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THE DISH
THE 401
Making a Difference Every Day
• Offering comprehensive, high quality short-term
care for patients following a hospital stay
• Dedicated to meeting the individual care needs
and assuring the best quality of life for our long
term residents
• Bringing a special blend of expertise and compassion
to support residents and their families dealing with
Alzheimer's disease and related dementia disorders
• Five Star Rated by CMS
(On the campus of Rhode Island Hospital)
100 Borden Street, Providence, RI | 401.454.7970 | steerehouse.org
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Mel Colvin Photography
goprov/Nicholas Millard
The cows are kept outdoors, and they
roam a penned area that travels through
the woods with sections of trees, grass
and mud. They eat all the grass, and then
they are moved to another pasture that’s
recently been cut and baled. When it’s
cold, they have access to a barn heated
with wood that’s felled in the forest, and
they can also come in for shelter in the
summer if it’s raining. The two farm dogs
protect the cows and their young from
predators. “When you live on a working
farm, everything has to do its job or it can’t
stay, including the working dogs,” Ann
Marie says. Beau and Blue will lie with
the calves if the mother allows it.
The heritage Breed pigs are kept in the
upper lot, next to woods and pasture. Pigs
roam freely and fatten up on a strict grain
diet. “You are dealing with consistent meat,
that’s why your breeding program is so
important,” Ann Marie says. “All of the
chefs that buy from us will tell you there’s
not one piece of meat that’s different from
the next. It’s all consistent. Fat is good as
long as you know where it came from.
“We fit into the Keto and Paleo diets,”
she adds with a laugh.
A boar is napping like a cat with its big
belly on display; there’s no shame about
fat rolls here. As we approach, the pigs
emerge from the mud and walk up to the
wire fencing, sticking their snouts close
to the edge as if to say hello. They look as
happy as pigs in you-know-what.
Blackbird Farm hosts a farmers market
each week on Sundays from 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
(potentially starting June 14) at 660 Douglas
Pike, Smithfield. The farm store is open
Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m.–6
p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. The
Ice Cream Trailer is also located at the farm
stand, serving fourteen flavors of ice cream
made with local milk. 660 Douglas Pike,
Smithfield, 578-3959,blackbirdfarmri.com.
100 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l MAY/JUNE 2020