I am a born Vermonter. My father was the county large animal veterinarian – hence my love for animals and an interest in sustainable farming.

Stoneledge Farm came with its name. We bought the property from a family who had moved to Vermont from New Jersey in the 1940s. The farm is named for the massive outcroppings of stone that decorate the topography and is one of the last intact farms on the shores of Lake Champlain.

My love affair with the property was immediate… the rolling fields, view of the Adirondacks, and dilapidated outbuildings called to me the very moment I rounded the bend in our road. People often ask me why I wanted to add the headache of caring for animals to our already full plate. The truth is that it was never a discussion nor a debate. I am convinced that bringing animals back to Stoneledge was our responsibility. Our 12 sheep, 2 llamas, 1 goat, 13 chickens, 4 cows, and 30,000 bees set the tone and pace of the day. We began by tile draining the soggy fields, adding sturdy fencing, converting an old equipment shed into an animal barn and mapping out a rotation for the animals’ grazing and sleeping patterns.

My days are bookended by morning and evening chores and I find that farming is as much about caring for the land as it is caring for the animals. We sell our eggs, our wool and our honey.