In the News

by Aurora Pfaff

Cook Farm, located in Owls Head in the northern Adirondacks, is a family-run regenerative farm founded by Brandon and Laura Cook in 2017. The Adirondack Life article highlights how the farm has grown into a diversified operation raising goats, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and ducks alongside vegetables and value-added goat’s milk products, all within a regenerative system designed to improve soil health and close nutrient loops. The Cooks emphasize animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and transparency, inviting the community to visit the farm and better understand where food comes from. The piece also notes their commitment to accessibility through community events and acceptance of SNAP benefits, reflecting a broader mission to make local, sustainably produced food available while maintaining a viable living for the farm family.

Richard Haller

The North Country Public Radio “North Country at Work” feature profiles Cook Farm in Owls Head, NY, highlighting a young family building a diversified regenerative farm from the ground up in the Adirondacks. The article follows Laura and Brandon Cook as they describe the realities of small-scale farming, including the physical demands of working with livestock, the challenges of unpredictable weather and winter preparation, and the financial difficulty of sustaining a farm business. Despite these pressures, the Cooks emphasize their commitment to regenerative agriculture practices such as rotational grazing, silvopasture, and composting, all aimed at improving soil health and supporting biodiversity. The piece also underscores their deep connection to the local community and landscape, noting that their work is driven by a long-term vision of sustainable land stewardship and providing locally produced food in the North Country.

Barnyard Language

This episode features Laura Cook, a first-generation farmer who has built Cook Farm from the ground up on forested land in New York State. Laura and her husband operate a diversified small-scale farm raising goats, pigs, chickens, ducks, and turkeys, alongside mixed vegetable production in a large greenhouse. The episode highlights how they divide responsibilities: Laura focusing on herd health, production, and marketing, while her husband handles construction and infrastructure, while selling directly to consumers through farmers markets, their website, and an on-site farm stand. It also explores Laura’s involvement in community composting efforts that divert food waste from landfills to create nutrient-rich compost for the farm, as well as how the family integrates farming with homeschooling their son through structured planning and shared daily work. Overall, the conversation emphasizes their commitment to building a sustainable, community-centered farm that can grow into a viable long-term livelihood while supporting their family’s future on the land.