Bovine Bangs

The boys and I went for a ride today and came upon this Scottish Highlander cow, it was so cute I just had to take a photo...but he could use a trim.

Happy Chickens

Leverett, MA - While looking for the Peace Pagoda I passed this stand selling eggs. I was intrigued with the "Happy Eggs" sign; so I stopped to take a photo. Just at that time the owner came by with another cooler full of eggs. I asked her for directions to the Peace Pagoda, which she informed me where to go.


She brought to my attention the, "Today the Chickens are Happy" sign. I forgot to ask her what makes the chickens happy and what sign does she post when they are not.


The Happy Chickens get to stroll around the yard.

Proud Farmers

Around Westhampton, MA - I saw all these prize ribbons and trophies in front of the Whirlwind Farm. There were quite a few of them...they must be real proud.


Another view showing the ribbons in front of the house also.

Cabot Farm Tour

Last weekend Cabot Cheese was holding am "Open Farm Tour" of farms that belong to the Cabot Cooperative. I toured two farms in Rhode Island and took a few photos.

The first farm was The Meadowburg Farm in Wyoming, RI run by brother and sister Francis and Rita Kenyon.

One of their barns.


Rita is describing something while giving a tour.



Cabot passed out these, "Poop Booties", if you did not want "Meadow Muffins" on your shoes.



A two week old calf in "Jail".


The other farm I visited was the Panciera Farm in Westerly RI.

Their Barn.



These are their cows, they sold all their cows a few years ago and are starting to build the herd back up.



Oh yes, there was a goodie table with "Got Cheese?" stickers, brochures, Cabot Cheese Samples, and even Corn Chowder.



This calf was born the day before...add one more to the herd.

Tractor and Hay Bales

Colebrook CT - A view of a tractor and round hay bales waiting to be picked up.

Crawford Family Farm's - Vermont Ayr Farmstead Cheese

Whiting, VT - Sherry Crawford was nice enough to let me come to the farm and take some photos. Here is the "cave" where the cheese is aged. These wheels of cheese are Vermont Ayr, an alpine style farmstead cheese made from raw milk. Their website explains the process much better than I can.


This is the cheese room where the milk is turned into cheese. This is done in small batches and the process is started within an hour of milking, can't get fresher then that.


To keep bad things out of the cheese area, I had to put on a hairnet(not that I have that much) and special boots before I could go near the cheese. Is this a Glamor don't?


Here were some of those Ayrshire cows out in the field soaking up the rays and that clean Vermont air.


These two must be buddies, two future cheese makers.


"You Knocked"?

For more information: Crawford Family Farm

Sweet Pea Cheese

North Granby, CT - Yesterday I posted about Hayes Corn Maze which is on the Sweet Pea Farm. Today, I will post about the farms main business Goat and Cow Cheese and Milk. The farm produces various goat milk products Chevre, Feta, Cheese Curd, Greek Style yogurt and pasturized whole milk. They also have Cow products Pasturized whole milk, whole milk yogurt, and somthing called divine bovine, not sure what that is but is sounds interesting. I also saw goat milk soap in the showroom.


Sign at the entrance of the farm.


Chevre cheese (goat in French, I looked it up). This is my attempt a nice presentation. The Chevre cheese comes in various flavors with herbs and fruits mixed in; I have an Orange and Honey cheese here. To me it tasted like a filling for a cannoli, very nice. I also tried Chevre Chaud which is Chevre cheese under the broiler all I can say it was a taste sensation.


The refridgerated case that holds all the good stuff.


Here the curd is being seperated from the whey in the cheese making process.


The "girls" are in the holding pen waiting to get milked. It was funny they were all chewing their cud and it looked like a whole bunch of gossiping women.


This is Billy, he is tired; it is breeding season and let's just say he has been very busy!

For more information on times, products, and directions, click here: Sweet Pea Cheese

Hayes Corn Maze

North Granby, CT - I always wanted to go through this maze but for some reason never made it(to the maze that is) so today I went. You can't see it from the ground but the maze has various farm related patterns, cow head, goat head, Apple and Maple trees, I can't remember what else.


I was greeted by the smiling face of Dorothy Hayes maze master and cheese maker extraordinaire(more about that tomorrow). I see that they sell provisions, water and gatorade; it might be a good idea to pick some up, you just never know how long you might be in the maze.


The entrance, "abandon all hope ye who enter here".


This is what you are looking for; in the tire is a question, you need to get the right answer to find the next clue...and the way out!


These are the signs that go with the answers. Will you pick wisely or will you pick poorly?


If you get freaked out there is always the emergency exit.


I'm lost! It would be funny but I was really lost, I swear I went down the same paths over and over; I choose poorly. I finally found my way out (it was tunnel "B", I think). I was thinking, where was that emergency exit?



Tunnel of Corn.


A most welcome sight!

The Hayes Corn Maze is open September 5th to Halloween night. Friday 4 - 9, Saturday 12 - 9, and Sunday 12 - 6 also open Labor Day and Columbus Day. If you come late, after 7pm bring a flashlight for some real fun, maze in the dark.

More information:Hayes Maze

Jericho Settlers Farm

Jericho, VT - Last weekend we were up in Vermont and stopped by the Jericho Settlers Farm. The farm is a CSA(Community Supported Agriculture); this is where you can buy a "share" in the farm's crop that year. In return for your membership, you receive a box of what is ready to eat that week. The consumer gets fresh vegetables and the farm gets buyers for their crops and money up front; this way they don't have to take a loan out to hold them over until the crops come in(I heard this on a radio program). Jericho Settlers Farm(JSF) in addition to vegetables,sells meat and eggs. They sell Pork, Lamb, Beef, Chicken, and Eggs. More information: Jericho Settlers Farm



Below is the barn that houses the farm stand on the left and on the right is the Emile A. Gruppe Gallery.



Here owner Christa Alexander waters plants in the Greenhouse.




Lettuce grows out in the field.



"Hogs lookin' at you Pig"...I couldn't resist. A mother pig with some of her piglets. They kept on hiding behind the hay.




These pigs setting up for the "Missing Hog Formation" for a fallen comrade who gave his all for dinner...he was a real ham...OK only a few more zingers(I'm my own best audience).



A view of our mother pig and some Herefords in the background.



A "Chicken Mosh Pit", these chickens have a whole field to run around in but decided to group together, maybe it was the Speed Metal I was playing? OK, I'm done.



The chickens are raised "Free Range" following the Lambs or Cows who eat the high grass and when the grass is short enough the fence is moved and the chickens are moved in and fertilize the field. This Chuck Wagon with these nesting boxes hanging on the side is also moved. The chickens jump in when they want to lay an egg. The egg rolls down into a catcher. I also noticed quite a few eggs laid below the wagon.



I have not a clue what this is, it was hanging from an apple tree and I thought it looked cool. It looks kind of sticky, to catch bugs?

Note: I found out what this is, it is an Apple Maggot Trap". It is used to see if there are the Apple Maggot flies and tell if they need to spray. I don't know what they do on an Organic Farm?



There is just too much to write about this farm, log onto their website for more information: Jericho Settlers Farm

Flayvors of Cook Farm - Asparagus Ice Cream

Hadley, MA - Flayvors of Cook Farm is an Ice Cream stand that makes its own ice cream from its own cows. It also sells butter, light lunch items, milk, pasteurized and raw milk, they even sell cows. But why buy the cow when you can just get the milk? This is the Cook Farm website if you want to buy the cow. A note about the cows, this is from my cow knowledge in a past life. The cows at the Cook Farm are Holsteins and Jerseys; Holsteins are good for volume of milk and Jersey's are known for their high butter fat content of their milk. This makes for a great pairing.


One thing that Hadley is known for is Asparagus, it is supposed to be the best asparagus in the country. I saw a video that said that a farmer, I don't remember the name, started to grow asparagus to sell in Boston because it was a delicacy in Paris and Germany and has been grown here ever since. Judging by the sign it is called Hadley Grass. I found this article about how Beth Cook invented Asparagus Ice Cream. But I also found this article on how Asparagus Ice Cream was made in the 18th and 19th century. OK, let's just say that she invented this recipe.


Here is a young lady scooping out my "Heifer" size asparagus ice cream.


And here it is, it also contains almonds and has a strong almond flavor. I read that asparagus ice cream tastes like pistachios so I am not sure where the taste of one leaves off and the other begins. It is actually very good and good for you.

TOMATO FIELDS

Simsbury, CT - I have been noticing a lot of vegetable fields being planted in Connecticut. This field has to be at least 20 acres.


Notice that the plants are planted into black plastic, this keeps the weeds at bay.


A close-up of the plants.


Notice the hoses going under the plastic, this keeps the plants watered and the plastic keeps the water from evaporating.