FIELD RECLAMATION IN EPSOM EXPANDS MCCLARY HILL FARM

As promised we will continue to bring you articles of interest to us.

Recently we received a call from Dave and Barb Stewart, owners of McClary Hill Farm on Griffin Road in Epsom. Dave explained that he needed to expand his fields and pastures to provide fodder for his cows and sheep. Seven years ago Dave and Barb purchased an old farm with fields that had not been maintained. The majority of the land was in a conservation easement managed by Bear-Paw Regional Greenways. Dave worked with Patrick Kenny, our forester, and Bear-Paw to convert 27 acres of overgrown field and forest back to an area that is now ready to be pasture and hay field again.

Dave is a native of New Hampshire having grown up in the Durham area. He attended UNH and UVM receiving a Bachelors degree in Zoology and later a Masters Degree in Education Administration from Indiana University-Bloomington. Dave recently sold his manufacturing business which specialized in molded polyurethanes, and has now become a full-time farmer. Dave, Barb and their children, Madeleine and Axel all enjoy the benefits of life on the farm. Madeleine helps with chores in the morning feeding the cows after they are milked and tending the barn cats. Axel enjoys climbing trees in the afternoon when his school day is over.

One sunny fall morning Dave spent time with us explaining his farming operation. While he uses organic practices and feeds, his farm is not certified organic at the moment. Currently, he raises free range chickens, turkeys, sheep and pigs. His six cows provide the raw, organic milk that he sells. Other products produced on the farm include eggs, butter, honey, meat and some vegetables. His products are purchased by his neighbors, friends, and people who want to know where their food is grown. Dave has been inspired by the philosophy of Slow Food International (SFI) which got its start in Europe. SFI was started as a rebuttal to fast food and the loss of local food traditions. Slow Food encourages an appreciation of the locally available foods found in your own neighborhoods and region. Purchasing locally grown or raised food helps your local farmer, the local economy, and the environment.

Earlier this year, our crew did several small field reclamations for the farm. A photo of a 3 acre field that has been fertilized and seeded is at the top. Next year Dave will be able to harvest the hay off of this field. This fall Dave will start work on the 20 acre parcel of land that was cleared by one of our crews for a series of fields and pastures. The new area will give Dave control of the hay he feeds his animals in order to certify organic. Also, there will be room to grass feed cows for 6-8 months of the year, reducing grain in their diet. The land will also attract a variety of wildlife species that live on the edge of forested areas and use fields as part of their habitat.

Dave appreciates the effort that Jeff and his crew at Fort Mountain have made to skillfully and sensitively convert forest and overgrown pasture into productive pastureland that will help him to achieve his goal of creating a sustainable, organic farm which provides good, wholesome foods to local customers.

We, at the Fort Mountain Companies, would like to encourage you to visit Dave and Barb's farm. Click on the link to their website earlier in the article for directions. The drive is worth it and the views are spectacular in the fall.

Your Friends in the Forest, Fort Mountain Companies