About Conscious Homestead
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Conscious Homestead is a BIPOC Urban Farm and Wholeness Retreat in Winooski Vermont stewarded by Candace Taylor. We are committed to co-creating a space that is rooted in healing our ancestral connection to the land while centering BIPOC wholeness and liberation.
This lush and beautiful haven is tucked away in Candace's recently transformed backyard. With community support this magicFULL space is available as a retreat dedicated to the rest, nourishment and empowerment of BIPOC. Our offerings are done in collaboration with local BIPOC community members. Click here to learn more about our offerings at Conscious Homestead. |
the homestead greenhouse and chicken zone
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Conscious Homestead Greenhouse is a beautiful space built by Vermont Victory Greenhouses. It offers the space and resources to grow our garden's vegetables, fruits, herbs and botanicals from seed in the greenhouse on the homestead. The greenhouse is equipped with a system that has the ability to both schedule the watering of our greenhouse plants and seedlings as well as regulate airflow with internal and external fans and automated window opening and closing. In winters, on a sunny day the greenhouse can achieve up to 90 degrees and can offer a lovely summer-like respite in the middle of Vermont's cold grey winters. Also available in the greenhouse is a laundry sink with running hot and cold water as well as 2 single person hammocks for use.
Conscious Homestead Chicken Zone is the corner fenced in area that serves as the home for our flock of hens. We have 7 hens; 2 hens (Piper and Chickeeda) from our original flock and 5 hens (Guinan, Michael Burnam, Lursa, B'Etor and 7of9) from our newest flock. Piper is a Barred Rock and our head hen, she's large with black and white feathers, has the sweetest personality and does a great job protecting her flock. Chickeeda is our only Rhode Island Red; she has red feathers and serves as our second in command. We sometimes refer to her as Lt. Commander. She's Piper's right talon and loves to give you daily reports of what's going on in the flock. Guinan is our only Cucko Maran and Lursa and B'Etor are our larger Buff Orpingtons. Guinan is mostly black feathered and Lursa and B'Etor are both all yellow feathered. All three of these hens have even temperaments and are super chill to be around. That leaves Michael Burnam our smaller Barred Rock (black and white feathers) and 7of9 our smaller Buff Orpington (yellow feathers). These two hens are quirky and can at times act a lil silly but they are lovable lil buggers. On occasion they can get picked on by their fellow flock mates so feel free to have their backs and sneak them some extra treats.
While in the Chicken Zone please... wear sturdy shoes that you are okay with getting dirty. When entering open the gate out and always close the gate after entering the chicken zone. You are welcome to try to handle the chickens. Catching a chicken can be quite a humbling experience. When handling our chickens please be gentle. Do NOT squeeze or grab our chickens tightly. If you can't catch a chicken without being rough then do not handle them please. You are always welcome to chill with the chickens in the chicken zone. You are also welcome to feed them scraps as treats; they are our primary method of composting on the homestead! Here are some things NOT to give our chickens: citrus rinds, banana peels, animal meat/bones, uncooked tomatoes, spoiled/rotten/moldy food and processed foods. Some of their favorite foods are: yogurt, lentils, rice, greens, melon, oatmeal, corn on the cob and bread.
Our first flock was a mix of Barred Rocks (aka Plymouth Rocks), Wyandottes and Rhode Island Reds. Their names were: Piper, Phoebe and Paige from Charmed and Rose, Sofia, Blanche and Dorothy from Golden Girls; my son named the last baby chick Chickeeda. When we were ready to grow our flock we added: T'Pol, Jadzia Dax, Uhura, Guinan, Michael Burnam, Lursa, B'Etor and 7 of 9 all named from femme Star Trek characters. This flock contained the following breeds of hen: Buff Orpington, Barred Rocks (aka Plymouth Rocks), Cucko Maran and Americaunas.
Conscious Homestead Chicken Zone is the corner fenced in area that serves as the home for our flock of hens. We have 7 hens; 2 hens (Piper and Chickeeda) from our original flock and 5 hens (Guinan, Michael Burnam, Lursa, B'Etor and 7of9) from our newest flock. Piper is a Barred Rock and our head hen, she's large with black and white feathers, has the sweetest personality and does a great job protecting her flock. Chickeeda is our only Rhode Island Red; she has red feathers and serves as our second in command. We sometimes refer to her as Lt. Commander. She's Piper's right talon and loves to give you daily reports of what's going on in the flock. Guinan is our only Cucko Maran and Lursa and B'Etor are our larger Buff Orpingtons. Guinan is mostly black feathered and Lursa and B'Etor are both all yellow feathered. All three of these hens have even temperaments and are super chill to be around. That leaves Michael Burnam our smaller Barred Rock (black and white feathers) and 7of9 our smaller Buff Orpington (yellow feathers). These two hens are quirky and can at times act a lil silly but they are lovable lil buggers. On occasion they can get picked on by their fellow flock mates so feel free to have their backs and sneak them some extra treats.
While in the Chicken Zone please... wear sturdy shoes that you are okay with getting dirty. When entering open the gate out and always close the gate after entering the chicken zone. You are welcome to try to handle the chickens. Catching a chicken can be quite a humbling experience. When handling our chickens please be gentle. Do NOT squeeze or grab our chickens tightly. If you can't catch a chicken without being rough then do not handle them please. You are always welcome to chill with the chickens in the chicken zone. You are also welcome to feed them scraps as treats; they are our primary method of composting on the homestead! Here are some things NOT to give our chickens: citrus rinds, banana peels, animal meat/bones, uncooked tomatoes, spoiled/rotten/moldy food and processed foods. Some of their favorite foods are: yogurt, lentils, rice, greens, melon, oatmeal, corn on the cob and bread.
Our first flock was a mix of Barred Rocks (aka Plymouth Rocks), Wyandottes and Rhode Island Reds. Their names were: Piper, Phoebe and Paige from Charmed and Rose, Sofia, Blanche and Dorothy from Golden Girls; my son named the last baby chick Chickeeda. When we were ready to grow our flock we added: T'Pol, Jadzia Dax, Uhura, Guinan, Michael Burnam, Lursa, B'Etor and 7 of 9 all named from femme Star Trek characters. This flock contained the following breeds of hen: Buff Orpington, Barred Rocks (aka Plymouth Rocks), Cucko Maran and Americaunas.
the homestead fire oven
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Conscious Homestead Fire Oven is a beautifully built hearth at the heart of the homestead. This oven is used to prepare food for Community Care Shares, meals for BIPOC homesteading mentorships and fellowships, ancestral cooking classes and community meals. This stunning piece was built by a dear friend and retired mason as a gift to the community. The roof was a collaboration with a volunteer builder from Just Construction.
The homestead fire oven is available for use during approved events on the homestead. Anyone using the fire oven will be required to go through our homestead fire oven safety training and orientation. If at any point we feel the fire oven is being unsafely used and not cared for properly we will have to re-assess the use of the fire oven.
In the Fall of 2022 the fire oven will become the canvas for a community mural designed by our dear friends at Juniper Creative Arts. We are excited to share this experience with our community and to display those images on the website later this year.
The homestead fire oven is available for use during approved events on the homestead. Anyone using the fire oven will be required to go through our homestead fire oven safety training and orientation. If at any point we feel the fire oven is being unsafely used and not cared for properly we will have to re-assess the use of the fire oven.
In the Fall of 2022 the fire oven will become the canvas for a community mural designed by our dear friends at Juniper Creative Arts. We are excited to share this experience with our community and to display those images on the website later this year.
the homestead urban farm & gardens
Conscious Homestead Urban Farm & Gardens consists of organic vegetables, flowers, herbs and fruits that we've grown from seed. Candace and Tony are the primary land steward; they tend these gardens with the support of homestead fellows, mentees and volunteers. The food and herbs we harvest from these gardens becomes: free food for fellows, volunteers and mentees | food for our free Community Care Shares that are dispersed to BIPOC in the community | ingredients for ancestral food cooking classes | herbs and botanicals for small batch products sold in our homestead botanica | herbs and botanicals for our free BIPOC Care Packages | herbs and botanicals for our fellowship's For the People Herbalism Project. In 2022 we will also begin to regularly donate food to The People's Kitchen.
the homestead geodesic dome
Conscious Homestead Geodesic Dome is a cozy space for small group classes, workshops, meetings, retreats and to just lounge on your own or in community. The dome was built over the course of several days by the stewards of Conscious Homestead Tony and Candace and their son David with support from BIPOC Grow team folks Raheemah and Zymora. Some tears were shed and some heads were bonked erecting this structure but we survived and have this beautiful and beloved portal for community connection.
Inside the dome you will find the following items available for use: yoga mats, blankets, cushions, a Yogibo beanbag, Crazy Creek chairs, a two person grounded sofa that unfolds into a bed, a singing bowl, chimes, a bluetooth speaker, fan, white board, bowls, utensils, locally made mugs, kettle and complimentary tea. In 2022 we will install a small woodstove inside the geodesic dome; this will enable us to keep the dome open throughout the Fall and Winter for homestead offerings.
Geodome Rules: We ask that folks please remove their shoes before entering the dome. On hot days feel free to open up the side vents and keep the front door open with the door screen closed. Always keep the door screen closed. If it begins to precipitate in anyway please close all geodome vents and door. When you are ready to leave make sure all cushions are stacked, all blankets used are folded and put away, out any incense or candles that were lit, turn off the fan, woodstove, bluetooth speaker and overhead lights after you are done using them and close the door and vents before you leave.
While we prefer no food in the dome we understand that some circumstances make it hard to not have food and beverages in the dome. We ask that if food and beverages are brought into the dome please: 1) place beverages on tables or lap desks | 2) if possible only closed top beverages | 3) dispose of any food brought into the dome; compost, trash and recycling are all available in the greenhouse | 4) clean up after you are done with your food and bevies so that we can avoid spills, stains or messes that attract bugs and critters. Help us keep our geodesic dome clean and taken care of for our longterm collective use.
Inside the dome you will find the following items available for use: yoga mats, blankets, cushions, a Yogibo beanbag, Crazy Creek chairs, a two person grounded sofa that unfolds into a bed, a singing bowl, chimes, a bluetooth speaker, fan, white board, bowls, utensils, locally made mugs, kettle and complimentary tea. In 2022 we will install a small woodstove inside the geodesic dome; this will enable us to keep the dome open throughout the Fall and Winter for homestead offerings.
Geodome Rules: We ask that folks please remove their shoes before entering the dome. On hot days feel free to open up the side vents and keep the front door open with the door screen closed. Always keep the door screen closed. If it begins to precipitate in anyway please close all geodome vents and door. When you are ready to leave make sure all cushions are stacked, all blankets used are folded and put away, out any incense or candles that were lit, turn off the fan, woodstove, bluetooth speaker and overhead lights after you are done using them and close the door and vents before you leave.
While we prefer no food in the dome we understand that some circumstances make it hard to not have food and beverages in the dome. We ask that if food and beverages are brought into the dome please: 1) place beverages on tables or lap desks | 2) if possible only closed top beverages | 3) dispose of any food brought into the dome; compost, trash and recycling are all available in the greenhouse | 4) clean up after you are done with your food and bevies so that we can avoid spills, stains or messes that attract bugs and critters. Help us keep our geodesic dome clean and taken care of for our longterm collective use.
the homestead herb dryer, compostable toilet and outdoor shower
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Conscious Homestead Outhouse & Herb Dryer were both built by a volunteer crew from Just Construction. The outhouse (pictured on the left) has a seasonal outdoor shower with hot and cold running water and a compostable toilet. We use only eco-friendly, biodegradable, non-toxic products in our outdoor shower and compostable toilet. The herb dryer (pictured on the right mid construction) contains donated shelves from Wild Faith Herb Farm and is used to dry large quantities of homestead grown herbs and botanicals.