Farm Products

The past thirty years of farming have been varied because, as on any small farm not strictly defined by feeding a family of four or more, there developed a desire for optimizing the special features of the farm. Significantly, the first year we invested in a half acre pond eight feet deep. Perhaps the best investment of my life. This led to trout fishing which, was a good feature, but hadn't counted on competition from river otters.

Another niche was presented by dairy farmers in the area culling bull calves. Thus we raised a few veal for several years, which ended when the county closed the slaughter house. Accompanying those calves were a series of unprofitable bovine, mainly beef. Pigs were entertainment and provided extraordinary winter fare. The perennial hens were steady egg layers and provided stability in the occasional chaos.

As the land improved and organic matter increased with each passing year, the prevalent products became organic produce, predominately high value tomatoes grown in hoop houses, and each year the hay crop improved. About ten years ago we bought a self propelled compost turner, which became the backbone of the operation, for it provided for a steady income based on recycling horse stall waste into fertilizer for the whole farm and sale to the public.

These were in place when a young couple from UNH was recruited to set up and operate a CSA on our farm. The second year it had 100 members and the pace was overwhelming. The couple moved on. The present plan is to retain and expand a few retail customers and try limited subscription farming for produce, while establishing field crops of grains, sunflowers, shell and dry beans on conservation land. The impetus for the shift is the need to create basic local organic foods for reorientation to community as the petroleum era fades.