Waits River Homestead

04/28/2025

Some food for thought on this beautiful Monday.

I have been seeing posts going around about chlorine/ bleach or treated water being used to wash eggs in big facilities. 🤔🤔
My well water is treated and has to be for the farm, because of the PMO ( pasteurized milk ordinance ) standards that have to be met. It’s such a small amount that our water is drinkable and has no smell or taste in anyway. Still taste like well water.
So when I wash my eggs they are considered washed with treated water. Most water is treated now a days even well water is because of chloroform, pseudomonas, sulfur, and high mineral contents. If you live in a city/town and are on public water then again it’s treated. So if you buy eggs that are not washed and wash them at home then you are doing the same thing as the people who wash eggs then sell them.
I know this isn’t a popular thought but it’s ok to wash your eggs and refrigerate them. And it’s ok not to wash them and put them on your counter. We all have different ways to do it and that’s ok also. But let talk about it and make the right choice for you. There’s many different answers that are right and you do not have to agree or do what doesn’t work for you. 💕💩🙏

04/16/2025

Jacob Sheep-

Jacob sheep were first imported into North America beginning in the mid-1900s.
They are on the conservation list as a rare breed.
The breed has enjoyed widespread popularity among small flock holders as well as hand spinners and weavers.
While primarily a wool breed they are also enjoyed in restaurants as a delicacy with the meat being comparable to venison. (I can attest to how yummy it is)
They are most commonly known for the 2 & 4 horns they produce on both ewes and rams, while they can support up to 8 horns in rare cases.
Jacob's are a hardy breed and wonderful mothers who are easy lambers, often having singles and twins and occasionally rare triplets.
Coming in white with black spots they are black carriers and when crossed with other breeds the first generations almost always come out solid black with minimal white.
I love the Jacob breed for their easy going temperament making them a nice first time breed to handle with horns.

Pictured below is Brat our Jacob ram.

03/19/2025

🍁 The old sugar shack.

03/16/2025

This is the unfortunate reality of what farmers go through.

Sayin’ it how it is.

Farming in Newfields has been a journey, too difficult most of the time.

We are sharing our experience openly now that we have moved past some of the most difficult mental health moments ever. I used to dream of being on this side of things…willing and needing to share our story after years of small town boards over regulating and scrutinizing work we have the right to do—farming—but if I am being honest I didn’t think it would coincide with 3 neighbors suing us and the Town of Newfields.

Have you cued into what’s happening?
Have you read our last 2 blog posts on our website?
Have you listened to abd podcasts?

These pieces give insight into the dark reality that is farming in a town where a *small group of individuals* (some small business owners themselves) can affect something incredible that’s serving a huge community.

Stay turned for the next blog post dropping in the next 24-48 hrs. 🔥🔥🔥

And if you live next to a farm…do better.

Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean you have the right to be litigious. 💪

Grateful for the community that supports this 1st generation working livestock farm. Shop today 9am-6pm!

03/04/2025

The last few days our waits river valley has had the blessed sighting of a young moose. Causing many people to stop by the side of the road for photos and lots of calls to VT Fish & Wildlife. This moose appears to be a youngster possibly even last years calf who could have been chased away by the mother after weaning.
He/she looks to have found some forage along the river banks and is doing what nature intended. Living the life in Vermont by daily foraging and waiting for spring to come.

Here are some Moose facts:

Male moose is called a Bull
Female moose is called a Cow
Baby moose is a called a calf

Moose are VTs largest animal standing at 6' tall or taller at the shoulder and weighing between 600-1200lbs

Moose are excellent swimmers and in the summertime you can see them frequent swamp lands and ponds eating water Lillie's and other aquatic plants high in sodium which helps promote good calf growth and antler growth.

In the wintertime they browse on woody twigs such as maple, aspen, willow, hobble ect and while hard to digest and not very nutritional they rely on the fatty reserves gained from summer feeding to get them through Vermont winters.

Moose can run up to speeds of 35mph.
Being a dark color they are hard to see at night and in New England around 500 vehicle accidents each year involve moose.

New calves are born May-June usually being a single calf though it is not uncommon for older cows to have twins as long as they had adequate forage throughout the summer and fall.

To learn more you can visit the VT Fish and Wildlife website.

03/02/2025

Did you know molasses is a great source of iron and calcium? Mixing a little bit with warm water helps encourage drinking by tasting good.
I like to mix a bucket full and then divide between everyone a couple times a week to help encourage drinking in the winter. The chickens always run over to grab a sip before I divide it out.

02/26/2025

🐂 From pasture to plate.
Huey has served his purpose of being a herd sire for going on 7 years and while he did an excellent job, it was time for a new purpose in life or lack of to be precise.
Now he fills our bellies this winter helping to feed the whole family with beautiful grass fed steaks, burgers, roasts and more! 🥩

A little about Huey, he was a Dexter bull going on 7 years old. He is the sire of this years calves that are due in a few months. He had a sweet personality and loved to play with his younger herdmates and would help keep a watchful eye over the calves. Quick to see something new or strange going on and had a strange fascination with trying to be friends with the pony.

A little about the breed.
Dexter's are known for being a small, hardy, dual purpose breed of cattle being used both for milk and meat making them a great homestead animal to raise. Having a gentle easy going temperament, you can't help but fall in love with this Dexter breed.

02/25/2025

Mid winter check in! I am absolutely terrible at keeping up with posting and will try to do better. Feel free to comment things you would like to see.
With the sun out a bit longer each day you can feel spring is coming helping to chase the winter blues away.
🦚 Here's a photo from the other day of Eugene and I.

11/13/2024

This years calves are growing so well.
Highlander x Dexter cross. Excited to see how they both mature.

09/21/2024

The leaves are starting to change 🍂🍁
Everyone is starting to get the winter fuzzies 🐮

07/30/2024

Just a little cow love to brighten your day. The heifers and calves are growing like weeds this year.

07/13/2024

The last week of high heat and humidity has had the cows soaking in the brook during most of the day and grazing at night. A lot of times they will be fully laying down but I never seem to have a camera on me to snap a photo. 😅