A New Year, the Farm Way

Hello, friends.

The calendar has turned again.

Out here on the farm, January doesn’t arrive with fireworks or fanfare. It comes quietly—on frozen mornings, in the crunch of boots on snow, in the soft sound of animals breathing steam into the cold air. The dogs Meg, Bess and Gyll are always happy to get out and work, and equally happy to get back into the house by the wood cookstove.The days are still short, the light still low, and everything feels… paused.

Which feels just about right.

There’s a lot of talk this time of year about new beginnings. Big goals. Big changes. Reinventing yourself by February. But the farm doesn’t rush into a new year. It rests first.

Winter is when we take stock— in a spreadsheet kind of way, but also in a noticing way. Which animals are thriving. Which systems worked well. Where we felt stretched too thin. Where there was ease. The land tells us these things if we’re paying attention.

And so does our own body, if we let it.

In winter, nourishment matters more than ever. Animals need steady, reliable feed to stay warm and healthy. The land rests, gathering strength for what’s to come. And our bodies? They’re asking for the same care—real food, cooked slowly, eaten mindfully.

This is the season for simmering stock, long braises, and meals that make you feel held. For choosing food that supports your health rather than stressing it. Food that you trust—because you know where it came from, how it was raised, and the people behind it.

That’s the kind of New Year we believe in.

Not one built on pressure or perfection—but one built on presence. On choosing food that feels good in your body. On supporting farmers you know by name. On staying connected to your community, even when the days feel long and quiet.

If you’re feeling called to set intentions this year, maybe they don’t have to be loud or dramatic. Maybe they can be as simple as this:

• Eat food that truly nourishes you

• Spend your money close to home

• Take care of yourself the way you’d take care of someone you love

• Trust that slow, steady progress is still progress

That’s how we move through the seasons here at Lucky Dog Farm. One day at a time. One chore, one meal, one thoughtful choice at a time.

We’re so grateful to be heading into another year with you—sharing food, stories, and the quiet work of feeding ourselves and our communities well.

Here’s to a grounded, gentle New Year.
We’ll be right here, doing what we do best.

— Farmer Judith,

Lucky Dog Farm 🐑