Farm Cats, Beneficial Insects, and Ecosystem Management
This week the farm adopted 3 new furry friends. Our farm cats will help to protect the plants from various pests as well as put a smile on our faces.
But cats are just one part of how we manage our farm ecosystem. When people ask what makes our cannabis different, we usually talk about our genetics or our soil. But the real answer is simpler: we treat this place like a farm, not a factory.
It's All Connected
Our 29 acres work as one big system. The cows provide manure for our compost teas. The cover crops we plant when cannabis isn't growing add nitrogen to the soil and keep it healthy. The beneficial insects we release eat the pests that would otherwise damage our plants. And now our cats help control rodents that might get into our stored materials or disturb the soil ecosystem.
Everything has a job, and everything works together.
Beneficial Bugs Do the Heavy Lifting
Instead of spraying chemicals when we see pests, we release the good bugs. Ladybugs, lacewings, and praying mantises take care of aphids and other plant-damaging insects. It takes a little longer than chemicals, but it keeps our cannabis clean and our soil alive.
We also plant insectary flowers around the greenhouses - plants that attract and feed these beneficial insects so they stick around and keep working. It's like having a security team that works for free and never goes home.
The Cats Fit Right In
Our three new farm cats aren't just cute (though they definitely are). Mice and rats can damage stored seeds, contaminate compost materials, and disturb the soil biology we work so hard to maintain. The cats handle this naturally, without us having to use traps or poisons that could affect other parts of the ecosystem.
Plus, anyone who's spent time around farm cats knows they're pretty good at keeping stress levels down during busy harvest seasons.
Why This Matters for Your Cannabis
When we manage the farm as an ecosystem instead of fighting against nature, everything works better. Our soil stays healthier, which means stronger plants. Stronger plants produce more potent, flavorful cannabis. Clean cultivation methods mean you're not smoking chemical residues.
You can taste the difference when cannabis is grown in living soil with natural pest management. The terpenes are cleaner, the effects are clearer, and you know exactly what went into growing your flower.
Come See the System in Action
Next time you're at the dispensary, ask about our cultivation methods. Our staff knows how each strain was grown and can explain why we do things the way we do. You might even spot one of our farm cats keeping watch over the operation.
We're not trying to reinvent farming - we're just applying methods that have worked for Vermont farmers for over 200 years to growing really good cannabis. Turns out, what's good for the land is good for the plant, and what's good for the plant is good for you.
Want to see more behind-the-scenes content from the farm? Follow us on social media or stop by the dispensary to hear the latest from our cultivation team.
