Baylee Drown Finds What Makes Her Heart Sing
Baylee Rose Drown, is a queer woman farmer, educator and community builder. Baylee believes in good food for all people.
For Baylee, this starts with caring for soil and extends into seeking justice in our land and food system. Sliding scale CSA, working with meal centers and acknowledging colonial land theft (our land is the home of Nehantic people) are all part working of towards an equitable food system.
Baylee was raised on her families' Holstein dairy farm in Michigan. She earned a Bachelors of Science from Michigan State Universities' College of Agriculture and Natural Resources in 2009. This is where she first discovered land and animal ethics, which inspired her transition from a conventional farmer to a regenerative farmer.
Baylee picked up the organic farming bug in Vermont, where she worked at Green Mountain College's diversified farm from 2009-2013. During Baylee's time at Green Mountain she qualified the farm as Animal Welfare Approval and was active in the greater community by serving as a boardmember for the Stone Valley Food Coop. Baylee earned her Masters of Science in Sustainable Food Systems from Green Mountain College in 2014, as she was incorporating Upper Pond Farm as an LLC and turning the soil in Old Lyme for the first time.
Baylee is a life long learner. Recently she completed courses on Uprooting Racism in the Food System, Holistic Management, Soil Health and Climate Change and Compost Facility Management.
Baylee enjoys mentoring and teaching all ages from mutual aid for fellow farmers, to apprentices, WWOOFers and LymeConsolidated Elementary Students.
Baylee presents on the subjects of grant writing, composting, chemical free pest management and integrating animal and plant food production systems. Baylee uses her small cattle herd to manage and improve grasslands and soils. Cows can save the planet - ask Baylee how!
Baylee loves bringing people together through farmers’ markets hosted at the Long Table, and volunteering withConnecticut Farmland Trust and the Connecticut Compost Alliance.Baylee loves feeding people and being really tired and dirty at the end of a workday. She also loves to teach, hike, fish, make cheese and cook.
Long Table Farm website
Long Table Farm Facebook
Long Table Farm Instagram
Long Table Farm YouTube
Long Table Farm Bluesky
Cows Save the Planet by Judith Schwartz
Beaver Land by Leila Philip
Holistic Management International
Richard Perkins Youtube
Thanks to New England Grazing Network for sponsoring this episode under a USDA-Grazing Lands Conservation Initiation grant!
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The Choosing to Farm podcast is all about telling origin stories, learning from the journeys, and creating connection among first-and returning-generation livestock farmers and ranchers across the US and the world. After nearly 30 years working professionally in agriculture as well as being a returning-generation farmer myself, I’m here to share stories, tips and resources to help livestock farmers and ranchers heal our relationship with success. Want to help? Like, share or review this episode! Want to help even more? Join our Patreon to support the show or even buy me a cup of coffee at the Choosing to Farm web site!
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