Abundance Acres Farm

In 2014, Pam and Chris purchased a 185-acre Amish dairy farm in a rural upstate New York community where the farms are about half old-order Amish, half conventional dairy or crops ... even though they had no intention of converting to Amish, milking cows, or being conventional or crop farmers. They founded Abundance Acres Farm with a small herd of Creme d'Argent rabbits (hence the dancing bunny logo); a few flats of veggies; and a desire to grow delicious, healthy food. Next came egg layers, turkeys, meat chickens, pigs, and two wild American Wagyu-cross heifers--all before the house had hot water and electricity, never mind a toilet and a shower!

The farm vision always has been to grow healthy food in a sustainable way while making use of the land's natural resources. The market focus has evolved over the years, from more organic seedlings and produce to mostly pasture-raised livestock for eggs and meats. Pam and Chris also tap their dense woods for maple syrup, make hay for grass-eaters, clear old apple trees for future harvests, and dream of harnessing the wicked wind (or water flow) to generate electric power. Value-added products from an on-farm kitchen are envisioned for the near future.

The current livestock menagerie includes rabbits, hens, chickens, ducks, turkeys, pigs, goats, sheep, and beef cattle. When time and conditions permit, Pam & Chris cultivate mushrooms and grow storage crops like garlic, potatoes, and popcorn alongside unique heirloom vegetables and a few perennial crops (e.g., asparagus, rhubarb, strawberry). Their pollinator-friendly practices are a mix of old-fashioned, organic, and (un)common sense that incorporates quality inputs, hardy varieties and breeds, mechanical cultivation, and rotation to support health and avoid disease.