Do they sell the meat?

Are they selling the piglets off for profit or is this a "not for profit" organization? While I don't like the idea of little cute piglets being sold off to a farm (where they are assumed to be breed and slaughtered), I don't know what else they would do with them? It's the "circle of life"...sort of.

Maybe I'm missing your point, but wouldn't selling these animals to a farmer reduce our tax dollars spent. I would consider that to be responsible management.

Thank you for this question. Longstreet Farm is run almost soley by tax dollars with a yearly budget of about $350,000.00. The total intake from animal sale is about $2,000/yr. Please do the math.

I think the issue at hand is that they're not getting paid enough for the effort it takes to raise the meat. If it's only 2k, they should provide the meat to a food distribution center for the needy. That's win win to me.

Well, from a personal note...it doesn't seem to be a big deal, either way. I think there are "bigger fish to fry". But if it has hit a sensitive nerve in a number of community members, then I think it should be stopped.

Ms. Cavallaro, you seem like a very nice lady, but I see nothing wrong with Longstreet Farm breeding animals and sending them off to a farmer.

As noted above, that is the circle of life and last I checked us humans sit on top of the food chain.

We should teach our children bacon comes from the breakfast fairy.

I really don't see anything wrong with this practice. I wonder if 350,000 is an accurate amount? If it is, I would think that money is way to much.

I don't see anything particularly wrong either...but for $2,000, what the heck, they should stop it and move on to better things.

I applaud the efforts of Ms. Cavallaro and the Friends of Longstreet Farm Animals. I also saw the budget and the figures she posted are correct. I have no issues with anyone who wishes to eat meat but Longstreet Farm should not be using our Tax dollars to breed animals then send them to slaughter when they are no longer cute. I find this practice reprehensible.

I was surprised by the numbers too. I got the info by filing an OPRA request with park headquarters. The Open Public Records Act enables anyone to access info from a public organization like the park.
Most of the money is used for employees. In 2011 they report 7 full time employees supported by hourly and program employees. And remember it is not a farm, Longstreet is part of a tax supported park.

Mary Ann : would you object if the meat went to feed the homeless?

Mary Ann, please, do not spoil the pleasure of having this farm nearby for us and our families. You are not even from this county. This is a FARM, not a rescue zoo. It is a part of a public park, sure, but it is being ran as a farm, according to the practices of the late 19 century, and this is just fine with us. It is a great educational institution, and a favorite place to visit for many. The farm animals are utilized in the manner in which such animals are supposed to be treated, and there is nothing wrong with that. This is a part of the lesson that we teach our children about farm life and agriculture in general, and there is nothing traumatic to the children in it, this is life. All animals start their life as cute little beings, and the fact that we marvel at cute little piglets, which get treated as the regular farm animals after they grow up, does not mean that they should not be bred at all, or treated specially later in life. Please, stop trying to build the outrage against something that the majority of people around here are not outraged about.

I was under the impression that the Longstreet Farm was a farm?

I know this is New Jersey, but even people here understand that animals are raised on farms to eat.

William, are you so opposed to helping others? If the selling of the piglets were making any significant contribution to the farm, then I would not have the opinion to stop it. But for $2,000, why not stop it? ...Because you don't want to? Or because you think you're giving in to the "hippy tree huggers"? It's not a big deal and as a community, we make
compromises. If the "majority" truly feels it's important to sell piglets for $2,000, then I would agree with you. But honestly, do you really care "that much" about whether they do or don't sell some piglets?

So Jeff it's either your way or those who oppose you don't care about helping others?and I would say that that people do care about their tax
dollars

Tom, It's NOT my way or else it's not helping others. It's understanding the importance of each side. It's about viewing the issue from the other's perspective. I see that it is emotional important to Mary Ann and her group. Please explain why the selling of the piglets is so important to you. Perhaps I am missing something. Perhaps I am not properly viewing your perspective. $2000 is not going to affect people taxes, is it? Is that what we're debating?

Jeff C
$2K is an esatimaterd amount that Longstreet makes from animal sale. Yes it is such a small amount of money and we are asking for such small changes-keep less animals, no breeding for sale. The public sees the animals, the employees make more efficient use of their time, spend our taxes more wisely-isn't that win-win?

So let's not pretend this is about tax dollars. This is about ideology. I respect your viewpoint but you are dead wrong. Perhaps they should be breeding more animals to make the farm more profitable

Dear Ms. Cavallaro,

While your efforts and goals for saving the farm animals at Holmdel Park are noble, they are poorly misguided and will lead to the demise of a beautiful open space for our children and children's children.
Your politicizing of an educational & historical public working farm is shameful.

Longstreet Farm makes no claims nor implies to be a Zoo, animal sanctuary or rescue mission.

In the event you're successful in closing the Farm then the seeds you sow today will grow into the future housing development that is sure to follow when the park is sold.

The historical and cultural values of rural America may not sit well with those implanted from an urban setting, but they are what built this great nation and are in fact part of our past and present.
Hard physical farm labor is not supposed to be pretty or cute..
Its intention is to put food on the table.

The knowledge and experience our young children take away from visiting Longstreet Farm is priceless..

If you really love animals, please focus your efforts on saving the 2 million plus dogs that are slaughtered each year and help shut down the puppy mills.

Sincerely,
Michael Nikolis

Dear Ms Nikolis,
I agree puppy mills are deplorable and most sheltors are "kill" shelters. Much better to adopt a rescue and only if prepared to care for the dog/cat/rabbit...
I too agree that children benefit from the park, no one is advocating to close it. Rather I support fostering the bonds the children make with the animals, the cows Mrytle , Daisy. Lilly etc. rather than kill the animals. These animals are part of the cast of the staging of a 19th Century farm, doing you a service.It is 2012 not 1860.
Also, arts and crafts are enjoyed by children as well as some of us adults, but calling it education is a stretch.

Jeff C. Spending $350K to raise over 50 animals and then kill about one third each year because they are no longer entertaining and at the same time supporting private business with these tax dollars is a waste of money and time poorly spent. My point about the Arts and Crafts , it's nice but calling Longstreet an "Educational Institution" is a miss use of words. Regarding education, learning about animal compassion might make for a better individual, whether you care to eat meat or not. Updating Longstreet's practice is what my blog is about. Updating is the very opposite of closing something down. Obviously change is very hard for a lot of people.

They would spend $350k whether they sold the piglets or not... They are not spending $350k to raise piglets to sell for $2k! They are spending $350k to run a farm that serves the community, for EDUCATIONAL purposes and enjoyment. You're argument is making no sense. In the same comment you are saying it's not about closing the farm down and then saying it's a waste of money. You either care about the animals or not! It sounds like you are more obsessed about the $350k being spent. There clearly seems to be motives outside of saving some piglets from slaughter!

Mary Ann, let us assume you're right..

The pigs, sheep, cows, mules, horses and chickens should be adopted to their forever homes and live happily ever after as pets..
The staff (actors) should be laid off and the antique farm equipment (stage props) sold..
The barns, houses and sheds (theater) should be torn down.
As soon as possible, we should petition the Monmouth County Freeholders to sell the entire park and farm to Somerset Properties so Ralph Zucker can build 268 age restricted homes with sewers because we're 'updating' the property..
Then our ratables will go up and our taxes down..
But we shouldn't stop there..
Since, as you claim, farms are a thing of the past and our children can't learn anything from them.. We should eliminate funding for all public libraries, too.. Every child has an ipad and internet access, so why should we waste tax dollars on smelly old libraries and books?
Then, we should move to shut down the firehouses.. They too are a thing of the past..
It's 2012.. We all have garden hoses and smoke alarms, so why should our tax dollars buy fire trucks?
Your statement that everything taught is not universally accepted by all parents is true..
Public Schools & Teachers? Total waste of tax money..
But, as you say, this has nothing to do with ideology, rather we are trying to save money & lower our taxes...

Right?

Just another glowing example of how out of control and sorely in need of reform J Edgar Truncer and his reign of real estate terror truely are. 30 grand a month plus the loss of prime ratable shocks the conscience! This operation makes as much sense as the 7 acres of prime oceanfront property he took off the tax rolls through eminent domain in North Long Branch to create the skate board track and appease the Surfers' Rights movement down there! - What's Happened To America!

Madam - please direct your free time and energy to saving your fellow man first. I think before you try to change Longstreet Farm, you should consider helping the poor and homeless in the county in which you taxes. When you eradicate this then feel free to help the piglets at Longstreet. I am tired of reading about people like yourself who seem to value the quality of life of a pig, etc over human beings.

Most children who visit the farm would be horrified to know that the little piglet they pet today is sent to slaughter tomorrow. Don't breed what you can't handle. This is not a regular farm where animals should be sent to slaughter. It is a community farm where visitors come to see the animals and see how the farm works. When one of the horses there got too old, they didn't slaughter it. They found a home for it. FYI, this has nothing to do with valuing an animal over a human.

I am saddened by this article. Not because I agree with it: I am all for teaching our children how life used to be in the colonial era and how modern small farmers still raise animals for food. I am saddened by the bias in this article, especially with the comparison to the St Valentine's Day Massacre. Farm animals are not humans and do not have the rights and privileges of humans, George Orwell notwithstanding.

I am also saddened by so many of the comments - not because of the comparisons but because of the inhumanity and less than caring attitudes conveyed. We are truly a lost species if we don't feel compassion for not only people but for those who cannot make choices for themselves. Just because we have "dominion" over the creatures of the earth does not give us the right to abuse, neglect or be callous. Some of the rebuttals are absolutely insulting and really mean spirited. Just because one stands up and speaks out or feels strongly over an unjustice does not make them any less sympathetic to the needs of human beings. In fact, you will find that these folks who do not turn a deaf ear to the needs of all creatures are probably the kind of person you would want as a neighbor and a friend.

Ms. Cavallero says that "she owns property in Holmdel". She doesn't say if she lives there. The farm is in Holmdel. I wonder how close her property is to the farm. There is a reason why she is concerned and I'm not so sure it's so well intentioned.

For Gods sake this is a farm. What do people think happens on a farm? My opinion is this is silly. Leave the farm and it's employees alone. Find something more worth while to picket about. How about puppy mills and the stores that buy from puppy mills? Monmouth County have several with questionable origins of the animals (AMISH PUPPY MILLS). Now that I gave you a more sensible thing to do with your time....Picket away!!!!

Apparently the efforts of the group and supporting comments hit a nerve because you "protest too much". Unless you have done an investigation, how could you contend that her statements are false? Of course rather than countering with documentation, you name call and make accusatory statements about other's motives but what are your motives exactly? So if someone doesn't agree with an opposing opinion, you go into the attack mode. Very interesting responses. Also, you have no idea what other people do for the community and therefore I'm sure you would deem any humane action as "inappropriate". It is insulting to assume that one does not support other causes, which you would probably deem unnecessary like "save the children, World Wildlife Fund, Oceana, ASPCA, Gulf War Foundations, 9-11 funds" or whatever charitable and human efforts a person may choose to follow. Oh and P.S. as stated above - you do not speak for the "vast majority of Holmdel Residents" unless you have conducted a poll - which probably isn't a bad idea.

I think kids (and adults for that matter) need to know the truth about where their food comes from. Longstreet is a farm-- it keeps and breeds farm animals that the vast majority of us eat everyday. There is no reason why these farm animals should not be responsibly and humanely managed and slaughtered for food.

I don't think so Mr. Nikolis. Too bad you can't have a civil discussion. You, in fact, sound like the bully. I stopped by the park that day with some family/friends, as I am a Holmdel resident who frequents the park. If you saw the peaceful demonstration you would know that no one bothered the ladies (which would be highly disturbing) and that the group was cordoned off in a small section - for which they had a permit as I understand. All they did was hand out flyers. What are you doing to help Longstreet Farms, Stop Puppy Mills, etc. Probably nothing but talk a big game. Get your facts straight - you have no right or basis to direct anyone except yourself. Discussion is Over.

To all others - sorry to stoop to his level. Have a great day.

Mischa: discussion over? Because you stomp your feet and throw a temper tantrum?

Sorry, but I do not think that the discussion is over just because one of the sides said that it is. I would like to clear up a few things mentioned in this discussion:
1) Mary Ann Cavallaro does own a property in Holmdel (thank you, DataUniverse!), and this property is not close to the park, as someone suggested, so I do not see some hidden sinister real estate-related motive in her crusade. My apologies for mentioning that Mary Ann is not from this county. I am not sure if Holmdel is her primary residence, but she is definitely a Holmdel taxpayer.
2) Mischa, if you are a Holmdel resident, you must know who Mr. Nikolis is, his name is in the local papers quite often. He is doing more for the community than most of us.
3) I do not see an "attack mode" in the posts that defend the farming practices. We are just concerned about the possible side effects of all the feel-good protesting on a beloved local institution.

Why do you people insist on anthropomorphizing animals? They do not have feelings. You people are all crazy. How about all the poor crack babies in Asbury? Why don't you save them. I think someone read charlotte’s web too many times.

Holmdel park is a monmouth county park, Who cares what the residents of holmdel think? Maybe holmdel should finish replacing those gas pipes and fix the roads leave the park to the county. Those poor crack babies in asbury park have just as much right to eat some home cooked monmouth county bacon mary ann, nick and the skipper too.