Cow Pastures

We have talked about the importance of both sheep and chickens to the colonial farm, but perhaps the most important animal was the cow.  Every farm in eighteenth-century America had at least one or two cows for the following reasons, in order of importance: to produce milk, to aid with physical work, and lastly, to provide a source of meat and leather.  Milk was a crucial food item in colonial America, as it was made into butter and cheese.  Cows also provided a source of labor, for the hard plowing and harvesting work needing to be done on the farm.  Only when a cow could no longer work or produce milk was it butchered for leather and meat.

Currently, we have three cows.  Sam is the black and white, beef cow.  Max and Connor are the brown, English short horn, dairy cattle, with Max having more white on his legs.  You may see them working at some of our public events, as they have been trained as oxen and can pull carts or wagons.  Sam, Max, and Connor stay out to pasture as much as possible, and are only brought into the barn during severe weather.  The farmers closely watch their diet, consisting of mostly wild grass and hay, which they eat all day long.  Grains are supplemented in their diet, but only when necessary, such as during winter months, when fresh grass is not available.

This is the last of our farmstead stops.  If you do not want to visit the two nature stops, this is the end of your tour.  We ask that you please, take a moment to answer the questions, in the survey located in the last stop.

If you would like to continue to the two remaining nature stops, please walk along the cow pasture, keeping the fence line on your right.  You will connect with the nature trail at a marker, and turn right, still keeping the fence on your right. Once you enter the tree line, and the trail turns right, again, you will be at the next stop.