why are your eggs so many different colors and sizes?

Our EarthStar Farm flock of Happy Hens that lay Rainbow Eggs are an integrated flock of about 16 different heritage breeds of chickens. Each breed was selected to create a balanced and beautiful blend of colors in each EarthStar Farm egg carton. Each breed lays a slightly (or dramatically) different egg color: white, ivory, buff, mid-brown, dark chocolate brown, olive, yellow-green, light aqua, pale blue, cerulean. The eggs range in size from Jumbo to medium, with most eggs falling into the large or extra-large USDA size grading. Fun fact: all brown eggs have their color applied by the hen in her oviduct during her daily laying process, and will be white on the inside. Only the blue/green/olive Araucana/Ameraucana eggs have fully pigmented shells where the outer color is also visible on the inside of the eggshell.

Do you have honeybees?

 Yes, we do have several hives of honeybees on EarthStar Farm. The hives are kept safely within the Food Forest bear fence, so they can do their important work without worries. They work hard for about 6-7 months of the year, then take a long sleep during the long cold Montana winters. We share the honey they make with the hive colony, leaving most to them for their upcoming generations. As our honeybee colonies get stronger each year, we may actually reach the point where we can share the delicious EarthStar Honey with you! We also are working on group housing for our pollinator bees, the unsung heroes of the garden!

what does heritage chicken breed mean?

Heritage chicken breeds are the older, less common  breeds that were almost lost to farming in the last century, due to intense mono-breed factory farms. The few breeds generally selected for American factory farming post WWII were the breeds who laid the greatest amount of white eggs in their short lifetimes. After two years of intensive and confined factory laying, these poor hens were ruthlessly disposed of. Thanks to small farms across the continents who valued their old traditional farmhouse breeds, and the modern hatcheries that have also worked hard to keep a broad genetic selection of birds, these wonderful colorful chickens are still with us. Yes, we also have roosters, of several different breeds. They are wonderful gentle fellows who look after their hens diligently, while protecting them fiercely from predators. One should presume that all our EarthStar Farm eggs are fertilized, and we do have our own EarthStar natural genetic-mutts in our flocks as a result. We have a deep gratitude towards our hens and the delicious eggs they generously lay for us, so our older hens are allowed to retire on the farm and live out their days with their flock-family. 

Foxtail Forskola--an outdoor preschool in the winter?

We are proud and delighted to host the wonderful "little foxes" of Foxtail Forskola, and their dedicated kind teachers. They gather here year-round 4 days a week (rain, snow or shine) to learn, share, play, observe, create and dream in the woods and pastures of EarthStar Farm. Sometimes they even get to pitch in and help with farm chores by feeding the sheep, collecting eggs, watering flowers, etc. The Foxtail Forskola program is designed for 3-6 year olds. For more information, please contact Kayla Nichols @ www.foxtailforskola.com

What breeds of sheep do you have and why?

We are breeding our sheep for extra-fine super-soft wool, as well as color. EarthStar Farm's flock are mostly Cormo sheep, but we have a few beloved Targhee sheep from our very first sheep flock.
We began our ruminant flocks with some rescued Nigerian dwarf goats in 2012. They were adorable but full of mischief and multiplied exponentially, so we quickly shifted to Targhee and Cormo sheep in 2013. Cormo sheep originated in Tasmania in the 1960's and were brought to America in the 1980's by a mother & daughter rancher-team at Running Wild Ranch in Broadus MT. Cormos are smaller sheep with incredibly soft fine-micron fleece, and sweet pretty faces. They derive from Saxon Merino x Corriedale crossbreeding. Targhees are a uniquely American breed of sheep, locally bred by Basque shepherds and the USDA in the 1920's in the high mountains of the Targhee Forest in Idaho. at Dubois Sheep Station.  Parentage is Rambouillet (French Merino) x Corriedale x Columbia. They are a larger sturdy breed, very friendly with lovely faces and are known as a multi-purpose breed, raised for both delicious meat and quite fine woolen fleece.

Do you have a CSA program? 

We do not have a CSA program at EarthStar Farm. We do our very best to raise and grow the healthiest produce and food. We feel strongly that to commit ourselves to a weekly CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box would not serve our farm family's best interest. There is a lot of stress involved in promising a weekly big box of edible produce to customers. We prefer to let our land, people and livestock speak for themselves about when our produce is ready and ripe to share with community.

when do you shear and when do you lamb?

We shear the sheep once a year, in early April, just before lambing season.
L.ambing is such a joyful time of year! We usually lamb throughout the month of May and often into June. The whole process usually takes about 6-8 weeks of alertness, and there are always surprises on the timing. We sometimes have surprises about twins and triplets as well. Newborn lambs are simply divine and bring great joy to the farm.  <3 <3 <3 

where is your wool processed?

Our super-soft naturally colored un-dyed  "EarthStar Naturals" range of yarns are mainly processed at Mountain Meadow Wool in Buffalo, Wyoming. They wash, comb and spin several refined weights of yarn for us. These "EarthStar Naturals" yarns are gorgeous un-dyed rich blends of our black, grey and white woolen Cormo fleeces, spun into fabulous solids and tweeds. The range includes our baby-gentle "Cormo Sport," our all-star silky-springy "Cormo Worsted," and a lovely soft textured bulky yarn we call "Cloud Cormo." We also process at Custom Woolen Mill in Carstairs, Alberta, CA. They create a marvelous homespun two-ply "Aran" yarn, as well as our single-ply "Bulky" that is perfect for Cowichan heritage knitting, the iconic chunky Pacific Northwest tribal yarn. All "EarthStar Naturals"  yarns are available in multiple un-dyed colorways; from creamy ivory to warm espresso black, and all the silvery greys in-between.

why are micro-greens such a nutritional powerhouse?

It is called nutrient density. Those who have restricted digestion due to various ailments (like Crohn's or ABS) can absorb the critical nutrients they cannot absorb through standard full-size bulky vegetable leaves. Microgreens are easily digested, and pack the nutritional wallop of 6x the nutrition of a full-sized leaf kale leaf, for example.  Because we grow in naturally enriched organic soil, and not chemically enhanced water (like some microgreens), our EarthStar Farm microgreens offer the best natural plant nutrition on the market.

Is it really okay to eat the flowers?

Yes, it is, truly! Our edible flowers are totally clean and organically grown, no need to worry about any drifting clouds of toxic spray, we don't do that here on EarthStar Farm. Not all flowers are edible, so we do the plant safety research for you. You can feel secure to munch away on the sweetness of the blossoms if they come from EarthStar Farm!

if you use organic farming practices on earthstar farm, how come your labels don't say organic?

 We choose to farm naturally, in harmony with the earth, pure and simple. While we follow the USDA organic farming standards, our philosophy is that our natural non-chemical way of farming is REAL farming. We take issue with the USDA calling modern factory farming with deadly chemicals "conventional farming." By choosing not to align with the USDA "Organic" labelling processes, we are registering our protest against the deadly status quo of American factory chemical farming--it is NOT "conventional farming" at all.

Can we come visit the farm?

We love occasional visitors, but by appointment only please. We are a very busy farm, especially during the spring and summer seasons. Email or call us to inquire about feasibility of a tour. Please DO NOT bring your dog to visit our farm. Our EarthStar dogs are loyal guardians and hard-working team members, and they might misinterpret your dog's presence on the farm as an intruder. Thank you!