Consulting

Sarah grew up on a family farm in Virginia, where she helped to milk and care for about 100 registered Guernsey cows. She earned a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University with research on crop pollination (particular emphasis on sunflowers and organic tomato production) and native bee conservation, completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California-Davis researching sustainable wine grape production, and held a tenure-track position as assistant professor of conservation biology in Sacramento. Over the past ten years, Sarah has worked full-time designing, creating, and operating Sunny Knoll EcoFarm. Sarah has extensive experience with a variety of topics relating to small farm businesses and homesteading, including cow shares, goat shares, and the husbandry of the following livestock: Guernsey cows, Guernsey goats, Narraganset turkeys, cotton patch geese, heritage chickens, cornish cross chickens, guinea fowl, Icelandic sheep, American Guinea hogs, other breeds of hogs, and livestock guardian dogs. Additionally, Sarah grows over 100 different kinds of plants for food, with projects including heirloom vegetables, common and unusual fruit trees, pest-resistant varieties, permaculture plantings, native edibles, no-till vegetable gardening, sheet composting, and vegetables for winter harvesting. Sarah is available to provide expert advice to gardeners, hobby farmers, homesteaders, for-profit small farmers, and those who wish to keep a family cow. Rates are $30 for 15 minutes, $55 for 30 minutes, or $100 for one hour. Please email sarah@sunnyknollecofarm if you wish to schedule a private consultation.