As part of our goals at The Turkey Farm, Aidan and I hope to establish stock for various heritage breed animals.  Heritage breed animals, like heirloom plants, refer to older, rare breeds of livestock that existed pre- the industrialization of agriculture.  In many cases these breeds posses unique traits and desirable characteristics that made their presence on the historical farm indispensable.  Today, with the rise of industrialized animal operations, many of these once desirable traits have become insignificant, rendering the heritage breeds that posses them, useless.  This relative “obsoleteness” has lead to dire consequences for a number of heritage breeds, leaving their legacies in “high risk” status, and even in some cases, in danger of extinction.  Beyond the personal interest Aidan and I share for these animals, we strongly believe in the establishment of some of these animals on our own farm, recognizing their historical significance, as well as their beneficial significance, believing a number of the desirable traits and characteristics they posses will enhance the overall quality and sustainability of our farm.

   Currently, Aidan and I are working to increase our herd of Gloucestershire Old Spot Pigs (GOS), Tamworth Pigs and Iceland Sheep.  GOS’s or “orchard pigs” as they are commonly referred to, were once common fixtures on New England farms.  Tamworth Pigs are a smaller breed of pig.  Referred to as "red pigs" for their color, they are known for their extra-long bodies, yielding a higher percentage of belly meat for bacon.  Icelandic Sheep, hailing from Iceland, are a smaller breed of meat and or dairy sheep.  Both of these breeds are regarded for their durability, ease of maintenance and quality meats.

Two of the Icelandic ewes.