Sap Bush Hollow Farm

Sap Bush Hollow is a multi-generation family farm located in beautiful Schoharie County, in the hinterlands of upstate New York. We believe in stewarding our land as sustainably as possible, in order to ensure that it will continue to produce for many generations to come. All our beef and lamb are fed grass in the growing season, hay in the winter months. Our pasture pork and poultry are kept outdoors on lush green fields, and receive antibiotic/​hormone fee grain as needed. We’ve been living in our little community of West Fulton, the best place on earth, since 1979.

Our family is fiercely committed to providing you with delicious, nutrient-dense local food. We process most of our meats on site, which enables us to do any custom cutting you may require. We also make a line of gourmet specialty sausages that will dazzle even the most finicky taste buds, using all organic ingredients. Flavors include New England Farmhouse Apple, Sicilian Parmesan, Chili-Ale, Romanian Beef Mustard, Cajun Andouille, Classic French Garlic, Merguez, Bratwurst, and many more...in addition to the old favorites: sweet Italian, hot Italian, and breakfast.

We take pride in the fact that, no matter what piece of meat you buy from our farm, you will walk away knowing how to prepare it so that it is tender and delicious. When you visit us on the farm or at the Pakatakan Farmers' Market, we will take our time with you, get to know your needs and your cooking experience, and give you all the help you require. You can even call us with your cooking questions when you get home!

Our grassfed beef and lamb, pastured pork, homemade sausages and eggs are available year-round. Our pastured chickens are available by pre-order from May through October, and our delicious pasture-raised Thanksgiving Turkeys are available fresh for Thanksgiving (please pre-order!). Sap Bush Hollow does not operate like a conventional store. We love our customers, but our first commitment is to taking care of our farm. That means we cannot be open during conventional shopping hours. We try to schedule our open house days at convenient times each month, but if you are unable to attend, don't hesitate to call (518 234 2105) to schedule a private appointment. We will be happy to accomodate you.

When you come to see us, you are destined to meet an interesting cast of characters. Here's a little more about who we are:

Jim Hayes, the farm manager (or primary grunt, as he’d tell you), is a retired professor of animal science from SUNY Cobleskill. Jim holds a Ph.D. in reproductive physiology and animal science, serves on numerous sustainable agriculture committees and organizations throughout the state and country, and occasionally sits down and records some of his brilliant thoughts (and trust us – they are brilliant!) for local sustainable agriculture publications. In his daughter’s opinion (she wrote this blurb), he should really write more. But first he ought to learn how to type. Jim also frequently speaks at state and national conferences about grazing and sustainable livestock production.



Adele Hayes manages the overall marketing and business operations on the farm. Adele is the former director of Schoharie County Planning and Development and the Schoharie County Industrial Development agency. She swears that life got a whole lot nicer once she decided to quit her day job and sell chickens for a living. Unfortunately, her work load didn’t get any lighter. When she’s not packing orders, answering questions, or paying bills, Adele spends her spare time washing eggs and loving Saoirse (the princess child). Adele also frequently speaks about direct marketing (she’s very good at it) at state and national conferences, but she much prefers to sit and listen.



Shannon Hayes, Jim and Adele’s daughter, writes and works with her family on the farm. Shannon holds a Ph.D. in sustainable agriculture and community development, and considers herself a superior poultry eviscerator (she secretly thinks she does it better than her dad, but she’s not quite as fast). Shannon’s writing has appeared in regional, national and internation venues. She is the host of grassfedcooking.com, radicalhomemakers.com, and author of three books: Radical Homemakers, The Grassfed Gourmet, and Farmer and the Grill. Her fourth book, Long Way on a Little: An Earth Lovers' Companion for Enjoying Meats, Pinching Pennies and Living Deliciously, is due out in 2012.



Bob Hooper, (the secondary grunt) the poor sucker, married into this crazy situation. Family legend maintains that Shannon always swore that when she was ready to marry, she’d go buy a guy from L.L.Bean, because if she didn’t like him, then she could take him back. One hot July day in 1996, she walked into the retail store in Freeport, Maine, and there was Bob, working behind the optics counter, and as a naturalist in the outdoor discovery program. It was love at first sight (that’s Shannon’s story). In addition to chicken plucking, Bob does all the creative work for the farm – he constructs displays, does our artwork, edits our writing and helps a generally crude group of people come across as moderately polished and articulate (on good days). FYI – Bob also does freelance artwork!



Saoirse Hooper, Bob and Shannon’s daughter, is truly the supreme empress at Sap Bush Hollow. Born August 3rd 2003, Saoirse has all of us in love with her, and keeps everyone extremely busy meeting her every need. In exchange, Saoirse serves as our hope and inspiration.