Not only do we have a new organic dairy barn, we also have a new way to get there! Walk the 1/4 pastured Discovery Trail on the hillside north of Burnett Road, with expansive views of Casco Bay and animals grazing our pastures. Watch a time lapse video!
A rainy spring kept us anxiously awaiting warm summer days, but the farmers had their eyes to the forecast, sky, and fields for much more significant reasons. For them, the wetter-than-usual conditions delayed their seasonal growing, haying, and grazing cycles. This delay has a spiral effect on production and more, and was a frustration that reverberated among farms all across the state.
After months of planning, construction, and anticipation, our farming operations have officially transitioned to the site of our new organic dairy facility. Dairy Manager Ben Jensen invites you to stop by for a visit.
Our new summer Beers in the Barn festival will highlight the progressive Maine breweries who are renewing the connection between drinks and farming. Here’s a look at a few of the industry players being featured at the event, and ways they are supporting our state’s agricultural economy through beer.
This year we welcomed Joe Grady of Two Coves Farm in Harpswell to our team as the Senior Director of Programs. We sat down with him to discuss the importance of farming for a healthier planet and the role it plays at Wolfe’s Neck Center.
The upcoming spring sunshine will mean much more at Wolfe’s Neck Center this year. This March began the installation of two large solar projects on the campus: one at the site of the new organic dairy facility and the other on the Pote Barn, which was renovated in 2017. With the completion of these two projects, WNC will become 50% solar-powered, with an end goal to be entirely solar-powered in the next few years.
The first three apprentices who graduated our Organic Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Program in 2018 remain connected to their Wolfe’s Neck Center roots. Kelly O’Connell, Lauren Robertson, and Josh Harlan recently completed the two year, first-of-its-kind residential training program, offered in partnership with NH-based Stonyfield Organic and the WI-based Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship.
When you think back through what you accomplished in the past year, how your life may have changed or how you may have changed, it gives you an idea of what you want for yourself in the new year. January is all about this time of reflection and setting intentions for the months ahead.
After years of planning and connecting with experts in the industry, Wolfe’s Neck Center has undergone the construction of an entirely new dairy facility to address the priorities of a first-of-its-kind organic dairy program.
A photographer, basketball player, and sheep shearer — these are just some of the many talents that our apprentices have outside of learning to become dairy farmers. Tierney is one of the most recent apprentices to join our team, and she is no exception in bringing a unique mix of talents to the dedicated team. We sat down with her to learn a bit more about her background and what brought her to Wolfe’s Neck Center.