About us
We started with 26 acres- some was in corn by a neighbor farmer, alot was either overgrown thick brush or swampy. Matt talked Tricia into 2 herefords- 1 heifer and 1 steer, then 12 baby chicks. It went crazy after that.
After raising the steer a year he was butchered and filled our chest freezer. The taste and texture of the meat was so different than the store bought that we had to find out why. Amazingly we found out all grassfed beef is not only healthier for us and the animals it is highly nutritious. We found the same thing with the eggs from our free ranging hens.
A few years later we purchased a small herd of Scottish Highlander cattle. We raised them for about 6 years and are now fazing them out. We found them good grazers but extremely slow growing, not very heat tolerant and prone to excitment. We are slowly introducing other breeds to our farm, mostly beef crosses.
We had expanded our egg laying hens, started raising meat type birds, and added on a few pigs (just to try some pastured pork). All of these took off and customers quickly outgrew what our small farm could handle. We attempted to purchase or have written long term leases on land nearby but nothing worked out. So we made the big decision to sell the farm and move to a larger farm where we could spread out more, raise a few more animals and not stress the land.
In 2010 we sold the farm but still hadn't been able to purchase a new one. For 7 months we were in limbo, staying at Matt's parents and a bit cramped. In July 2011 we finally closed on the new farm. 150 acres (way more than we ever imagined),it is perfect. Beautiful, peaceful, good land, good woods, good house. Can you tell we love it?
We are now working on getting the land back into grazing. The cows are doing their best to eat all they can in the fields. Alfalfa, dandelions, clover, plantain, burdock, asters, goldenrod.....
The chickens absolutely adore grazing alfalfa and clover same with the turkeys.
The pigs will go anywhere and do just about anything. They graze, they till, the renovate, the can get the garden tilled, clean up under the apple trees, excavate an abandoned pond.
We find that these animals are happy when busy out in the fresh air, sunshine, green grass. They produce a high quality, great tasting and nutritious product. We are proud to be their stewards and promote good stewardship to other farmers.
The grass grows greener here!
Speaking Engagements
We are available for speaking at your meetings and conferences. Fees are negotiable.
Topics available are:
From hobby to profit making farm- growing it all Holistically.
Multi species grazing.
Keeping a Family cow.
Managing for profit and quality of life.
We can also customize the topic by request.
Tricia was a participant, graduate and now mentor for the
Northeast Beginning Women Farmer's program- Whole farm planning.
We practice Holistic Management.
The following are farms and businesses near (yes usually not to far from us) and dear to us. Please check them out and support them when you can.
Daily Harvest Farm- fresh vegetables and a new CSA (2012) in the Fabius, NY area
Wake Robin Farm- the absolute best cheese, yogurt and milk- Jordan NY
can be found every saturday at the Regional Market in Syracuse or at their farm
Stones Throw Farm,- One of the best local CSA farms around! Mackeys Road, S. Onondaga
FARMSHED CNY a searchable, browsable directory of 1,400+ local farms, farmers markets, CSAs and locally-owned businesses. An app for your iPhone- smart phone or PC- yes we advertise on it!
Plank Road Magazine- A new magazine in the local area. Really well written and one of our favorites.
