A bit of history: Ayrshire Farm is an 800 acre manor that dates back to the 1800's. The main house is a fieldstone mansion with 4' thick walls and was built in 1912. It was one of the first steel reinforced residential structures. At that time it was state of the art with electricity, central heat and indoor plumbing.
Sandy Lerner of Cisco fame, bought the property in the late 90's saving it from developers and spent a bunch of pesos restoring the property and buildings which had fallen into disrepair. The farm specializes in historic/endangered species of farm animals, is certified organic and humane. They raise Shire horses, several breeds of cattle such as the Milking Shorthorn, Scottish Highland, Ancient White Park, and Ayrshire as well as turkeys and Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs. If you have been to an RTE at the Hunter's Head Tavern in Upperville, then you have eaten some of Ayrshire's meat and/or produce.
I have been intrigued by this farm for a while. I really like the concepts of sustainable agriculture and getting away from the big commercialized factory farms. So I finally made it down to check this place out.
This is Norman, a Milking Shorthorn steer.
Michael checking out a Ayrshire cow:
Ancient Whitepark:
Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs:
My two babes walking around the carriages:
Michael not sure about a shire horse:
Shire horse doing what they do:
I can almost walk:
(note the Ayrshire cow in the background. They are short and stocky.
The backyard:
Sitting on the back "porch":
The main house:
This place is really nice. If you get a chance to visit it, I recommend checking it out. The stable is nicer than most of our houses. Seriously.
The house wasn't open for tours but we looked in the windows and it looks like what you'd expect.
Tuckered out:
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