Sheep
Smokedown Farm has a sheep flock of around 100 ewes. The original animals were wool breeds like Shetland and Jacob but without a good market for wool we have been breeding them with Katahdin hair sheep that do not need shearing. They are important on Smokedown for their ecosystem benefits. Intensive rotational grazing across the pastures and meadows have been excellent for soil health and sheep grazing through the hopyard is a better substitute to mowing and herbicides for weed control. We are recruiting the flock to help manage the experimental orchard.
Meet the Herd
Frank
The cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) is actually a species of dogwood. It is also referred to as cornelian cherry dogwood. The cornelian cherry dogwood is an adaptable, durable, and relatively pest-free small tree. Plants commonly grow 20 to 25 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide. The cornelian cherry dogwood produces small, yellow flowers in round, 3/4-inch-wide clusters in early spring. After flowering, oblong ½- to 1-inch-long berry-like fruit develop. The fruit turn cherry red in late summer and are edible. The fruit are similar in taste to tart cherries and can be used for jams, jellies, pies, syrups, and wine. The fruit are high in vitamin C.
Pawpaw
The American pawpaw is a fruit native to North America. It grows on the continent's largest edible fruit tree and primarily found in the east, ranging from Florida to southern Canada. It is not as common or popular as it once was, though there is a growing interest in this often forgotten fruit. Pawpaw has a bright, tropical flavor that is enjoyed on its own. It's a delicious addition to desserts as well as recipes that typically call for bananas.
Virginia Persimmon
The Virginia persimmon, or American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), is a native, slow-growing deciduous tree in the eastern U.S. known for its sweet, edible orange fruit that ripens in fall. Valued for its hard wood and as a crucial food source for wildlife, it's identifiable by its dark, blocky bark and is a staple in native gardens and landscapes.
Chokeberry
Black aronia, or black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa), is a North American native shrub known for its antioxidant-rich, tart, dark purple-black berries, which are packed with anthocyanins and polyphenols, earning it "superfruit" status despite their astringency. While too bitter for most to eat raw, the berries are processed into juices, jams, and supplements, and the plant itself is an attractive ornamental with white spring flowers and brilliant fall foliage.
Beach Plum
A beach plum (Prunus maritima) is a hardy, native shrub from the U.S. East Coast, known for growing in sandy, salty coastal soils, producing white spring flowers, and bearing tart, edible blue-purple fruits in late summer, traditionally used for jams, jellies, and wines due to their strong flavor.
