Current Projects
Our
Projects
Here at Sunset Hill Farm we try to co-live peacefully and respectfully with the flora and fauna native to our small piece of New England. Even if we are not a producing farm, we strive to be sustainable, and eco-friendly in all of our practices. Our beliefs are also rooted deeply in conservation, and protecting the bit of forest and undeveloped land that we has been entrusted in our care. Here are a few of our past, ongoing, and future projects.
Solar Panels
One of the biggest projects completed in the farm has been our solar panels. We have known for a while that the farm needed a renewable source of power, which has a hand in helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The solar panels stand in what use to be the old garage, and also serve as a carport. More information coming soon!
Non-Lethal Predator Deterrent
Wildlife is part of what makes Sunset Hill Farm a wonderful place. Unfortunately, this also means that there are plenty of predators that can and have attacked our residents. As sad as it is loosing one of our own, we understand the necessity of these wildlife to hunt and eat, and the hardships that they endure with the presence of humans and the ever growing developments around them. We have ongoing discussions with the family and team to come up with better non-lethal ways to protect our own residents and also how to deal with the loss of a beloved resident. More information coming soon!
Bobolink Fields
Bobolinks have breeding grounds all over North America, and migrate to South America making a trip of up to 12,000 miles over winter, one of the longest migrations by a song bird. They make their nests in the ground, mostly picking large fields. Shawn realized that a pair of Bobolinks had made a nest a few years back while preparing to cut the grass for hay in one of the fields here at Sunset Hill Farm. In order to preserve their breeding ground, he decided not to cut the field, and since, has made it a practice to not cut fields during Bobolink breeding season. The hay is important for our goats and other animals, but our friends the Bobolinks are very important for us too! Watney will interview Shawn in the future about this project so stay tuned.
Male Bobolink. Photo by Gordon Ellmers taken from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/87396.html