Laughing Dog Farm raises a diversity of vegetable and fruit crops by hand using low-till, raised beds, compost and compost teas, and other organic methods. We also manage a small herd of dairy goats. From May to October we operate a tiny CSA (10 families currently) and hope to expand to serve county residents with both healthy food as well as mentoring and technical support in urban mircro-gardening. Our farm is on a beautiful Western Massachusetts site, the location of an infamous, now defunct commune. Although the commune era is passed, we continue to seek ways to honor the vision of family and to manifest creative and appropriate forms of community on this land. As such, we take summer interns in exchange for room and board. We invite neighbors and friends to participate on the farm ("community gardening") and teach raised bed, no-till methods ("permaculture") to all who wish to land here. Our long term vision includes developing Laughing Dog as a healing sanctuary as well as a viable, sustainable micro-farm. We are researching the possibility of transforming this land into a community land trust.
"A farmer looking at his land in winter can already see his crop..."
-- Thich Nhat Hanh |
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Daniel Botkin, farm manager
by Daniel Botkin
, founding member |
2004/02/14 |
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| This farm has been for half a decade now evolving into an intensively cropped, permacultural micro-paradise. We produce high quality food (fruit, nuts, vegetables, berries, goats milk, meat, etc...) for 20 families while teaching and inspiring local folks toward a more healthful relationship with land and food. We are a family of three, plus another couple who assist in farm projects and may one day share ownership. We share the love for this land and for a more sustainable, nurturing life style for our kids. We have interest as well in progressive politics, peace activism, body work, youth, carpentry, teaching, Spanish language, and sports. We welcome conscious visitation by folks who aren't afraid of hard work. |
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record: laughingdog [edit] |
| setting |
legal structure: partnership
surroundings: farmland
land ownership: owned by an insider - individual
building ownership: owned by an insider - individual
neighbors: neighbors are ok most of the times
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| population |
total number of people: 5
ideal or planned maximum number of people: 10
children (0-10): 1
adults (20-60): 5
females: 3
males: 2
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| housing |
number of buildings: 3
number of housing units: 2
number of bedrooms: 10
house sharing: 2 or more units or families per building
roommates
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| agriculture / garden |
livestock
crops or produce
fruit trees
permaculture methods
veganic (vegan-organic methods)
biodynamic methods
fukuoka (natural farming methods)
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| seeking people |
seeking people: yes 3
people with children: welcome
people with disabilities: welcome
elderly people: welcome
single parents: welcome
need capital to join: no
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| drugs / stimulants |
psychedelics: medicinal use only
tobacco / nicotin: in private room or designated areas only
liquor: special occasions only
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| visitors |
visitors without intention to join: welcome
paying visitors: welcome
working visitors: welcome
wwoofers: welcome
prearrangements: set dates for visiting periods
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last updated 2005/02/25
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