Twin state river farm

[JHAAS]

Hello all,

I’ve been lurking in these forums for several years. I’ve met some of you at various conferences, I’ve even worked for some of you. Now, I have my own beasts of burden and about five zillion questions, hopes, and fears that I’m entirely too afraid to ask. I look to you, my friends and peers as we move forward to feed this community with our use of draft power.

So far, our stats: two senior belgian geldings, D ring harnesses, ~2 A mixed veg. A pile of implements spanning the rust-spectrum. River bottom land totaling about 8A bordering the Connecticut river and a sizable tributary.

Thanks!
Jada and Tim
Long Bridge Farm
Windsor, VT

[Jay]

Welcome. Ask away! Many of us started much as you are. At least now there are more of us around to ask and we want to help in ways that we can so don’t be a stranger here… Can I ask how you market your vegetables? We spent 30 great years at farmer’s market among other places, so I’m always curious. Good Luck, Jay

[LongViewFarm]

I’m just across the river in NH and look forward to meeting you and sharing ideas.
I’d recommend coming to the Cultivation workshop at Stephen Leslie’s just up the road in Hartland, and the Annual Gathering, which will be here in Charlestown.

Lots more events are listed on our page here:

Welcome!

[JHAAS]

Thanks!

Jay – we’ve got a couple wholesale accounts, buying bulk items. One is a CSA that buys in some veg to flesh out their shares, and another delivers veggie boxes to Boston. We’re also doing a farmstand at our place that I expect to do well. We’re right in the middle of a busy neighborhood, and the woman who lived here farmed and had a pretty successful business, lots of neighbors have mentioned it, she was a big part of the community here. We’ll do one farmer’s market, but there’s lots of veggie growers up here already, be good to get our name out.

Long View – excited to meet you! I’ve worked for Stephen and was at the last cultivating workshop a year or two ago, were you there? Have we met? What’s your set up? How are you using your animals?

[Jay]

We have a 40 acre diversified horse powered farm. 300 layers, 4 moderate size Suffolks, 2 milk goats, 5 sheep. In the past we have had 2 acre market garden (mostly hand cultivation) plowing, bedmaking, ect with horses, 3-5 sows for spring and fall piglets, milk cow for our own milk and occasional veal to sell, 1-200 meat birds to sell at farmer’s market as well as at farm store at home. Sleigh rides in the winter, Most of our marketing has been through the farmer’s market – what an education in how to figure out what people like and respond to. Continually trying to find a refinement that will draw people in and yet be worth the time it takes to do/make. We also raised foals and sold them for more than 20 years.
We have now sold the second house on the farm to and are leasing part of the land to another couple who have a 100 member CSA. We are sharing the horses with them. We put up about 20 acres of loose hay, spread manure, all the plowing, manure spreading, etc is with the horses. We have a roto tiller and a 2 wheel tractor with mower, snow plow, etc. All the heavy work is with the horses.

[LongViewFarm]

I;m sure we have met then. I was at the last cultivation demo. We’re running another one this year too. Congrats on making the transition from interns to running your own show. I’m still just a weekend warrior working as a teacher too. Lots of carriage work for me and my own logging, plowing, and cultivating at a very limited level of garden work. If ever you need a good team and a hand I’d be glad to come over, or help out as needed. I’d like to come over and visit anyway.
Jay

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