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About Chase Hill Farm
Photo: Rachel Chandler-Worth |
Chase Hill Farm is a small family farm located in the hills of western Massachusetts near the Vermont-New Hampshire border. We are Mark and Jeannette Fellows and we have been farming
the 264-acre dairy farm for 25 years. We produce high quality milk, cheese, and meat from our grassfed animals.
We practice sustainable methods of agriculture including:
- Rotational grazing
- Seasonal Calving
- Draft horsepower
- No fertilizer or pesticide use
- Organic certification
Our vision is to work a farm that is environmentally, economically, and personally sustainable.
Our herd of 26 Normande cows produces top-quality organic milk seasonally from March to December. Normandes are a French breed of cow known for their grazing abilities as well as the quality of their beef and milk for cheesemaking. |
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Rotational grazing
Grass farming benefits the health of the animals and the environment. All of our open land is used for pasture and hay production. The cows meet all of their nutritional needs through grazing. While grazing they also fertilize the pastures, thereby reducing our labor necessary to clean out the barn and spread manure on the fields.
Rotational grazing means that twice each day the cows move to a new section of lush pasture to graze. This helps improve the organic matter in the soil. The cows enjoy fresh air & sunshine daily, and they even have a view of Mt. Monadnock in New Hampshire!
Out of large pastures we create small ones where the cows and calves graze for one day or one night, when they are out in the pasture between milkings. Then we move the fence to a new section so the cows do not overgraze any specific area. We follow the cows with our horses. The horses eat the grasses that the cows leave behind and improve the diversity of plants growing there.
Rotational grazing is a means of balancing the need of the cow for high quality feed and the pasture’s need for periods of rest. In the winter, the cows eat dry hay which we harvest from our surplus pastures and neighboring fields. |
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Draft horses
Our Belgian draft horses harvest hay, spread manure collected in the barn, and move fences, hay, water tubs, and wood around the farm. The horses, June, Mabel, and Ginger help to reduce our use of and dependence on fossil fuels. Ginger, the youngest horse who is 2 ½ years old, is in the process of being trained to work as part of a 2 horse team with either her mother, June or her Aunt Mabel. |
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