Biodiversity
Biodiversity refers to the entire spectrum of plant and animal life that occurs in nature. Increasing biodiversity is an aim of sustainable agriculture.

Buy Local
The average distance food travels from farm to table is 1,500 miles. Local is fresher, tastier, and bursting with the vitamins and minerals it doesn't lose on its long trip. Buying locally also supports local farmers and builds community. There is a dwindling numbet of farmers in America. By buying from Farmers' Markets, eating seasonally, and supporting sustainable food choices, you can make a difference.

Compost
Instead of using chemical fertilizers, we make compost in windrows to help maintain and improve our soil. Compost is basically a microbe furnace - where manure, kitchen scraps, minerals, straw, and other organic materials are cooked down by millions of microorganisms into the super-nutritious "black gold" we feed back to the soil in our growing areas. A complete compost-making cycle takes about six months. At Stone Barns, we produce food without the addition of chemical fertilizers; the only amendment to the soil is compost.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Members of a CSA provide financial resources to farmers and in return, receive weekly shares of the harvest. To find a CSA in your area, log on to www.justfood.org.

Farmers' Markets
At farmers' markets, farmers can sell their produce to the public. Products at such markets are renowned for being locally-grown, very fresh, and sold directly to the public. Stone Barns offers a weekly market every Wednesday, Friday & Sunday starting May 2 this year, offering produce, eggs, and meat from the farm. Visit www.localharvest.org to find a local market in your community.

Heirloom
A time-tested, open pollinated vegetable. Heirloom varieties are those which were introduced before 1950. They are often of European descent and were passed down from generation to generation. The propogation of heirloom vegetables helps to preserve biodiversity.

Heritage Foods
Heritage foods are derived from rare and endangered breeds of livestock and crops. At Stone Barns, we raise Bourbon Red Turkeys, a heritage breed that originates in Bourbon County, Kentucky. They are the direct descendants of the first domesticated turkeys in America.

Pastured
Pasturing livestock and poultry is a traditional farming technique that allows animals to be raised in a humane and ecologically sustainable manner. The animal is raised outdoors on a pasture, as opposed to being confined to a feedlot or barn.

Rotational Grazing
The practice of moving animals among several pastures, so that each one undergoes a grazing period followed by a recovery period. This practice protects the land from overgrazing and reduces soil erosion.

Sustainable Agriculture
A method of agriculture that attempts to ensure the profitability of farms while preserving the environment. At Stone Barns, we try to be as self-sufficient as possible. We utilize the maximum of what we generate and keep outside "imports" to a minimum. We celebrate year-round farm-to-table agriculture, because getting closer to the food we eat is better for one's health, taste buds, the environment, and also supports local and national economies.