ABout our farm
The land used to grow our garlic was once pasture for dairy cow herds from the late 1800’s on. These days the pastures are home to our small herd of Scotch Highland Cattle and Oberhasli goats. These animals help to make amazingly rich compost which is helping us to grow our garlic, flowers, and vegetables; we work to integrate the animals and crops so that they complement each other. The soils are rich and dense with microorganisms, worms, humus, and minerals. We have used organic practices since beginning to homestead farm here in 1989. We are always learning and making changes to be better stewards of this beautiful place we call home.
We use an unheated high tunnel structure that we purchased and built in 2010, with help from Natural Resources Conservation System (NRCS), to grow our garden in the summer and greens in the cooler months. We are continually learning about extending the short growing season here in the highlands of Northern Vermont and how to use our tunnel more effectively to grow healthy food. We try to grow some kind of vegetable three seasons of the year with the help of this cold tunnel. We work to make our farm more sustainable each year. Each year has different challenges and rewards. The changing climate has made an impact on growing and we are doing our best to respond. It is a work in progress.
We have building repairs and farm projects that family members help with. Our next big project is to get the barn roof replaced. Our barn is on the Historic Register. We hope that it will last for another 100 years. Our summers and fall seasons are very busy!
