So the question is; Where will you be on August 21st, 2017? If you are keeping up with your astronomy or you live in and around Kentucky then you know the answer is; Hopkinsville Kentucky! Why? On Monday August 21st, 2017 there is going to be a total solar eclipse and the path of the eclipse goes right through surrounding areas of Hopkinsville Kentucky.
A total solar eclipse is when the Moon passes between the path of the Sun and Earth. This will block direct sunlight from the Sun turning daylight into darkness. The last solar eclipse seen from the main land of the United States was in 1979. There was another total solar eclipse in 1991 that passed over Hawaii and parts of Mexico. Discover Magazine wrote an article stating that the '91 solar eclipse would be the best anyone would see from the United States until the next total solar eclipse in 2017. The longest duration of the 2017 eclipse will be 2 minutes and 40 seconds in a spot right outside of Hopkinsville!
"Why does Burdoc Farms care?" you might ask. Because it just so happens that we are very very close to that solar eclipse path and the duration of the eclipse from our farm will be 2minutes and 37 seconds! And, we love and enjoy observing nature so much that we thought, "why not have a celebration?". We know this is about five years away people finish high school, go to college, get new jobs, get married and have children in five years. But, it's never too early to start dreaming and making a few plans.
Of course, our cabin rentals will be available for this event to whomever makes their reservation first. But, we have also cleared some land so that we can start building one (maybe two) glamping stations. You heard that right, glamping! We are considering building structures on stilts that have netting and canopy walls but have beds and a bathroom complete with a small kitchenette that can accomadate up to 6 people each. It's camping but with a more high class feel!
Other things we are considering; RV campgrounds for all those interested. And, for the day of the eclipse, a celebration! We are talking a concert on the stage in The Leanin' Barn, group nature trail walks, bouncy houses and food trucks. We are getting very excited and might have a few things in the works. If you are interested in joining in on the fun or have any suggestions please email us at burdocfarms@hotmail.com.
Hopkinsville Visitor's Bureau:
www.visithopkinsville.com
Total Solar Eclipse Path:
http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/TSE_2017_GoogleMapFull.html
NBC News Article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48867741/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/kentucky-town-becomes-prime-spot-worlds-eclipse-chasers/#.UHsMyhzO5KF
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Our Fury Friends
Burdoc Farms has donated many weekend stays, for auction, to dog rescue groups in Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio. Some people might ask, "Why?". Why does it matter to donate to these groups in particular?
All of the dogs that call Burdoc Farms home right now are rescue dogs. These pups have truly enriched our lives and the lives of visitors to the farm. We do not know where these dogs would be or what condition they would be in if they had not come into our lives.
After watching the HBO documentary "One Nation Under Dog:Stories of Fear, Loss and Betrayal" we realized just how dire the homeless dog situation in America is. We also realized how unaware most Americans are which only helps to perpetuate the problem.
Approximately two million dogs are destroyed in shelters each year. 25% of the dogs in shelters are acutally pure bred dogs. The documentary follows a task force that was called in to shut down a puppy mill. Of which, the conditions are just unspeakable. The documentary talks about different things that contribute to over population of shelters; not spaying and neutering, irresponsible pet owners and owners who do not realize that taking in a dog should be a life time committment.
We urge our followers to watch this documentary and the spread the word "caring about these shelter animals is the only thing that will save them". If you cannot adopt, donate. If you cannot donate, volunteer. And if you cannot volunteer, spread the word! Here is to our adopted family members; 
Marlee, Austin and Reece
Saturday, September 15, 2012
About Us
Hello to all of our followers. This is our first blog entry and we hope that it will just enhance what you can learn about us on our Facebook page, website and Twitter. Please give us any feed back that you think will help us!
Burdoc Farms was purchased in North Christian County just south of Crofton, Kentucky in 1953 at a cost of $2 an acre. When Dr. Norma Shepherd and Burwell Keith Shepherd Sr. were married, they were given a wedding gift to build a home in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. However, they both had a vision and mutual dream of buying a working farm, and someday building a home there. After finding and buying the farm in Crofton they decided to use both their names and the farm became BURDOC Farms.
A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Dr. Norma Shepherd, started her practice in Hopkinsville Kentucky, practicing family medicine, still made house calls and delivered over 6000 children in Christian County and surrounding counties. Originally from Lexington, Kentucky, Burwell Keith Shepherd, Sr. was an attorney practicing law in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Dr. Shepherd made a house call one night to a very sick lawyer and six months later, they were married.
Norma and Keith had a vision of a self-sustaining farm and so they decided to get into the beef cattle business raising American Shorthorns. The family operated a cow/calf operation for over 40 years, raising and showing cattle all over the United States. The farm was taken over by John Shepherd and Burwell Shepherd, sons of Norma and Keith. Eventually John decided to get out of farming, so the farm was left to Burwell and Sara Shepherd to operate. Their three children, Jessica, James and Jackie, also helped out on the farm, with feeding and birthing calves and raising the occasional orphaned calf by bottle. Burwell Keith Shepherd Jr got a degree in forestry from The University of Kentucky. When Norma and Keith Sr. passed away , Burwell decided to get out of the cattle business and concentrate on planting trees, creating a hardwood tree farm, as well as a having a Stewardship Farm.
Sara and Burwell discussed many times that they would eventually build a home on the farm, but there was a lot of discussion of what kind of home. They both were very interested in log homes, visited log home manufacturers, and went to log home seminars. A friend of Sara and Burwell knowing they were interested in log homes gave them a Mother Earth News magazine that was entirely dedicated to log home building and the different methods to building a log home. Burwell decided this was the way to go and purchased a saw mill so that they could cut all their own logs for the exterior and boards for the interior of the home. Every log, wood floor, molding and even stud walls and floors in their home are from trees Burwell cut down on Burdoc Farms.
As the years went by, Sara and Burwell decided to build a smaller log cabin behind the family home for visiting family members and friends to stay when they visited. Many friends have told them over the years that people would enjoy getting away from the city and coming to the farm to stay. After Sara and Burwell’s three children left home, they realized that a bed and breakfast would be a great way to share their love for the farm, with others. Burwell started clearing trails so that visiting families and friends could ride their ATV’s, take nature hikes, mountain bikes or ride horses and enjoy the outdoors. Now there are over 8 miles of trails cleared for visitors to enjoy thru any means they prefer, walking, riding ATV’s, or horses, and mountain biking.
The Shepherd's oldest daughter, Jessica, has now become interested in being a steward of the land and is helping Keith and Sara to expand the many different opportunites that Burdoc Farms has to offer. The farm just hosted its first wedding on September 8, 2012.
Please keep checking back on our blog to read about the different things we have to offer and the vision that keeps our progress going! You can also check out our website at www.burdocfarms.com
Burdoc Farms was purchased in North Christian County just south of Crofton, Kentucky in 1953 at a cost of $2 an acre. When Dr. Norma Shepherd and Burwell Keith Shepherd Sr. were married, they were given a wedding gift to build a home in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. However, they both had a vision and mutual dream of buying a working farm, and someday building a home there. After finding and buying the farm in Crofton they decided to use both their names and the farm became BURDOC Farms.
A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Dr. Norma Shepherd, started her practice in Hopkinsville Kentucky, practicing family medicine, still made house calls and delivered over 6000 children in Christian County and surrounding counties. Originally from Lexington, Kentucky, Burwell Keith Shepherd, Sr. was an attorney practicing law in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Dr. Shepherd made a house call one night to a very sick lawyer and six months later, they were married.
Norma and Keith had a vision of a self-sustaining farm and so they decided to get into the beef cattle business raising American Shorthorns. The family operated a cow/calf operation for over 40 years, raising and showing cattle all over the United States. The farm was taken over by John Shepherd and Burwell Shepherd, sons of Norma and Keith. Eventually John decided to get out of farming, so the farm was left to Burwell and Sara Shepherd to operate. Their three children, Jessica, James and Jackie, also helped out on the farm, with feeding and birthing calves and raising the occasional orphaned calf by bottle. Burwell Keith Shepherd Jr got a degree in forestry from The University of Kentucky. When Norma and Keith Sr. passed away , Burwell decided to get out of the cattle business and concentrate on planting trees, creating a hardwood tree farm, as well as a having a Stewardship Farm.
Sara and Burwell discussed many times that they would eventually build a home on the farm, but there was a lot of discussion of what kind of home. They both were very interested in log homes, visited log home manufacturers, and went to log home seminars. A friend of Sara and Burwell knowing they were interested in log homes gave them a Mother Earth News magazine that was entirely dedicated to log home building and the different methods to building a log home. Burwell decided this was the way to go and purchased a saw mill so that they could cut all their own logs for the exterior and boards for the interior of the home. Every log, wood floor, molding and even stud walls and floors in their home are from trees Burwell cut down on Burdoc Farms.
As the years went by, Sara and Burwell decided to build a smaller log cabin behind the family home for visiting family members and friends to stay when they visited. Many friends have told them over the years that people would enjoy getting away from the city and coming to the farm to stay. After Sara and Burwell’s three children left home, they realized that a bed and breakfast would be a great way to share their love for the farm, with others. Burwell started clearing trails so that visiting families and friends could ride their ATV’s, take nature hikes, mountain bikes or ride horses and enjoy the outdoors. Now there are over 8 miles of trails cleared for visitors to enjoy thru any means they prefer, walking, riding ATV’s, or horses, and mountain biking.
The Shepherd's oldest daughter, Jessica, has now become interested in being a steward of the land and is helping Keith and Sara to expand the many different opportunites that Burdoc Farms has to offer. The farm just hosted its first wedding on September 8, 2012.
Please keep checking back on our blog to read about the different things we have to offer and the vision that keeps our progress going! You can also check out our website at www.burdocfarms.com
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