Noteworthy Homesteads and Farms
Just as the earth nurtures so many kinds of plants and animals, it nurtures many approaches to farming/homesteading and the businesses associated with them. It is both fascinating and inspiring to study the varied ways in which people respond to the earth, their inner promptings and the needs of surrounding family and community. Enjoy below links to a smorgasbord of productive efforts ranging from biodynamic retreat centers to family based herb farms to community labs promoting traditional ways of growing and preparing food.
Avonstour Rare Breeds Farm and Farmstay - This family farm in New Zealand specializes in rare breeds of all kinds including Dutch Belted cows, Gypsy Painted Ponies, Wild European Pigs, King Pigeons and Dorset Horn Sheep. They are members of the Rare Breeds Society of New Zealand and strive to improve rare breeds of all kinds.
Cresset Community Farm - This is the web site for a CSA in Colorado. What is interesting to me about what they have on their site is the related blogs, a yahoo group associated with their farm and their newsletters. The newsletters are nice looking and contain good general information about farm products, fermentation info and recipes.
Fuller Family Farm - This is a faith based family dairy farm in Kansas that inspires by example and sheer earnestness. They provide raw milk and milk products, cheese, bread and butter, soap together with an agrarian perspective and the great sight of their homeschooled children pitching in on farm business. There is good information here about making butter and cheese as well as fact sheets about kefir, whey and raw milk.
Heirloom Heritage Farm - This family owned farm in Washington is home to rare heritage breeds of cows and oxen, poultry of all kinds, and sheep. They are even starting up some straw bale constructed outbuildings.
Maverick Farms - This farm in NC is an educational non-profit that specializes in promoting family farming, acting as a community resource and working towards building local food networks. In addition to running a CSA, they do interesting things like have monthly farm dinners, take in guests in bed and breakfast fashion, and run the Farm Incubator and Grower Program which mentors young farmers in a two year internship.
Path to Freedom - This beautiful, well written and information packed web site belongs to urban homesteaders, the Dervaes family. For years they have strived mightily to become as self-sufficient as possible on their 1/5 acre lot in Pasadena, CA. They have succeeded enormously at this as well as at their family business Dervaes Gardens which supplies area restaurants and caterers with salad mixes, edible flowers, heirloom tomatoes and other delectables. Their 1/10 acre garden supports over 350 varieties of plants and produces over 3 tons of produce each year. Lots of instruction and inspiration here.
Planting Milkwood - Two artists from Melbourne, Australia left expensive, distracting city life to try their hand at self-reliance in the country. Great writing and wonderful videos are special features of their site. They are just starting out but they are already discussing permaculture, solar power, composting and various other how-to's.
Pleroma Farm - A Biodynamic Farm and Retreat Center - Pleroma Farm is a biodynamic therapeutic treatment farm where people who are ill either physically with chronic or life threatening conditions or mentally with instabilities of various kinds can come experience anthroposophical medical treatment. In addition to an array of possible treatments, this diversified farm provides its guests with biodynamically grown food including raw milk from Dutch Belted cows.
Polyface, Inc. - The Farm with Many Faces - Author and farmer Joel Salatin is a vigorous champion of multi-generational, community integrated, pasture based farming. This web site showcases his well known and highly productive farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The Guiding Principles page should be deeply considered by all. The Resources page is an added bonus with contact information for electric fencing, egg cartons, band saw blades and much more.
Quiet Waters Farm - This "grass-based multi-faceted" farm seems to have it. They sell milk, eggs and various meats. They have rare breed sheep along with alpacas and llamas and sell wool. They raise naturally grown herbs and vegetables and run a CSA. They sell all kinds of other products and teach classes. They have a newsletter and a menu mailer. They even dabble in tea and books. Something for everyone here.
Straight Creek Valley Farm - From their lives and jobs in the city, this couple is building their 63 acre farm complete with solar and wind power, a hand built outhouse, bee hives, a solar oven and more.
Sweet Hollow Farm - This peacefully beautifully green web site makes you want to go in the kitchen and make a cup of herbal tea right away. This family apparently used to live the "conventional Christian life" but was gradually led from within to prepare now for future changes in the world thereby becoming much more self reliant in the process. This farm specializes in herbs and sells herbal soaps, teas and salves. Cheri also teaches an medicinal herb course in which she personally mentors each student.
Willow Hills Natural Foods and Crafts -
If you would like to support the Pockets of the Future Project, prayers, encouragement and donations are always welcome.
◬ Home ◬ Our Blog ◬ Plan B ◬ Essential Links
◬ POTF Video Blog ◬ Donations ◬ Contact Information
◬ About Us