PHOTO GALLERY: Newborn lambs at Whitefish farm

This time of year brings a lot of happiness to EarthStar Farm owners Susan and Chad Waite. Their family farm near Whitefish saw 13 lambs born this spring.

“Watching them play simply cannot be beat,” Susan said. “It’s so much fun watching the way they are literally jumping for joy, just hours after being born.”

The 13 newborn lambs are about half the number born last spring. The reason for the decrease is conscious choice, Susan said. They realized that for the amount of land they have, a flock of around 50 is ideal. So last spring, when 30 were born at nearly the same time, it gave them a much better sense of what the farm can sustain.

EarthStar Farm grows everything organically, but has not yet gone through the government certifications to become a certified organic farm. It is Waite’s plan to begin that process later this year.

Sustainability is one of the main objectives for the farm.

“By raising both plants and animals we find ourselves in a different category than farmers who only raise plants or ranchers who only deal with animals. All that we raise helps lead to an environment that is mutually enriching, natural and sustainable.”

The farm is not open to the public, which Waite says is, “out of respect for the animals who do not always respond well to the stress of strangers being present.”

More information about EarthStar can be found at www.earthstarfarm.com or by calling (406) 862-4583.