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25 TheSouthShoreMagazine.com of Massachusetts Agricultural Preservation Program. This was the opportunity that would make John's dream of having a fully functioning dairy farm located here on the south shore a reality. Well in 2009, John Hornstra can attest dreams do come true. He and his wife Lauren were able to purchase the Loring Farm property in Norwell, MA. The farm had fallen into great disrepair over the last 20-30 years including the 1700's farm house, main barn along with its buildings, land and landscape. There was much work and coordination to take place to restore the farm to that of a true working dairy farm smack dab in the middle of largely residential area and at the center of their home delivery area. Work began diligently to restore buildings, repair walls, put up wire fences, land clearing and many other projects, just to get the farm "working" again. John also put up new barn buildings and silos with the help of some Amish Farm building experts from Pennsylvania. One very interesting aspect of the new buildings is that much of the wood and timbers were harvested and milled right at the farm from trees that needed to be taken down. John also truly scoured the "countryside" for farm and dairy equipment especially old bottling equipment, bottle washing equipment, vat pasteurizing equipment that needed to be completely refurbished and also needed to be compatible with modern day, state-of-the-art milking equipment to ensure the highest quality milking and milk processing standards for a superior, efficiency, and meeting the most stringent health codes. The new Hornstra Farms in Norwell is home to over 100 red and white Holstein cows, with over 60 producing milk at this time. The cows produce about 500 gallons of milk per day, and boy can they eat!!! The herd is fed a steady diet of locally grown hay, grain, corn silage and fresh grass graze feeding in the pastures, which is where they also get their exercise. Hornstra Farms also works collaboratively with The Trustees of Reservations, The Wild Lands Trust, Massachusetts Audubon Society, the towns of Hingham, Norwell and Hanover and several private land owners to use land to grow corn and hay to keep these cows happy and healthy! Hornstra Farms also works with an has long term relationships with dairy Farms in Middleboro and East Bridgewater with the same high standard to supplement the milk supply for home delivery and the farm store while their herd continues to grow. An important part of John's vision is to educate the consumer and more importantly children the benefits of knowing where their food comes from. One aspect of our worlds food supply is the use of GMO's for food production. There is much controversy over this topic, John Hornstra is happy to announce that all of their feed etc. will be 100% GMO free by the end of this year. With this announcement, the guarantee of growth hormone free as has been the case for years and recycled glass bottles this makes this a true sustainability trifecta! Hornstra Farm has also been bestowed with a few very important awards, including a "Quality Milk Award" from Dairy One, Massachusetts Outstanding Dairy Farm of the Year by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for several years running, and former Governor Patrick enjoyed a personal tour of the farm. But, most importantly the best awards are from the happy and smiling customers who are tasting the many delicious farm fresh offerings from Hornstra Farms. Personally, I absolutely love whole milk, I think it is one of the most delicious and refreshing beverages and soooo satisfying with some fresh baked cookies or pie! However, I realize that with my preference I am quite in the minority for my love of whole milk. Over the years, as people have become more health conscious with fat intake etc., the majority of consumers are drinking low-fat or skim milk, with Hornstras low-fat (1.5%) being their best seller. All of their milk has a rich creamy and refreshing taste and flavor. So what does Hornstra Farms do with all of that beautiful cream? The make ICE CREAM! They also make their own delicious butter and light cream and half and half for coffee. John has always been a homemade ice cream guy, for years making small batches in his kitchen, I guess his culinary delight! The Hornstra Family was busy over the last few years perfecting the recipe and choosing flavors to be sold for home delivery, at the farm store and at the WILDLY popular window service at the farm! The recipe is as simple as it gets milk, cream, sugar, egg yolks, and a natural stabilizer and whatever fixings are included in your new favorite flavor! There are about 20 flavors in rotations with several seasonal flavors included. Demand for this decadent satisfying pleasure has been off the charts. Since the ice cream windows opened last year there has been line to enjoy this simple, creamy, dreamy delight. John said that business has been more than double what they expected. Currently, they are making over 1000 gallons per week of ice cream, right at the farm! Lucky for the people of the South Shore that John Hornstra never gave up on his dream of owning and operating a family dairy farm. Hornstra Farms has created and demonstrated a very successful and sustainable farm to table array of products that are available at their retail farm store in Norwell, via home delivery to over 20 South Shore towns and at select retailers around the south shore. Stop by the farm at 246 Prospect Street in Norwell to meet and pat the cows, check out the farm, get an ice cream or some other treats to take home. For home delivery call 781 749- 1222 or for additional information about anything HORNSTRA FARMS including farms store and ice cream window hours, check out their website at www.hornstrafarms.com.