous! I went out on a limb by ordering from so far away, but absolutely no regrets.
My wife was worried that they would itch, I do not know if I will get to use them – she loves them already! They appear to be extremely well made, and I could not be happier. I am sure they will keep us warm during the cold Alberta winter nights.
The service from Topsy Farms is wonderful.”
(Then Bill placed an order for 4 more Canadian wool blankets and 2 throws.)
– Bill, Alberta, January, 2015
“I got the mukluks and they are just wonderful!”
“I’m just about to fall in to bed but couldn’t without letting you know I got the mukluks and they are just wonderful! They are so comfy and warm and I love the colour combo. Knowing that the mukluks were made by hand with local wool makes them even more beautiful. I’ve never had slippers that I loved wearing barefoot so much! I normally wear socks within my slippers but this is bliss. Thank you so much.”
– Tara, Gananoque, ON, January, 2015
Felted, sheepskin-soled mukluks
“It is so obvious that you are working with a yarn product that is really natural–you can see it, you can smell it, you can feel it”
“It is so obvious that you are working with a yarn product that is really natural–you can see it, you can smell it, you can feel it, sometimes you even find the odd bit of barn in there! Since we try to support local it’s nice to be able to use yarn made close to home–there is very little that is local in yarn stores and they are typically much more heavily processed. My dad is an islander and the island is a very special place for me, so using this yarn really imbues the knitting process with meaning. Now I just have to cross my fingers that these don’t get thrown in the dryer by mistake and get all felted up!”
– Jenna, Kingston, January, 2015
“My Canadian wool blanket came today, opened it up and wow!”
“My Canadian wool blanket came today, opened it up and wow! I have it on the couch now, it’s amazing how big it is and how good it looks! Can’t wait to show my girlfriend. My mum wants a blanket as well now…”
– Glenn, Kelowna, BC, January, 2015
Dogs enjoy throws too
“We love our new natural wool throw!”
“We love our new natural wool throw! Our intention is to purchase three queen wool blankets for our kids in the future. Many thanks for the container of wool wash too!”
– Syd and Cathy, Allenford, ON, January, 2015
“My partner loves how the sheepskin keeps his feet warm…”
“Here is a picture of one of your sheepskins (which I love) that made it all the way to Colorado with me. My partner loves how the sheepskin keeps his feet warm when changing in the morning.”
– Tracey, Colorado, January 2015
Sheepskin, showing size
Wool Products at Topsy Farms – The Wool Shed
The Wool Shed at Topsy Farms is our at home outlet store for beautiful pure wool and sheepskin products.
It hasn’t always been so. It appears to be just a scruffy farm outbuilding, built far too close to the road by today’s standards. However you can’t tell its heart or history by its faded covering.
The Wool Shed, ready to welcome visitors
The interior of the Wool Shed – photo by Megan Balough
The Wool Shed was built about a century ago with a double purpose.The south portion was designed to store great blocks of ice, cut by hand from the lake, and stored with layers of sawdust helping to insulate. That supply was vital as the only source of refrigeration in those days. The north portion of the small structure was the milk house, used for cooling the cows’ production of the day, destined to be picked up by horse and wagon or cutter, to be delivered to one of the Island cheese factories.
The Wool Shed is open 7 days a week, all year
Two generations of the Eve’s family lived here for many years, planting the huge black spruce trees. (Our older son now lives in the bungalow built next door for retiring mom/grandmother ‘Peachy’.) They had electricity by then; still used the milk house portion for awhile, but eventually the shed was just used for storage.
When Topsy’s first group arrived at the recently abandoned farm, the shed became a crammed storehouse, then a much-needed tractor repair workshop. Some of the machinery couldn’t fit in, but the tools and mechanic/farmer were sheltered.
When the commune amicably dissolved, former members were repaid, and the impoverished remainder were fed one winter, by the candle production housed in the Shed.
Once our new workshop was built, the Shed became a music centre for our younger son and others. It sheltered a drum set and speakers, providing some privacy for teenagers. The budding musicians traveled from high school in Napanee, made glorious noisy experiments, with sufficient autonomy (but not too much) from the older generation.
Wool throws vary in design and colour
University years enabled yet another evolution. Four coats of high quality primer and two more paint coats covered most of the music group’s wall ‘creative writing’, and the Wool Shed evolved to its present glorious new life.
It is open any day, all year (please phone first).
About 1200 sheep are shorn annually – the fleece being one of the most renewable resources that could exist. It is transformed in P.E.I. to a high quality, all-Canadian wool made into blankets and throws, yarn, wool, and many hand-crafted products.
The Wool Shed has the largest variety and inventory of pure wool Canadian blankets and throws in Canada.
Visitors love the feel of our sheepskins, either trimmed ‘medical’ skins or luxurious ‘shaggies’. Lambskins are also available: smaller, softer, and ideal for new born babies, or the seat of a chair. Also available is unbleached cotton-stuffed wool bedding, pillows, mattress pads and comforters. These will give you an experience of sleeping on a cloud – or the next best thing. Many hand-crafted items are available from Topsy Farms only by visiting the Wool Shed – you’ll find it worth it. For outing information, see https://topsyfarms.com/uncategorized/great-outing-amherst-island-day-weekend
The heart of this old building beats strongly.
