Rehabilitation of the Log Farm

This is a non-designated project on federal lands or outside Canada. The listed authorities are responsible for the project assessment.

Project Summary

The National Capital Commission is planning to rehabilitate and stabilize the structures on the Log Farm heritage property to ensure the safety of the current tenant and future generations of Greenbelt users. The repairs will provide a safe, functional space for animation, education, and sustainable agriculture. The work on site varies from completely rebuilding and restoring buildings (Poultry House, Log Barn, and Sheep Barn) to minor repairs, in order to extend the lifespan of less damaged structures (Farmhouse, Summer Kitchen, Outhouse, Drive Shed, Blacksmith Shop, Pig Shed).

Construction and restoration designs will be implemented to both respect the property's historic significance and active public use, while following "Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada" (https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/pages/standards-normes.aspx). These repairs will address immediate issues with the structure of the buildings or the next 10 years, as well as preventing further deterioration caused by water damage. Lastly, we will coordinate the works with the current tenant to minimize interruption to their daily operations and use of the barns.

The site is located within the National Capital Commission's Greenbelt in Ottawa's west end. The Log Farm is a well-loved attraction that has welcomed generations of visitors since the 1970s. The farm hosts several heritage buildings, including the original house of the Bradley family. Some of the activities and features on the 100 plus acres site include walking trails, historic barns, a farm animal petting zoo and a corn maze. The operation is an historic animation site which includes multiple buildings that are over 150 years old and is of strong heritage significance, giving the visitor a glimpse into how a local family lived in the 1800s. The site frequently offers other activities, such as seasonal celebrations, a petting zoo and a farmer's market.

A comprehensive structural assessment of the outhouse, barns, and the farmhouse, was conducted by the National Capital Commission. Following this assessment, several problems were identified, and multiple options were defined by the project team to preserve the buildings long-term.

The construction plan includes the following components:

Proceed with high priority interventions such as structural stabilization to ensure health and safety
Use the most cost-effective restoration effort of the damaged and weathered wooden historic barns
Re-shingle cedar roofing and wood eavestrough where necessary
Repair old brickwork structures such as chimneys and interior walls
Repair/rebuild deteriorated log structures while using repurposed on-site logs wherever possible
In severe cases, build new foundational supports and external structures for structures posing health and safety risks
Minor septic tank upgrades

Project specific potential adverse socio-economic and bio-physical environmental effects because of the project include:

The disturbance of migratory and species at risk birds nesting within the structures
The temporary displacement of farm animals during rehabilitation of barn structures
The temporary interruption of visitor focused activities
Damage to sensitive historical structures due to constriction work

With the help of the National Capital Commission's biologists, environmental officers and Heritage Program, as well as external environmental consultants and federal partners (Environment and Climate Change Canada), the project will develop a mitigation plan to avoid, reduce or compensate for any environmental effects caused by the project. Proposed mitigation measures will include the use of bird exclusion netting near work areas, installation of temporary shelters for farm animals, the use of specialized heritage timber structure carpenters and receiving advice from similar heritage operations around Eastern Ontario.

Figure 1. Overall site plan showing the three principle areas of the Log Farm: The visitor center (1); the farmstead (2) and the tenant house and garage (3).