Farm Animals
FARM DOGS
Looking over her fields,
"I'm just sitting here with the chickens. Chase them? Not me."
Banjo was our first farm dog (born Jan. 2009). Part spaniel and retriever she’s an expert sniffer and can alert us to the scent of even the tiniest “visitor” (mole tracking is her specialty).
We have to remind her constantly that the chickens are family and do not appreciate being rustled up, however enthusiastic she may be about hunting.
Taking a dip.
Banjo was adopted from the Mineral County Human Society and her name was inspired by the annual Graves Mountain Bluegrass Festival we attended the same weekend. Because she is a West Virginia pup, we know mountain music is in her blood.
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Pick, 5 months
Pick is the other half of our Fantastic Farm Dog Duo. He is just a puppy (born May 2010) – part Border Collie and maybe some hound. All legs, intelligence and kisses, we couldn’t have found a better playmate for sweet Banjo.
Pick and Banjo plying tug-of-war
Both dogs were listed on the pet rescue site Pet Finder. Once we saw his photo online and talked to the shelter, we drove 6 hours to Gouldsboro, PA to adopt him. They told us he had been saved just in time from a crowded shelter in Bloomery, WV- about 10 minutes from our farm! We should have named him Boomerang! 
Both dogs love each other and spend their days right beside us doing farm chores, playing with toys or sleeping on the porch in the sun. It’s a good life for a dog!
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LAMBS
In August 2010, we adopted Katahdin ewe lambs from Church View Farm. We’ll breed each fall, and look forward to new baby lambs each spring (beginning in 2012). In the future, we will offer grass-fed lamb meat. http://www.katahdins.org/
"First Ladies" Jackie and Eleanor
Katahdin sheep are hardy, adaptable, low maintenance sheep that produce superior, lean meat. They do not produce a fleece and therefore do not require shearing. Medium-sized and efficient, they are bred for production in a variety of management systems. Ewes have exceptional mothering ability and lamb easily; lambs are born vigorous and alert. The breed is ideal for pasture lambing such as ours at Taproot Farm.
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PIGS
We were referred to a wonderful source for feeder pigs- Bob Harrod in nearby Paw Paw, WV raises “Large Black” hogs and we got two piglets in May 2011.
Adult Large Black hog.
After a fascinating question/answer session on the phone, Bob tagged two piglets for us- a gilt (female that has yet to bear young) and a barrow (castrated male). Their mother is a 50/50 Berkshire/Hampshire mix and the father boar is 100% pedigreed Large Black.
Our she-pig and he-pig happily grazing.
We are really excited about this breed, because we’ve heard it is the tastiest and tenderest pork. Why? Because the fat is marbelized, not just layered in each cut.
We have adopted the policy not to name animals that are future dinners. We will give our pigs a good life- plenty of food, sunshine and attention. And then in the fall at about 6 months old and 250 pounds, they will feed us.