Off Grid in Western New York
– by Georgeanne Vyverberg
Menagerie Farm
“We are a small homestead and farm in Western New York. Our goal is to live simply and sustainably, with kindness and grace.” This statement is on Menagerie Farm’s Facebook page and although I found it to be true, I also found it to be somewhat modest. J.E. Sawyer and partner Laura Baldwin have carved out a life on this beautiful bit of land along Keshequa Creek in Livingston County, that would be the envy of many a “back to the lander” from the 1970’s. So many of us threw up our hands and went back to civilization ie. the city. I must confess to being one of them although my attempts were more in the early 80’s. Always have been behind the times, but I did last nearly 40 years. The difference between myself and the owners of this little homestead is that they brought with them the skills necessary to make their vision work. Skills like electrical knowledge and construction, which are invaluable if you have limited funds and need to improvise.
They were given and later bought what was to became 80 acres from family, and in 2012 began clearing and then built a yurt with the help of family and friends. In Spring of 2014 they moved in and found a life of possibility and inventiveness. First came the gardens and soon chickens and ducks and then the reality of potable water and its difficulty became the first real challenge. While the creek and its water were close at hand, it was summer and a droughty one at that so they used pumps to pull the water up the ten feet of creek bank and over to a seven-foot-high 300-gallon water container to store. Using gravity, they could use hoses to fill buckets for animals and gardens. Things became easier when they found water troughs using a float system that could be hooked up to the many and various barrels, which collected rainwater. This saved time and work and felt at first like luxury. Then came winter and the property of water in its liquid form became elusive.
Water barrels moved inside the yurt but water needed to be hauled from town. A tiring and time- consuming task. Animal dishes need to be dumped of ice and refilled mid-day. With Spring 2015 came better ideas about water. On the hill above their homestead affectionately dubbed “Yurtland”, they dug a pond and set up a gravity water system which actually made running water a possibility inside the yurt. With propane they were able to install a hot water heater and therefore had shower amenities as well. Never would they take running water for granted again.
Soon more shelters were built to house their growing menagerie. Goats, sheep, rabbits, Coturnix quail for eggs and meat. The eggs are exquisite and variable in color so no two are exactly alike. The quail are beautiful and sing sweet sounds beneath the raucous cries of ducks and hens. It seems that every additional animal comes with its own story and reason for being there. They never raised animals before and the first intent was to feed themselves healthily and this seemed to be the way to do so. However when you meet the owners of Menagerie Farm it’s supremely evident that they care and take care of these animals with love and humanity.
They have found that they can sell eggs and excess chickens, quail, rabbits and baby goats and almost make enough to pay for the keeping of them. All animals on the farm are fed organic feeds and I was amazed at the health and well being of such a large collection of animals.
Last year they became owners of two pregnant female Alpacas, who both gave birth to healthy youngsters this past Spring. Baby alpacas are called cria. They communicate by humming, which they use to comfort or warn of danger. The last time I visited the farm I heard the Mom humming to her cria when she ventured too close to me in her paddock. I could have watched these beautiful and exotic creatures for hours. Alpacas are not to be confused with Llamas to which they are closely related. Alpacas are smaller and kept for their fiber, which is used to make clothing that is extremely warm and soft.
My most recent conversation revealed that another shelter for a couple of male alpacas is nearing completion with their arrival at the end of this month!
You can visit Menagerie Farm on Facebook where you will find directions to the actual homestead. You will not be disappointed. There is also a blog called Running the Gammut where J.C. illuminates so well their adventures and thoughts on living off grid.