The milk cows at the Hawthorne Valley Farm in Harlemville have been confined to their barn and its immediate yard since November. Each spring as the weather warms and the grass turns thick and green the cows are put out to pasture. Federal regulations require that organic dairy cows spend at least 120 days in pasture each year. This year the cows emerged from the barn on Friday, April 29. They looked thrilled as they ran, skipped and leaped down the lane to the field. It is a celebration for the children of the Hawthorne Valley School as well, who come out with their teachers to watch. The farm’s milking herd is approximately 60. Hawthorne Valley Farm cows do not have their horns trimmed as the cows on most other dairy farms do. Photo by David Lee