The farm and farm products

In Feios we have started a small scale organic farm in combination with tourism and ice cream and cheese production.

 

Our farm is a part of the neighbourhood Helland and we named the farm “Alm Gard” after the enormous elm trees which grow here. The farm is situated in the middle of the valley with a view at the Sognefjord and with its back against the forests and mountains. Since 2008 we are a certified organic farm under supervision of “Debio”,  the Norwegian organization for organic agriculture.

Although we are inspired by biodynamic agriculture, the Demeter licence is not attainable yet.

 

    What do we do at Almgard?

    We have 6 cows of the Jersey breed.

    The calves drink their mother's milk so we milk only once a day. We use the milk for our own consumption; we make yoghurt and cheese and of course ice cream. During the summer the cattle are in the mountain grazing areas. We then have our hands free for all the other summer activities such as looking after the guests, haying, picking raspberries and other berries and attending market days.

    There are 4 horses at the farm.

    The horses are from the ancient breed of "Lungshest". It´s a rare breed of which there are 1200 horses left. It is a smaller breed which is very suitable to climb the narrow mountain trails into the mountains. Sometimes we use the horses to drag down the logs in winter.

    We make icecream in more than 25 tastes.

    We make organic icecream and yoghurt icecream of our own milk in a small factory which we built on the farm in 2017. We also make icecream of fruits from our small fruit fields. We sell the icecream on markets, for exemple the farmers market in Bergen and restaurants and groceryshops.

    We started a dairy for cheesemaking in 2022.

    Our old dream came true. Partly forced bij the Corona pandemic, we started cheese making in the former icecreamfactory in the basement of the house. We produce organic cheese which we make according to the Gouda recipe. Both natural  and with herbs.

    We have about 15 beehives.

    There are 15 beehives at the farm which produce mainly raspberrie honey. The honey is not organic because they also fly in areas where the farmers don´t work in the organic way.

    We rent 2 holidayhouses, a B&B and a family campervan.

    We rent the old schoolhouse which belongs to the farm and Theodora´s small farm which are situated nearby the farm. In combination with renting a house you can also rent a camper to explore the beautifull surroundings in the fjord area. You don´t need to go far to see the most beautyfull places and you can overnight whereever you want. Guus and Laurien can give you advice where to go.

    There are 2 vegetable gardens at Almgard.

    One small garden near the kitche for herbs and lettuce. Down near the river we have a bigger vegetablegarden for potåtoes and cabbage. You´re welcome to by our vegetables.