Attending Agritourism, Education & Economics on your farm forum at Shelburne Farms has proven stimulating. Not only drinking in the view of expanses of pasture dotted with Brown Swiss cows grazing with the lake behind them, framed by the Adirondack Mountains. But also giving us an opportunity to gather with colleagues and tour farms like Bread […]
Stories from the Farm
Levitating
October 16, 2013 – 11:47 am
Some say the secret to a great dish is in the sauce. Those who study nutrient density say it’s in the soil. We know the secret is in the farming, in nurturing relationships — with our neighbors and natural systems, between our animals and our customers. This week the magic was once again in collaborating […]
Changing Season, Changing Mentalities
October 8, 2013 – 9:43 pm
Wet, windy, 50 degree days are very different from their dry, sunny counterparts. Though the temperatures haven’t changed much, over the past few days the farm has seen the first of its transitions into the cold season. This is one place where our systems have an opportunity to shine. Our careful pasture management means our […]
Seasons and Slow Food: It’s a Blur!
October 2, 2013 – 10:12 pm
Summery winds and harvest of 55 pounds of beans and 48 pounds of cucumbers make it even more unbelievable that it is October! While we sweat, mess around with irrigating amidst this dry spell and worry about bitty winter greens bolting, John, Laura’s Dad, and the geese head south. They are wise knowing this lovely […]
Thoughts and Theories on Tenderness
September 25, 2013 – 4:31 pm
Fresh chicken will be available this week and next. Our ambitious friends Bruce, Beth and their team at Maple Wind Farm processed another 60 of our birds. And Monday it will be all hands on deck processing the remaining 160. Hopefully they will be as tender as the birds have been this summer. What makes […]
The End of Summer?
September 18, 2013 – 1:26 pm
Many people think of labor day as the official end of summer; the calendar says we have another week, but as farmers and local eaters, end of summer seems to coincide with the first frosts which the tender summer veggies just cannot sustain without protection. That turning point generally happens in September, but you just […]
What to do with all those Herbs
September 18, 2013 – 1:19 pm
As the frost and the end of the season necessitate the clearing out of the herb garden there are lots of great ways to stock up on flavor before they go. Below are instructions for drying and storing herbs, making pesto, infusing oils and fats, and freezing herb cubes. Prepping the herbs Pick off any […]
Sharing Risk and Bounty: Community Supported Agriculture
September 11, 2013 – 2:24 pm
A neighbor recently expressed how much she likes driving by, and seeing the farm develop over time. “I like it so much I probably should be paying for it!” Mari joked “It may come to that!” We glance back at our logo. Five seasons into “farming relationships”, our herds and flocks continue to spread fertility […]
Awesomelyness!
September 4, 2013 – 11:43 am
Thursday’s taco supper gave many of us in the farm community a chance to bask in the glow of the awesome abundance of August. Sky, mountainsides, fields and flowers echoed the beauty of the buffet. Happy hen “I laid an egg” sounds punctuating great conversations. Babies, elders, foodies, farmers, neighbors and New Yorkers gathered with […]
Peppers, Peppers, Peppers
August 27, 2013 – 1:47 pm
It’s pepper season and boy are we growing a lot of peppers! To help you navigate pepper world, here is a guide to this year’s pepper varieties. Bell Peppers: (from left to right) Flavorburst Yellow – A sweet lime green to yellow pepper, medium-sized, 3-lobed and slightly elongated. King of the North […]