Until the invention of asphalt, Kessler Road was a bad-weather alternative to the main road between Williamstown and Pittsfield, and it eventually hosted at least five other farmhouses.

The decline in New England farming between 1870 and 1950 led to the abandonment of all the early homes on Kessler Road, except our farm.  Land parcels had to be sold off, but happily, the Phelps family, abutters to the north, bought a large piece, and they are now the last dairy farmers in this part of Berkshire County. For the past 100 years, farming in this area has become a labor of love.

In 1987, the Bartons bought the core of the old Kessler property, about 150 acres including the farmhouse and several outbuildings, one an original barn dating from 1790. With ongoing restoration work, this is home today for our sheep, chickens and pigs, and the hay loft holds up to 1,000 bales, enough for the toughest Berkshire winter.

The animals are all heritage breeds, ancient strains not bred to maximize market value. These are animals that have retained natural hardiness, higher resistance to diseases and injury, and ability to thrive on a broader range of diets. They are easy and good as parents and babies. These qualities make them ideal for part-time farmers like the Bartons who must also work off-farm to balance the books.

These days, Sky Dance is home to numerous gardens and up to 100 creatures–about three dozen chickens, 30 Navajo-Churro sheep (45-50 after lambing in April/May), and sometimes Tamworth pigs. The chickens are for egg production, and the animals for meat. We hope soon to make profitable use of the wool from the sheep, shorn in late May each year. The barn is subdivided to accommodate the differing needs of the animals, and the fields outside have been divided into 7-8 pastures to allow rotational grazing. We have some concern about predators, but our losses have been remarkably small, due in part to our three dogs who are allowed to roam the property freely. They will bark loudly when you arrive at the farm, but the tails are wagging–they’re friendly noisemakers.

Products available for sale at Sky Dance Farm:

• Lamb
• Pork
• Fresh eggs
• Daylilies

Click here to see more farm photos

Brought to New Mexico’s Rio Grande Valley in the 16th Century by the Spanish, these sheep descend from the ancient Iberian Churra breed. Five hundred years ago the Navajos repeatedly stole Churras from the Spanish conquistadors, and when the breed vanished in Europe, it survived with the Navajos. The sheep became central to native culture and thrived in the mountains of New Mexico. They are the reason Navajo weaving became famous. Their long-staple fiber is excellent for outerwear, blankets, and floor coverings; it is very durable, and takes colors well. Contact us if you are interested in skeins of yarn or washed fleeces. Natural Churro wool color varies from sheep to sheep—lots of white, but also beautiful tans, browns, and blacks. The yarn we sell is a natural light tan color. Skeins are $12.00, washed fleeces (about 10 lbs.) are $60.

We started with sheep mainly to keep our pastures and fields open, but soon realized that 4-5 sheep couldn’t keep 35 acres of fields trimmed. The cost of winter feed (mainly hay—20 bales per sheep) meant that a flock of 20+ would be expensive, so we had the dilemma facing most farmers—how to make animals a viable economic proposition. We decided we were happy to trade our labor for clear fields and the satisfaction of raising sweet animals, BUT we needed to cover the direct costs. We bring in marginal revenue with the wool, but our best income thus far has been from the meat.

Navajo-Churro is regarded by many chefs as the most desirable breed when it comes to lamb or mutton. The unusually low lanolin levels translate to excellent taste. We raise our sheep on grass and local hay and allow them to range through the 8 pastures on our farm. At 9-14 months of age we deliver them live to an excellent local, USDA-inspected butcher. We offer the meat frozen, minimum orders of ½ lamb (about a 12 lb. mix of typical cuts–roasts, chops, ground, etc., separately wrapped packages, mostly 1-2 lb.). We sell mainly to direct customers via phone and internet, with pick-up at the farm, or we will deliver locally for a modest fee. We do not ship out of the area. When supplies permit, we also supply the Wild Oats Market and the restaurant Mezze, both in Williamstown. Our farm-direct retail price is $7.50/lb. Though we usually sell out, we are increasing the flock size and always looking for new customers. Please advise us of your interest and your email as far in advance as possible, and we will add you to the list to receive our availability bulletins.

If you want to visit the sheep, best times are 8:00-8:30 a.m. and 5:00-5:30 p.m.