Large Animals and the Farm Organism

WITH MEGAN DURNEY AND KIM VAUGHAN OF THE PFEIFFER CENTER, NEW YORK

The ideal biodynamic farm is a self-contained individuality to which cows contribute milk, meat, and soil fertility. Megan Durney shares about the essential nature of the animal, and Kim Vaughan covers the basics of biodynamic dairy herd management, including rotational grazing and pasture management. The day includes a visit to our herd, cow barn, and dairy, the only one in Rockland County.

As Farm Manager, Megan coordinates the daily work on our farm, and is an instructor in our One-Year Part-Time Training. She takes a leading role in planning and carrying out our annual Plant Sale and each season’s vegetable production. She directs our seed saving, herb growing, and herbal product production, manages our CSA, Farm Stand, and sales to other outlets. Megan is a board member of the Nature Institute and Biodynamic Demeter Alliance (BDA). Megan joined the Pfeiffer Center as an intern in 2006, and became a staff member in 2010. In 2014-2015, she studied seed saving under Harald Hoven at Raphael Garden in Fair Oaks, CA.

As Herdsperson and Dairy Manager, Kim heads up the only dairy herd in Rockland County. In addition to supporting all aspects of farm operations and administration, she is an active member of the Fellowship Community’s Administrative Circle and Community Council. Kim first met biodynamics at a year-long course with Harald Hoven at Raphael Garden in Fair Oaks, CA. She soon joined their CSA and became a star volunteer, serving on the steering committee, organizing fundraisers, and milking the cows on weekends. In 2016, Kim stepped away from Waldorf kindergarten teaching to become a full-time apprentice at Raphael Garden, followed by a summer at Fulcrum Farm in Grass Valley, CA, where she helped tend a small herd of Scottish Highland cows.

*****

For the info about the the year-long biodynamic course, click here.