The first was Applegate Farm in West Newfield, Maine... They are a deer farm and manufacturer of biodiesel to run their facility. It was a fascinating presentation! They have 'red deer', about 18 right now... they had as many as 120 at one point, and these deer are considered wild.
They have 76+ acres for the deer to roam, vet them, give them vitamins and barley, grain and care. They raise them for meat, however I myself do not eat hooved animals. I find deer very graceful, peaceful and shy. We were fortunate to have been driven out to the pasture, and were able to sit in the Kubota and observe them while Pat Dolbec talked about the deer with much caring.
They have 76+ acres for the deer to roam, vet them, give them vitamins and barley, grain and care. They raise them for meat, however I myself do not eat hooved animals. I find deer very graceful, peaceful and shy. We were fortunate to have been driven out to the pasture, and were able to sit in the Kubota and observe them while Pat Dolbec talked about the deer with much caring.
Next stop was Frelsi Farm in Limerick Maine... Frelsi Farm is known for their Icelandic sheep, goats and sheepdogs. They also have a breed of Icelandic chickens and roosters that fly and crow all the time!
The bearded goats had dreadlocks and reminded me of fairy tales of Rip vanWinkle and Father Time.
When we entered we were greeted by a dozen Icelandic Sheepdogs... much smaller than I imagined. My hubby was playing with a couple of the puppies... very sweet! It was fun to see them run together to greet new visitors to the farm, barking with fur flying!
One of the Icelandic sheepdog puppies...
Known for their Icelandic Sheep, Frelsi farm has a regal llama to keep watch in the center of the flock. When the sheep disperse, he does too - or is it a she?
Jim Leary toured us through the facility and introduced us to the calves... a 4-day old, a 5-day old, two 2-weeks old and a pair of Normandy-Holsteins, called 'Normandy', (father was a Normandy, mother was a Holstein) that were 2 months old. The Normandys are males and are a project for his children. They will be trained to wear halters and then the yolk to be work oxen (rather than sold for hamburger).
The Leary's have run the farm for generations and the children name the cows... and work the farm along side their parents. A 7-day-a-week job, 24 hours a day.
Norman, one of the Normandy cows...
Such wonderful shots, Carol. So you were in my neck of the woods yesterday, sort of.
ReplyDeleteDid you get to any farms?
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