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Chapter 8 -
Self-Sufficiency
During the growth
years of the 80’s, the farm had purchased additional milk supplies
from other farms to balance milk supply and sales. Warren Jr., now
managing the farm in the 90’s, became concerned that this supply
would soon disappear.
A plan was developed to become self sufficient by having, first, the
capacity to haul milk independently from other farms and later
build a new cow facility to house enough cows to supply 100% of the
milk. Also, additional land would be required to produce the needed
corn, grass and hay. By the year 2000, the farm was self-sufficient.
A new 60 cow addition was added with comfort stalls and modern air
handling equipment, the original barn was modified, and Walter
Biedron, Jr. became the herdsman for one of the best herds in the
state. The position of herdsman is a very high skilled position and
"Wally" has become one of the best in the industry. The barn has
space for 100 cows.
The Pomerleau farm
was purchased on Marsh Hill, adding 50 acres to the land base, and
lease arrangements taken on 80 acres of Wilson farm land in
Litchfield, New Hampshire and numerous smaller parcels in Dracut and
Pelham, NH. To acquire the Pomerleau Farm, an APR agricultural
preservation restriction easement was sold to the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts on 50 acres of the "home farm", along with 16 acres of
the Pomerleau property. This money was used to acquire the new land.
The 90's saw many
farm improvements including a covered, concrete manure storage
building and, an equipment storage building and a new bunker silo,
along with many equipment replacement purchases.
The year 2000,
brought change in the sales area. Because of the popularity of Shaw
Farm's homemade ice cream, we moved in the direction of a
traditional New England ice cream stand, constructed on the farm.
The stand continues to be busy selling ice cream cones and sundaes
from April through November.
On July 31, 2003,
Warren Shaw, Sr. passed away at the age of 79. He lived a clean,
honest life and spent a life time of dedication to Nancy, his
children and the farm. He brought the farm through a period of
change in the industry that found most small dairy farms selling out
to development. The on-farm retail business he created became the
economic engine that funded many of the projects done later. Warren
spent his last days watching these improvements come to life.
In 2007 Shaw Farm began to market its own "certified organic" milk
products under the name New England Organic Creamery. Changes in the
marketplace driven by consumer demand for local organic milk have
made this change important to the future of the farm. After a year
of establishing this new brand, organic sales have begun to grow
rapidly, with Wilson Farms, and Whole Foods Markets continuing to
sell lots of this new product line.
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Home
Delivery
 Please
visit our new on-line ordering
system.
It's chock full of information and
details regarding our Home
Delivery service. Shaw Farm's trucks
deliver fresh milk,
bread, and other produce.
Click here
for info and ordering |
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Growth Hormones?
We have
strong feelings about not using
artificial growth hormones.
Click here
for more details |
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Shaw Farm Newsletter
Watch here for our 100th Anniversary
Celebration newsletters |
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The Boston Globe recently reported on our anniversary. Click here
for details |
