EP 88: The Hairy Beasts of Swiss Village Farm

A 45-acre farm in Newport plays host and matchmaker to some beautiful and important creatures. Many people don’t think about Newport’s agricultural assets, but with a unique microclimate right on the Atlantic coast, raising rare livestock in the name of preserving biodiversity, is actually a very Newport thing to do!

Sarah Bowley, Program Director at SVF Foundation, is with us in this episode, talking about rare, heritage livestock they raise at SVF, and why the research they do there is so important.

Biodiversity is an important word if you’re at all concerned with the environment, human health, and the evolution of the species – including our own. SVF Foundation works in partnership with Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine to preserve critical genetic material through a process called cryopreservation. In fact, SVF is the first organization to successfully birth a rare-breed embryo; a Tennessee fainting goat named Chocolate Chip. On a less heady note, this stuff is really important for locavores, which are people whose whose diets consists only, or mostly, of locally grown or produced food.

Your hosts are not fans of factory-farmed food. At all. In fact, we believe that there needs to be a major paradigm shift in food production in our country. Moving away from massive meat and produce operations to smaller, local farms is healthier for both the livestock and the people who consume them. It’s especially important to provide a humane and natural life for the animals who will eventually help sustain ours. You will really enjoy our conversation with Sarah about it all.

Plus, we introduce a new segment in this episode that we hope to make a regular part of our show. “Newport Freebies” introduces interesting and FREE things to do in Newport, as well as throughout Newport county, including: Middletown, Portsmouth, Tiverton, and Little Compton.

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Listen in!

There’s a great article in the New York Times from several years ago that explains SVF further. Enjoy >

This week’s sponsors: Gurney’s Newport Resort & Marina and our media partner, The Newport Buzz.

Show Notes & Links:

* Hosts: Buck & Helena

* Topic: SVF Foundation

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Music: Bensound