Small-Scale Dairies and On-Farm Processing

Sidehill Farm, 137 Beldingville Rd., Ashfield, 413-625-0011: 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Sangha Farm, 188 Creamery Rd., Ashfield, 413-628-0026: 2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Amy Klippenstein and Paul Lacinski run Sidehill Farm in Ashfield (www.sidehillfarm.net) where they raise Normande and Canadienne dairy cows. They sell raw milk and make yogurt in an on-farm processing plant, and raise vegetables in their greenhouses and fields. Topics covered will include on-farm processing, raw milk, the challenges of grazing non-contiguous land, and organic management.

Maribeth and Derek Ritchie raise registered Nubian Goats and purebred Finn Sheep at Sangha Farm in Ashfield (www.sanghafarm.com). They make goat milk cheese and other products , and sell vegetables from their fields and greenhouse through their CSA and at farmers markets. They also graze yaks and oxen, which have been trained to work the fields. Topics discussed at Sangha will include multi-species grazing, restoring old pastures and intensive grazing.