The Eclectic Farmstead - (716) 444-2096

Our mission is to create a mostly self-sustaining polyculture farmstead and to leave as small of an Ecological Footprint and Carbon Footprint as possible.

Our Mission and Some Farmstead Goals:

Welcome to The Eclectic Farmstead!
Things are just getting started here at The Eclectic Farmstead. Our mission is to create a mostly self-sustaining polyculture farmstead by utilizing as many natural resources as possible in order to run and care for ourselves, our animals, our land, our produce, and our livestock. Our mission is to leave as small of an Ecological Footprint and Carbon Footprint as possible by upcycling materials for building and fencing, as well as our many other projects. Some of our farm goals include growing produce free from pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and GMOs; raising pasture fed livestock free from hormones and antibiotics; growing hops; raising fish through Aquaponics; harvesting raw honey; and establishing a fruit and nut orchard.

About the Farmstead:

The Eclectic Farmstead is a family owned and operated farmstead. It all started several years ago as a dream and a desire for a better life, a healthier life, for myself and my family. In the Fall of 2013 we came across this wonderful 70 acres of land and the dream quickly became a reality. With lots of hard work ahead, we will have the farmstead up and running in 2014 and we have high hopes that within five years we will be able to meet our mission of creating a mostly self-sustaining polyculture farmstead. Our five year goal includes getting completely off grid, generating our own electricity, providing for our own heating, water, and waste disposal needs, as well as, providing for our own consumer needs.

Here on the farmstead we plan on utilizing a variety of farming theories, methods, and designs. We plan to utilize the symbiotic and mutualistic relationships seen in the natural world around us to guide us in the not only the design, but how we run our farmstead. The design of the farmstead will be heavily influenced by the principles of permaculture, pasture-raised livestock and farming in a way that is 'beyond organic'.

Our chicken are raised in large (about 10’ by 10’ and 12’ by 12’) chicken tractors built from recycled and upcycled materials. The main reason we do not completely free range our birds is due to the variety of predators we have and are currently encountering on an almost nightly basis including coyote, fox, weasels, mink and a variety of birds of prey. The chicken tractors are moved daily providing the birds with fresh pasture and insects to forage. We use feed from a local mill located right in Delevan NY to supplement our flocks. Their feed is farmed and refined free from all dangerous chemicals such as arsenic which is common in factory farmed feed. We never give our birds antibiotics or hormones and honestly have no need to. Since our birds are moved daily they are kept away from the bacteria that cause illness. Their manure is directly converted into compost and instantly and naturally fertilizes and revitalizes the pasture. Since our birds are able to forage on fresh pasture and a variety of insects they naturally grow to a larger size simply because they are eating more protein than factory farmed birds which are raised indoors and have no access to such; in particular vegan and vegetarian fed chicken.

Beyond the Labels:

On the farmstead we are utilizing a variety of farming theories, methods, and designs. We utilize the symbiotic and mutualistic relationships seen in the natural world around us to guide us in the not only the design of, but how we run our farmstead. The design of the farmstead is heavily influenced by the principles of permaculture and raising “mobile” pasture-raised livestock; farming in a way that is “beyond organic”.
In today’s society labels and fancy titles can and often are bought rather than earned. Often the criteria to receive such labels and titles are far different from what the public in led to believe they actually mean. When we say beyond the labels and “beyond organic” we are simply saying that we don’t need fancy titles or labels to know our farmstead yields produce and livestock that is farmed sustainably by using upcycled/recycled materials and as little fossil fuels as possible, that our livestock is raised on fresh pasture everyday without unnecessary antibiotics, hormones, and chemicals, as well as, processed humanely and without chemicals. We have an open door policy on the Farmstead and as long as we are there you are welcome to come on by and check us out! We look forward to seeing you at the farmstead or at the Farmers Markets :)

The Farmers In A Nutshell:

Dave was born in California and spent some of his childhood in Florida. When he was 7 years old he moved with his mother and siblings to NY. Dave has lived all over WNY. Growing up Dave was a free spirit. He loved being outdoors and disconnected from modern forms of entertainment. He has always been good with people whether its just conversation or helping them out with something. He loved animals, insects, amphibians etc. He loves working outdoors building, landscaping, random chores or even just to being outside in general. He just loves being in the woods living off grid the way we were intended to live....happy and free.

Jeanette grew up in the Ken-Ton area and spent her childhood between the suburbs and her family’s farm in Sheridan NY. Spending time on the farm she realized early in life that living on a farm would be one of her goals. As a child Jeanette always had a passion for learning, animals, and helping others. When Jeanette was 15 years old she began doing domestic animal rescue and training. Jeanette has continued with domestic animal rescue, training and behaviorism throughout the last 15+ years. In addition, Jeanette has earned her licence to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife in NYS and also had her licence in NYS as a Falconer. Jeanette has also earned her Masters Degree in Education and is Certified in NYS as an educator. All through Jeanette life she has tried to live consciously balancing life’s daily choices with a respect and appreciation for the natural world and all that inhabit it.

Tags: Farm,Farmers Market