Over the past several years, the sheep of Two Feathers Farm have been a peaceful sight as they grazed the fields at the Arboretum. These gentle, wooly creatures played an important role as they slowly moved across the landscape, munching on tender grass and leaves, ambassadors of regenerative agriculture.
Rotational grazing is a lower-impact method of maintaining grassland habitats. Unlike mechanical methods such as mowing, sheep move slowly allowing nesting birds and mammals the time to move out of their path. Grazing animals also return nutrients to the soil, while hay harvesting only removes them, requiring fertilizers or manure to be manually spread at another time. Having sheep at the Arboretum provided an opportunity to educate visitors on different methods of grassland maintenance and their pros and cons.
Unfortunately, the sheep of Two Feathers Farm will not be returning for the 2022 season. "We suffered some heartbreaking losses this past month leaving out flock smaller than ever. I had to make the very hard decision to move them down to a friend's farm in New Hampshire so they can join her flock" said Grace Chavis of Two Feathers Farm.
We are grateful to have had the opportunity to welcome the sheep to the Arboretum, and know they touched the hearts of many over the years. We wish Grace and the flock the best in their new adventures.
