Farmstay

Radically Traditional Farming at White Oak Pastures in Bluffton, GA

Scottie Jones — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 20:25:03 +0000

For five generations, the Harris family has been raising cattle on their farm in Bluffton, Georgia. Read our Q&A with the farmers at White Oak Pastures and learn the history behind their radically traditional farming!

Q: What is the history of your farm?

A: Captain James Edward Harris (Cavalry – CSA) founded our family farm soon after the Civil War. He and the sharecroppers who worked this land butchered a cow, several hogs, and a few chickens every Saturday. This was the staple food of the 100 or so people who lived on this farm during the late 1800’s.

In the early part of the 20th century, James’ son, Will Carter Harris, ran the place. During this time they butchered a cow, several hogs, and a few chickens every morning before sunup six days a week. The meat was loaded on a mule-drawn wagon and hauled three miles up a dirt road to the town of Bluffton. There it was delivered to four general stores, a hotel, and a boarding house. Later a commissary was built on our farm, which grew the business even further.

After World War II, Will Bell Harris ran the farm. It was during his watch that the traditional system of producing and distributing beef, lamb, and poultry eroded. Science introduced a bevy of new chemical tools to the farm, and the slaughtering process became more and more centralized and distant from our pastures. During the latter half of the 20th century, our farm only produced calves for the industrial beef production system that furnishes most of the food we eat in this country.

Our farm and family have now come full circle. Today, we raise 10 species of livestock. We process the animals on the farm, and market the beef, lamb, poultry, rabbits, eggs, vegetables, leather products, tallow goods, and pet chews directly to consumers who appreciate our artisan, small-batch products.

The transition started in 1995 when Will Harris III made the conscious decision to return to a production system that is better for the environment, for our animals, and for the people who eat these meats. He reinstituted the multi-species rotational grazing practices of his forefathers, and he built abattoirs on the farm to slaughter our animals. We are fiercely proud of our zero-waste radically traditional farming practices. We have been blessed with good hard work to do and the strength to do it.

Q: What brought you to offer a farm stay?

A: Consumers were interested in what we were doing. Inviting guests to our farm happened organically!

Q: What do you raise and produce on your farm?

A: Beef, Pork, Rabbit, Lamb, Goat, Geese, Guineas, Ducks, Turkeys and Chickens. We also raise pastured eggs and organic vegetables.

Q: What is the setting of your farm like? Tell us a little about the area you live in?

A: White Oak Pastures is located in rural SW Georgia. Bluffton has less than 100 people in our town. We manage about 4,000 acres.

Q: What can guests do during their farm stay, either on or off the property?

A: Guests like to tour the farm, fish and ride horses. We also offer educational workshops monthly. We have a couple of state parks in our area that guests like to visit.

Q: Tell us about your lodgings. Where do guests stay and what amenities do you offer?

A: We have 7 units that guests can lodge in. These range from small cabins nestled in the woods to a quaint house in historic Bluffton. Our Pond House sits on a 15-acre pond on a peninsula, complete with a boat dock and scenic views. You can enjoy the soft sounds of water and a South Georgia country evening from a screened-in porch, or watch the sunrise over nearby pastures across the water. With the Pond House’s countryside charm, along with modern amenities including AC/heat, this house is perfect for a getaway staycation.

Start planning your getaway to White Oak Pastures! Check out their listing here at Farm Stay USA to see all lodging options.

(Photos provided by White Oak Pastures)

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Pasture farming at Stone & Thistle Farm in New York

Scottie Jones — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 19:17:21 +0000

For twenty-seven years, the Warren family has been farming in a quiet valley in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. Stone & Thistle Farm raises pastured meat and offers farm stays, tours and workshops to visitors. We asked Tom and Denise a few questions about their farm and farm stay.

Q: What is the history of your farm?

A: We started farming twenty-seven years ago, following in the footsteps of the family who farmed the land a century ago. In the 1840s, Scottish immigrants settled in the Catskills because the rolling hills reminded them of their homeland Scotland. Dutch immigrants joined the Scots and established homesteads and farms in the Kortright valley. In 1842, the McAuslan (Haynes) family settled in the valley and named the farm Appledorn which is the English version of the Dutch appeldoorn or Thornapple (which grow thickly on the hillsides). Our farm was one of the most successful cow dairies in the valley.

Q: What brought you to offer a farm stay?

A: We moved from Brooklyn 27 years ago. We established the farm stay to supplement farm income and to ensure that our family had exposure and interaction with people of different race, religion, and ideas.

Q: What do you raise and produce on your farm?

A: We raise cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, rabbits on pasture. Our pasture raised meat, eggs, and value added products such as soup, pot pies, pates, sauces are offered on-farm and at farmers markets. We raise horses for pleasure, and we have six working guardian dogs on the premises.

Q: What is the setting of your farm like? Tell us a little about the area you live in?

A: Our farm is nestled in a valley in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. The farm is on a quiet country road with two other farms. We’re located 20 minutes from Delhi and Oneonta, home of New York State University Colleges.

Q: What can guests do during their farm stay, either on or off the property?

A: We offer farm programs such as Tours, Chores, and Farmer for a Day (opens a PDF). We also offer field and farm workshops (opens a PDF). Farm stay guests may opt to participate in a guided tour of the farm and lend a hand with farm chores. Tour and Chores is 1 to 1½ hour program. Farm chores, depending on the season, may include collecting eggs, bottle feeding kid goats, feeding and watering chickens, rabbits and pigs, moving the sheep or dairy goats with the border collies or milking a goat. Tour and Chores is $60 per family (up to 4 persons).

Guests are also welcome to wander the farm, talk to the animals, splash in the stream, enjoy campfires, and soak in the beauty and quiet. Guests can bike and walk country roads, hike, swim and fish in State Parks and environmental centers.

Cooperstown, home to the Baseball Hall of Fame is 40 minutes away. Picturesque towns are within a half hour drive and are ideal for dining, shopping, cider and beer tasting.

Q: Tell us about your lodgings. Where do guests stay, and what amenities do you offer?

A: We have two lodgings – the Farmhouse Suite which occupies the lower half of the Greek Revival farmhouse. Decorated with antiques, it includes an attached library and living room. It has a private entrance and back yard with a fire pit, grill, patio table.

The Farmhand Cabin, located a ¼ mile from the farmhouse is situated in a private spot along the creek. Guests enjoy waking up to the sheep and horses grazing outside the cabin. The cabin has simple cooking facilities including a firepit and picnic table.

We provide farm check-in charcuterie boards, farm + table dinners, picnic baskets and breakfast bags. The farmhouse suite has wifi.

Our thanks to Tom and Denise for this glimpse of their farm life. Visit the Stone & Thistle Farm listing on Farm Stay USA for more!

(All photos courtesy of Stone & Thistle Farm)

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