This morning, I woke up to this…..
…and had to remind myself that I was at the fabulous Tabor House Inn enjoying the Stonyfield Barnstorming Tour! Seriously, how lucky am I???
Then it was time for breakfast. An omelet made with local, organic eggs, goat cheese, and basil? AND…. BACON!!!! Umm… yes, please!!!
Breakfast always tastes so much better when someone else makes it for you, and this was no exception! Thank you, Jennifer!
Then, we had a “Cows 101” session with Nancy from Stonyfield, which helped to answer many of your questions. You can read more on my Twitter page, which I’ve been updating throughout the tour!
And then it was time to meet some cows!!! The first farm we visited today was Howmars Farm, which is owned by Jon and Karen Gates. What a super-friendly family!
Jon gave us a great tour of the farm, and explained the importance of rotational grazing, which gives the pasture time to recover and replenish the soil with nutrients. These are some VERY happy cows!
I even saw a cow named Emily!! Doesn’t the one next to her look like she’s smiling?
Jon let the cows out to new pasture, and they ran and leaped like a bunch of little kids!
We visited two more farms, but I’m saving that for another post — you won’t want to miss it! What a fantastic day!! And tomorrow morning – get this – I get to milk a cow!! I KNOW!!
Okay, just for you I'll go read a twitter page.
May sound strange, but I have always thought what beautiful eyes cows have. I love looking at cows! 🙂
I have to know why that guy is carrying golf clubs?
SO happy for you! You totally deserve this trip! 🙂
This is great. I purchase items from their company all the time – it's wonderful to see a behind the scenes.
They do look like happy cows!
@ Mitchell Madness — I know what you mean! It's as though they're wearing mascara… hee hee!
@ Ricki — That's a great question! Jon uses a golf club case to hold the fence posts he uses to mark off difference sections of pasture. He pulls a high tension wire through, and then gathers up the posts to let the cows into the new section.
@ Ricki — I think the cows get excited every time they see the golf club case coming their way too! 🙂
Hee, I was wondering about the golf clubs, too. Also, that cow's ears reminded me of your Emily's pigtails! :>)
Speaking of bacon, I somehow stumbled onto your bacon bowl post this week. Don't remember how I got there, but it sure made me hungry!!
Those do look like happy cows! Your trip sounds amazing.
It looks like you are having a great time!
Nice pics, glad you are enjoying your prize. I went camping at an organic farm camp site (UK) this weekend too. Didn't get the hands on experience that you are getting though. Look forward to seeing the rest, 🙂
Your excitement is contagious. Those cows are amazing. Love your room and I'm so glad you're enjoying yourself.
Oh, and you're right everything tastes better when someone else fixes it. 🙂
That breakfast is mouth watering! Make sure you get a pic of you milking that cow!
This is so fun!
I can't wait to see you milk a cow! =)
mommy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!emily!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
daddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! emily!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mommy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds like your having a wonderful time. Mooooooo……..
You lucky bugger… that is completely wonderful Val! I am crazy excited that you got to do this. 🙂
BLessings,
Val