Our Farming Practices
Here at Kroka we use organic practices with our foremost intention being caring for and healing the land. Through these healing practices we grow food that is of its highest potential in nourishment.
Key Tenets of Kroka’s Farm
BEAUTY – Our farm and the whole of the Kroka campus is beautiful. It will be clear to anyone passing or visiting our campus that we take the highest possible care for our buildings and grounds, and our livestock and gardens. We are proud stewards of the land and the history of our agricultural neighborhood. We also know that it creates a welcoming environment for the students and families who come to our campus
EDUCATION – The Kroka farm welcomes students of all ages who are ready to experience a direct connection with the land. The land is our classroom and our teacher
PRODUCTION – The Kroka farm produces quality food (milk, eggs, fruit, nuts, produce) for our community
SUSTAINABILITY – We care for our soil and water resources, working to build the resilience of the landscape and the ecosystem it supports. We do this by feeding it rich compost; guarding it from invasive species; and doing our best to “leave positive trace”.
The Entire Village Helps
Kroka is a community farm and all who work at Kroka, including our office staff, have their hands in supporting the farm through various tasks. This makes it so that everyone involved at Kroka has a connection to the land and the food we produce.
Farm Education
With the farm as an important part of our curriculum, students help with daily chores; mucking stalls, collecting eggs, feeding and watering all of the animals, chopping and delivering wood to where it needs to be, and working in the gardens, cultivating and harvesting the food that they eat. Students participate in food processing, often preserving food for their own expeditions and for others in the Kroka community to enjoy. During the growing season Kroka offers an Apprenticeship Program.
Who lives on the Kroka farm?
Currently residing on the farm, we have our jersey milking cows, their calves, two and flocks of chickens. Our latest addition to the crew is a new hive of honeybees!
Chickens
We have a varied flock here at Kroka with around 110 laying hens. They are rotated around our fields throughout the spring, summer and fall, after which they move to a sunny greenhouse for the winter. They are fed organic grain produced locally in Vermont and their nutritious eggs are served to students and available for sale.
Each fall our laying hens are processed right here on the farm in a humane way by those who have spent a year and a half caring for them. Soup chickens are enjoyed and available for sale starting in November.
Cows
Our jersey cows live happily in the fields feeding on grass and legumes growing in the pastures during the spring, summer and fall. Our fields are managed using a holistic grazing management plan, and students participate in milking, and yogurt making. During winter months, the cows have access to the outdoors and are fed hay from local farms that use good land care practices.
Each year calves are born and raised with their mothers. Heifers join the milking herd and steers are slaughtered here on our farm and processed locally. The meat produced serves and nourishes the Kroka community with burrito night dinners and jerky for our semester travelers. We are grateful for this gift.
Honey Bees
Honey bees are an integral part of any farm. Their main purpose at Kroka is for pollination and education. We enjoy their honey when they produce enough to share with us!
Vegetables
All of our herbs, vegetables and flowers are grown using organic methods with the help of students and staff.
Farm Products for Sale
At different times of the year, eggs, milk, soup chickens, preserves, and herbal tinctures are available for sale. We invite you to call or stop in to see what we have!
