Stark Hollow Farm

About Us

History of Stark Hollow Farm

Stark Hollow Farm began as a vision to return to the land in the mid 2000's while we were living in Oakland California, both having spent many years working in farm montagecorporate America. Our yearning  led us east to Vermont, Laura's home state, in 2006. In 2008 we purchased our first 3 Icelandic ewes and a ram lamb which we raised, along with a small flock of heritage breed laying hens, on a small plot in Starksboro. The farm was named for our location on Big Hollow Road in Starksboro! We soon added a couple of feeder piglets and began to dream of expanding our flock beyond what our small plot could carry. The property in Starksboro was sold and in 2010  the farm took up a leased residence on an old hillside farm on the western slopes of the green mountains in Huntington Vermont.

In that rugged landscape and rather extreme climate, we expanded our flock to 22 breeding ewes and began breeding, through artificial insemination, our first pure bred Tamworth sows.  In late 2014, we purchase an old farmstead with 78 acres in Danville Vermont where we built a large timber frame barn and continued to expanded the flock, along with a small herd of Tamworth pigs and our flock of heritage breed laying hens. Having a craving for beef and fresh milk, and desire to continue to promote the heritage breeds, we added our first American Milking Devon cow who gave birth to her first calf in 2015. In 2017, we purchased two AMD heifers and an AMD bull.

In early 2016, we obtained certification as an Animal Welfare Approved farm and obtained a grass fed certification through AGW for our lamb and beef. The farm grew steadily to upward of 250 animals, acheiving the status of the largest breeder of Icelandic Sheep in New England for several years. In 2018 we made the difficult decision to scale back our operations, selling our beautiful farm in Danville Vermont and relocating to a smaller property in Montpelier Vermont. We are still raising Icelandic sheep and hope to add a few heritage breed pigs back into the mix in 2023.

Our Mission

Our mission remains to manage a small diversified farm in sync with nature, producing healthy, sustainable farm products from animals whose quality of life is our passion. Stark Hollow Farm offers registered Icelandic sheep for sale to small and large breeders. We offer healthy, delicious meat products, eggs, gorgeous Icelandic pelts and fiber products, and functional livestock shelters and equipment. We place an emphasis on the conservation aspects of raising heritage and primitive breed animals and focus on animal welfare rather than high production.

We practice agroecology, which is a traditional way of using farming methods that are less resource oriented, and which work in harmony with society. Our animals have been selected as suitable for the climate and geography of Vermont, and we pay special attention to soil, plant and nutritional needs of these beautiful animals. We maintain land use optimization and sustainability through rotational grazing, promoting symbiotic livestock relationships, and employing methods of sustainable building and resource development to support our mission.


 Vince Riva

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Vincent came to the United States from Italy as a college student. He obtained a civil engineering degree from Loyola Marymount and a masters degree in civil and environmental engineering from MIT. While growing up in Italy, he spent weekends and summers attending to the farm animals on his uncle's farm in the Italian countryside. In attendance were horses, cows, pigs, goats, and food crops of rice, corn & soybeans.

Today he still works as an engineer, applying his skills to his farm to produce utilitarian, yet artistic & sustainable items for use on Stark Hollow Farm. His philosophy of holistically managing a small pastoral farm infuses his work every day at Stark Hollow Farm.


 Laura Smith-Riva

lolamb-smallLaura was born and raised in Vermont. She obtained a bachelors degree in communication from the University of Southern Maine and has lived and traveled extensively in the United States as a business manager and entrepreneur.

She brings her own personal experience growing up on a small homestead farm in northwestern VT where her family raised beef Shorthorn, chickens, geese, goats, and pigs. She acts as general farm hand, manages the business end of things and is the excited assistant during lambing. She is the resident gardener and she has a deep love and respect for the land and the rural Vermont way of life.


We are members of the following oranizations:

isbonalogo Icelandic Sheep Breeders of North America
   
clrclogo Canadian Livestock Registery
   
vsgalogo Vermont Sheep and Goat Association
   
livestockconservlogo The Livestock Conservancy
   
VGFA Vermont Grass Farmers Association
   

RVT Logo FINAL CMYK 2.0

Rural Vermont

 

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Meats For Sale

Stark Hollow Farm is offering 100% grass fed Icelandic lamb and forest raised heritage breed pork products. Our meat animals are raised on our homestead farm here in Vermont in a sustainable and humane way free from hormone or growth promoting drugs, antibiotics, and without the use of chemicals on our fields. Our hay is purchased from a local certified organic farm.

The Stark Hollow Farm Difference!

1) All our animals are 100% pure heritage breeds, registrable with their breed association -- not a heritage breed mixed with commercial breeds. While this makes for fast more efficient growth, it doesn't provide protection for the purity of the breed. We take pride in growing your meat slowly following old traditions and in preserving the genetics of these beautiful breeds!

2) Our pigs are outdoors & rotated to new areas year round (with access to warm cozy shelters, of course) -- most pasture raised pigs are outside in the warm growing season only, being indoor the rest of the year.

3) Our sheep are intensively rotated on pasture (moved to fresh grass every ~3 days) -- many grazing animals are left eating in the same pasture for months.

4) Our sheep are 100% grass fed -- a lot of grass fed meat is supplemented or finished on grains or cereal crops.

5) All meat comes from animals born & raised on the farm -- many places offer meat from animals that they purchased from another farm. We raise & care for their parents also!

6) We practice rigorous animal welfare standards. No high production farm can meet these standards, which address space, outdoor access, breeding ages, housing, and many other important aspects that lead to the safety, comfort, health and well being of animals.

Where to find our products:

Burlington Winter Farmer's Market ~ Memorial Auditorium, every other Saturday November through mid April, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m (note: we are not at the summer market) ON SABBATICAL DURING 2019-20 SEASON.

Direct from the farm. ~ Please email or call us and stop by 286 Berlin Street, Montpelier, VT

For more information on our field to fork® meats or to see farm-direct pricing, follow the link below:

100% Grass Fed Icelandic Lamb

Forest Raised Heritage Breed Pork

CSA Meat Shares!

 

Forest Raised Pork

Forest Raised, Heritage Breed Tamworth Pigspork chops

We raise our pigs the old fashioned way: in communion with nature, in forest lots. Our heritage breed feeder pigs enjoy a varied diet of pasture and woodland goodies, organic garden vegetables, grains, apple drops and other fruits, and organic grass hay. Unlike many large commercial producers, we do not use antibiotics or the growth promoting drug Ractopomine, or any other drug or hormone. Our animals are raised humanely, rotated throughout the season in woodland lots, provided with roomy, protective shelters, and lots of love and care. We believe their general happiness in their surroundings and the love and care they receive translates to flavorful and delicious meats.

Please e-mail your order to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

2017-18 Retail Meat Prices:    Click here for CSA Meat Shares         

ITEM Price Per Pound
Hard Salami 3.5-4 oz package SOLD OUT!
$5.00/pkg
Pork Sausage - Links (maple breakfast, mild, sweet It., hot It. kielbasa, garlic/red wine, bratwurst, chorizo) $11.00
Pork Sausage - Bulk (maple breakfast, mild breakfast)
$8.50
Pork Sausage - Patties (breakfast)SOLD OUT! $9.50
Pork Sausage - Mini Links (breakfast)
$11.50
Ground Pork SOLD OUT!
$7.50
Pork Tenderloin SOLD OUT!
$20.00
Picnic Shoulder Roast SOLD OUT!
$9.00
Boston Butt Shoulder Roast SOLD OUT!
$9.00
Pork Sirloin Cutlet SOLD OUT!
$12.00
Bone-in Pork ChopsSOLD OUT! $11.00
Country Style Ribs SOLD OUT!
$9.00
Baby Back Ribs SOLD OUT!
$9.00
Spare Ribs SOLD OUT!
$9.00
Ham Roast (Smoked & Cured) SOLD OUT!
$11.00
Ham Steak (Smoked, Uncured - nitrate free) SOLD OUT!
$11.00
Ham Steak (Smoked & Cured) $11.00
Sliced Bacon (Smoked, Uncured - nitrate free) SOLD OUT!
$13.00
Sliced Bacon (Smoked & Cured) $13.00
Bacon Ends (Smoked & Cured or smoked, uncured - nitrate free)
$13.00
Smoked Pork Hocks
$7.50
Sliced Smoked Pork Jowls SOLD OUT!
$13.00
Pigs Feet or Fresh Hocks $5.00
Pork Organs (liver, kidneys, heart, tongue) $5.00
Pork Bones (raw for soups or pets) $1.50
Leaf Lard
$3.50
Pork Lard (back fat) $1.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grass Fed Icelandic Lamb

100% Grassfed Icelandic Lamb

Our lamb is certified 100% grass fed and free of antibiotics and growth hormones. Our method of rotational grazing and the natural weaning of our lambs keeps our flock healthy and produces a wonderfully mild, tender and tasty product. Our lambs go to market at approximately 6-7 months of age and are sold USDA inspected to individuals who appreciate a higher quality lamb meat product that is locally & humanely raised. Our meat is 100% grassfed. Our customers also appreciate that when they purchase Icelandic lamb, they are sponsoring the continuance of a heritage breed animal, one of the oldest breeds in the world. We also on occassion have meat from slightly older animals, labeled "sheep", for which there is no price difference. We currently do not offer mutton.

Link to some great recipies: Great Lamb Recipies, including quick and easy! Here is a link to some secret and revealing recipes from Iceland! Iceland Lamb.

For more info on the different types of lamb cuts, follow this link: Lamb Cuts

Prices are per pound. Once your order is submitted, we will contact you and can send you an invoice showing the total cost.

Retail Lamb Price List shown below. Please e-mail your order to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

2017-18 Retail Meat Prices: Click here for CSA Meat Shares Shares  

ITEM PRICE PER POUND
Leg of Lamb Roast (boneless) (SOLD OUT)
$18.50
Leg of Lamb Roast (bone-in) (SOLD OUT)
$17.25
Boneless Shoulder Roast (SOLD OUT)
$16.00
Loin Roast (SOLD OUT)
$18.00
Rack of Lamb (SOLD OUT)
$21.00
Leg Steak/Chop (2 per Pkg) (SOLD OUT)
$17.25
Loin Chops (2 per Pkg)
$21.00
Rib Chops (2 per Pkg)
$18.50
Shoulder Chops (2 per Pkg) (SOLD OUT)
$15.50
Shanks
$12.50
Kabobs (SOLD OUT)
$16.00
Stew Meat
$15.00
Ground
$13.25
Sausage (links, Sweet or Chorizo) (SOLD OUT)
$15.75
Sausage (bulk, sweet) (SOLD OUT)
$13.75
Riblets
$9.50
Lamb Bones
$4.00
Liver
$7.25
Kidneys (SOLD OUT)
$6.50
Heart or Tongue (SOLD OUT)
$5.75

Icelandic meat, produced from this heritage breed animal, is considered a gourmet meat.

"Icelandic lamb is the best I've ever tasted. It's very pure, non-fatty meat." ~ Robert Wiedmaier, chef-owner of Marcel's and Brasserie Beck in Washington DC in Food and Wine, March 2010

"Free-range, grass-fed Icelandic lamb is exceptionally fine-grained and mild tasting; it is prized by chefs..." ~ Sauveur Magazine, October 2009

 "The Icelandic lamb has soft texure and mild flavor, that fits well for all cooking methods." ~ Bjiarni Gunnar Kristinsson, Head Chef at Grillis Restaurant in Reykjavik, Gold medal winner at the Culinary Olymipcs in 2008

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Grass Fed Devon Beef

cooked steak1AGW Certified 100% Grassfed Devon Beef

Our beef is certified 100% grass fed and finishedand is free of antibiotics and growth hormones. Our cattle are rotationally grazing during warm months and fed organic hay in cold months. Calves get to stay with their mothers drinking her deliciously healthy milk until they are big and strong which produces a wonderfully mild, tender and tasty beef product. Our beef is sold USDA inspected to individuals who appreciate a higher quality meat product that is locally & humanely raised. Our animals are Animal Welfare Approved and our meat is Certified 100% Grassfed. Our customers also appreciate that when they purchase beef from American Milking Devon cattle, they are sponsoring the continuance of a critically endangered heritage breed animal.

Link to some great recipes: Great British Beef Recipes.

For more info on the different types of beef cuts, follow this link: Beef Cuts

Prices are per pound. Once your order is submitted, we will contact you and can send you an invoice showing the total cost.

Retail Beef Price List shown below. Please e-mail your order to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

2017-18 Retail Meat Prices                                                                       AWA combined sheep

ITEM PRICE PER POUND
Ground Beef
$10.00
Beef Stew Meat
$11.00
Beef Stir Fry Strips
$12.00
Beef Kabobs
$15.00
Bone-In Rib Steak
$18.00
Beef Tenderloin
$27.00
T-Bone Steak
$18.00
Porterhouse Steak
$18.00
New York Strip Steak (Top Sirloin)
$19.00
London Broil (Top Round)
$16.00
Sirloin (Round) Tip Steak
$16.00

 

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Icelandic Fleece & Roving for Sale

Currently we have raw fleece available direct from the farm and roving available for order direct from the website, farm, or find us at the Burlington Farmer's Market.

Raw, unwashed fleeces here are shown as samples only. Actual fleeces will be similar, with limited veggie matter. Available in all natural colors shown in our sheep. $35/per fleece.

Grayrawfleece whiterawfleeces
Grey Fleece (raw) Creamy White Fleece (raw)

Icelandic Roving for sale. Beautiful natural colored roving for spinning and needle craft. Available in colors shown below in by the ounce or save 5% with an 8 oz bag.

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Grey Roving

1 oz/$1.75

plus applicable tax (VT only)& shipping

  8 oz/$15.00

plus applicable tax (VT only)& shipping

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 Black Roving with some silver threads

1 oz/$2.25

plus applicable tax (VT only)& shipping

  8 oz / $17.00

plus applicable tax (VT only) & shipping

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Creamy White Roving

1 oz/$2.25

plus applicable tax (VT only) & shipping

 8 oz / $17.00

plus applicable tax (VT only) & shipping

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 Creamy Beige Roving

1 oz/$2.00

plus applicable tax (VT only) & shipping

  8 oz/$16.00

plus applicable tax (VT only)& shipping

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 Moorit (Brown) Roving

1 oz/$2.50

plus applicable tax (VT only) & shipping

 8 oz / $19.00

plus applicable tax (VT only) & shipping

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Natural Colored Sheep

The designation “natural colored” doesn’t refer to a specific breed of sheep, but several breeds. Basically, natural colored sheep are sheep that are not white. Thousands of years ago, all sheep were natural colored. Like many animals, their coats blended in with the colors of their native environment, to help protect them from predators. When the idea to dye wool different colors became popular, breeders began to want white sheep, rather than natural colored ones (white wool is easier to dye a whole variety of colors). Because of this, natural colored sheep became
less common. Today, natural colored wools are desired by craftspeople who do handspinning, weaving and felting. The natural colors – which include black, gray, silver, brown, beige, red and blonde – are considered beautiful without adding dyes.

Gorgeous Colors and Patterns

Icelandic fleeces come in a wide variety of colors and are prized by hand spinners. The 17 colors and patterns these beautiful animals come in include black, silvery black, blue to lavender greys, silvery grey, whites, tans, beige, champagne, moorit (the brown variations), including deep dark mahogany reds, rusty browns, strawberry blondes. The actual color genetics are a bit more complicated, but but these words give you an idea of what to expect from the Icelandic sheep breed.

Superb Fleece

The Icelandic fleece is dual coated, with a fine, soft undercoat called thel and a longer, coarser outer coat called tog. The tog fiber, with a spinning count of 56-60 and a micron count of 27-30, grows to a length of 6-8" in six months. It is lustrous, strong, water- and wear-resistant, and sheds off the rain and weather. Thel is the soft downy undercoat, with a spinning count of 64-70 and a micron count of 19-22, growing to a length of 2-4". The thel provides the loft for the outer coat and insulation for the sheep. Tog grows from the primary hair follicles and the thel from the secondary follicles. Tog is a true wool, and is not a kemp or guard hair. The combination of the two fibers on the sheep gives superb protection from the cold and wet. Icelandic fleeces are open and low in lanolin. The weight loss when washed is significantly less than many other breeds.

 

"The versatility of the wool, the ease of spinning and the wide variation of tones and colors are a true delight to handspinners, and put Icelandic wool into the exotic or premium category. It is also known as one of the best fleeces for felting, which is fast gaining popularity in the craft community."
~ ISBONA - Icelandic Sheep Breeders of North America

 

Icelandic Wool Bedding

Comforters, Mattress Pads, Pillows!

Deliciously warm 100% Icelandic wool comforters. Choose from a lovely natural cheesecloth style fabric or a heavy duty muslin fabric., wool is tufted into fabric to ensure it maintains its shape. These comforters deliver a nice even warmth, are breathable and are sure to keep you warm on the coldest of nights. Cheesecloth style should be used with your favorite comforter cover. Muslin fabric may be used without a cover, but it is recommended that you use one. Our wool comes from our Animal Welfare Approved and certified 100% grass fed pure bred Icelandic sheep, so you can be assured that this product comes from animals whose well-being is our passion.

 "After all, the wool of a black sheep is just as warm."
~Ernest Lehman, American Writer

Icelandic Wool Comforters:

wool comforterPhoto I shows natural cheesecloth style cover

King Size 90" x 108"................$225.00 (plus tax for VT residents and applicable shipping)

Tufted Natural Cheesecloth Fabric Covering

 
 SOLD OUT!

 Queen Size 90" x 90"..............$185.00 (plus tax for VT residents and applicable shipping)

Tufted Natural Cheesecloth Fabric Covering

 
 SOLD OUT!

 Queen Size 90" x 90"..............$225.00 (plus tax for VT residents and applicable shipping)

Tufted Durable Muslin Fabric Covering


SOLD OUT!
 

Couch/Twin Size 45" x 72"..........$150.00 (plus tax for VT residents and applicable shipping)

Tufted Durable Muslin Fabric Covering

 

7F713768 D62A 40B3 8AC4 83843015402CIcelandic Wool Mattress Pads: Thick 100% Icelandic wool, tufted into durable muslin fabric with elastic corner security bands. Amazingly warm. 60 x 80, Queen size $300 each.

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Icelandic Wool Pillows:  $200 pair of standard sized pillows (pillow case not included)

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Sheepskins for Cats and Small Dogs

Icelandic Sheepskins for Cats and Small Dogs

Your kitty or pup will love our Icelandic sheepskins. These are small pelts approximately 20 x 20" and would. be perfect to add to the top of your pet's bed, in a crate or where ever is your pets favorite spot to nap. Several colors available, Sample photos shown below. Limited supply while they last!

$45.00 Email for payment instructions and to provide shipping details.

 "After all, the wool of a black sheep is just as warm."
~Ernest Lehman, American Writer

cat bed1Pet Bed - Creamy White

 catbed2

Pet Bed - Grey

 

Vermont Homestead Products & Services

Simple, sustainable livestock panels & structures for the homesteader

Our hand-made, modular livestock shelters, structures, and panels are durable, lightweight and easy to assemble and use. These modular structures are built using a combination of purchased wood products (from a local mill where feasible) and wood milled from the trees on our land. This low-cost sustainable method of construction has saved us lots of money and is very pleasing to the eye.

As homesteaders, we value our rural lifestyle and are intrigued by the ingenuity of farming in a way that existed before the days of heavy machinery, pesticides, chemicals, and industrial equipment.

Homestead farmers have a tradition of being creative and frugal. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on heavy metal panels or pressure treated wood (loaded with toxic chemicals), let's us build your small livestock structures, using our wood or wood from your land. This old fashioned, low maintenance method will save you money. Not only are many of these items functional, but they are creative works of art as well!

ModularShelter3.jpgExterior Newer wood shows panels added one year later

ModularShelter3.jpgInside set up for lambing

Modular, Moveable Livestock Shelter

This livestock shelter is built using a panel system for all walls and the roof. Flooring is also removable and optional. The whole system maybe disassembled and moved.The two structures sit facing each other with a roof overlap to provide maximum space for animals.The roof is constructed of Ondura roof panels which are extremely durable to the Vermont winter with its heavy snowfall and high winds.

The shelter photographed here houses 25 sheep during winter months. Additional wall units will be added to each side with gated panels (shown below) to separate out lambing ewes in the spring.

This is a vertatile and creative option for the small homesteader who has limited access to structures. It's mobility limits tax liabilities as well!

 


ModularShelter1.jpgModular Panels Outside

sheepshelter3.jpgInside before panels added

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Chick Brooder

This chick brooder houses up to 25-30 chicks comfortably. Opens at top for easy access. Top roof unit accommodates heat lamp to keep brooder at 95 degrees necessary to feather out your chicks. Light weight, portable and pleasing to the eye, it can be moved out on pasture/yard to finish out the birds as they grow. Side door has attachment for a pasture run. Weasel/predator proof.

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Portable Chicken Coop-Mobile with Easy Access Nesting Boxes

Chicken tractor has nesting boxes, roosts made from real tree limbs, and built-in manure trays for easy cleaning. Tractor can be pasture rotated by using the 2 wheeled cart. In the winter, the metal mesh door and openings can be be insulated with straw or wool and covered with wood for protection from the elements. Optional water can & feed trough.

 

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Modular, Portable Rabbit Hutch-Mobile

These modular rabbit pens provide for easy access for feeding, watering, and cleaning and they offer protection from winter drafts and wetness. The modular hutch-mobile attaches to either a cage, normally used in winter, or to a run for three season foraging. This allows for maximum flexibility in the structure's use from season to season and including breeding.

The trays shown below the cages are for cleaning. Rabbit poop makes great compost. The creative homesteader finds many uses on her farm for items which might normally be thrown away. An old dog bowl makes a great rabbit pellet feeder and an old nursery tray is modified to make a hay feeder.

 rabbithutch.jpg  rabbithutch2.jpg  rabbithutch3.jpg

 

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Hand-Made Gate

 
Made of local wood (picked up just a few feet from where the gate is located) and fitted with standard metal gate fittings and latches. Gate can be constructed to fit any size and shape opening (i.e. no more messing around with fences and posts to fit expensive machine fabricated gates). Built lovingly with mortise & tenon joint construction which has been used for thousands of years by woodworkers.May be built to custom sizes.

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Hand-Made Panels

 
Modular panels are constructed lovingly with hand-carved mortise & tenon joints and made of local wood (hand harvested from the property they sit on). These panels can be used for livestock, gardens, pets, or whatever else you can think of (e.g. panels are used for a lambing-jug in photo to left). Modular system allows for panels to be opened or expanded as as you wish. May be made to custom sizes.

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Raised Garden Vegetable Beds with Optional Manure Amendment

For the gardener..If you'd like, I can also provide a FREE manure amendment to mix with your soil for increased fertility. The manure amendment come from composting of Stark Hollow Farm's sheep, rabbits and chickens, who are raised naturally, on pasture and woodland lots, and without chemicals.

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Lamb Creep Feeder Panel

Lambs need access to hay, grains, minerals and water not long after they are born. A creep feeder allows the lamb to pass through, but not the adult animals. This ensures lambs get adequate supplies without competition or being crushed by adult sheep. This creep feeder has removable and adjustable rods for fast growing lambs covered with PVC "roller" sleeves to allow continued easy lamb passage as lambs grow.

pig_house_on_pasture.jpg

 

Portable Piglet House

This small homestead structure is designed for use on pasture or in woodland areas and is made using wood milled from our land. Designed to be portable for rotational foraging purposes of younger pigs, the structure is light weight.  It is made of pine and the boards are assembled adirondack style. Additionally, there is no floor and the roof and sides are covered with a thin, light aluminum sheeting. One door running the full length of the house may be propped up to provide additional shade on hot pasture days. Filled with straw, this structure makes a cozy home for a couple of pasture raised pigs even on chilly spring or fall days. As pigs grow, a more durable structure would be required, but this is a great way to get them started.

 pig_house_construction.jpg  pig_house_complete.jpg

 

 
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Piglet Warming Box

This simple, useful structure is designed to keep newborn piglets warm and to offer them a place to get away from mama. Inexpensive, easy to build and completely portable.

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The "Round House" Winter Sheep Shelter

This is a custom design, created by Vanessa for winter sheltering of a 10 - 12 animal flock of sheep.  The low roof line and berm style lay-in of this pole structure make this a cozy, wind free shelter.  It is made from small trees taken off our land. The roof of this low impact round house is reciprocating, with a starting pole and each pole subsequently laid on top and tied with recycled baling twine. Once the center support is removed, the roof settles into itself supporting the poles. To strengthen it, we wove saplings around and through at various intervals. Ultimately, the sides could be cobbed and the roof canvased.  Click on the photos below to see close up pictures.

RoundHouse/rndhouseskyview.JPG RoundHouse/inside_round_house.JPG RoundHouse/rndhousecomplete.jpg  RoundHouse/round_house_roof_rafters.JPG
       
RoundHouse/round_house_peg.JPG  RoundHouse/rosevrndhouse.jpg RoundHouse/round_house_rafters.JPG

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Links & Resources

 Here are some of our favorite links:

 
ISBONA - Icelandic Sheep Breeders of North America: A great resource about the breed, its history, characteristics and uses.
 
Maryland Small Ruminant Page: Excellent resource for flock management including disease, lambing, etc.
 
UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture:  Technical assistance for production, processing and marketing.
 
Vermont Sheep & Goat Association:   For those of us in VT raising sheep & goats!
 
Poisonous Plants in Vermont: A helpful guide, including drawings, of the plants in VT to watch out for!
 
The Control of Internal Parasites in Ruminants: A great article from Ecological Agriculture Projects on natural rememdies for internal parasites.
 
The Joy of Handspinning: Resources for handspinners, includes videos of hand carding and spinning.
 
ISBONA FaceBook page: Great place for discussion, advice and photos of our favorite breed!

 

 

 

 

Contact Us

 
 
Here's how to get in touch with us:
 
Telephone: 802-734-0180 (cell)
Email: farmer @ starkhollowfarm (dot) com
 
We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Stark Hollow Farm  ~  Montpelier, VT  ~ 
Laura ~ 802-734-0180 (cell), Vincent ~ 802-535-0400 (cell)
Registered Icelandic Sheep in Vermont
 
 

 

Front Page

Welcome to Stark Hollow Farm!!

Field to fork: products produced in communion with nature®.

Stark Hollow Farm is a small independent family farm whose mission is to create and manage a small farm in sync with nature, producing healthy, sustainable farm products from animals whose quality of life is our passion. Stark Hollow Farm raises registered pure bred Icelandic sheep and layer chicks from our beautiful farm in Vermont. We offer Icelandic sheep for sale in Vermont to small and large breeders. We offer healthy, delicious meat products, eggs, gorgeous Icelandic sheepskin pelts, exquisitely handwoven blankets and other fiber products. We place an emphasis on the conservation aspects of raising heritage and primitive breed animals and focus on animal welfare rather than high production.

We practice agroecology which is a mindful way of using farming methods that are less resource oriented, and which work in harmony with nature and society. Our animals have been selected as suitable for the climate and geography of Vermont, and we pay special attention to soil, plant and nutritional needs of these beautiful animals. We maintain land use optimization and sustainability through rotational grazing, promoting symbiotic livestock relationships, and employing methods of sustainable building and resource development to support our mission.

"To understand a meadow, you really need to sit down in one for a while."
~ Gene Lodgsdon, The Contrary Farmer



Contact us:

Telephone: 802-734-0180 (Laura's cell) or 802-535-0400 (Vincent's cell)
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Φ  Registered Icelandic Sheep for Sale in Vermont!  Φ

Hand Woven Products

Stunning hand woven 100% pure Icelandic blankets and throws. Because our sheep are what is known as Natural Colored sheep, we use no dyes. The raw wool from our 100% grass fed, Animal Welfare Approved sheep is processed into a lovely 2 ply worsted yarn onto 1 lbs cones in 4 different colors. These colors are hand woven locally by our good friend and amazing weaver, Jane Woodhouse of Brigid's Farm in Peacham, Vermont.

Blankets are approximately 44" x 68" have a sewn finished hem. Price is $280.00 plus applicable tax (VT residents only) and shipping.

Pay with credit card or bank through PayPal using the "Add to Cart" button. Or contact us to send check or money order.

WE HAVE MORE PATTERNS AND COLORS IN STOCK, SOME IN PHOTOS ARE SOLD. CONTACT US FOR MORE INFO!

Diagonal Weave, Hand Woven Brown/Grey with Cream and Black Stripes $280.00

blankets

 

Diagonal Weave, Hand Woven Black/Grey with Grey Stripes $280.00 (Blanket on Right)

wool blankets

 

Handwoven Throws, 36" x 48" Fringed. Stunning herringbone weave that drapes beautifully. At perfect size for cozying up on the couch or your favorite chair. Sized well for cribs or children's beds. 7 color/stripe combinations. $180.00 (Contact me to select and pay for your throw).

IMG 1799

Limited Series: 7 Throws with various combinations of the 4 colors and stripes, all herringbone and fringed. Contact me for more info.

IMG 1801  IMG 1797   IMG 1800  IMG 1798

 

Altar Cloth/Table Runner

These beautiful hand woven cloths are perfect for your sacred altar or a small table. Three sized: 

Three sizes: 14 x 36” $60, 14 x 30” $50, & 12 x 24” $40. Email to purchase for additional photos of other colors/patterns/sizes or to schedule a visit to the farm.

altar cloth 3

  altar cloth   altar cloth 2  

 

 

 

 

 

Customer Testimonials

Here's what our customers have to say...

"Your pork chops brought back memories of my childhood. They were delicious!"
Steve S., Hall Home Place. Vermont Ice Cider, Isle La Motte, VT

"Everything in our box was delicious. The crown roast and the leg roast were unbelievable. We are not normally lamb seekers, but the Icelandic lamb is excellent."
Nancy G., Huntington, VT

"Just wanted to thank you again. The roast was incredible. We are going to need more, some chops and ribs..."
Chef Amy L., Burlington, VT

"The lamb was terrific..."
Eliot L., Huntington, VT

"I bought delicious lamb from you...Your mom says you now have excellent pork...please send me a price sheet and I'll place an order!"
Leslie N., Jericho, VT

"I cooked one of your pork roasts for some friends the other night. It was divine!"
Nat G., Huntington, VT

"I slow cooked some of your Icelandic lamb stew meat and it was the best lamb I have ever had!"
Gwen P., Burlington. VT

"Great lamb..... we had the roast last night for company! Thanks so much."
Celine C., Starksboro, VT

"I cooked the boneless leg of lamb last night when I had some friends over for dinner. It was the best lamb I have ever eaten. Thanks!"
Joan M., Montpelier, VT

"Just cooked lamb for the first time ever...marinated in a mixture of olive oil, dijon mustard, rosemary, thyme, salt & pepper, and then pan fried the chops...WOW! Yum! I thoroughly enjoyed the chops! Awesome flavor!"
Marni W., So. Starksboro, VT

Farm Tee Shirt

Stark Hollow Farm logo tee shirts available for sale at $13.99 (plus shipping at $5 in US, contact us for international shipping). Show your proud support of a local farmer with this beefy 100% cotton white tee in sizes S-XL.

 

 

Sizes


teeshirtfront

Front

teeshirtback

Back

 

 

 

 

 

 

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