About The Farm

Our family farm prides itself on sustainable agricultural practices and using technology to improve those practices. Our first home was lost to fire at the beginning of the pandemic, so we found ourselves on a 3 acre patch that felt huge in comparison to our ½ acre lot in downtown Plymouth, NH. The three acres in Gilmanton, home of the famous Peyton Place, and the beginning of our biggest adventures yet in animal husbandry, farm practices, and truly understanding the importance of agriculture on a community level.

We moved into the Gilmanton farm with our dogs, chickens and a duck or two. After a month of looking at an empty pasture attached to the little barn, we decided we would dive in and invest in the Shetland Sheep we had wanted for years. I’m not sure if the sheep were for us or if, like we claimed, they were for the Shetland Sheepdogs to chase, either way we were all-in. 

We got four Shetland sheep from the knowledgeable and kind Nadine Chounet. She helped us understand the difference between Shetland sheep and other sheep. Shetlands have a lot of personality. They are a primitive breed, so in the end…they chased the Shetland Sheepdogs! But not before escaping their first night, and traveling around town to get to know everyone and their delicious plants. It was an intense way to meet neighbors during the height of the first summer of COVID-19.

After the sheep were settled, we found our love for another fiber animal, alpaca! We started an Alpaca rescue and have been the home to many groups of alpacas that had recovered from Meningeal worms, as well as those that came from loving farms where their people simply couldn’t care for them anymore. We always welcome them without judgment.

We tried our hand at a flock of Soay sheep that were in very bad condition, and in the end we lost them to predators and coccidiosis. This was devastating. It also meant the rest of our animals, alpaca and Shetland sheep had to go through treatment as well. We lost four sheep that had been very healthy before the exposure. This taught us to always, “Trust but Verify.” 

1. Never purchase an animal, or promise to purchase (or adopt) that animal without seeing the animal first hand. (Bring someone who knows what to look for if you are new to the enterprise.)
2. Always practice biosecurity when adding new animals to your farm.
3. If you are a novice farmer in any area, ask for guidance. It doesn’t mean you are a bad farmer, but it means you are willing to listen to the wisdom of those who have had experience… to avoid costly mistakes…and heartache.

With time and effort we worked through the mess and found our way clear of the illness cascade. Our lambs had been stunted by a type of nematode, and we had lost four alpacas to the Coccidiosis on top of the four sheep. 

In the early part of the Spring of 2023 we started searching for a bigger farm. We decided that we would explore the benefits and problems of raising pigs and cows, through research and a lot of reading. After months, we found that the cattle wouldn’t work well for the way we wanted to work with the land. 

Pasture pigs and Yak were the final choices to add to the farm. These and some meat producing sheep that we could also milk. We had gotten some beautiful Tunis sheep from a neighboring farm that closed suddenly. Unfortunately, this was during the coccidiosis crisis, so we lost three of the five before we knew what was happening. (Sheep hide illness.)  During our recovery time we found a registered Tunis ram from a small hobby breeder, and two mixed breed Frieshan/Tunis crossed ewe from Vermont Shepherd.

As the summer of 2023 crept along we found Meishan pigs for sale from reputable pig farmers, then made a plan and a pen. In June we added them to the 3 acre farm. After the challenges we had faced so far with sheep and alpacas, these guys felt easy. 

While exploring Yak, Ivy had come across a Yak herd for sale in Northern Vermont. They already had a buyer lined up, but that fell through. Noah (herd owner) reached out about the possibility of purchasing the entire herd. After meeting with Noah’s partner, Danielle of Raddog Ranch, seeing the animals, and talking about the care they need with Danielle, we signed the agreement to add a herd of 25 Yak to our happy family of critters, but we needed to purchase land to put them on, since 3 acres was starting to feel awfully small!

On July 9th 2023 we signed the agreement to purchase the future Mema’s Inclination! And that fell through in October of 2023. We put the plans on hold for the winter. Worked on animal health and continuing our own education as farmers.

Spring/Summer 2024 ? Find the right farm?