About Border Farm
Our Story
When our family started we had a small piece of land and our focus was to think of our food, children, and animals, and to provide and do the very best that we could. Life was simple and sweet back then. Our daily routine and intentions were -from the garden, to the kitchen, to our family. It was a lot of work but nourishing on all levels. Our knowledge grew alongside the garden, and we realized our lifestyle kept us outside, in the sun and soil, with our family, and the best food possible. This story has had many chapters, but we have always used biodynamics as our foundation. It wasn't just a method of tending to the soil, or produce, or animals, but rather a lifestyle on all levels. After several decades, we still live how we teach, and teach what we have learned. The soil and our animals have been our greatest guides. From our first small garden, through our market garden years, we are now deep into the next chapter - natural rearing stock animals.
Border Farm is a family-owned and operated biodynamic farm located in Montana. We are dedicated to sustainable agriculture practices that enhance soil health and promote biodiversity. We have been biodynamic gardening since 1997, and started farming with the same principles soon after. We have created a farm that feeds the animals, that feeds the soil, that feeds our family, and now beyond. Besides our produce and raw dairy products, we specialize in educational opportunities and one-on-one consultations.
Our Mission
Our family farm works with mother nature, the seasons, and each other to create a holistic approach to growing and raising food. At our core we believe in making every place more beautiful & healthier than when we arrived. Using biodynamic and natural rearing principles we create healthy soil, healthy plants, healthy animals, and healthy people. Our goal is to have the farm be an educational space for our community to come learn and participate in local agriculture, from the ground up. To make it simple - we raise animals, we grow food, and we teach. Come join us on the Farm.
Our Principles
- We have created a holistic ecosystem, where each part nurtures the other, including humans, plants, animals, and soil.
- Our animals are naturally reared with herbal care from the teachings of Juliette Levy, the Grandmother of Herbalism. All of our animals have access to movement, shelter, all weather, clean water, and an enormous amount of time with us.
- We use our animals manure, garden green manure, and what our trees offer to create incredibly nourishing compost for our farm.
- We do not use chemicals, vaccines, commercial wormers, or synthetic fertilizers.
- We are a gathering place for our local community and offer education on healthy food, animal rearing, holistic education, and old fashioned potlucks!
Border Farm TEAM
Nancy
"Owning a farm means you do a lot of what you know and learn how to figure out the rest. There is no end to projects, animal care, purchasing, growing, irrigating, and then taking care of my human family. I have tended to and assisted in all of our animals births, and I am raising animals from day one with optimal nutrition. From training my dogs and packgoats, to milking goats, butchering quail, collecting eggs, and watering our gardens, my days are super busy, but I wouldn't want it any other way. Our farm and my family are everything that I have ever dreamed of. "
Nancy - CPDT-KSA is a certified dog trainer and award-winning writer and photographer. She’s the founding owner at Paws & People, Border Farm, and has appeared on The Martha Stewart Show. She lives in Montana on her farm that is a blend of everything she does and loves: working with animals, biodynamic farming, nutrition, and her natural rearing breeding programs. She is best known for her holistic approach with animals and her keen observational skills. With over sixty years of - raising, caring for, living and working with animals professionally, she has amassed a deep and broad knowledge of both health and behavior.
Specialties:
- Natural rearing animals - a student of Juliette Levy herbalism/care for animals for over 30 years
- Species appropriate diets
- Animal behavior
- Animal health
- Animal training
- Animal selection
- Appropriate animal structures / design
- Pasture use and rotation
- Birth to processing - all life stages
- Biodynamic gardening / farming
- Tree / plant selection
If you are looking for guidance or information and would like to work with Nancy, please fill out the contact form and we will get back to you. Consultations are 2 hours minimum, we also offer long range consultations, depending on your needs. Piper and Nancy often work together on long term consultations.
Piper
"I grew up in the mountains of Wyoming and Montana and was raised in a family full of doers- artists, craftsmen, farmers, chefs, athletes & gardeners. I am a mountain athlete and lover of early mornings, sunny days, long dirt roads, snuggles with the farm animals, and swimming in wild water. Growing up I was always surrounded by animals and plants which all led to my deep love for food systems and tending to living things. "
Piper - has a formal education in Ceramics and Outdoor Education and spent several years working in the mountain west on large and small scale regenerative ranches (sheep, bison, cows). She has worked for food hubs, restaurants, farms and ranches and farmers markets learning the various and dynamic aspects of local food systems. Three years ago she moved back to Montana and has taken a dive into learning natural building techniques (specifically earthen plasters) and earned her Permaculture Design Certification from Rancho Mastatal in Costa Rica (2024). Currently she is learning more about holistic and biodynamic animal rearing and land care practices as well as field harvesting and processing of farm and game animals.
Specialties:
- High- intensive rotational grazing plans, time of day to move, forage samples, BRIX testing
- Fencing systems- types, animal considerations, flow of movement
- Permaculture Design - overview of desired elements on property and suggestions on layouts
- Harvesting farm animals - culling, field dressing, processing (ruminates and poultry)
- Earthen and lime plastering / Tadelakt
- Natural building / construction
If you are looking for guidance or information and would like to work with Piper, please fill out the contact form and we will get back to you. Consultations are 2 hours minimum, we also offer long range consultations, depending on your needs. Piper and Nancy often work together on long term consultations.
Renn
"I grew up in the garden and on the trails and backroads of Montana, eating fresh food and exploring. Currently, I spend my time traveling between Montana, Utah, and New Mexico, working primarily with artisan earthen and lime plaster finishes. My life is a hands-on education in art- sculptural creations, functional reactive building, natural building techniques, lithography, and tattoo. My interests range far and wide but generally center around the basics- shelter, food, water, movement; how to incorporate and celebrate these on and off the farm.
When I am on the farm, I assist in building projects, tending to the compost, helping with garden, and field harvesting our animals. Off the farm, I am running, moving, climbing, dancing, learning how to forage, building with friends, and exploring the world."
Specialties:
- Field Harvesting / Processing Goats
- Compost care
- Earthen and lime plastering /Tadelakt
- Solar installation
- Natural building / Construction
If you are looking for guidance or information and would like to work with Renn, please fill out the contact form and we will get back to you. Consultations are 5 hours to months, depending on your needs. Renn has limited availability, advanced scheduling is necessary.
OUR ANIMALS
GOATS
We love our goats! We have a herd that is a blend of mostly French Alpine and Nubian. Our goats carry heritage lines in the packgoat world, going all the way back to the 1980's in Lander, WY. They also have super strong dairy lines from some of the best Alpine dairies in Montana.
DUCKS
We have a flock of Golden 300's, both brown and white, and Mr. Jones our Blue Swedish drake. We pasture our ducks in Duck Alley during the day where they have trees, pasture, and pools, and at night they sleep at Fort Duckworth in the Quack Shack that is predator proof. Duck eggs are not just tasty they are referred to as nutritionally dense. Fried, stirred into a cup of bone broth, in puddings, or used in baking, they are amazing!
QUAIL
Our quail are Jumbo Brown Coturnix and we love raising them. Often times referred to as fairy birds, they are calm, sweet, and huge egg layers. We have a natural quail coop/aviary that houses around 200 quail. They have access to a sand floor, all weather, and the ability to move about freely. Quail eggs are small and beautiful but also nourishing to our system. We love to - pickle them, add to soups, fry, poach, and make the famous 'drug eggs'. All so delicious!
BORDER COLLIES
We have been breeding, raising, and training working line border collies since 2005. Their line is referred to as the Ross Line, old fashioned hard eye, stellar balanced temperaments, sweet, and hard working.
