Farming at Churchtown

At the heart of our work at Churchtown Dairy is a passion for health – for the animals, the soil, the plants, and for people. The farm is a balanced system based on biodynamic principles where the use of poisonous fossil-fuel based fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides are eliminated. Instead, essential organic nutrients are re-used on the farm. We are dedicated to the highest level of care for our animals who give much in return: increased soil fertility to the pastures and their nutritious milk, cheese, and meat.

Located on 250 acres just outside Hudson NY, Churchtown manages a 30-cow dairy herd, with an equal number of young stock and a group of beef cattle. The cows are fed a grass-based diet, in alignment with their natural dietary needs, with only minimal supplementation of grain. Calves are generally kept with their mothers to promote healthy growth and a herd that embodies a fuller sense of itself in tune with its natural rhythm. 

One thing you will notice when visiting our herd is that our cows have horns, dairy cows included. Horns are part of their natural development but are either removed or bred out in conventional operations as the potential danger horns pose require greater care in handling. We keep horned animals as an important part of our biodynamic practice and to accommodate the cows, not the other way around. It is another way we seek to build a healthy, trusting and mutually beneficial relationship with the animals in our care.

We emphasize grazing practices that improve soil health, which in turn improves our forage and animal health. Composting is key to achieving these desired outcomes, a time-consuming process but well worth the time and effort because there is no better way to supplant soil and plant health. Composting effectively reduces farm ‘waste’, principally manure, and produces finished compost - a soil amendment rich in organic matter and nutrients essential for vigorous plant growth. Additionally, applying our own organic fertilizer eliminates fossil-fuel based inputs widely used on factory farms. 

We partner with Hudson Carbon to monitor how our grazing and composting practices improve both our own land and the broader ecology that we impact.  

Churchtown offers a new way to experience dairy animals that represents something old and very much worth reviving. Visitors are welcome to see how naturally humans and cows can coexist and thrive in mutual dependence. All are invited to drop by and observe the dairy cows during their afternoon milking at 3:30pm and learn more about this work from our farmers.

We offer a free weekly farm tour every Saturday at 3:30 pm from May through November.