Local farms open for tours on Strolling of the Heifers Weekend
Sunday, June 9 — 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Strolling of the Heifers has partnered with six special farms in the Brattleboro area to offer this year’s Stroll Weekend Farm Tour on Sunday, June 9 Each of these farms has something unique to offer, will welcome visitors and show them around.
“Each farm is unique,” said Judy Fink, the Farm Tour organizer, “and visitors can learn something new and interesting at each one.”
Participating farms include producers of pasture-raised beef and poultry, maple syrup, lumber, flowers, berries, apples and dairy products.
One-hour tours are being offered at 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. This schedule allows sufficient time between tours to travel from one farm to the next. (Not all times are available at all farms.)
Because space on each tour is limited, visitors are asked to pre-register. The registration form can be found at www.strollingoftheheifers.com/
The farms on the tour are:
The Bunker Farm, Dummerston. The 169-acre conserved Bunker Farm is a family-run diversified farm comprised of four lines of operation: pasture-raised meat and poultry, annual and perennial flowers, maple syrup, and community outreach and education. The farm tour will touch on all areas, including a pasture walk to visit the animals, a tour of the greenhouse and vegetable fields, and an explanation of our wood-fired maple syrup operation. Visitors are welcome to purchase farm-raised chicken, pork, beef, flowers and maple syrup. The farmers are Noah Hoskins, Helen O’Donnell, Mike Euphrat, and Jen O’Donnell.
Scott Farm, Dummerston. The Scott Farm, managed by Zeke Goodband, consists of 571 acres located in Dummerston. This year the farm will harvest 125 varieties of ecologically grown heirloom apples, as well as a dozen other types of fruit. The farm has 23 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a recorded history dating back to George Washington’s first term as president. Since 1995, the farm has been owned by The Landmark Trust USA, a non-profit organization committed to historic preservation. Join Goodband for a stroll in the orchard and learn a bit about the history of their heirloom fruits. Goodband will discuss orchard ecology, grafting and how it was used to create this orchard, and orchard pests and discuss Scott Farm manages them. The farm stand will be open and orchard-related items will be available for purchase.
Full Plate Farm, Dummerston. Full Plate Farm is an intensively managed vegetable farm in East Dummerston. The 150 acre parcel, conserved through the Vermont Land Trust, was purchased by farmers Matt Crowley and Laura Hecht through the Farmland Access Program. With just under 2 acres in cultivation, they grow a huge variety of vegetables, flowers, fruits and nuts. Utilizing organic practices, they focus on growing high quality gourmet vegetables and continue to seek out unusual and unique niche crops to offer, including ginger, turmeric, and heirlooms. They focus on nurturing the soils and rotating crops quickly with the goal of maximizing the land’s potential.
Visitors will tour the seedling greenhouse, wash and pack barn, 4 season high tunnel, vegetable fields and very young orchard. Visitors are welcome to bring a picnic lunch, stretch out in the sun and enjoy the magnificent view as well as walk a loop through stately oaks, some of the fields and past an old foundation.
Rebop Farm, Dummerston. Rebop Farm is a small, diversified, grass based, and organic practice farm operating on 45 acres, producing raw cow milk and pastured meat, honey and maple syrup. Farmers Ashlyn Bristle and Abraham McClurg also offer hands-on workshops on a variety of topics, including cheese making, beekeeping, meat cookery, and fruit tree pruning. Our tour will include a pasture walk, a meet-and-greet with our dairy cows, sheep, poultry and pigs, and a chance to sample some of our farm products. Farm raised meat, raw milk, honey, maple, and ferments will be available for purchase at the farm store. Please note: Dogs are not allowed on the property at Rebop Farm.
The Robb Family Farm, West Brattleboro. This year, the Robb Family Farm is hosting the famous Tour de Heifer. Please stop in at the farm to meet the Robbs, participate in an informal farm tour, shop their products, purchase a hearty farm lunch and enjoy the Tour de Heifer festivities.
The Robb Farm has been farming on our land in West Brattleboro for more than 100 years. Currently, two generations of Robbs are the farm’s owners and stewards. Formerly a dairy farm, the family is currently focusing on two areas: maple syrup and grass-fed beef. The cattle are pastured and are not fed any grain or corn. We have 4500 maple tree taps, and have turned our milk room into a candy kitchen where we make all of our maple cream, candy, sugar and added value maple products. The farm store will be open, and maple products and meat will be available for purchase. Guests are welcome to walk the surrounding acreage of the farm, bring a picnic and sit by the meandering brook or at the picnic tables.
Miller Farm, Vernon. The Miller Farm is an organic dairy farm in the Connecticut River Valley run by Paul Miller, Arthur Miller, Peter Miller, Keith Franklin and their families. They milk around 170 registered Holstein cows, with an additional 150 dry cows and heifers. Their milk goes to make Stonyfield yogurt. They have about 600 acres under management, providing grass, alfalfa and corn for feed. During the summer season, all but the youngest calves graze at various paddocks. The farm tour will visit the farm’s milking parlor, small calf raising area, and answer any questions you may have!
For information on all Stroll Weekend events: www.StrollingoftheHeifers.com
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