Our Farming Practices
Here at Kroka we use biodynamic and 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.
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, loading and delivering wood with horse and wagon, 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 flocks of chickens, and our old timers, Brita, a Norwegian Fjord, and Violet, our beloved farm dog who keeps everyone in line. 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, following the horse and cows, 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.
Work Horse
Brita, our Norwegian Fjord, is actually a work pony (smaller in size than a regular work horse). She has been with us since 2003 and lives amongst the cows, passing along her wisdom. She participates in the work of the farm, hauling wood by wagon load, plowing fields, and giving sleigh rides in the winter snow.
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 cheese 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, living through two growing seasons. 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 do enjoy their honey when they produce enough to share with us!
Vegetables
All of our herbs, vegetables and flowers are grown using organic and biodynamic methods with the help of students and staff. Any surplus, after feeding the campers, is available for sale at our farm store and donated to local families and food pantries. Look for our sign!
Farm Products for Sale
At different times of the year, eggs, yogurt, milk, soup chickens, fresh vegetables, preserves, and herbal tinctures are available for sale. We invite you to call or stop in to see what we have!
The Entire Village Helps
We have two full time farmers, 1-2 apprentices to come to live, learn, and work on the farm at the height of the growing season, but importantly it 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.
