STONINGTON—Join the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut (CT NOFA) and the owners of Footsteps Farm, Craig and Sheryl Floyd, to learn about humane certified and sustainable livestock farming on May 21 from 4pm – 7pm. Since 2002, Craig and Sheryl have produced humanely raised, grass fed pork, chickens, turkeys, beef and other farm products on the 15 acre Footsteps Farm at 55 Laurence Eleanor Street in Stonington.

Footsteps Farm is a true family farm, having been owned by the same family since 1712. In 2006 Craig and Sheryl earned the Humane Certification for their poultry (turkeys, layer chickens and broilers) and their pigs. The certification is a consumer certification and labeling program and Footsteps Farm is the first and only Connecticut farm to receive this certification. The “Certified Raised & Handled” label means that eggs, dairy or meat were produced with the welfare of the farm animal in mind. Footsteps Farm employs Management Intensive Grazing, a rotational grazing system which allows Floyd’s livestock to be “free range all day, every day.” These practices while ecological and humane also create high quality meats, dairy and eggs. Even Martha Stewart chose a Bourbon Red Turkey from Footsteps Farm for her Thanksgiving Dinner.

The workshop is for farmers, homesteaders, or anyone interested in livestock production with a focus on the animals being raised on Footsteps Farm currently including: heritage breed turkeys, Scottish Highlander cattle, Footsteps’ farms own breed of pig, “Large Shireworth”, and laying hens.

After the workshop there will be a beginning farmer dinner (free for those who register as beginning farmers). The workshop and beginning farmer mixer are made possible by a grant from the National Institute for Food and Agriculture through the USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. Workshop registration is $20 for members and beginning farmers (ten years or fewer of farming experience) and $30 for non-members. Please register in advance by calling the CT NOFA office at 203-888-5146 or by visiting www.ctnofa.org.

CT NOFA is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the practices of ecologically sound farming and gardening, and to the development of local sustainable agriculture. CT NOFA is a growing community of farmers, gardeners, land care professionals, businesses and consumers that encourages a healthy relationship to the natural world