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It’s time for a talk – a Shepherd’s Talk, that is.  Every year, the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival has this popular segment available for shepherds, wannabe shepherds, ecologists, historians, and people who are just plain interested in fiber production from the ground up.  Today’s talk is with Erin Bradt, of Helder Herdwyck Farm, where she talks about not just these fantastic little primitive sheep, but also about importation limitations, disease issues in livestock, and…well, more than we have time for in the intro. 

We’ll be bringing you more of these fantastic seminars in the upcoming months.  If you’d like to see the visuals on this one (just like you’re sitting on a hay bale in Rhinebeck), head over to the Backyard Green Films YouTube channel for this video, and much more.

Links:
https://helderherdwyck-farm.square.site/
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-57015478
www.sheepandwool.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLz9Oj_oVkg

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On this podcast episode Bruce Farr of Farrview South Farm, American Milking Devon Cattle breeder (and a teamster!), sits down with John Hall, the President of the American Milking Devon Cattle Association. They discuss the history of the breed, characteristics they appreciate, and some non-traditional ideas for a very traditional breed.

If you want to see the man himself (and the twinkle in his eye), head on over to our YouTube channel for our latest upload.

Links:
http://www.milkingdevons.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America...

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This week, we’re speaking with Theresa Walker of Great Bay Wool Works and her lovely natural-colored ovine assistant Hazel (okay, so hubby Patrick did a little bit of modeling, too.).  We learn about natural-colored sheep, geography in New England, a bit of why New England and Old England feel familiar to each other, and much more. 

This is one of those where Rick had to keep saying, “Stop patting the sheep, Elara.”  We think this fiber is gorgeous, regardless of whether it’s on grass -- or on the very Patient Patrick.

Links:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ovine
https://greatbaywoolworks.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KcDt99gxko
https://ncwga.org/
https://americanromney.org/
https://sheepandwool.com/

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We’re going down memory lane, and back to the beginning of all things for today’s podcast.  In this case, it means the start of something that has grown into a behemoth in the world of Agriculture.  Originally from the shores of Scotland near Aberdeen, the cattle breed known as “Angus” has become the powerhouse breed by which all things are measured.  

 Today we’re going back to the roots of the breed that has become synonymous with “beef,” and which has also changed over time to meet the needs of production agriculture.  Today we have a great conversation with Geordie and Louise Soutar of Dunlouise Native Angus in Forfar, near the shores of Aberdeen Scotland…

…and you get to listen to that lovely Scottish lilt, too.

Links:
https://www.dunlouiseangus.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberdeen
https://www.scotsman.com/regions/aberdeen-and-north-east/viking-link-to-the-north-east-of-scotland-1490003
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-55244660
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/

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We concluded the World Devon Congress adventure with the State that put these cattle on the map – okay, they’re on the flag, anyway.  We had a wonderful tour through the Green Mountain State of Vermont, on our way to meet up with Anson Tebbets, Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets.  This lovely man took a walk down the lane on his family farm to talk about the finer things in agricultural life that are represented in Vermont – maple syrup, socks, adult beverages and ice cream, just to name a few.  He believes in those who produce our food and fiber products, and works to support them with legislation, funding and promotion, and, of course, his valuable time.

Vermont is a quietly beautiful agricultural state that is definitely worth a visit – even if you don’t have time to hit the Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour (though we strongly recommend it).  These hills are alive…with the taste of maple…and cider…and wool…and pickles…and…

Links:
https://agriculture.vermont.gov/administration
https://agriculture.vermont.gov/agency-agriculture-food-markets-news/12-vermont-companies-running-2020-good-food-award
https://agriculture.vermont.gov/agency-agriculture-food-markets-news/fifteen-vermont-companies-running-2022-good-food-award
https://www.lancasterfarming.com/farming-news/dairy/american-milking-devons-the-perfect-breed-for-this-vermont-homestead/article_aec3cc10-0ef7-11ef-929b-83733b95d1f5.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Vermont
https://darntough.com/
https://www.benjerry.com/
https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/
https://skinnypancake.com/
https://thetipsypickle.com/
https://cabotcreamery.com/

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Backyard Green Films is now in Florida, getting ready to start the World Devon Congress 2024.  But first (and last), our podcast with the butcher.  The place where everything ends – everything that is ordered medium rare, anyway.

A.J. O’Neil is the perfect one to encapsulate almost everything that is fantastic about why Devons are popular.  He’s a member of Red Devon USA, and a wonderful addition to their friendly and active Board of Directors.  He’s sometimes serious, sometimes quiet, but always a family-oriented guy.  He talks with us about O’Neil’s Quality Devons, O’Neil’s Quality Foods, and the joys of beef bacon.  Maybe not so much on that last one, but it cannot be stressed enough by all, so we put it in there.  There was bacon, though.

Head over to the Backyard Green Films YouTube channel if you want to see the man in action himself, but be warned - if your kids don’t know where the burger comes from, this will be an educational experience.  He IS a butcher, after all.

Links:
https://www.reddevonusa.com/oneils_quality_devons

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Our stay at Clockwork Cottage was one of the quiet delights of our UK trip in August of 2023.  The Peak District in England is well known as being a day-hiker’s destination filled with rolling emerald fields, ancient stacked stone walls, and sheep, sheep and sheep.  There are those amazing things, yes, and found aplenty, but for the Backyard Green Films crew the hills were alive with the breeze blowing through the grass, and the sound of…Dexters!  Dexter Cattle, that is.  

This smallest native breed is originally from Ireland, but found in other places now.  It might be hard to imagine a lovelier place for them than here, though.  And the Full English Breakfast and super soft beds had nothing to do with it, I’m sure.

Our sincere thanks to Stephen Adcock for taking the time to speak with us in the midst of a busy farm day (and his wife Sharon, who introduced us to Full English Breakfast – can’t forget that).

 Links:
https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/41677221?source_impression_id=p3_1711931704_prSMSEwVpqzI9XTV
https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/things-to-do/getactive-walking
https://www.dextercattle.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/clockworkcottage/

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Steve Montgomery of Lamppost Farm is our guest on today’s podcast, coming to you from a stop on the Devon Congress pre-tour - Columbiana, Ohio style this time.  Steve and his family raise Devon Cattle, Coopworth Sheep, pigs, turkeys and a partridge in a pear tree (okay, no partridges, but there are more chickens than you can safely count).  Their goal is to make and teach connections between living things, but the annual flock of Lamppost interns can tell you that they learn how to do the sweaty part on the farm as well.  

These are just plain good solid people who open up their hearts and farm to those in need, wanting to make a difference.  As the Narnia bunch would tell you, when life gets rough, it’s always lovely to have someone who’s willing to leave the lamppost burning so others can find their way home.  C.S. Lewis would be proud.

 
Links:
http://www.lamppostfarm.com/
https://whatnerd.com/movies-with-hidden-meanings-deeper-metaphors/
https://iep.utm.edu/plato/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato
https://historycooperative.org/norse-mythology/
https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/gods/
https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/gods/apollo/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._S._Lewis
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/keep-calm-poster/index.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_Narnia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkien

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Andrea Tibbets of Clover Brooke Farm is our guest on today’s podcast.  We usually see her at the New York State Sheep & Wool Festival (Rhinebeck), but since at that fine event we see her running the Camelid Barn and running the Leaping Llama contest and running the Spitters’ Club and…well, just plain running, we decided it was way past time to visit her home turf.  For a walk.

One of the most peaceful things you can do, we found, is to take a hike through Hyde Park with a llama on a leash.  It sounds like something for people with way too much time on their hands, but were schooled about 10 minutes in, when Zen and an overall feeling of wellbeing descended.  We are converted, and will recommend a camelid stroll to anyone who just need a little bit of peace.  Peace, with a tippy tappy song in our hearts, that is.

 
Links:
https://cloverbrookefarm.com/
https://sheepandwool.com/events/competitions-shows/leaping-llamas/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhapsody_in_Blue
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043278/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

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It’s another stop on our Devon Pre-Tour run.  This time, we’re bringing you the sights and sounds from a delightful and delicious visit to Lakota Ranch in Remington, Virginia.  Lakota is the home of Jeremy Engh, President of Red Devon USA, Dr. Jerry Engh, the founder of the herd itself (and Jeremy, for that matter), and Patty Engh, who runs them both, we’re fairly sure.

 We had a visit that included pasture rotation avec spicy herding dogs and spicier cows, a 30-year old Devon cow with calf (yes, we said that correctly), a stunning and mouthwatering winery luncheon experience (thank you, Chef Tim at Early Mountain Winery – what an amazing spread!), a hilltop hike to meet a tolerant bull and a world-travelling vet, and…well, we could go on, but we’ll let you hear for yourself.  And you can not only hear, but also see parts of it as well if you go to our Backyard Green Films YouTube channel.  We’re going to have to put it in a few episodes, as this visit was a two-day adventure and it was hard to put the camera down.  The hospitality of the Devonites was phenomenal, yet again.  Wow.

Links:

https://www.britannica.com/place/Mason-and-Dixon-Line
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_in_the_American_Civil_War
https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/old-dominion/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chancellorsville
www.reddevonusa.com
www.milkingdevons.org
https://reddevonusa.com/lakota_ranch
https://www.earlymountain.com/
https://youtu.be/VhI0L26rs_E?si=tmESo1d41eJiUY4Y

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