Meat and Eggs: Mace Chasm Farm

     Mace Chasm Farm, located in Keeseville NY, is a paradise of classic red and gray farm houses. The fields around the farm are lush and green, looking especially fertile for Adirondack soil. Behind the farm loom several mountains that I have yet to learn the names of, and at night the rooftops catch the rays of sunset over the hills. It is enchanting.

My family wandering through the farm

     Courtney and Asa started Mace Chasm Farm and have kept it running together for several years. They raise cattle, sheep, chickens, and pigs, selling the meat and eggs to farmer's markets as well as special events and even from their own Butcher Shop on the farm. It may be hard to think about raising animals to be butchered, but I've walked through the field of this farm and seen the enclosures, and I believe there could never be a happier or healthier cow or sheep. The place is beautiful, expansive, and the animals are treated and fed well. The sheep in particular are also incredibly friendly. When you climb over their fence to greet them they all hurry up to you and start jumping onto your knees to nuzzle and lick your face. It was a hilarious but wonderful experience.

    The cows are also healthy and beautiful. They have a wide area to roam and graze (though Mace Chasm practices rotational grazing to be have less impact on the environment). Sometimes they wander even farther than the farmers would like. One year when I was visiting, one calf got out of its fence and proceeded to walk right though the farm buildings, scaring the couple free range chickens that were pecking around the gardens. Two other animals that can be seen on the farm are Torch and Lantern, the two livestock guardian dogs (Great Pyrenees). The two dogs, besides being very sweet and cuddly, take turns protecting each group of animals from predators like foxes, coyotes, and birds of prey. One will spend the day or night with the pigs while the other chills with the chickens, for example. They are certainly counted among the workers of the farm and are also part of the family (as can be seen in the below picture from their website, taken by a good friend of mine).

Asa and Courtney with either Torch or Lantern... I can't remember which is which!

      Another wonderful fact about Mace Chasm Farm is that they participate in CSA, Community Supported Agriculture. As stated on their website:

"Community Supported Agriculture is a system in which consumers pay farmers ahead of time for food they will receive later, thus helping their farmers prepare for the year with some slow-season capital for buying seeds & livestock. In return, customers get a good price from the farmer, and a consistent stock of in-season products."

This is a wonderful way to create a strong connection with the land an people around the farm. Customers buy shares in certain amounts of various meats. Their whole process can be found here, spelled out for those interested. They also have a self-serve Butcher Shop where customers can grab pre-cut and packaged sausages or cuts of beef from a fridge, leaving the money in a tin.

    As mentioned before, Mace Chasm Farm participates in several events every week, especially during the summer. They work with Sugar House Creamery, a dairy farm in Upper Jay, to host a public dinner called "Supper Jay". They also work with various other farms in their area to host taco and burger nights. These events started off as just the farmers hanging out after a long week, maybe bringing a couple friends. Now, a couple hundred people show up for the dinners. I went to a "taco night" that took place at The Ausable Brewing Company, where they have a huge pavilion filled with picnic benches. Mace Chasm Farm had their food truck pulled up and people were lined up to buy their delicious tacos. My family and friends found some lucky open seats and gathered around, cradling our tacos and sipping our Ausable beer. The crowd chattered as the sun went down; friends catching up, farmers seeing how the others' crops were growing, kids running around, dogs gobbling up scraps. It felt like home, a real, solid community event based on local food from local small businesses, and Mace Chasm was helping to make it possible. I most certainly recommend stopping by if you're ever in Keeseville. 

Taco Night! 

Photos by myself