Karim Farm and Creamery

48 acres

Property Owner:

Farmer or farm family

Contact Name:

Michael Bean

Property Location:

442 Chamberlin Rd, Ryegate VT 05042
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The Land

Total number of acres available with this property:

48.0

Total acres available for agriculture:

48.0

Acres of forested land:

0.0

Acres of cropland or tillable land:

34.0

Acres of pasture:

14.0

Quality of land:

Land is river valley so fertile with enough clay to support strong second cut of hay even in dry years. Non-pasture land is hayfield with minor/seasonal wetness and relatively flat. Pastures are rockier and occasionally steeper, fenced (moveable) into paddocks, with water. No chemicals have been used in at least 10 years.

Farm Information

Water sources present:

Available

Water sources details:

Deep artesian well, tested 2X yearly and providing pentiful water; 2 springs: one tiled and one open.

Barns and sheds:

Available

Farmer housing:

None available

Equipment and machinery:

Available

Equipment and machinery details:

All equipment needed for feeding cows, milking and cheese making. Shared use of 24 hp tractor.

Farm infrastructure details:

40 X 100 ft dairy barn with newly installed pipeline, milk room with 60 and 200 gallon bulk tanks, grain room, milking parlor and calf pens. Attached 40 X 100 ft free stall barn with moveable corral panels and water. Attached creamery set up for producing raw milk cheeses. Bathroom. All currently inspected. 10 x 18 cheese "cave."

Tenure Arrangement

Tenure arrangement:

Property for rent

Property for rent:

We are offering a 3 year lease on the dairy and creamery with additional leases for livestock and Karim Farm and Creamery brand. Possible extensions and right of first refusal if we decide to sell

Additional Information

Beautiful small farm set up for a 16-milk cow dairy and creamery, located on a dead end dirt road but less than 1/2 mile from US Rte 5.  Connecticut River valley: rural, relatively mild weather, easy access to St Johnsbury, Montpelier and Hanover.  Please visit our website: www.karimfarm.com for who we are and what we do.

We are, unfortunately, aging out of doing all the work and so are hoping to find folks interested in dairy and cheese making to make use of the improvements we have made over the past 10 years. In addition to barn, creamery and fields, it is possible to lease the established herd and an established brand name, recipes and markets. While we expect the lessee to run the farm and creamery with energy and ideas to  take it forward, we will remain onsite and are happy to offer expertise, support and some help with the work.  Providing a minimum of  three years makes it possible for the lessee to access grants and loans.  We hope, when we are ready to retire fully, we will be able to pass the farm on, keeping cows on Vermont fields.