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Come and meet our two beloved cows, Ashoka and Ama, both born to our dear Aldebaron: Ashoka in 1997, Ama in 1998. At 11 and 10 years old, the sisters have far outlived commercial cows. The nurturance and tender loving care they receive would be the envy of any herd. Annie and Paul have been devoted caretakers to all of our cows and could tell stories that would touch any heart and leave no eyes dry.
Ashoka was named after an ancient emperor who had a conversion experience, in the heat of battle, which transformed him from a dominating, ruthless tyrant into a renowned peacemaker. One of many quotes attributed to him is, “He who does not respect another’s religion, does not respect his own.”
Ama means “mother”, although this hasn’t born fruit, since she has never been able to conceive a calf, despite many efforts.
Their mother, Aldebaron, was named after the star that is the Eye of the Bull in the constellation, Taurus. She came to our farm as a small calf in 1992 from Kimberton, Pennsylvania, the home of the “Seven Star Yogurt” dairy herd. Aldebaron vitalized our farm for many years until she died in 2004.
If you find the sisters inside the barn while you are collecting your share of the week’s bounty, you may be fortunate enough to hear a most beautiful sound – right up there with the sound of waves lapping on a shore or a gentle rain in the forest - “lowing.” It’s softer than mooing and mellows all who are listening. Remember the line in the Christmas carole about the cattle lowing?
Cows are the centerpiece of a biodynamic farm. They earn this status by way of their marvelous digestion which begins with their massive teeth, continues through three stomachs, resulting in pure gold that provides heat and nutrition for our compost piles. Our fields are enlivened, our crops thrive, and our own bodies are nourished, all thanks to them.
You’ll find one of them, Ashoka, friendly, although her massive size AND horns make approaching her a cautious undertaking. She may enjoy getting petted (from outside her stall) but she can lift her head suddenly, with absolutely no malice intended. Getting bumped by one of her horns, being attached to her HUGE head, can make quite a bruise!
Ama, who wears a brown leather collar, is less friendly. She prefers her own space and can be agitated if touched on her head. But ask the farmers for something to feed her and you’ll be utterly amazed at watching her eat. A mighty big tongue will curl around a bunch of carrot tops and tug it away from your hand. Then, the chewing starts – another sweet sound!
Be sure to consult with the farmers before interacting with the animals, for safety’s sake. Yet, remember that they are truly “ours” (as the farm is truly “ours”) and our help is always welcome in caring for them. One member had the thrill of her life, by her own testimony, as a winter animal feeder. With a New York City childhood, she had no experience with cows, barns, bales of hay, and wells of water. But our farmers trained her to safely enter the stalls in the quiet of winter afternoons, alone on the farm, to care for our cows, goats, chickens and cats. Our experience of being a farm member can be as intimate as we desire.
The chickens at the CFAA are a lively bunch and one of the main attractions for the children who visit the farm. We have one Rooster, Rain Drop and usually at least 20 girls - all named Jessica. Rain Drop is protective of his flock but he gladly welcomes people who are slow and gentle into the chicken yard. We have several types of hens who provide us with green, brown or white eggs that we collect daily. The chickens receive a wide and varied diet including everything from cracked corn with granola to worms - and it is a joyous event to see how excited they get about food! If you are interested in visiting or feeding the chickens, first check in with Annie or Paul.
