NEW VINEYARD – A “Pasture Walk” will be held at Randall and Jill Bates and family’s Springside Farms on Sept. 4, from 11 am – 3 pm. Bring a bag lunch if you want to visit both farms and stay for farming conversation!
Randall’s family started shipping milk in 1989, became certified organic in 2005. They are currently milking 35 cows, and have about 80 total. They have always grazed during spring, summer, and fall. The farm is made up of two farms one mile apart. Heifers at the home farm are in a rotational grazing system where they move every 2 or 3 days.
The Holbrook Farm, or milk farm, which belonged to Randall’s grandmother, has permanent pasture for the milk cows. Randall plans to start setting up a rotational grazing system with fences and water to individual paddocks starting this summer. Other summer plans include seeding a couple of acres with sudan/sorghum. They also grow squash, pumpkins, and potatoes on about two acres. Call 652-2375 for directions and more information.
