Click the thumbnail image for a full size jpg of how The CHARM Farm is currently laid out. The image will open in a new window, so close that window to resume browsing The CHARM Farm site.

As time goes by and changes are made to the layout of the property, we will update this graphic. Just another small way to help you get the gist of what we do without having been here.

Greg Mikolas was raised on a small mixed farm near Gerald, Saskatchewan. Animals raised on the farm ranged from, horses, cattle, pigs, geese, chickens, turkeys, ducks and the like. Other farms in proximity had sheep and goats as well and Greg would often assist those neighbors with "chores". Riding horses, driving teams, assisting animals with birthing and all the tasks necessary to tend a herd of livestock were skills Greg learned at a young age.

By the time he had reached the age of 12, Greg was a good enough animal farmer that he was often left home alone to take care of the stock for days at a time. Even during calving season, Greg's father had enough confidence in him that he could participate in curling bonspiels with the Knights of Columbus, many hour's drive from the farm.

The modern farm moved forward and there was no longer room for multiple families on small amounts of land and Greg was forced to leave the life he loved. He worked at many jobs but was always wanting to get back to farming. For a short term, he worked at Polar Park, for Dr. Al Oeming, tending to the animals there. Though the Cheetahs were beautiful and great to work with, it wasn't the kind of farming Greg enjoyed.

Greg is an accomplished web designer, graphic artist and computer tech. He boasts two things - "I can build a computer with my eyes shut" and "If it has wheels I can drive it" - the latter pertaining to farm equipment.

Paulette Gilchuk was raised in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan. From an early age, she wanted to move to a farm and raise a few farm animals. Many of her relatives and friends had farms and Paulete established good relationships with the animals there. She understood the dedication it takes to raise animals and wanted to apply herself to her own stock.

Her parents finally did buy that farm - about 6 months after Paulette left home to seek her place in the world. Paulette studied computers and programming and is now an accomplished programmer and genealogy researcher. She has helped many people trace their family roots back hundreds of years. When studying the lives of her and Greg's ancestors, Paulette rekindled her yearning for farm life.

Upon moving to the Strasbourg/Duval area in late 2008, Paulette and Greg heard about several instances of people abandoning animals at their acreages and returning to the city because they could not cope with country life. It was mid winter when the idea for The CHARM Farm was conceived and as such, a brief survey was began. A simple question on one message board online and people began asking how quickly The Farm could accept their animals.

The couple's 3 children are active participants in tending the livestock. The only chores that are done without question or complaint are those that deal with feeding, watering and tending to the animals. After that, the kids are just that - kids!