Anna started knitting in 1999 while she was a live-in nanny in Switzerland. During a leave from her work as an anti-poverty advocate in 2009, she decided to open up a yarn store in the Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood of East Vancouver. The store (Baaad Anna's Yarn Store) quickly became a neighbourhood staple, a great little yarn store with a selection of natural fibres and a focus on local dyers and spinners. It was also a space where community thrived - knitters or not! After five and a half years in business it was time for a new challenge, and the store was sold to a long-time friend and customer and the store still operates in East Van. Anna has always had a passion for building community, challenging injustice, and creating alternatives. Long Way Homestead is the next step in pursuing these passions, as she seeks to connect people with local food and clothing production.
Luke and Anna met in 2000 in Halifax while they both studied at Dalhousie University. A well-timed newspaper article and a chance meeting in Vancouver 8 years later they met again and were married a year later. Luke has worked as a carpenter, artist, and designer for the last 10 years, and ran his own business of custom carpentry and fine art handling and shipping until December of 2020. Luke has now taken over the production of yarn and fibre in the mill, as well as building and construction on the farm.
Bohdan and Josh both contribute on the farm and help with farm tours and with the sheep!
Long Way Homestead.... it has been a running joke that Luke and Anna like to do things the 'hard way' or the 'long way'. Instead of just starting a business which can be an overwhelming feat, they also immediately had their first child....and then their second. Just when things were starting to calm down, they sold the business moved three provinces away and bought a farm (all in 3 months). They like to jump right in - eyes wide open, head first, and work hard to make it all happen. "Long Way Homestead represents, everyday, the life we want for ourselves, for our kids, and for our community, even if it takes a little longer to get there"