Natural Farming
| Biodynamic & Organic |
Only to him who stands where the barley stands
and listens well, will it speak and tell, for his sake,
what man is.
-- Masanobu Fukuoka, 1985
and listens well, will it speak and tell, for his sake,
what man is.
-- Masanobu Fukuoka, 1985
A Little About Our Farming
For much of the past seven years, we have concentrated time and energy, heart, mind and muscle, to the
study and implementation of organic farming, natural horsemanship, as well as restoring the farm buildings,
soil and immediate surroundings.
The past few growing seasons we have grown (and our Guests have eaten): mesclun, 9 varieties of
tomatoes, arugula, various mustard cresses, peas, radicchio, bok choi, tat-soi, mizuna, chicory, endive,
garlic, shallots, onions, beets, basil, dill, parsley, sage, rosemary, tarragon, apple mint, dandelion greens,
squash (delicata, buttercup, red kuri, spaghetti, Costata Romanesco zucchini, yellow crookneck), kale
(lacinato, Russian, and blue curly), Swiss chard, spinach, cabbage, leeks, corn, tomatoes, radishes, broccoli,
broccoli raab, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, potatoes (plenty of
fingerlings this year), pumpkins, and true watercress. Last year we added snap beans, fingerling potatoes
and horse radish.
The 100% organic seeds that we use are mostly started indoors Transplants from our indoor 'greenhouse'
are hardened off in late may/early June after the last frost, carefully placed in our outdoor beds into little
pockets of VT Compost's Fort Vee, and later top-dressed with the company's Compost Plus. Our farm
(which in the past two centuries has been a sheep/goat farm, and a soft-woods forest) has, to the very best
of our knowledge, never had chemical fertilizers or pesticides added to it. We water our crops with our well
water (and the gentle, non-acidic rain), and then they benefit from the rich mountaintop air. This year we are
adding low tunnels to extend the season.
We've been experimenting with growing some of our vegetables with companion plants -- such as marigolds,
buckwheat, flax, horse radish, arugula, bush beans, dill, and nasturtiums -- in the center of each squash
mound a sunflower is planted. The results in taste and energy (and eye-appeal) are spectacular, plus they
attract bees and pollinators.
We encourage a variety of pest control and pollinators -- bats, bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, swifts and
martins, and little havens are created for frogs and toad (our Tai Chi gardeners).
Stephanie, our gardener/photographer/web master, has been gardening since 1955. She also works with
wildflowers, perennials (with a focus on daylilies & heritage varieties of plants), and woodland plants --
especially ones with multiple uses. Her ancestors were goatherds, weavers and woodcarvers/cabinet
makers in the foothills of the French Pyrenees mountains.
For much of the past seven years, we have concentrated time and energy, heart, mind and muscle, to the
study and implementation of organic farming, natural horsemanship, as well as restoring the farm buildings,
soil and immediate surroundings.
The past few growing seasons we have grown (and our Guests have eaten): mesclun, 9 varieties of
tomatoes, arugula, various mustard cresses, peas, radicchio, bok choi, tat-soi, mizuna, chicory, endive,
garlic, shallots, onions, beets, basil, dill, parsley, sage, rosemary, tarragon, apple mint, dandelion greens,
squash (delicata, buttercup, red kuri, spaghetti, Costata Romanesco zucchini, yellow crookneck), kale
(lacinato, Russian, and blue curly), Swiss chard, spinach, cabbage, leeks, corn, tomatoes, radishes, broccoli,
broccoli raab, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, potatoes (plenty of
fingerlings this year), pumpkins, and true watercress. Last year we added snap beans, fingerling potatoes
and horse radish.
The 100% organic seeds that we use are mostly started indoors Transplants from our indoor 'greenhouse'
are hardened off in late may/early June after the last frost, carefully placed in our outdoor beds into little
pockets of VT Compost's Fort Vee, and later top-dressed with the company's Compost Plus. Our farm
(which in the past two centuries has been a sheep/goat farm, and a soft-woods forest) has, to the very best
of our knowledge, never had chemical fertilizers or pesticides added to it. We water our crops with our well
water (and the gentle, non-acidic rain), and then they benefit from the rich mountaintop air. This year we are
adding low tunnels to extend the season.
We've been experimenting with growing some of our vegetables with companion plants -- such as marigolds,
buckwheat, flax, horse radish, arugula, bush beans, dill, and nasturtiums -- in the center of each squash
mound a sunflower is planted. The results in taste and energy (and eye-appeal) are spectacular, plus they
attract bees and pollinators.
We encourage a variety of pest control and pollinators -- bats, bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, swifts and
martins, and little havens are created for frogs and toad (our Tai Chi gardeners).
Stephanie, our gardener/photographer/web master, has been gardening since 1955. She also works with
wildflowers, perennials (with a focus on daylilies & heritage varieties of plants), and woodland plants --
especially ones with multiple uses. Her ancestors were goatherds, weavers and woodcarvers/cabinet
makers in the foothills of the French Pyrenees mountains.
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"The greatest fine
art of the future,
will be the making
of a comfortable
living on a small
piece of land."
President Abraham
Lincoln
Our organic, healthy soil produces vibrant
colors in the frogs here
colors in the frogs here
| Late 2009 -- West Pasture, 1940 Manure Spreader,and Green Manure Cover Crops |
2009 -- West Pasture being prepared for further cover-crop
seeding. White- flowering buckwheat cover crop (for
green manure) in background is about to be tilled in.
seeding. White- flowering buckwheat cover crop (for
green manure) in background is about to be tilled in.
2008 -- Early stage of West Pasture restoration -- stumps,
twigs, rocks and weeds removal in progress (Antique
Tractor is a 1947 Case VAC).
twigs, rocks and weeds removal in progress (Antique
Tractor is a 1947 Case VAC).
2011 West Pasture Produce (and 'Greenhouse view): 3 varieties of corn, arugula, mesclun, many lettuce varieties, 9 tomato
varieties, fingerling potatoes, cabbage. broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, radicchio, many types of sunflowers, various squashes,
Bok Choi, Qing Choi, Tat Soi, Daikon, radishes, beets, and more
varieties, fingerling potatoes, cabbage. broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, radicchio, many types of sunflowers, various squashes,
Bok Choi, Qing Choi, Tat Soi, Daikon, radishes, beets, and more
The honeybees, bumblebees and butterflies take refuge in our sunflowers during th
pre-autumn frosts
pre-autumn frosts