Shelburne Farms: The Market Garden
On the second day, we also spent time walking around the market gardens at Shelburne farms. In this space they raise all the fruits, vegetables, and flowers used in the restaurants on site as well as to sell in the local farmers market. It’s quite an amazing garden, we thoroughly enjoyed touring this real working farm.
In addition to this large space filled with high tunnels, beds of flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables, they had several large fields that were planted in cover crops. From what we were told, they rotate vegetables and cover crops in order to maintain a more sustainable system. If you ever happen to get to Shelburne Farms in Vermont, make sure you go off the beaten path and find your way to the Market Garden.
See more posts about Shelburne Farms:
Shelburne Farms
The Formal Garden
The Edible Garden
Wow! They must have an army of volunteers to keep it so neat and tidy! I had to laugh at the sign reading, mint. I planted it once in my garden and it took years to get rid of it…it took over everything!!
I love their chicken house and beautiful beds! :) Did they say what kinds of fertilizers they use? Probably tons of compost!
Very nice photos! :)
to Chris's comment
They have a herd of roughly 130 dairy cows, so I’m guessing they use composted cow manure on their gardens.
to Susy's comment
:)
to Chris's comment
Susy, wow, that’s a lot of work. It’s definitely not your traditional farm. We need more farms like that. I should try to find out more about the local market garden growers in my area. I don’t think we have any farms like Shelburne Farm near me. A herd of 130 cows to milk twice a day is a big task in itself. In my high school years, I did milk 13 cows so trust me 130 is not a one person job.
Do they make any thing on the farm with the milk? Cheese, yogurt, etc.? It’s amazing that three interesting days were spent on one farm. The farms here in Nebraska are not that interesting. There’s hardly any farmers that have animals here unless that’s what they do. It’s either massive fields of row crops or massive feedlots. There’s no diversity in farming. It’s sad to see the old way of farming disappearing as the new generation of farmers take over.
Have a great memory day of Shelburne Farm.
to Nebraska Dave's comment
Wow, this place looks so serene and fresh. I would love to get my hands on that tomato plant. Beautiful garden! Thanks so much for sharing this with us!
to Morgan's comment