| FARM STORIES (2006-11) |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Earl (Draft Mule)
a really big kid)
a really big kid)
Phil (Donkey)
Clair (Clarabelle) and Hannah-
belle (Mammoth Jackstock --
step-sisters)
belle (Mammoth Jackstock --
step-sisters)
Mushy & Mavis (aka Bonky
Donkey & Donkey Oatie)
Donkey & Donkey Oatie)
| Lady (Appaloosa Mule) |
Mother & Father
Goose (Nene)
Goose (Nene)
Clair (aka Clara) Being served
(Earl wants to spoil her rest)
(Earl wants to spoil her rest)
Clair (de la Lune), as
she used to greet us
and visitors here
she used to greet us
and visitors here
Bliss! Breakfast in Bed...
Clair & Henny Penny receive
thousands of bits of information as
Marc and the bucket of water make
their way through the snow
thousands of bits of information as
Marc and the bucket of water make
their way through the snow
Henny Penny rides Clair's back
for the best vantage point to get
any bits of food Clair leaves in
the snow
for the best vantage point to get
any bits of food Clair leaves in
the snow
Bonky & Oatie get behind 'Mama' Clair to protect them from Phil, who's being a pest.
Marc explained to Phil that the girls were not comfortable with Phil's behaviors, but to
no avail; so Phil was sent to his corner for a 'time out.' Phil eventually was returned to
his former owner, and harmony was restored.
Marc explained to Phil that the girls were not comfortable with Phil's behaviors, but to
no avail; so Phil was sent to his corner for a 'time out.' Phil eventually was returned to
his former owner, and harmony was restored.
Clair loves to greet visitors
Earl and Mother Goose dancing a beautiful minuet.
Earl huffed and puffed at this young
moose who was happily checking
out the tender spring greens
moose who was happily checking
out the tender spring greens
Good thing it wasn't this Bull Moose
that Earl was challenging
that Earl was challenging
| 'Moose Creek', and there are Moose Crossing signs posted on both sides of Route 122 here. These animals are masters of invisibility -- except for when they are crossing at those posted signs. |
Sunrise (facing west) is often a beautiful time at Mount Harmony Farm. A fully arched rainless bow,
Earl getting ready to challenge a young moose while the full moon is setting at sunrise, the mists --
these are moments of ecstatic trance states, where some of the magical forces of nature can be
glimpsed in peripheral vision, as well as head on. I am head over heels in love with the sheer
magnitude of Life here. Yes, there are grey days, times when the mud sucks your boots off, and yes,
there is a daunting amount of seemingly endless gottas to do here (like the seeming futility of
fencing where the moose roam). But gratitude for all this is also a very natural force here.
Earl getting ready to challenge a young moose while the full moon is setting at sunrise, the mists --
these are moments of ecstatic trance states, where some of the magical forces of nature can be
glimpsed in peripheral vision, as well as head on. I am head over heels in love with the sheer
magnitude of Life here. Yes, there are grey days, times when the mud sucks your boots off, and yes,
there is a daunting amount of seemingly endless gottas to do here (like the seeming futility of
fencing where the moose roam). But gratitude for all this is also a very natural force here.
Un-Natural Horsemanship
ca. 1925 -- A western riding resort ranch replete with derby-wearing stuffed horse in
overalls, so one can have their picture taken.
ca. 1925 -- A western riding resort ranch replete with derby-wearing stuffed horse in
overalls, so one can have their picture taken.
| . |
The Odd Couple
Clair, often mistaken for a
moose (she is not), is
accommodating, protective,
and empathic. She also
understands the spoken and
unspoken. Marc thinks
about going down to brush
her, so she sticks her head
out the barn and does a
great imitation of a fog horn;
her ears speak volumes.
moose (she is not), is
accommodating, protective,
and empathic. She also
understands the spoken and
unspoken. Marc thinks
about going down to brush
her, so she sticks her head
out the barn and does a
great imitation of a fog horn;
her ears speak volumes.
The peaceful bliss of a full-belly and warm sunshine
Here are some of our Farm Animals we've had over the years. We've taken
as many longears out of harm's way as we could take responsibility for. A number
of them have been successfully placed with caring owners. We've never benefited
financially, just plenty of emotional benefit -- the important consideration for us is to
get them a good placement, and keep them from the slaughterhouses.
as many longears out of harm's way as we could take responsibility for. A number
of them have been successfully placed with caring owners. We've never benefited
financially, just plenty of emotional benefit -- the important consideration for us is to
get them a good placement, and keep them from the slaughterhouses.
| Removed stumps cleared away, North Pasture land ready for next steps |
| Stumps lined up along old logging road for a Moose fence |
Marc has been clearing thousands of root
pieces and rocks, and adding them to the
Moose Fence
pieces and rocks, and adding them to the
Moose Fence
Stumps prior to being bulldozed
| Stumps after being bulldozed into Moose fencing -- Stephanie shown for scale |
The North Pasture -- which cannot be seen from the Guest House -- has been cleared of stumps now,and
cover crops of buckwheat, oats, and winter rye grown and disc harrowed into the land. This is part of the
process of bringing the land back to being able to grow food. On the left is Stephanie at the 'Dozer. The
following photos show the progress of stumps clearing, and the fence we are creating with them to keep the
moose out -- who are free to amble and eat in areas we have set aside & protected for them, but our cultivated
vegetables are for us.
cover crops of buckwheat, oats, and winter rye grown and disc harrowed into the land. This is part of the
process of bringing the land back to being able to grow food. On the left is Stephanie at the 'Dozer. The
following photos show the progress of stumps clearing, and the fence we are creating with them to keep the
moose out -- who are free to amble and eat in areas we have set aside & protected for them, but our cultivated
vegetables are for us.
De-stumping the North Pasture
Uprooted stumps after overwintering, so that the topsoil will have fallen off the
stumps back onto the land -- where it belongs.
stumps back onto the land -- where it belongs.
Looking toward the West Pasture
(antique Manure Spreader in foreground)
(antique Manure Spreader in foreground)
"The wrongs done to trees, wrongs of every sort, are done in the
darkness of ignorance and unbelief, for when the light comes, the
heart of the people is always right." -- John Muir
darkness of ignorance and unbelief, for when the light comes, the
heart of the people is always right." -- John Muir
| Mules: Pat & Hun |
