Sidehill cows on the fertile pastures
Every weekend, either my husband or our friend Tom makes the long run up to Sidehill Farm in Hawley, Mass. We run a small milk club with 2 other families. Occasionally someone else will join, but usually they drop out after a few months. The core group has been going since 2008.
The milk is organic from Normandes cows with a few Jerseys tossed in for butterfat.
Scarecrow ukulele player
The ride up is really beautiful through hilltown farm country. One is apt to see deer in the middle of the road, or bear crossing. The seasons changing up there is dramatic; they are already well into autumn.
There’s one house on the way that puts out a display of scarecrows doing all kinds of things: climbing trees, playing with a scarecrow dog, etc. My husband says they haven’t had displays all summer until the last few weeks. The scarecrow above was in the front yard.
This couple was over by the barn door.
In dead winter, just about right here, we often see a flock of snowbirds. They hang around the roadway until spring is suggested, then they are gone north.
The farm is just lovely, on top of the hill. Not so great when it’s 0F, as the wind will tear you up, but real nice on a hot day.
Across the street from the cows, the farmer, Paul, was just finishing up the last of the haying for the year. He has sold the farm and farm stand, but not the creamery, to a young couple and they will be taking it over soon. He said this was his last haying.
The farm is 225 organic acres at an elevation of 1830 ft. they’ve done a lot of work improving the health of the soil and balancing the nutrients in it. The cows receive just a small amount of organic grain, being primarily grass fed.
To read more about the farm’s philosophy:
http://www.sidehillfarm.net/philosophy
The family that will be taking over the farm has the same philosophy and management practices. We’ve yet to meet them, but hope to soon.
We made the long run back down the hill, past the cider orchard and the duck pond, and onwards to Tom’s house to drop off milk and eggs and pat the lonely beagle, Minnie.
It was a long day, starting with painting a window at 5AM, tag sales at 7:30, riverboat at 1:15, and the milk run.