You should "WWOOF" with Black Robin Farm & Orchard
I volunteer with WWOOF USA to photograph their incredible farming partners. When I knew I was going to Bozeman, Montana, I reached out to Black Robin Farm & Orchard. Their farm is wonderful. Brock runs this relatively new farm with his girlfriend, Andrea. The land was handed down to Brock from his grandfather. He is currently building the Farmhouse, a beautiful wooden house with endless amenities for young and old alike. He's also in the midst of building a schoolhouse and art studio rental space. The schoolhouse will teach kids all about sustainable farming and raising livestock. They've got goats (we came just in time to capture the adorable baby goats!!), sheep, bunnies, cats, dogs and bees. While we were there, the volunteers were helping build the Farmhouse. One of the most beautiful features Brock plans to install on the gorgeous wood bar, are ornamental pieces of an old bank vault passed down to him from his parents.
Brock offered us to stay for lunch. On the menu? Goat stew. I know what you're thinking- raising goats and slaughtering them to be eaten? How can they do that? Well, if you're a vegetarian, then ok, I understand your inability to get on board. However, as I've met and conversed with more people who hunt and raise their own food (meat included), I've come to appreciate and understand the positive impact it has on our world. This may not be something you could ever relate to, but it is quite eye opening when you examine the damage done by mass production of meat versus farm life. If you care about the environment and all those living in it, I'd suggest you do some research on the subject- you might be surprised what you find! It can be confusing though. Brock told us that one of his grandkids was starting to understand the way of farm life...You raise the goats, and eventually you eat the male ones (as they can't produce new goats). One day his grandson asked, "Grandpa, when do we eat the cat?". We busted out laughing. Kid logic is the best.
