232
TOPSY
FARMS
A STORY OF SHEAR LUCK.
TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY PHIL NORTONW
hen you pull into
Topsy Farms, you
notice an unusual
Dr. Seuss-land A-frame barn
with a tractor inside. Then,
between two stone walls, you see
four fuzzy faces peering out the
gate—two Highland calves with
bells around their necks, plus
a dark-faced lamb and a white-
faced lamb. Then, you meet
Sally Bowen, wearing colourful
woollen products from the farm,
as she begins, without a formal
greeting, introducing you to
Cedar, Willow, Nellie and that
white lamb, Brownie.
Sally explains that these lambs
are two of last season’s 34 bottle-
fed lambs, neglected by their