Philosophy

Stone Barns Center’s cultivated fields, rolling pastures, dense woodlands and verdant wetlands form a spectacular setting for an architectural ensemble of stone barns and silos.  But Stone Barns is much more than a beautiful place, an historic landscape, or a working farm.  It is a dynamic blend of experimentation, demonstration and learning.

Stone Barns is a place where farmers can be scientists and researchers, educators and storytellers. Our farmers continually explore the best breeds of livestock for our region and cultivate promising new seeds and heirloom varieties of vegetables.  They have designed a farming system that has largely closed its nutrient cycles, so that waste is returned to the soil and energy consumption and environmental impact are reduced.

At Stone Barns, farmers are attuned to the local microclimate and soil conditions, melding human industry and ecological dynamics to create a diverse, resilient and reliable food system. This spirit of innovation puts Stone Barns on the vanguard of sustainable agriculture.

Every aspect of the farm’s operations is designed to work in balance with nature. To preserve and improve the health of the soil, farmers maintain precise rotation schedules for the more than 200 varieties of organic crops grown in the fields, pastures and greenhouse beds.

Animals live humane lives at Stone Barns. Pigs root around in the shade of the forest, staying cool while eating invasive plant species; sheep rotate to fresh pasture every few days and help keep the grasses healthy; and chickens range free around mobile eggmobiles in the spring, summer and fall.  Heritage breeds of turkey and geese share pasture space with the other livestock.  All of these methods help to make the food grown and raised at Stone Barns tastier, more nutritious and more environmentally friendly.