Meet Modern Farmer’s Guest Instagrammer: Blue Whistler Farm

Two years ago Amy Sliffe and her husband Josh made the leap into agriculture in a big way when they bought a five-acre farm in Bahama, North Carolina, that included 11 sheep and 30 chickens. They lacked any farming experience, save for Amy’s childhood visits to her grandparents Angus beef ranch a few times a year. The pair spent a lot of time watching farming and food documentaries and realized they had “been eating terribly” their “whole lives.”

When they learned of Joel Salatin, the well-known farmer and activist, they began reading his books and eventually were able to visit his Polyface Farms in Swoope, Virginia. Amy says seeing Salatin’s farm made her realize her “love for animals could actually turn into a business that could heal the land, feed my family and many others, bring people closer to their food and the land with Agritourism events, and help educate folks on why eating this way is so important for our world and community.” Not to mention that food grown sustainably “tastes a million times better than anything they’ve ever had!” she says.

After Amy and Josh’s trip to Salatin’s place, they began ramping up production on their own farm. Josh built a “Salatin-style” chicken enclosure and they raised 75 broiler chickens. This year they raised nearly 300 and sold out within a month of processing the birds.

This past spring, after a year on the farm, Amy, 25, was able to leave her city job and become a full-time farmer. (Her 27-year-old husband, who cofounded a video and production company, Remedy Co., helps out with farm chores when he can, which Amy says is “more often than not.”) They also have help “from amazing friends” on the days they process the animals.

Besides the broiler chickens, they are now raising grass-fed lamb, pasture-finished rabbit, pastured/woodlot raised pork, free-range chickens for eggs, pastured turkeys, and bees for honey. They are adding an orchard and plan to continue to expand the apiary.

“I never thought that being a farmer was what I’d grow up to be, because I grew up around conventional farming in Missouri, and it wasn’t that appealing. Sustainable farming is a totally different thing, and I am so happy I found out about it when I did,” says Amy.

Blue Whistler Farm, located a mere 20 minutes from downtown Durham, also provides a learning experience for area residents who can visit on “open farm days” that Amy and Josh have at least once a month. Visitors can “see where their food comes from, and learn why we let our animals live in these environments that they thrive in,” according to Amy.

“I am still learning how to cook, and how to live without much added sugar, (besides honey). We eat real food now, and we love every bite! Now that I have these passions, and am living this dream life every day, there is nothing on earth I’d rather do, and I want to share it with as many folks as possible,” she says.