"Mark and I have been doing some deep thinking about draft horse power here. We do not yet have answers, but I’ll share our conclusions to this point, and invite your input. As many readers know, we crafted this farm around the idea of using horses as our primary source of power. … [Read more...] about Essex Farm: Reconsidering Draft Horse Power
draft horses
Essex Farm: Farewells
"It is a farewell day – to Courtney, who is off to Keeseville, and to Chad, who has been here full time with us for the busy season, but will now focus on his own projects. We send them both with lots of thanks, best wishes, and a few tears. One of the hardest parts of having … [Read more...] about Essex Farm: Farewells
Essex Farm: Beware the Swarm
Draft horses are stoic beasts. They can work through heat, dust, discomfort and fatigue. But, like Gulliver, they are tormented beyond their limits by hordes of little things. The face flies that mass around their eyes and nose, the green-headed flies that bite the belly, neck … [Read more...] about Essex Farm: Beware the Swarm
Full and By Farm: Big Projects, Less Sleep
A largely sleepless week has left all of us dragging in our boots. Haymaking and construction projects have had everyone staying up late. The long days of June force the sleep from our eyes extra early. There are plenty more of both projects in the coming week—sunny days in … [Read more...] about Full and By Farm: Big Projects, Less Sleep
State of the Farm | Kristin Kimball
"An end-of-April chill is upon us, and for the next few nights, the tender young things on the farm will have to withstand a dip into the 20s. I shiver for the asparagus, the chicks out on pasture, and the nine piglets that were born on Wednesday. This kind of weather is entirely … [Read more...] about State of the Farm | Kristin Kimball