Karakul sheep, Piemontese cattle, egg-laying hens, maremma guard dogs, a working Border collie, ferral barn cats, nesting owls, and barnyard dogs all uniquely contribute to the workings of the farm. From providing food to hunting varmints to protection, they are all contributors to the balance. Karakul sheep are an ancient breed that we treasure for their inherent mothering ability, the delicious lamb meat & beautiful fiber they yield, and their efficient means of adjusting to the extremes of Virginia weather. Piemontese cattle, an Italian breed, provide a distinctively healthy beef choice. The natural double muscling of the animals negates the needs for added hormones. The lack of fat marbling boosts the nutritional value and the extreme tenderness of the meat is exceptional. Chickens nourish us with their eggs before beginning a day of work roaming the fields and barnyards eating bugs and aerating the soil with their scratching. Our beef and lamb are raised on pasture, processed and frozen locally, and available for sale at the Village Depot, as are our vegetables and eggs.