Animals



































































































































Sheep

The sheep are a huge part of The Living Farm. They contribute in many ways, providing wool, meat, milk, manure, and most importantly, affection and entertainment! All of our sheep, over 45, have names and very distinct personalities. From birth, each lamb is held, scratched, tickled, fed by hand, and played with as part of the socialization process. This makes them very easy to manage as adults, a real asset in a dairy herd. Our sheep are not so much herded as bribed: a handful of grain and a good back scratch seems to be a fair trade for a few cups of milk. We enjoy the exceptionally creamy milk itself, as well as such products as cheese and ice cream.


As always on The Living Farm, the animals are organically and sustainably raised, with plenty of open pasture and shelter. The lambs continue to drink milk until the ewes naturally dry up as their own cycles demand; we consume only what the babies don’t need. The grains and hay for winter feeding are grown right here on the farm, so we know exactly how safe and nutritious their feed is.


Most of the sheep are an East Friesian/Icelandic cross, a unique combination which provides an ideal blend of East Friesian milk quality and quantity with Icelandic hardiness and mischief. We have two rams, Cesar and Bruce Almighty, both of whom are remarkably gentle and affectionate, even in breeding season!




































































































































Laying Hens

The laying hens on The Living Farm lead a charmed life.

They roam under the fruit trees all year, and share the rams' pasture. Occasionally, if we aren't paying attention, they even get a taste of fresh cabbage or lettuce.

They are invaluable in helping us to prevent waste: they consume kitchen scraps, carrot tops, pea and cucumber vines, and any weeds pulled from the garden beds.

Their feed consists of grains grown right here on the farm, with the exception of organic soy as a protein source, which will soon be replaced by the red wriggler worms we are beginning to raise in the greenhouses.

We have both Ameraucanas and Welsummers, the hens attended by the two roosters Franklin Green and Franklin Brown. We incubate eggs in late winter, and chicks will be available to purchase in the spring.





































































































































Meat Chickens

We raise about 1,000 chickens each year for meat. The birds range freely on pasture, soon to be combined with the other pasture animals (sheep, cows, and pigs). To protect them from predators, we provide shelter and tuck them in safely every evening. Their feed consists of grains grown right here on the farm, with the exception of organic soy as a protein source, which will soon be replaced by the red wriggler worms we are beginning to raise in the greenhouses.




































































































































Turkeys

Turkeys are a relatively recent addition to The Living Farm. We raise both the white double-breasted variety and assorted heritage breeds. Turkeys have a surprising amount of personality, and they love to talk! Like the chickens, they are free-range birds; they really enjoy keeping the rams company in their pasture, and roosting in the fruit trees or on top of the solar panels. They are quick learners, as well, eagerly racing to greet human visitors in expectation of a tasty treat. In addition to those treats (weeds, kitchen scraps, garden leftovers), they eat a blend of the grains grown right here on the farm, with the exception of organic soy as a protein source, which will soon be replaced by the red wriggler worms we are beginning to raise in the greenhouses.




































































































































Pigs

( coming soon )


































































































































Cows

( coming soon )


































































































































Angora Rabbits

( coming soon )


































































































































Worms

The worm program will ultimately help to feed both the plants and the animals on The Living Farm.

Raised metal tray tables allow us to grow vegetables above bins containing a blend of organic bedding materials, ideal for red wriggler worms to grow and reproduce. This bedding, composted by the worms and infused with their castings, is an excellent source of humus, rich in the trace elements which give organic veggies their exceptional flavor.

The adult worms are an outstanding source of protein, making them an excellent replacement for soy in our poultry feed. The eggs and smaller worms are transferred to fresh bins, a sustainable source of nourishment for the farm.