“Don’t get me wrong, I love dogs and cats, but there are lots of people looking out for them. I advocate for animals raised for food”.
Meet Kate
A foodie and animal lover, no wonder Kate discovered regenerative farming to be her passion. As an enthusiastic veterinary technician, she was always eager to care for any farm animal that was wheeled into the clinic.
Her bachelor's degree is in Animal Science at SUNY Cobleskill. Kate interned at Sap Bush Hollow Farm. She learned to raise sheep, pigs, and poultry in accordance with nature. Using intensive rotational grazing methods, these animals were increasing soil health, biodiversity, and were able to thrive in a healthy, low-stress environment. Kate remained captivated by her work there for seven years and completed training through Holistic Management International (link) to become a regenerative farmer.
Kate and her family now live in Cherry Valley where they continue to practice regenerative farming with their own flocks of sheep and chickens. Kate is an energetic woman who believes investing in local farms and community can strengthen relationships, individual health, and combat climate change. She also has an intense addiction to stand up comedy.
Meet Kate Batchelder-
owner/founder/ farmer/LVT
A foodie and animal lover, it is no wonder Kate discovered regenerative farming to be her passion. As an enthusiastic veterinary technician, she was always eager to care for any farm animal that was wheeled into the clinic. “Don’t get my wrong, I love dogs and cats, but there are lots of people looking out for them. I advocate for animals raised for food”. To receive her bachelor's degree in Animal Science at SUNY Cobleskill, Kate interned at Sap Bush Hollow Farm. There she learned to raise sheep, pigs, and poultry in accordance with nature. Using intensive rotational grazing methods, these animals were increasing soil health, biodiversity, and were able to thrive in a healthy, low-stress environment. Kate remained captivated by her work there for seven years and completed training through Holistic Management International (link) to become a regenerative farmer. Kate and her family now live in Cherry Valley where they continue to practice regenerative farming with their own flocks of sheep and chickens. Kate is an energetic woman who believes investing in local farms and community can strengthen relationships, individual health, and combat climate change. She also has an intense addiction to stand up comedy.
OUR PASSIONS
1) Animal Welfare:
Any animal that is raised for food here is offered the best possible life. Simple enough, right? We focus on: 1) excellent nutrition- for ruminants, this means grass and forages. In addition to pasture, our poultry are also fed grains from our local mill as they are unable to survive on forages alone. 2) For optimal health, all livestock require excellent air quality. So we thought...why don’t we keep them outside??? 3) Minimize stress-a stressed animal doesn’t grow or reproduce, but they do get sick a lot. It is our responsibility to protect our livestock from predators and inclement weather. For that we use electric fencing and provide shelter. But to ensure the best life, we don’t send them to slaughterhouses when their last day arrives. Our butcher comes here and our animals are processed on the land where they spend their entire lives. No trucks. No transport. These simple concepts ensure a deliciously nutritious product.
1) Animal Welfare:
Any animal that is raised for food here is offered the best possible life. Simple enough, right? We focus on: 1) excellent nutrition- for ruminants, this means grass and forages. In addition to pasture, our poultry are also fed grains from our local mill as they are unable to survive on forages alone. 2) For optimal health, all livestock require excellent air quality. So we thought...why don’t we keep them outside??? 3) Minimize stress-a stressed animal doesn’t grow or reproduce, but they do get sick a lot. It is our responsibility to protect our livestock from predators and inclement weather. For that we use electric fencing and provide shelter. But to ensure the best life, we don’t send them to slaughterhouses when their last day arrives. Our butcher comes here and our animals are processed on the land where they spend their entire lives. No trucks. No transport. These simple concepts ensure a deliciously nutritious product.
2) Nutritious Food as Preventative Healthcare:
An omnivorous diet is vital to sustaining our family’s health. It is also delicious. Committed to buying local, our menu rotates with New York’s seasons and summer months are spent producing, harvesting, and preserving fruits, vegetables, and meat. Our investment in sourcing wholesome food, combined with an active lifestyle, has repaid us with strong immune systems and respectable culinary skills.
Our Passions
1) Animal Welfare:
Any animal that is raised for food here is offered the best possible life. Simple enough, right? We focus on: 1) excellent nutrition- for ruminants, this means grass and forages. In addition to pasture, our poultry are also fed grains from our local mill as they are unable to survive on forages alone. 2) For optimal health, all livestock require excellent air quality. So we thought...why don’t we keep them outside??? 3) Minimize stress-a stressed animal doesn’t grow or reproduce, but they do get sick a lot. It is our responsibility to protect our livestock from predators and inclement weather. For that we use electric fencing and provide shelter. But to ensure the best life, we don’t send them to slaughterhouses when their last day arrives. Our butcher comes here and our animals are processed on the land where they spend their entire lives. No trucks. No transport. These simple concepts ensure a deliciously nutritious product.
2) Nutritious Food as Preventative Healthcare:
An omnivorous diet is vital to sustaining our family’s health. It is also delicious. Committed to buying local, our menu rotates with New York’s seasons and summer months are spent producing, harvesting, and preserving fruits, vegetables, and meat. Our investment in sourcing wholesome food, combined with an active lifestyle, has repaid us with strong immune systems and respectable culinary skills.
3)Healing our planet:
Earth’s climate is changing and leaning towards a not-so-great future. Since Mars isn’t up and running yet, we humans need to reevaluate our agricultural practices. Enter regenerative farming (link). In opposition to conventional methods (efficiently producing ONE product using a $%&@ ton of fossil fuels and infrastructure) , we start with our soil and holistically manage all components of our land. We aim for a diverse ecosystem that interacts with our livestock. Our goal is sequester carbon (link) and heal our planet, with our livestock as management tools…? See our resource page for more information (link)
4) Supporting NY farms/small business:
Did you know that only 2% of the US population raises food? And most of them live in California or the midwest! Last we checked, California is on fire (a lot) and the midwest is rapidly heading towards Dust Bowl Part 2 if they continue their monoculture (link) lifestyle. We want to encourage the growth & development of New York farms. This will enhance resiliency in our food system if we can invest in the next generation of young NY farmers. Let’s keep our neighbors in business because if the zombies come….we want to know the person who can grow food. #milddoomsdayprepper See our Resource page for links to local businesses