Spring on the Farm
Spring may have been dragging its feet, but no longer! Signs of it are all around our working farm. Enjoy this photo journey through the moments that mark the season, and the ways we share those moments with visitors, learners, and all.
Lambing season! We wrapped up lambing on April 17: over two weeks, 69 ewes gave birth to 140 lambs! Some of the flock have been entertaining and educating visitors at the Children’s Farmyard: Preschoolers have bottle-fed the smallest, and families gathered to learn about sheep shearing and the wonders of wool at our annual sheep event. The Children’s Farmyard opens with daily activities on May 10!
Young lambs often get the "zoomies"!
Nature on the Move: Spotted salamanders have emerged from their upland winter homes (often shrew, mole, or mouse tunnels), to breed in nearby wetlands like our pond. Students have enjoyed discovering them and learning about their phenology. Also on schedule, osprey have returned to the farm, with nests near both the dairy and Welcome Center.
In honor of Earth Day, and of nonprofit cofounder Marshall Webb born on this day, we planted additional native trees in Marshall Woods, part of our commitment to climate actions to achieve Net Zero by 2028.
Dairy Wakes Up: We milk our cows twice a day year-round, so the dairy never sleeps, but a rush of new calves in the spring adds a special kind of busy. We’ve had 57 calves so far (3 sets of twins!). The spring births allow the mother cows to take full advantage of nutritious spring pastures, which aren’t quite ready yet. Spring also brings school field trips to the dairy to learn about the important role of dairy farms in our lives. Join us for Dairy Day on May 4th!
The Inn Stirs: Early daffodils and grape hyacinth are popping up in the Formal Flower Gardens, and young peony plants promise a spectacle of June blossoms. Inside the Inn, housekeeping staff are undraping the sheet-protected furniture and artwork throughout the house, one of many tasks to prepare the room for opening. Meanwhile, our chefs, who have been cooking up prepared foods for the Farm Store all winter, are now turning their attention to staffing, training, and menu planning. The Inn opens for dinner and overnights on May 9th.
Elsewhere in the Formal Flower Gardens, gardener Paul Wieczoreck prunes the hydrangea shrubs.
Garden Greening Up: Harvest-ready spring greens and over-wintered flowers welcome the season at the Market Garden. Lettuce mix, radishes, parsley and chives are nearly ready to make their journey from the soil to the Farm Store.
Do you see the glimmers of summer? We’re planting dahlias, yet to bloom, in between rows of pok choi (photo at right), while seedlings of future summer staples like tomato and zucchini grow in the comfort of the heated greenhouse. See what's available at our Farm Store.
Come enjoy spring at Shelburne Farms!
Photos by Holly Brough, Andrea Estey, Victoria Middleton, and Craig Newman. Video by Sam Dixon.