This is me. This is one of my cows. This website is Dave’s brain on cows. Pretty sure this was Robin. Robin now lives on another farm in Canterbury.
I bought the place in 2000 and McClary Hill Farm was established in 2005. It started with chickens for eggs — be forewarned chickens are the gateway drug of the farm animal kingdom. They are easy to keep, readily available, and thrifty. Chickens led to sheep, sheep led to meat chickens, meat chickens led to a pig, the pig led to a cow, one cow led to another and another and another… and then I found myself smoking meat. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
One of the gardens, unusually tidy this one.
I tend to focus on the root crops; potatoes, beets, carrots, jerusalem artichokes (only because they won’t go away) and squash. I like the idea of vegetables that will keep through the winter and provide good food during the dark and cold here in New Hampshire. I’m adding high tunnels this summer, 2011, for winter crops and an early start on the heat lovers; tomatoes, peppers and eggplants.
I find the work of farming rewarding and challenging. It is the antithesis of the specialization of the industrial and digital revolutions. You need to know all of the trades (‘cuz you won’t be paying people to do it for you), animal husbandry, soil science and on and on. While it is a deadly serious business, I find much of it funny and try to share that with my readers.
Quite simply, I love farming and I think everyone should do it.
Blueberries that the birds haven't gotten yet!