I am often asked how my sheep can survive the harsh Vermont winter weather. Temperatures in our area often hover in the single digits with spells well below zero at times. Snow piles high around the barn, and cold winds blow frequently. With proper shelter and feed, our sheep have no difficulty with these winter conditions and cold temperatures. … Read More
Our farm environmental mission statement can be summed up in four words: Compost…Recycle…Reuse…Re-Purpose…. Our sheep often reap the benefit of our desire to protect the environment and to live responsibly. I re-purposed our Christmas tree after all the decorations had been taken off, and gave it to the sheep to enjoy. The sheep swarmed the tree. Within just a few … Read More
Twas the day before sugaring, all the buckets were hung…. When all through the woods, Not a maple was left standing without a spout or a hood. The buckets were hung round the maples with care, In hopes that springtime soon would be there. All over town, sugar makers nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of evaporators whistled … Read More
David Hinman My husband and I have only ever sheared three animals in our time as farmers. Usually, we schedule a sheep shearer to come out to the farm in the early spring time. With the dwindling of winter, fleeces hang heavy on the sheep, hiding rounding bellies beneath them as lambing draws near. Shearing takes skill and practice. I … Read More
Every neighborhood has its own distinct sounds. As a farmer, I have become very in tune with the noises outside, and I rely upon them to inform me of danger. I can tell by a hen’s clucking if the resident fox is near by, and I can tell when the fox is in the woods behind the house, just by … Read More
