About the Herd

The herd is made up of about twenty Highland Cows just north of Talkeetna, Alaska (two hours north of Anchorage and three hours south of Denali National Park), on a 140-acre homestead overlooking the Alaska Range and Mount Denali. Each spring there are new calves being born and growing the family.

Led by the boss, Harriet, the herd lives year-round in the Alaskan wilderness. In the winter, the cows endure, but in the spring, summer and fall, when the days are long, they roam the woods and forage for treats from the earth. They love fiddlehead ferns, high-bush cranberries, and even the intimidating leaves of the devil's club plant.

The cows are social, love to be scratched and brushed, and delight in meeting new people--come find out for yourself!

Meet the Homesteaders

Carmelo and Bodhi are a father and son team working together to tend the herd. Carmelo homesteaded and built their log house primarily from the trees on the property. The cows leave the paddock gate every day at 9:00am and return around 2:00pm. They are always excited for this and it also gives everyone a reason to venture into the woods. Living off the land is important to their family; they raise their cattle, hunt, fish, forage, and grow vegetables in their garden and greenhouse. They preserve their food by canning, drying, smoking, freezing, and storing in a root cellar.

Now it's Time for the Cows!

In Scotland the herd is referred to as "the fold." This term originated from the practice of keeping the cows in open stone-shelters called "folds" in order to protect them from the harsh Highland winters. The term eventually evolved to encompass the whole group. Here are a few members of our fold, do you have a favorite?