We had lunch one day last week at Rosy Tomorrows Heritage Farm here in rural North Fort Myers. The lunch and tour were sponsored by the local newspaper and only people they call "insiders" were eligible to buy tickets. ("Insiders" meaning people who subscribe to the paper -- unfortunately nowadays that is a more exclusive group than it used to be. But not all that special!). Everything at the lunch was grown or raised on the farm.
Rosy Tomorrows is a 100 acre sustainable farm. All of the animals are pastured and nourished on grass. No steroids or antibiotics are ever used. The owner has chosen breeds that are slow-growing and that do well in the hot Florida conditions.
Rosy's website says "All our animals are slow-growing and are raised organically, holistically, sustainably, humanely, and as close to nature as possible."
She said that the donkeys came with the 100-Acre Farm when they bought it. They headed right over to all the people taking their pictures -- hoping for a handout.
All of the animals seemed happy in their generous pastures.
I didn't get as many pictures as I'd hoped to on this tour -- there were about 80 "insiders" and it was hard to get good shots. It was also hard to hear everything Rosy was saying. We would like to go back sometime next year on one of the days when the Farm is open to the public so that we can wander about on our own.
LINKING TO: GOOD FENCES (thank you Theresa) and SATURDAY CRITTERS (thank you Eileen).
Wonderful critters! I love the longhorns.
Posted by: Gunilla | June 09, 2016 at 12:32 PM
Sounds like a wonderful place to visit and enjoy a meal. Congratulations to you Sallie for having this kind of responsible attitude. We (my wife and I) are never going to be vegetarians but we have made a real attempt to cut down on our consumption of protein and now eat no more than half what we used to and a couple of days a week eat strictly vegetarian. Agriculture, even responsible agriculture, sure contributes a lot towards global warming.
Posted by: David Gascoigne | May 30, 2016 at 06:19 AM
I love stuff like this. It seems that so much of our food now comes from highly mechanized farms and processing plants.
Posted by: Yogi | May 29, 2016 at 08:09 AM
Great farm for the animals.
Posted by: Rajesh | May 28, 2016 at 08:26 PM
The trend surely seems to be towards this type of farming, although I don't think it is really a new method, - just a new way of advertising. Nice pics, Sallie
Posted by: Hildred Finch | May 28, 2016 at 07:50 PM
I like these healthy and happy animals.
I wonder whether they have seen or played with a pill millipede before.
Posted by: Rainfield61.blogspot.com | May 28, 2016 at 03:09 PM
I love that the cows are naturally grown, wish all farms were like that.
Posted by: Amy | May 28, 2016 at 03:00 PM
How fun is that?! We have quite a few rescue places around here! People buy these critters and cannot cope with them.
Posted by: JennJilks | May 28, 2016 at 02:17 PM
I like the red wattle pig! And all the other animals
Posted by: Jedidja | May 28, 2016 at 11:30 AM
Hello Sallie! I live on a farm so can appreciate how this farm is run, where the animals best interests are a major consideration. Their welfare is so important, and they do look well. I enjoyed seeing all the animals Sallie,..have a great weekend.:)
Posted by: breathtaking | May 28, 2016 at 08:49 AM
ooooh you made me chuckle sallie, i am almost never satisfied with the number of pictures i have taken. your images are beautiful, i always enjoy time spent on a farm!!!! have a wonderful sunday!!!
Posted by: Debbie | May 28, 2016 at 06:24 AM
Hello Sallie, this is a wonderful critter post. I love all the farm animals, donkeys are one of my favorites. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Have a happy weekend!
Posted by: Eileen | May 28, 2016 at 05:47 AM
Beautiful shots Sallie! I love the donkeys and pig - it's such a wonderful colour. Thank you for sharing your visit....Wishing you a happy weekend and great week ahead!
Posted by: Ruby | May 28, 2016 at 05:12 AM
A great series of photos!
Have a wonderful week-end!
Posted by: Lea | May 28, 2016 at 04:42 AM
If only all farms could be like this where the animal's welfare comes first. Or should I say go back to being like this as no doubt all farms once operated this way in times past.
Posted by: Tony McGurk | May 28, 2016 at 03:43 AM
A shame you had to share with 80 other people. Exclusivety isn't always as straightforward as people claim but those animals do looks contanted I must say.
As for the "creeping crud" I feel like it crept over and swamped me completely but I'm feeling marginally better today.
Posted by: Phil | May 28, 2016 at 03:42 AM
They say its best to eat local - although with horns like that I'm sure the cattle could put up a decent argument as to why you should eat something else!
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne (airport)
Posted by: Stewart M | May 28, 2016 at 03:03 AM
I know I would definitely enjoy this tour myself. But, I must say...I consider myself an 'outsider'.
Love the longhorns.
Posted by: Hootin' Anni | May 27, 2016 at 04:45 PM
Sorry about the typos, but I am typing with a handicap and miss some keys.
Posted by: Dianne | May 27, 2016 at 09:50 AM
The animals look wonderful. Virginia Tecj=h maintains a farm like this. The kids in the agriculture department maintain. the farm produces all the food consumed on campus. it is doable. Great photos and the animals do look content and healthy.
Posted by: Dianne | May 27, 2016 at 09:49 AM
those horns are impressive :)
Posted by: NatureFootstep | May 27, 2016 at 09:42 AM
I love everything about this, Sallie and appreciate what the folks at Rosy Tomorrows are doing. What a terrific name! All of you photos are great, but, I am particularly drawn to that very photogenic pig.
Posted by: Penny | May 27, 2016 at 05:42 AM
What a lovely place to visit. I love to see and take photos of the animals too. Have a great day!
Posted by: nancy chan | May 27, 2016 at 05:34 AM
Though I don't personally eat meat, I support farmers like this who raise animals in a good way. I think animals have some sense of "feelings" and they deserve a good quality of life too!
Posted by: Halcyon | May 27, 2016 at 03:40 AM
What a nice place and say hello to the farm animals ! At least there are still farmer who love their lifestock and don't consider them only as a thing to sell and make a lot of benefit !
Posted by: Gattina | May 27, 2016 at 01:33 AM
I like the cattle and their horns - but can't help feeling sorry that they are all going to be eaten...
Posted by: Lady Fi | May 26, 2016 at 09:26 PM
Hi Sallie. The store is the Burlington Coat Factory although I think they call it just Burlington now. I remember the one is south Florida got caught switching tags - putting expensive tags on cheap clothes. Cost them a bundle...I don't much like this one but we stop there once in awhile.
Posted by: Lowell | May 26, 2016 at 05:18 PM
Beautiful animals photos ~ lovely fence shots ~
Glad you had a good time ~
Happy Weekend to you ~ ^_^
Posted by: artmusedog and carol | May 26, 2016 at 04:20 PM
It's a great idea. Farming is a lot of work!
Posted by: Al | May 26, 2016 at 03:08 PM
Lived on a farm until I married, so I can appreciate these animals.
Posted by: LaVoice | May 26, 2016 at 02:00 PM
What fun to visit this farm. Those Longhorns are impressive. Come to think of it so was that pig. I would enjoy seeing the different animals. Oh and they had nice fencing too. Gotta get that in.
Posted by: Ida P. Krause | May 26, 2016 at 11:52 AM
So are you an "insider"? But at least you got a few great captures:)
Posted by: Jesh StG | May 26, 2016 at 11:22 AM
You do some of the 'funnest' things and see stuff no one else really thinks about seeing. Thank you so much for sharing with us!
Linda
Posted by: Linda | May 26, 2016 at 08:22 AM
Sallie, that is a large and beautiful herd of longhorn cattle! I love everything you are sharing here! :)
Posted by: Linda | May 26, 2016 at 07:06 AM
Interesting concept and nice to see animals in such lush and healthy circumstances. However, it does look as if the donkeys are perhaps the only ones with rosy futures, as they are not destined for the dinner table in the end.
Posted by: Penelope Postcards | May 26, 2016 at 06:34 AM
I would love to visit that farm! The donkeys are always so friendly around here. Love your photos...love those longhorns! Hugs!
Posted by: Lavender Dreams | May 26, 2016 at 05:37 AM
I love farms like this when you get to see rare breeds and learn how they care for the animals.
I think the red pig is a cute one!
Thanks for sharing your visit! That was fun!
Posted by: Christine | May 26, 2016 at 05:33 AM
what a great place to tour. the animals look happy. :)
Posted by: TexWisGirl | May 26, 2016 at 04:54 AM
All that is well and good but what happens to these sweet animals when it comes to dinnertime? Glad you had fun, though. I think I'm becoming a vegetarian slowly but surely. :)
Posted by: Lowell | May 26, 2016 at 03:50 AM
Hello, I love all the farm animals. It is great that these farms are existing and they allow tours. Wonderful collection of photos. Thanks for sharing your visit. Happy Thursday, enjoy your day!
Posted by: Eileen | May 26, 2016 at 03:07 AM
What a lovely place where to spend some spare time in relax, thank you for sharing this trip of yours and the moments you had during this wonderful day, my lovely Sallie !
Hope you're having a beautiful week, sweet friend, I'm sending much love and many hugs to you
Dany
Posted by: Daniela | May 26, 2016 at 02:20 AM
The only herd that gave you problems, was the herd of "insiders."
Still, it sounds like they probably have some great food.
Posted by: Pat | May 25, 2016 at 11:14 PM
Lovely photos of beautiful animals! What an interesting tour you had. Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Sara - My Woodland Garden | May 25, 2016 at 10:13 PM
80 is quite a herd! It would be nice to be able to wander about without the crowd. Love the shot of the pig!
Posted by: ellen b | May 25, 2016 at 09:48 PM