We enrolled in Piedmont Farm School (through the NC Cooperative Extension) this year after spending 2013 working hard to plan our farm future. PFS has been a wonderful educational experience not only in the classroom, but most of all on field trips. The field trips give us a wonderful opportunity to talk with the other aspiring farm students, and avid farmers. We share plans for our farms and insight on our practices. We learn closely just how hard farm life is, but how rewarding it is too when you see the fruits of your labor.

Every month Derrick and I do our homework together as a couple, work on our business plan, research other farms that are using the practices we aspire to use, and discuss our plans for BatCrow Farms. Our small farm is constantly evolving. Our ideas grow and change often as we learn more about what we are capable of and what our time limits us to. As we both work full-time jobs, we spend as much time as possible working on our farm future during our evenings and weekends. Our hope is to love what we do here on the land and to create healthy products that we are proud of, while sharing our journey with others. 

As a wonderful part of Piedmont Farm School we get to take a monthly field trip to various farms. This month we visited two farms in Forsyth County, NC. We were greated at Brasfield Club Lambs by John Brasfield a very down to earth farmer. At his family farm we learned about his 10 acre experience raising 100 sheep or so at a time. We were able to see baby lambs, discuss livestock great pyrenees, see the pastural rotation system, as well as learn about electric fencing and getting water to travel to multiple pastures. The morning was loaded with new information to process including birthing, castrating, tagging ears, and parasite control. 

Next on the list was the Buffalo Creek Farm and Creamery. There we visited the micro dairy where we were very lucky to get a detailed tour (which if only offered for educational purposes). There small operation looked very efficient. On this 34 acre farm the family raises and milks about 20 Nubian goats. Other animals we saw were heritage chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, some sheep and cattle, as well as guard llamas and more great pyrenees. This farm was so cute and charming. Definitely a great place to take the family. You can take a dairy tour for $50 a person, look at some beautiful animals and visit the farm store. The farm store has a little bit of everything you would want to see. You can purchase the farms cheese, as well a meat, goat milk soap, goat and farm themed presents, handmade gifts, unique farm themed children's gifts and a delicious assortment of jams and other farm products. We easily spent a bunch here. We purchased 7 different frozen goat cheeses. Our favorites so far are the feta marinated with garlic and peppercorns and the farmstead traditional basil and sundered tomato chèvre. We can't wait to thaw and try our other goodies. 

This visit to Buffalo Creek Farm and Creamery was an optimal educational experience. Everyone was very knowledgeable and friendly. The farm was clean and well maintained. We left with so much great information and a few recommended resources for "the best goat cheese books" by Gianaclis Caldwell. This farm is a must see trip to Forsyth County open 7 days a week Monday - Saturday 9-6 and Sunday 1-6.