A Virtual Tour Of Pat McNiff's Jamestown Farm, Part 2

EG Patch visited Pat McNiff’s farm in Jamestown last week to be able to present a virtual tour on the website. McNiff has been chosen as the new tenant farmer of Boesch Farm on South Road. This is the second part of on McNiff's farm practices.

While he plans to raise vegetables on about an acre of land, he will also be bringing an increased number of farm animals to the property, which is a change from the previous tenant, Erik Eacker of Ledge Ends, who did not have large farm animals.

McNiff, like Eacker, is an organic farmer. He practices “rotational grazing,” using temporary, movable fencing, for all of his animals, which at Boesch will include about 30 pigs, 6 to 8 dairy cows, 30 sheep, some rabbits, laying chickens and, spring to fall, broiler chickens and turkeys.

In the first video, , viewers could see McNiff’s pigs, laying chicken and cows. In part 2, we see McNiff’s broiler chickens - those chickens he raises for their meat - together with turkeys, also raised for their meat. According to McNiff, there are more than 1,000 chickens in those portable “chicken tractors” and about 350 turkeys. The tractors are picked up and moved daily, McNiff said. McNiff only farms these birds starting in the spring and ending in the fall.

“In winter we don’t raise broilers and turkeys because the land can’t absorb it,” he said. “We slow down in the winter because we are grass based.”

In part 2, we also see the rabbits, roaster chicks and sheep. Robert Lee of Warwick came by as we were leaving the sheep pasture. He camps all summer next door at Fort Getty campground and said that he likes to stop by to watch the animals.

“I think it’s great because it’s bringing back the old things,” said Lee. He said he brings his grandchildren so that they will know what farming is. When asked about the smell, Lee said, “No smell here at all.”

For McNiff, the has been both exciting and frustrating, he said.

“I want people to feel good about it,” he said of his coming to Boesch. “It’s personal. This is my life and my livelihood.”

McNiff employs 3 people full time and 16 others part time. At Boesch, McNiff said, he plans to generate income, create jobs, provide healthy food and a place for everyone to visit.

“This is what I want to do,” he said. A hearing on his lease at Boesch takes place Monday at Town Hall at 7 p.m. A preview of the issues will be posted Monday morning on EG Patch.