How to Move a Pig

Happy Tamworth Pig in Vermont

"Actually, the most difficult and time-consuming task on a great many farms with hogs is getting them from point A to point B while maintaining a modicum of dignity and your religion." Storey's Guide to Raising Pigs

During our first couple of years raising pigs, we experience many moments of losing our religion trying to move pigs from point A to point B. Especially since we employ rotational foraging practices which may require moving hogs across long distances. We finally discovered a method that seems to work and we would encourage all of you to try this method when moving your piggies.

Vanessa constructed a small cage, open at the top and bottom, out of a heavy duty welded wire hog panel. Fashioned in a horse-shoe shape with a straight sided opening. This can easily be placed down over the pigs. If there is separating of pigs required, we first coral them into a smaller paddock, then using a piece of ply wood, we push and direct the hogs we want to move into the cage.

Hogs corralled in moving pen

Making sure the hogs are sufficiently hungry helps. Throwing down handfuls of sweet potatoes or apples seems to keep various groups satisfied whilst the moving occurs. Our pigs are trained to a specific "call", which is delivered at each feeding so that, in the event a pig gets loose, the "call" can inspire a Pavlovian response in the pig! Two to three people can then move the pigs by dragging the cage along the ground as the piggies walk along wondering where they are going. We have moved pigs up to a 1/2 mile this way with no problem.

As always in farming, it takes patience and stamina.

Registered Icelandic Breed Stock in Vermont

Stark Hollow Farm provides superior Icelandic breed stock to small farms and breeders throughout New England. In recent months, several start flocks as well as ewe lambs and ram lambs were sold to farms in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.

We strive to produce superior animals with excellent conformation, meaty builds, luxurious fleeces and good parasite resistance.

Icelandic lamb is considered a gourmet tasting lamb, mild yet flavorful. Our lamb typically sells out in a matter of weeks! Contact us if interested. Lamb will be available in mid November. Check our website for more information at www.starkhollowfarm.com.

The dual coated fleece, natural colored fleece of these animals is prized by handspinners and felters.

Daphne, a gorgeous moorit  ewe lamb headed off to her new home in Waitsfield, Vermont today.

For more information on Stark Hollow Farm Icelandic sheep for sale, visit us at Stark Hollow Farm.

Vermont Forage Based Rabbits Kindling* Hutches

Vanessa at work!

Vanessa's custom designed, modular rabbit hutches accommodate new mamas with their newly kindled bunnies. The mothers must be separated and provided their own space during the crucial days leading up to kindling and in the days and weeks following the birth of their bunnies.


The Finished Hutch

During their time in the kindling hutches, mamas are fed grasses, clover, parsnip leaves, carrots and other garden greens as well as grain supplements while their young ones are nursing. As the bunnies grow older, they too, begin to consume forage before they are placed back into rotational field hutches.


The New Mama's Rabbit Village

Watch for us at the Burlington Winter Farmer's Market this year for delicious forage based rabbit meats.

* The definition of Kindle as used in animal husbandry is: (of animals, especially rabbits) to bear (young); produce (offspring).

Stark Hollow Farm Consults with Sue Morse

Vanessa Riva, Sue Morse and Laura Smith

Sue Morse, founder of Keeping Tracks and a recognized expert in natural history and wildlife tracking, came to HOWL recently and consulted with Stark Hollow Farm owner, Vanessa Riva, about her farm management and stewardship of HOWL lands.

Sue applauded Stark Hollow Farm's rotational grazing methods, absence of permanent fencing that would obstruct wildlife passage, abatement of non-native invasive plants, encouragement of plant diversity which supports diversity of wildlife, and the maintenance of "rough" meadow areas along field borders.

Stark Hollow Farm continues to amend fields, maintain core wildlife habitat and corridors, and provide rigorous stewardship of the HOWL lands. This work has been recognized and is highly valued by HOWL, A Vermont Women's Land Trust with whom the farm has a wonderful and mutually beneficial partnership with.


Vanessa Riva & Sue Morse


Vanessa Riva & Sue Morse at the top of the South Meadow



Icelandic Sheep on South Meadow


Forest/Pasture Raised Tamworth Pigs

Buttercup Kindled!

Buttercup, one of our foundation breeding doe rabbits, has kindled another litter. Photos to come soon as the little critters are all cozied up in a large nest of hay and mama's fur.

Stark Hollow Farm Rabbit Pelts - Lost Arts

Stark Hollow Farm luxurious rabbit pelts will be used to teach children and adults during Lost Arts Week at Common Ground Center in Starksboro, Vermont.



The preparation and tanning of pelts is an ancient practice with practical roots. Rabbit pelts now are mostly used in decorative or craft applications, but at one time this important skill contributed to our survival.

The Common Ground Center promotes the preservation of these rapidly disappearing skills through its Lost Arts programming which offers an amazing hands-on opportunity for kids and adults to experience many traditional and primitive skills.

We love doing business local! You can check them out on the web at: Common Ground Center.

Icelandic Fleeces to be used for Lost Arts Week

Thanks go out to Sandra and the Common Ground Center in Starksboro, Vermont for their purchase of raw Icelandic Fleeces from Stark Hollow Farm to support their Lost Arts programming this summer. The dual-coated Icelandic fleece is a great choice for hand spinning. By using Icelandic fleeces, this non-profit organization helps to support the continuance of the genetics of this magnificent primitive breed. Common Ground programming for both kids and adults teaches a variety of lost arts. We thank Common Ground Center for supporting the continuance of these intriguing and useful skills.


Raw Icelandic Fleece

Common Ground Center is located in Starksboro, Vermont. From their website:

Mission: Common Ground Center is a cooperatively run non-profit arts, education, and outdoor recreation and retreat center. We are dedicated to bringing together and strengthening diverse families and communities through unique program offerings and facility rentals. Our beautiful site demonstrates our commitment to environmental sustainability.