Barn & Soul by Dalby Farm – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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🎙 Barn & Soul Podcast - Where farming meets heart, history, and a mission to preserve the past for a more sustainable future.

There’s something timeless about a child’s first encounter with a farm animal. That wide-eyed look, the tentative reach, or the giggle when a curious goat or duck gets close. On the surface, these moments feel like simple fun, but research shows they carry profound lessons in empathy, patience, and respect.
In this episode, we explore the incredible ways early exposure to animals shapes children’s emotional, social, and cognitive development. From observing boundaries in the goat enclosure to offering treats with care, toddlers are learning about patience, responsibility, and compassion. These are lessons that last a lifetime.
We also discuss the importance of heritage breeds like our Arapawa goats and American Chinchilla rabbits as tangible connections to conservation, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship. Plus, we look at what the world is learning about farm-based education, care farms, and nature-focused learning programs that nurture the next generation.
Whether you’re a parent, educator, or animal lover, this episode offers insight into how farms can serve as classrooms for life’s most important lessons.

Fast Facts
• Children who interact regularly with animals show up to 30% higher empathy scores by age six (Frontiers in Psychology, 2023).
• Exposure to animals before age ten correlates with greater environmental awareness and compassion in adulthood (University of Cambridge, 2021).
• Caring for animals increases self-regulation and patience in preschool-aged children, measurable even after short-term exposure (Journal of Applied Developmental Science, 2022).
• Farms and petting zoos act as “micro-ecosystems of learning,” teaching respect for nature through sensory engagement and gentle boundary-setting (Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 2023).
• Sixty-nine percent of parents feel their children spend too little time outdoors, but eighty-four percent would enroll them in nature-based programs if available (National Wildlife Federation, 2024).
• Children engaged in animal-based education before age six show higher social responsibility, increased resilience, and a forty percent greater likelihood of volunteering or donating to environmental causes as adults (University of Denver Institute for Human-Animal Connection, 2024).

📚 Resources and BibliographyFrontiers in Psychology. (2023). Early Animal Interaction and Empathy Development in Children. Link
University of Cambridge. (2021). Childhood Exposure to Animals and Environmental Awareness. Link
Journal of Applied Developmental Science. (2022). Short-Term Animal Care Activities and Preschool Self-Regulation. Link
Early Childhood Research Quarterly. (2023). Farms as Micro-Ecosystems of Learning. Link
National Wildlife Federation. (2024). Survey on Children, Outdoor Time, and Nature-Based Programs. Link
University of Denver, Institute for Human-Animal Connection. (2024). Longitudinal Study of Early Animal-Based Education. Link

🔔 Subscribe for more farm life insights, rare breed conservation, and the behind-the-scenes of running a small farm! Remember, all the animals on our farm our PETS! They live out their days as educational ambassadors to our community far & wide! Please follow us here on Youtube!
Find us on Instagram & Facebook @DalbyFarm

Shop our Online Country Store! https://www.dalbyfarm.com/country-store
At least 50% of all shop revenue directly helps fund the care & upkeep of our 160 year old educational family farm and all the endangered breeds who live there.

...Or you can always shop for the animals

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🎙 Barn & Soul Podcast - Where farming meets heart, history, and a mission to preserve the past for a more sustainable future. Episode 24: “The Cost of Care: A Personal Reckoning with  Animals, Land and Life”

In this episode, I don’t stick to the usual form. I’m speaking honestly about the heartbreak and discouragement I feel watching the way humans treat animals, land, and the natural world. From the relentless development of open space in Massachusetts and across the East Coast, to the industrial pressures on the meat industry, to the flood of plastics that choke our ecosystems, it’s a lot to witness.

I explore what it feels like to care deeply for creatures with nervous systems and feelings, only to watch them ignored, exploited, or displaced. I share hard numbers about land loss and development, the impact on animals, and why it all feels overwhelming right now. This episode is a cry for help, a candid look at environmental grief, and a reminder that these feelings are valid.

If you’ve ever felt despair looking at the state of the planet, or wondered how small farms and local stewardship fit into a bigger picture, this one is for you. It’s not solutions-focused, it’s honesty-focused.

📚 Resources and Bibliography

Official statistics / government
USDA NASS (2022). Census of Agriculture: Female Producers (Highlights PDF). U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights/2024/Census22_HL_FemaleProducers.pdf

USDA NASS (2022). Census of Agriculture general portal and demographic tables (includes data on producers, gender, age, and farm characteristics). https://www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus/

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (2024). Massachusetts Climate Report Card: Natural and Working Lands Sector. https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-department-of-environmental-protection

Research and scholarly articles
Penn State University (2024). Coverage of study on the “triple burden” of invisible labor as a major stressor for farm women. Search “triple burden farm women Penn State” via Penn State News
MDPI, Núñez, P. G. (2020). Rural women’s invisible work in census and state records: Recognition and visibility. Land 9(3), 92. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/9/3/92

FAO / UN (2022). Global livestock impact overview. http://www.fao.org/livestock-environment

Environmental and land-focused resources
Mass Audubon (2015). Losing Ground: Open Space in Massachusetts. https://www.massaudubon.org/our-conservation-work/land-conservation/losing-ground

Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). Massachusetts land parcel database, parcel-by-parcel development data. https://www.mapc.org/

Gulf of Maine Research Institute (2013). State of the Gulf of Maine: Coastal Land Use and Development. https://www.gulfofmaine.org

Plastic and pollution context
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Marine Debris Program overview. https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

EPA (2022). Plastics: Material-Specific Data. https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-a

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🎙️ Barn & Soul – Where farming meets heart, history, and a mission to preserve the past for a more sustainable future.

Welcome back to Barn & Soul! I’m Kendall, and today we’re tackling a big question: Who decides which animals get to survive?

Here at Dalby Farm in Scituate, MA, we care for rare and endangered livestock—animals most people have never even heard of. And that’s the problem. In this episode, we dive into the overlooked world of heritage breeds, from the pigs nearly eaten to extinction to the goats the world forgot... until now.

You’ll learn:
🐖 Why some breeds get conservation funding—and others don’t
🐄 The shocking truth about America’s dairy cow gene pool
🧬 How losing livestock diversity puts our entire food system at risk
📜 Why stories—not just science—decide which animals survive
🧡 And what YOU can do to help, even if you don’t live on a farm

These animals are more than curiosities—they’re history, resilience, and genetic insurance for the future. Let’s talk about why saving rare farm animals matters now more than ever.

👇 Drop a comment and tell us: Have you ever met a rare breed before?

🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED
The Livestock Conservancy: https://livestockconservancy.org
American Pastured Poultry Producers: https://apppa.org
Slow Food Ark of Taste: https://slowfoodusa.org/ark-of-taste
Rare Breeds Survival Trust (UK): https://www.rbst.org.uk

🎧 Full podcast available every Wednesday night at 9PM EST — right here on YouTube!

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They once dotted every rural road—now, small farms are vanishing from our landscapes and our lives. What happened?

In this episode of Barn & Soul, we journey through the history of America’s small farms—from the golden age of agriculture to the rise of industrial farming—and take a closer look at how towns like Scituate, MA, were shaped by (and now struggle to hold on to) their agricultural roots.

You'll learn:

🌾 The surprising statistics behind the decline of small farms
🏡 How suburban sprawl, rising land prices, and global markets contributed
🐓 Why backyard chickens and farm content are actually part of a hopeful shift
📍 The story of Dalby Farm’s resilience—and what it represents for the future

Whether you’re a homesteader, heritage breed enthusiast, or someone who just misses the sound of chickens down the road, this episode is a tribute to the past, present, and future of small-scale farming.

Fast Fact: In 1935, there were 6.8 million farms in the U.S. Today? Just 1.9 million. Let’s talk about what that means.

🎧 Listen now and help us honor what’s rare, resilient, and rooted in community.

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🎙️ Barn & Soul – Where farming meets heart, history, and a mission to preserve the past for a more sustainable future.  Some survivors don’t wear capes—they wear hooves, horns, and silver-tipped fur.

In this episode of Barn & Soul, we uncover the untold stories of rare livestock breeds that defied extinction. From wild pigs marooned on Ossabaw Island to the hardy goats of New Zealand’s Arapawa Island—and even a rabbit breed saved by everyday backyard heroes—these animals are more than just rare. They’re resilient.

You'll learn:

🐖 The 400-year tale of the Ossabaw Island hog
🐐 How Arapawa goats survived isolation and eradication
🐇 Why the American Chinchilla rabbit nearly vanished—and who brought it back
📉 Why genetic diversity in livestock matters more than ever
🌍 How industrial agriculture threatens the traits that could save us

With fewer than 2,000 individuals left in some cases, these breeds carry the last traces of genetic adaptability our future may depend on.

This episode is both a celebration and a call to action—because preserving rare breeds isn’t about nostalgia… it’s about survival.

🎧 Tune in to learn how you can help write the next chapter.

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🎙️ Barn & Soul Podcast: Episode 12 — "How Modern Farming Threatens Rare Breeds (and What We Can Do About It)"

Today, 95% of the world's food comes from just 30 species of plants and animals.
Behind that staggering number is a quiet crisis: modern farming is stripping away the genetic diversity that once helped humanity survive droughts, disease outbreaks, and food shortages.

In this thought-provoking episode, we dig deep into how industrial monocultures, GMOs, and high-yield livestock systems are reshaping our food landscape—and not always for the better. You'll hear how the rise of efficiency-based agriculture has endangered rare breeds, weakened our food security, and even made us more vulnerable to climate change.

But it’s not all bad news.
We’ll also explore how heritage farmers, conservation groups, and even everyday consumers are fighting back—preserving biodiversity, supporting resilient food systems, and safeguarding our future.

If you’ve ever wondered why places like Dalby Farm exist—or how your choices can make a real difference—this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

✨ Topics Covered:

• Why monocultures dominate modern farming (and why that’s risky)
• The hidden costs of industrial livestock breeding
• How rare breeds hold the key to climate resilience
• What heritage farming looks like today
• Actionable steps you can take to help preserve biodiversity

Every rare breed saved is a future possibility preserved.
Let’s fight for a future that’s as rich, diverse, and resilient as the land itself.

🎧 Listen now—and don’t forget to appreciate the rare and wonderful things in life.

#BarnAndSoul #HeritageBreeds #ModernFarming #Biodiversity #SustainableFarming

References 

• FAO, "The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture"
• USDA Economic Research Service
• Livestock Conservancy official site
• Slow Food USA, Ark of Taste project
• "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations global food biodiversity reports

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🎙️ Barn & Soul – Where farming meets heart, history, and a mission to preserve the past for a more sustainable future. Episode 11 - Terms of Endangerment: What You Need To Know About "Rare Breeds"

🐐When you hear the word "endangered," you might think of tigers or polar bears. But across quiet pastures and small farms, rare livestock breeds are vanishing — sometimes faster than wildlife. In this episode, we're digging into the lesser-known side of conservation: saving endangered farm animals.

🔹We’ll explore:
-Why these breeds are disappearing
-How organizations classify and protect them
-What it takes to rescue a heritage breed...And why it matters more than ever for food security, culture, and sustainability.

🐓At Dalby Farm, every Arapawa goat, every Ossabaw pig, and every Shetland sheep carries a piece of living history.Saving them means saving the rare, the resilient, and a part of ourselves. 
Thanks for being here — and for caring about the rare and wonderful things in life.

 🌿 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you believe in giving endangered farm breeds and family farms like ours a fighting chance!
#BarnAndSoul #HeritageBreeds #FarmConservation #RareBreeds #DalbyFarm

📚 Cited Sources:

• The Livestock Conservancy, Conservation Priority List 2024
• UN FAO, State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources (2007, 2013)
• American Livestock Breeds Conservancy publications
• The Livestock Conservancy, Why Save Rare Breeds?
  (https://livestockconservancy.org/heritage-breeds/why-heritage-breeds/)

🔔 Subscribe for more farm life insights, rare breed conservation, and the behind-the-scenes of running a small farm! Remember, all the animals on our farm our PETS! They live out their days as educational ambassadors to our community far & wide! Please follow us here on Youtube! Find us on Instagram & Facebook @DalbyFarm

🐖 Shop our Online Country Store! https://www.dalbyfarm.com/country-store At least 50% of all shop revenue directly helps fund the care & upkeep of our 160 year old educational family farm and all the endangered breeds who live there.

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🐐 BONUS EPISODE #2: Endangered but Extraordinary – Meet the Arapawa Island Goat | Barn & Soul Podcast

In this special Barn & Soul Bonus Episode, we’re diving into the story of one of the world’s rarest goat breeds: the Arapawa Island Goat. From mysterious 18th-century origins to their role in modern-day conservation, these unique animals are living pieces of history—and we’re honored to call a few of them family here at Dalby Farm.
🌿 Fast facts
✅ Fewer than 300 purebred Arapawas exist globally
✅ Descended from goats left by Captain James Cook in the 1770s
✅ Critically endangered as listed by The Livestock Conservancy
✅ Naturally hardy, intelligent, and adapted to rugged terrain

🎧 In this episode:
🧭 The origin story of the Arapawa Goat
📜 The Captain Cook connection and centuries of survival
🐾 Their role at Dalby Farm as conservation ambassadors
💡 What makes them different from commercial goat breeds
🏡 Care tips for Arapawas and goats in general
💔 Why their preservation matters for biodiversity and future farming
Whether you’re a goat lover, a rare breed enthusiast, or someone passionate about sustainable agriculture, this episode will leave you inspired by what can be saved when people care deeply enough to try.

🔗 Episode references include:
* Arapawa Goat Breeders Association of New Zealand
* "Captain Cook in New Zealand" by John Cawte Beaglehole, Oxford University Press (1967)
* Henson, K. (2008). "The Genetic Diversity of Arapawa Goats." Journal of Animal Genetics.
* Rowe, B. (1993). "Saving the Arapawa Goat." New Zealand Rare Breeds Society.

🐓 Support Our Work
Visit our Country Store – over 50% of every purchase directly supports the care of endangered animals like the Arapawa Goat.
📣 Stay Connected
👉 Subscribe for more bonus episodes & rare breed spotlights
📸 Follow us on Instagram & Facebook: @DalbyFarm
🎙️ Full Barn & Soul podcast episodes drop Wednesdays at 9 PM EST
🙏 Thanks for watching and helping us preserve the rare and wonderful things in life.
Until next time, take care—and don’t forget to appreciate the rare and wonderful things in life.


🔔 Subscribe for more farm life insights, rare breed conservation, and the behind-the-scenes of running a small farm! Remember, all the animals on our farm our PETS! They live out their days as educational ambassadors to our community far & wide! Please follow us here on Youtube!
Find us on Instagram & Facebook @DalbyFarm

Shop our Online Country Store! https://www.dalbyfarm.com/country-store
At least 50% of all shop revenue directly helps fund the care & upkeep of our 160 year old educational family farm and all the endangered breeds who live there.

...Or you can always shop for the animals instead! https://www.dalbyfarm.com/animals-shop

#ArapawaGoat #BarnAndSoul #DalbyFarm #RareBreedConservation #FarmPodcast #HeritageBreeds #LivestockConservation #CaptainCook #SustainableFarming #GoatLovers

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🎙️ Barn & Soul – Where farming meets heart, history, and a mission to preserve the past for a more sustainable future. Episode 10: Love, Loss, and Legacy: Grieving Our Animals 🚨 Disclaimer: This episode discusses the emotional topic of animal loss and may be difficult for some listeners.

 🕊️Grieving an animal is a deep and powerful experience—yet so often, it’s minimized or misunderstood. In this episode, I open up about the reality of losing beloved farm companions, from goats to doves, and how these losses have shaped both my life and the philosophy of Dalby Farm.
We’ll explore real psychological research that explains why animal grief feels just as profound as human grief, and we’ll reflect on how moving forward with love honors the animals we’ve lost. Whether your bond was with a dog, a pig, a duck, or a turtle—this space is for you.💛

🚨 Disclaimer: This episode discusses the emotional topic of animal loss and may be difficult for some listeners.
🔹 In This Episode:
-The story of Nate, our beloved Mini-Nubian goat, and his quiet impact
-Why a goat kid's loss changed Dalby Farm’s breeding philosophy for two decades
-The unexpected heartbreak of losing a rescued dove to a rare predator
-Psychological research on pet loss, grief symptoms, and societal stigma
-How continuing to care for rare and endangered animals honors those we’ve lost
-Why resilience, hope, and compassion are essential to farming and life

📚 Key References:
-American Psychological Association (APA): Pet loss and grief comparable to human bereavement (Quackenbush & Glickman, 2021)
-Anthrozoös Journal: "Pet Owner Grief Study," showing 72% experienced grief symptoms for 6+ months (2020)
-Dalby Farm Rare Breeds Program: Arapawa Island Goats, Ossabaw Island Hogs, Shetland Sheep, Royal Palm Turkeys, American Blue and Chinchilla Rabbits
-University of California, Davis: Studies on rumen stasis and goat digestive emergencies
-Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Insights into weasel predation patterns in New England

✨ If you're healing from the loss of an animal today, you are not alone. Your love mattered—and still does.
🐐 Subscribe for more reflections on farm life, conservation, and the bond between humans and animals.
🎧 Listen to the full Barn & Soul podcast series here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX9sUsZxbT39khhG3Geol6ZON7FzyO4iG
🌻 Learn more about Dalby Farm’s endangered breed mission: DalbyFarm.com
#BarnAndSoul #PetLoss #AnimalGrief #FarmLife #DalbyFarm #Conservation #GriefHealing #AnimalLove

———
💛 If you’re grieving an animal right now, know you’re not alone. Their lives mattered. Your love matters. And continuing to love and protect the lives still in our care is one of the greatest honors we can give.
🎧 Subscribe to Barn & Soul for more reflections on animals, nature, and the human spirit.
🌾 Learn more about Dalby Farm and our conservation work: 
🔔 Subscribe for more farm life insights, rare breed conservation, and the behind-the-scenes of running a small farm! Remember, all the animals on our farm our PETS! They live out their days as educational ambassadors to our community far & wide! Please follow us here on Youtube!
Find us on Instagram & Facebook @DalbyFarm
Shop our Online Country Store! https://www.dalbyfarm.com/country-store
At least 50% of all shop revenue directly helps fund the care & upkeep of our 160 year old educational family farm and all the endangered breeds who live there.

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🎙️ Barn & Soul – Where farming meets heart, history, and a mission to preserve the past for a more sustainable future. Episode 9 - The Role of Farm Animals in Human History, Are We Forgetting It?

For thousands of years, animals weren't just companions—they were our partners in survival. But as technology surged forward, did we lose sight of the role they played?
In this episode, we explore:
🔹 Oxen, plows, and power — how draft animals revolutionized early agriculture
🔹 Chickens in war zones?! — the surprising military history of poultry
🔹 Spiritual symbolism — pigs, goats, and sheep in ancient cultures
🔹 How rare heritage breeds preserve our past
🔹 Real-life stories from our own animals at Dalby Farm, including:
  🐐 Arapawa Island Goats — island survivalists with a wild legacy
  🐖 Ossabaw Island Hogs — descended from Spanish explorer pigs
  🐇 American Blue & Chinchilla Rabbits — bred for utility, now endangered
  🐓 Australorp Chickens — record-setting egg layers with Australian roots
  🦃 Royal Palm Turkeys — prized for their beauty and calm nature
  🐑 Shetland Sheep — tough, tiny sheep with a Scottish soul
We also talk about why teaching the next generation about rare breeds matters more than ever—because a compassionate future starts with understanding the past 🧡
🎙️ Whether you're a fellow farm soul or just curious about the hidden history behind the animals we love, this one's for you.
🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a question for a future episode!

New Episodes: Wednesdays at 9PM EST


📚 References & Sources:
🔹 Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand – Arapawa Island Goat
https://www.rarebreeds.co.nz/arapawa.html
🔹 The Livestock Conservancy – Arapawa Goat
https://livestockconservancy.org/heritage-breeds/heritage-breeds-list/arapawa-goat/
🔹 University of Georgia Marine Institute – Ossabaw Island
https://ugami.uga.edu/ossabaw-island/
🔹The Livestock Conservancy – Ossabaw Island Hog
https://livestockconservancy.org/heritage-breeds/heritage-breeds-list/ossabaw-island-hog/
🔹American Rabbit Breeders Association
https://arba.net/
🔹The Livestock Conservancy – American Blue Rabbit
https://livestockconservancy.org/heritage-breeds/heritage-breeds-list/american-blue-rabbit/
🔹The Livestock Conservancy – American Chinchilla Rabbit
https://livestockconservancy.org/heritage-breeds/heritage-breeds-list/american-chinchilla-rabbit/
🔹The Livestock Conservancy – Australorp
https://livestockconservancy.org/heritage-breeds/heritage-breeds-list/australorp/
🔹Oklahoma State University Breeds Archive – Royal Palm Turkey
https://breeds.okstate.edu/poultry/turkeys/royal-palm/index.html
🔹The Livestock Conservancy – Royal Palm Turkey
https://livestockconservancy.org/heritage-breeds/heritage-breeds-list/royal-palm-turkey/
🔹Shetland Sheep Society (UK)
https://www.shetland-sheep.org.uk/
🔹North American Shetland Sheep Association
https://www.nassasheep.org/
FAO DAD-IS Breed Database
https://www.fao.org/dad-is/
🔹 Clutton-Brock, Juliet. Animals as Domesticates: A World View. University of California Press, 2012.
🔹Serpell, James. The Domestic Dog: Its Evolution, Behavior and Interactions with People. Cambridge University Press, 1995.
🔹 McNeill, J.R. & McNeill, William H. The Human Web: A Bird's-Eye View of World History. W.W. Norton & Company, 2003.
🔹 Smithsonian Magazine – “How Animals Have Shaped Human History”
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/
🔹 National WWII Museum – “Animals in War”
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/animals-war
Louv, Richard. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-🔹 D

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