Sometimes we don't know about the local treasures hidden away on side roads right here in the Hudson Valley.
Fiddle Head Farm, owned and operated by Mary Ellen Dean (Mel) and her husband is one such treasure. This farm is more enchanted then it is traditionally "farmish" with Mel's eclectic mixture of unusual farm animal breeds and antiques incorporated together right outside Rhinebeck NY.
Their farm is just a mile down the way from our shop although the farm is not open to the public without an appointment.
For starters, Mel's free range organic chickens live in a beautiful chicken coup worthy of "This Old House". The large custom built coup looks more like a Victorian cottage complete with stunning antique stained glass windows and various antique garden statues surrounding it. The chickens it houses peck feed contentedly from vintage English bone china dishes.
Mel's chicken eggs are certified organic and part of the CSA program the Deans are helping to launch soon in Red Hook NY. Mel also delivers her freshly layed eggs to local residents. The eggs themselves are beautiful to behold in their natural shades of cream, brown and green!
For a bit of comic relief at Fiddlehead is Quackers, the Dean family's good natured duck who patrols the farm when she isn't laying tasty eggs.
Then there are the rare coopworth sheep that Mel has introduced into the Hudson Valley. Their beautiful wool is processed into knitting yarn by a local wool mill and is available for sale at the farm.
The coopworth have just given birth to baby lambs a week ago!
Fiddlehead will have a booth down at this spring's Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, check out the Coopworth listing in the program guide.
Fiddlehead Farm has alpacas and lamas to produce the softest roving for local crafters and spinners!
When Mel isn't tending the flock or out delivering eggs, she's busy in the kitchen baking homemade pies, muffins, cakes and cookies from scratch for some of our local bed and breakfast establishments such as Whistlewood Ranch in Rhinebeck.
Mel's best talent however lies in her ability to find beautiful and rare antiques, many of which she has consigned here at Wiltsie Bridge Country Store.
The rare 19th c.Wardian terrarium that was recently featured on the Martha Stewart show was consigned by Mel. The terrarium is still available to purchase through Mel at this time.
Mel can be contacted at :
Fiddlehead Farm 314 Cedar Heights Rd Rhinebeck, NY 12572 phone: 914-466-3994. Fiddleheadfarm@hvc.rr.com
All pictures of Fiddlehead Farm on this blog posting provided by Mel Dean for Wiltsie Bridge Country Store.
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