Health Hero Farm

What does “grass-fed” mean in the winter? The energy of the summer sun has been captured by grass and clover and harvested as baleage for winter sustenance. The cattle eat the hay outside and come back to the hoop barn several times a day for water from the frost-free stock tank inside. If it’s really cold or windy, they will sleep in the hoop barn. But otherwise, they will sleep outside under the junipers. We admire their hardiness and how amazingly healthy they are.

We just love fall grazing. The awful heat is gone, along with the flies. The cattle are (hard to believe) getting frisky. The cool grasses are flourishing again, with yummy clover pushing through. The skies are dramatic, and the fall colors are stunning. The calves are so cute, developing their fluffy winter coats and showing great proficiency at nursing. Here’s a video of the cattle coming running when they see we are about to give them access to some more grass.

Our greenhouse cover could not withstand the high winds we experienced Saturday morning. The cover tore off on the leeward side and flapped for hours before dawn. The noise was so loud we wore ear protection while we cut it off. As the plastic tore off, it broke apart and released tiny bits over the lawn. The third photo shows the wear and tear from the wind, compared to another piece of the plastic that had been held taut, until we cut it off.

A world of fashion opens up when your chicken likes you. My vote goes to Lorelei, but you have to admire Cole’s spirit. Lorelei goes on to hone her runway skills with other placements. photo credit: Scout Sullivan-Fielding

There’s so much to do in South Hero.
So, four grandkids have come from Virginia and South Carolina for a week to visit. They can’t get enough of the animals. First it was a “name them and tame them” session with the pullets. After multiple catchings, the chickens became quite accoustomed to it. The creative names included Sunburst and Chunk Muffin. Then they approached the cattle, who were shy at first, but eventually enjoyed a chin scratch and were curious enough to lick the extended hands. White’s Beach was refreshing and Faywood Garden’s cooking class was hands-on and filling. The kids made linguini, ravioli and a cream sauce. Before the kids left, the pullets started to lay. So exciting…

June 5, 2019 edition VT Digger article Q&A: New farmers in retirement: ‘The animals keep us young’. Article and photos by Anne Wallace Allen.

Health Hero Farm Promotes Awareness of Humane Certification By MELISSA PASANEN (photo credit DARIA BISHOP)

This is what we’ve been waiting for — fresh, nourishing grass. Even the newborn calves are trying it out.

A group of Vermont farmers created a website to help consumers find products from farms that treat their livestock humanely – EthicalEaterVT.org. You can read about it in VTDigger (article).