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.
How does milk from our organic dairy herd go from the farm to becoming Stonyfield yogurt? It all starts with twice-daily milkings! Follow along as our apprentices head to the barn for early morning milking and farm chores, all to get the dairy products you know and love onto grocery store shelves.
Sometimes being “green” can mean a big lifestyle change or seem unfeasible. Putting solar panels on your home’s roof, for instance, may be a stretch. But others are as easy as making a simple choice when you buy your food.
What do you get when you put a farmer and a couple of farmers-in-training in a vegetable field for the summer? Thousands of pounds of fresh produce, that’s what! While peak growing season has come to a close, our venture into value-added products has extended the shelf life of some seasonal favorites like strawberries and raspberries.
Have you picked out your Halloween costume yet? Stand out in a sea of trick-or-treating unicorns, pirates, and witches — we’ll show you how to dress up as farmer!
Every morning, the dairy herd reports for duty and lines up for milking. Then it’s out to the pasture for grazing before one more milking in the evening. And these ladies are on their A-game; production, nutritional components, and milk quality are looking great.