Big city transplants find the perfect pace and space in Spallumcheen

Jul 28, 2023 | 6:00 AM

When Thea and Troy Sievert left B.C.’s fastest growing municipality in 2005 for a quieter lifestyle, they had little idea of what the adventure would entail.

The pair bought a small farm overlooking Otter Lake, dubbed it Blue Grass Farm, and immediately went about making improvements to the acreage.

Bluegrass Farm overlooking Otter Lake (Vernon Matters photo)

“We were in our mid 20’s and we wanted to go on an adventure and leave the city and we came across this piece of property. Never did I image that we were going to become farmers on our own piece of land,” Thea Sievert told Vernon Matters. “To be honest with you, we were clueless farmers and we had no idea how difficult keeping up the land and keeping up the yardwork would be.”

The pair had been mulling over different business ideas to augment the farms wheat and mini goat operations.

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“We got married here, and it was a fantastic wedding in 2010, and that is kind of how the idea of turning this property into a wedding venue got planted,” Sievert added.

Farm camping and agri-tourism are fast growing sectors with companies like Harvest Hosts springing up as a listing service for such experiences.

“We saw a demand. Our little community is so gorgeous, we thought, why is it not bigger than what it is, or why do we not have the tourism say that the South Okanagan has?” Troy Sievert said.

“What we really focused on doing was connecting with all the small businesses around us because it makes us stronger. Once people get into this area then they see how beautiful, green and lush it is, then they realize it is a quiet, slower pace of life and slowly but surely it is growing and people are coming back. We are getting more and more return customers.”

The pair took part in the 2021 Community Futures Enterprize Challenge.

Bluegrass Farm is now offering accommodation in a cabin and yurts on the property and wedding packages.

Bluegrass farm yurt overlooking Otter Lake (Vernon Matters photo)

“We get such a huge clientele from the big cities like Vancouver, Calgary and stuff where it is such a fast paced life, where the only thing people are concerned about is themselves. Out here, in our little town, I feel like we are not really concerned about ourselves as much as we are with our neighbours. We all know each other, we all help each other,” Troy Sievert said.

The chance to take a breath and relax is a key message for potential visitors who have overlooked the area while headed to Vernon or Kelowna.

“The feedback we get is just wonderful. They just love this farm community and this friendly atmosphere and they fall in love with our community and the people in it,” Thea Sievert concluded.

For more information on Bluegrass Farm Country Events and Accommodation, click here.

by Kevin Rothwell

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