Stoneham Meadows is a small farm located on 78 acres in Brookfield, New Hampshire. It is owned and operated by the Collins family. We run a farm stand at the farm on Stoneham Road where we sell fresh free-range eggs. We also sell through local retailers such as Butternuts in Wolfeboro. Seasonal products include jam and pumpkins.
You can find Catherine's tongue-in-cheek take on the farm (among other things) at her blog, The Angry Knitter.
Livestock
Our livestock currently consist of:
- Bluefaced Leicester Sheep
- The Bluefaced Leicester (aka BFL) is a British breed that has undergone a significant revival in the past 20 years here in the U.S. through the dedication of a small group of breeders and the introduction of U.K. bloodlines via artificial insemination. The BFL is a large sheep with long, fine, lusterous fleece that is coveted by the hand spinners. The traditional use for the BFL is in the three-tier breeding system in which specific breeds are crossed to ultimately produce large numbers of fast-growing market lambs that can be finished on pasture.
- We currently have two rams, three breeding ewes, two lamb ewes and a lamb ram. All are purebred and registered Bluefaced Leicesters. In the future, we will be selling fleeces (and fiber products), breeding stock and lambs for meat.
- You can find more information about our sheep operation here. You might also want to check out the BFL breeder's association site.
- Chickens (layers)
- We currently have about 35 layers from last year, providing a "rainbow" of eggs: white, various shades of brown, blue and green. White Leghorns are great layers of white eggs. The Araucana lay colored eggs - generally a blue and green color. We have a variety of brown-laying breeds. We have about 70 chicks that are just starting to lay at the end of February, and about 175 chicks that will begin laying in April. You can find more information about our chicken operation here.
- Chickens (broiler/roaster)
- The kids have decided to raise meat birds as their summer jobs this year. They will be doing two batches and are taking orders now. They raise production Cornish Rock crosses on pasture, and they are VERY TASTY! Contact us if you are interested in placing an order.
- Cattle (dual-purpose)
- In Fall 2009, Catherine acquired a small pregnant three year old Dexter X Jersey. The cow and her heifer are doing well. We have bred both of the girls (via AI) to "Orlando" from Ohio - he is a polled Lessor Jersey Miniature. Catherine is selling the excess raw milk to a select group of locals.
Contact Us
| Rob and Catherine Collins |
| Stoneham Meadows |
| 260 Stoneham Rd. |
| Brookfield, NH 03872 |
| info@stonehammeadows.com |