ABOUT US
Welcome to Flint and Steel Farm! We are a small homestead farm nestled in the hills between Naples and Italy Valley in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of New York State's Wine Country. When we started our farm in 2005, we chose livestock that would fit in naturally with our love of history, related specifically to the heritage of our country. Thanks to the help of many wonderful folks who were so giving of their knowledge, we began our breed selection. We wanted hardy breeds, which would thrive on our pastures. We were looking for animals that were easy to work around (I am small!), good mothers and had good pest and disease resistance. Since it is very cold and snowy here, the animals had to be winter hardy. They should also provide food or fiber and valuable breeding stock. Some breeds we chose were very rare, such as the American Guinea Hog and Narragansett Turkey. Without the help of small homestead farms, these breeds could disappear forever. We cannot afford to loose this piece of history! Flint and Steel Farm has joined a growing number of small farms dedicated to preserving these breeds. For more information about Heritage Breeds, visit the links referenced below. We hope you enjoy our photos! As we build our farm and our website, we will add pages about each breed. Happy Farming!
AMERICAN GUINEA HOG
We just love this breed! They are social, easy to work around and very easy keepers. They are pastured here with 18" electronet fence which works for us year round. Even with several feet of snow they respect the fence and I simply kick the snow away from the top to define the boundries. These personable porcines are far and away the easiest keepers on the farm. They are great mothers and we have never seen any aggression, even with a new litter.
In 2010 we sadly lost our proven boar and have added two new boars to our original line of a mother/ daughter pair of proven sows. We have added a second gilt to provide two breeding lines and this year we will be able to offer unrelated pairs/ trios to those wishing to start their own breeding programs. This is the perfect "Homestead" pig, easy to work with and a provider of tasty home grown pork. The American Guinea Hog is listed in the Slow Foods USA " Arc of Good Taste". Please call or email us for information or to make a deposit to hold a piglet. Visit the links referenced below for information on this wonderful breed.
NIGERIAN DWARF GOATS
We just love these personable little milkers. They are the clowns of the farmyard. We love watching them bouncing and playing in the pasture!. We are not breeding goats at this time, however we can supply you with the name of a local breeder.
HERITAGE POULTRY
We are very excited about our Heritage Turkeys. We loved the Narragansetts and are trying the Bourbons this year.We enjoy "talking Turkey" with our flock, they are very social! We aren't sure which was a bigger hit at Thanksgiving, the bird on the table or the ones "greeting" the guests in the front yard!
Our Egg layers are a mixed flock of Heritage breeds and our meat chickens are Red Rangers (although not an old breed a wonderful alternative for the homesteader who doesn't want to use modern Cornish Rock breed). We have been extremely pleased with the Rangers for the past 3 years. They are easy to work with, fatten nicely on pasture, and delicious!
LINKS
ALBC: American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
AGHA: American Guinea Hog Association
Slow Food USA NoNAIS
CONTACT US
Flint and Steel Farm
250 Bassett Road
Naples, NY 14512
585.374.2695
angela@flintandsteelfarm.com
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