Consider Bardwell Farm

MOVING CHICKENS

Consider Bardwell Farm — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:24:46 +0000

Yesterday we decided our group of twenty-five pullets (young chickens) were ready to join the rest of the laying flock. A chicken, no matter how timid and flighty, can be caught with ease at night. They sit on their roost, completely oblivious to any looming predator or threat. So, whenever we have to move a group of chickens we simply wait until nightfall when we can walk up to them, pick them up, set them in the bed of the truck, and bring them to their new abode.

MOVING HAY

Consider Bardwell Farm — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:02:49 +0000

Our supply of first cutting hay was running short in the main barn (where kidding and milking take place), so taking advantage of the complete lack of snow, we pulled the hay elevator out of storage and moved a few hundred bales from the back barn.

Margot and the Farm Dogs

Consider Bardwell Farm — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 01:43:09 +0000

Wendy and Stella help us do chores. They are experts at sampling an occasional goat poop and chasing the occasional chicken.

Kidding Internship

Consider Bardwell Farm — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:13:32 +0000

KIDDING INTERNSHIP

Contact: Margot Brooks and Alex Eaton

Internship Starts: February 20, 2012

Internship Ends: April 20, 2012

Farm Description: Consider Bardwell Farm is a goat dairy and cheesemaking operation located in Southern Vermont’s Indian River Valley and easternmost Washington County, New York. The milk from our herd of 100 Oberhaslis is used to make several varieties of award-winning, aged raw milk cheeses. We are an Animal Welfare Approved, grass-based dairy, following an intensive rotational grazing program. In addition to the goats we also have a flock of laying hens in a mobile chicken coop and a small group of whey-fed pigs.

At Consider Bardwell we are committed to sustainable farming methods that minimize waste and emphasize quality. Always aware of our ability to drastically affect the local ecosystem, we strive to be responsible environmental stewards, considering the humane and ethical treatment of our animals above all else.

Internship Details: We are looking for an enthusiastic and hardworking individual to assist with our annual kidding event. Our herd of 92 Oberhasli goats are bred to begin kidding towards the end of February, kicking off the milking season. Every doe will give birth to 1-3 kids within this two-month time period, and it is the job of the farm staff to ensure the health and productivity of all the goats on the farm (including the +/- 180 new kids). The intern will assist with all aspects of farm management including: delivery of kids, goat health, milking, feeding, and cleaning chores.

Skills Desired:

-Ability to do hard physical labor

-Ability to work independently

-Where there’s livestock, there’s deadstock. Intern must be prepared to deal with the life and death reality of farming.

-Where there’s milk, there’s meat. We raise all non-replacement kids born at CBF for meat. Intern must be onboard with this important component of our dairy

-A willingness to work long hours in often less-than-ideal climatic conditions

-A good work ethic

-A desire to learn and ask questions

-Ability to maintain a good sense of humor

Educational Opportunities: The Consider Bardwell Farm intern will be joining us for a season when an assortment of goat farm management practices are in use. An interested and self-motivated individual can expect to learn a wide array about goat husbandry, and the management challenges facing a goat dairy coupled with a farmstead creamery.

Stipend/Housing: A $100 weekly stipend is provided for food, in addition to our farmstead products (cheese, eggs, meat). Housing is provided in the form of a studio-style apartment located in a historic building in downtown West Pawlet, VT (1 mile from the farm). The housing situation is charming, but rustic! Twice weekly meals with the farmers will be provided.

Finally

Consider Bardwell Farm — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:23:16 +0000

It’s been almost a month since we built the pig house, and with the exception of a couple wimpy little rains, we really haven’t felt the gratification of seeing the shelter shelter. But last night it finally happened! A full day of rain followed by several inches of snow last night. It took a lot of motivation to rouse the porks for a photoshoot. Grunty, groany, and indignant, they once again nailed me with one squinting eye.

THE DAY IS DONE

Consider Bardwell Farm — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:26:56 +0000

At the end of the day, after evening milking is finished and everything is cleaned up, we feed the milking herd their supper. In the summertime, this means walking them through the barnyard, over the bridge and into a new paddock of pasture. When the growing season has ended, the milkers stay in the barn and eat the hay that we spend all summer harvesting. Whether walking to pasture or breaking open leafy, sweet-smelling bales of second cutting, this is one of the most satisfying parts of my day.

-Alex

Pig Scratch

Consider Bardwell Farm — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 23:13:01 +0000

Pig Chalet

Consider Bardwell Farm — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:44:52 +0000

Alex built the Hereford pigs a chalet to hunker down in for the winter. They quickly christened it with a good scratch. Photos were taken within minutes of the chalet’s arrival in their pasture (note the muddy patches next to the door).

“The pig, like as not, will nail you with one squinting eye.” -Dirk Van Loon, Small Scale Pig Raising

CATCH UP!

Consider Bardwell Farm — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:53:17 +0000

On the whiteboard in our milking parlor I have a list of things I want to blog about. The idea is that I will take some photos, go home after evening milking, and do a blog post. I am, however, very ineffective at achieving this! Enjoy some photos from blog posts never-to-be!

Pawlet’s 250th

Consider Bardwell Farm — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 13:10:07 +0000

The day before the hurricane blew into town, we celebrated the 250th birthday of the town of Pawlet (which includes West Pawlet, home to Consider Bardwell Farm). For the occasion we spiced up our wooden hay wagon, hooked on the Farmall H, prepped Pawlet cheese samples (instead of candy), and joined the parade through town. For our efforts we took home the little beauty at the bottom of the page!