tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42319714614656239992024-02-08T07:30:20.234-05:00Sterling College ~ Sustainable Agriculture SemesterThe Sterling College Sustainable Agriculture Semester is a for-credit integrated program of work and study exploring ecological management of plants, animals, and land.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-61116452096523556872009-07-08T08:41:00.004-04:002009-07-08T08:46:51.877-04:00Morning on the farm and the One Cow Revolution<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SlSUo0RV-QI/AAAAAAAAAHg/U6F5bltVUAY/s1600-h/peanut+on+mound.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SlSUo0RV-QI/AAAAAAAAAHg/U6F5bltVUAY/s200/peanut+on+mound.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356069285797427458" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SlSUe9MGIRI/AAAAAAAAAHY/fjU_UigiKo0/s1600-h/lambs+and+chicken+tractors.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SlSUe9MGIRI/AAAAAAAAAHY/fjU_UigiKo0/s200/lambs+and+chicken+tractors.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356069116392644882" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SlSUWB1rv0I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/WZojGFzPLhU/s1600-h/kayla+and+weebit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SlSUWB1rv0I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/WZojGFzPLhU/s200/kayla+and+weebit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356068963021995842" /></a>Session II of the Summer Agriculture Semester has begun with students arriving at the barns at 6:30 to meet and milk Weebit, move lambs, feed chicks, collect eggs, groom and feed horses, move cattle to fresh grass, and generally return to the rhythm of farming. Classes include Permaculture, Agriculture Power Systems, Homestead Arts, and The One Cow Revolution.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-23320148606893329252009-07-04T17:23:00.005-04:002009-07-04T17:47:49.277-04:00Chicken Tractors<A href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/Sk_IfpvraAI/AAAAAAAAAHI/h2VAOl3yPeU/s1600-h/chicken+tractors.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354718928074139650 style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 112px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/Sk_IfpvraAI/AAAAAAAAAHI/h2VAOl3yPeU/s200/chicken+tractors.jpg" border=0></A><br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-7ca1eecaf97843ce height=266 width=320 contentId="7ca1eecaf97843ce"></OBJECT>Six chicken tractors loaded with 60 free range broilers, 40 barred rock layers and 15 Narrangansett turkeys headed out of their brooders and into the pastures today, they will follow the lambs in the pasture rotation. Another 25 turkeys will enter the brooder next week and will follow along behind this group in about 2 weeks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-49212946632524822532009-07-03T14:21:00.002-04:002009-07-03T14:27:47.555-04:00Bread Oven<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/Sk5MZ8LU8eI/AAAAAAAAAHA/lxb9taL-Y20/s1600-h/bread+oven+with+roof.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/Sk5MZ8LU8eI/AAAAAAAAAHA/lxb9taL-Y20/s200/bread+oven+with+roof.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354301015524176354" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/Sk5MSgpb3EI/AAAAAAAAAG4/Rt7JfA6RKzg/s1600-h/bread+oven+with+roof+2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/Sk5MSgpb3EI/AAAAAAAAAG4/Rt7JfA6RKzg/s200/bread+oven+with+roof+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354300887875181634" /></a>Construction on Sterling's own bread oven began with an idea between Heidi Wilson and several students and is now approaching completion. The oven was built with the help of Peter Schuemann (Bread and Puppet)and many students, used lumber harvested from the Sterling woodlot and milled on Sterling's sawmill, a crosscut saw was used to create the arch for the doors, and clay was mined from a nearby source. The next step is to begin firing the oven with small twig fires and the first loaf of bread is on the near horizon. Small grains are being grown in our garden, rye, wheat and oats, and will be harvested with scythes and milled by hand. This writer cannot wait for the first pizza night!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-70648663507863162012009-07-02T08:41:00.004-04:002009-07-02T08:48:37.499-04:00Farm update<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SkyrhIxFb9I/AAAAAAAAAGw/Sbdy2OebJmE/s1600-h/whey+to+gilts.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SkyrhIxFb9I/AAAAAAAAAGw/Sbdy2OebJmE/s200/whey+to+gilts.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353842642814070738" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SkyrVsylN4I/AAAAAAAAAGo/dyCQNUnml0o/s1600-h/herb+garden+at+barn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SkyrVsylN4I/AAAAAAAAAGo/dyCQNUnml0o/s200/herb+garden+at+barn.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353842446325593986" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SkyrOAQ0KTI/AAAAAAAAAGg/VAVXL-Waeiw/s1600-h/gilts+in+the+woods.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SkyrOAQ0KTI/AAAAAAAAAGg/VAVXL-Waeiw/s200/gilts+in+the+woods.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353842314113722674" /></a>The farm has been busy, compost bins have been constructed to manage the chicken manure and stall bedding, our gilts have been routed out to the woods and, along with delicious natural forage, are being fed whey from Ploughgate Creamery. An herb bed has been built to make healing salves and natural anthelmitics for the animals; lavendar and comfrey have been established guarded by marigolds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-69968124455028586992009-06-30T17:31:00.004-04:002009-07-02T05:24:12.580-04:00Lamb Management<OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-d4121b86d588b6f2 height=266 width=320 contentId="d4121b86d588b6f2"></OBJECT>We hope to raise 1000 pounds of grass-fed lamb for the kitchen for the coming school year; here, students learn the processes associated with lamb management--dewormer, CD&T shots, hoof trimming, and weighing for biweekly weight gain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-57279033187637478082009-06-29T12:08:00.004-04:002009-06-30T05:37:50.956-04:00First Cultivation of Potatoes<OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-a89f3702e70ac84c height=266 width=320 contentId="a89f3702e70ac84c"></OBJECT>While we seem to be stuck in the same weather pattern as last year, daily rain and lots of it, our storage crops are thriving. Here, as part of the Agriculture Power Systems course, we are cultivating our potatoes using a horse-drawn two row cultivator--this is tricky since one wrong step by the horses or one misjudgement by the driver operating the foot treadle can cause lots of damage to the young plants. Students gain confidence working the machine outside the garden area then proceed to working over the plants.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-50796096337970652152009-06-19T16:38:00.004-04:002009-06-19T17:01:27.829-04:00Learning to Drive: Logging and Cultivation<OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-c30828ce48b3a33 height=266 width=320 contentId="c30828ce48b3a33"></OBJECT>Students are gaining confidence working with the horses as they move logs around the log yard and work the cultivator in the bean patch. Working in a relatively low risk environment such as this will pay dividends once we begin skidding logs from the woodlot and working with the two-row riding cultivator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-73140332151637879212009-06-17T22:19:00.004-04:002009-06-17T22:47:47.329-04:00Mowing with horses<OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-cb7ebb128f721c5e height=266 width=320 contentId="cb7ebb128f721c5e"></OBJECT>Over the winter, we rebuilt a McCormick Deering Number 7 horsedrawn mowing machine; today, with the help of teamster Nick Hammond and his horses, Peter and Paul, we took the mower out for her maiden (at least in a resurrected since) voyage. We intend to use the mower to clip pastures behind our animals or in front of our animal rotations if the grass moves too fast for them to keep up. Our next project, a McCormick Deering grain drill is moving into the shop and repair work is scheduled to begin next week.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-83001718632440209992009-06-16T14:36:00.005-04:002009-06-16T14:43:58.327-04:00Chicks, Logging with Horses, and Pasture Management<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/Sjfmk6No4vI/AAAAAAAAAGY/voe-x7BH2t8/s1600-h/jascha+and+louise+in+the+pasture.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/Sjfmk6No4vI/AAAAAAAAAGY/voe-x7BH2t8/s200/jascha+and+louise+in+the+pasture.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347996604301894386" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SjfmfJoC3_I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/xGeMhwRbPBk/s1600-h/lee+logging.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SjfmfJoC3_I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/xGeMhwRbPBk/s200/lee+logging.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347996505359966194" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SjfmWYr-nkI/AAAAAAAAAGI/p75F-X-LeJc/s1600-h/freedom+rangers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SjfmWYr-nkI/AAAAAAAAAGI/p75F-X-LeJc/s200/freedom+rangers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347996354784173634" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SjfmP0rEJVI/AAAAAAAAAGA/Ngltocopw5s/s1600-h/barred+rocks.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SjfmP0rEJVI/AAAAAAAAAGA/Ngltocopw5s/s200/barred+rocks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347996242037450066" /></a><br />As we approach week 3 of the summer farm semester, much is happening around the farm, in the forest, and in the gardens; and, of course, in the classroom! Meat birds and turkeys for the kitchen and laying hens for the farm are growing in their brooders, logs are being skidded from the woods to soon be milled into lumber, and pastures are being managed to ensure that our grass will not only last into the fall but that next season's grass will have the best start possible. The last of the transplants have been removed from the greenhouse and are in their beds. 500 bales of first cut hay are in the barn and the next cut awaits a stretch of good drying weather.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-5866091274414560362009-06-09T08:40:00.003-04:002009-06-09T08:47:31.418-04:00Garden chores<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/Si5Y2KdrSRI/AAAAAAAAAF4/j7MRT0sIURo/s1600-h/group+2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/Si5Y2KdrSRI/AAAAAAAAAF4/j7MRT0sIURo/s200/group+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345307495280363794" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/Si5YqT87Y1I/AAAAAAAAAFw/kPOpsMSGtkM/s1600-h/ian+and+clark.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/Si5YqT87Y1I/AAAAAAAAAFw/kPOpsMSGtkM/s200/ian+and+clark.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345307291668931410" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/Si5YeDXbiiI/AAAAAAAAAFo/mP-GQzQ7Yi4/s1600-h/lee+in+tomatoes+3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/Si5YeDXbiiI/AAAAAAAAAFo/mP-GQzQ7Yi4/s200/lee+in+tomatoes+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345307081058257442" /></a><br />Each day at 6:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m., students not taking care of the livestock descend upon the gardens to weed, plant, transplant, mulch, trellis, hill, harvest and nurture our food for this coming season. A new addition this season, strawberries, are being established between the other berries and the apple trees. Hopefully, the plants will thrive and we will be able to supply the kitchen with enough strawberry jam to furnish the needs of the Sterling community.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-14262100667105895582009-06-05T12:53:00.005-04:002009-06-05T13:01:04.536-04:00First day working with horses<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SilN0v4XKzI/AAAAAAAAAFg/5kUwHyyR6LI/s1600-h/lucy+and+lincoln.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SilN0v4XKzI/AAAAAAAAAFg/5kUwHyyR6LI/s200/lucy+and+lincoln.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343888001453206322" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SilNuqq7ZjI/AAAAAAAAAFY/xG_S1t9xkU8/s1600-h/brooks+and+lincoln.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SilNuqq7ZjI/AAAAAAAAAFY/xG_S1t9xkU8/s200/brooks+and+lincoln.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343887896975468082" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SilNo4J1mOI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/W5AveAlejFw/s1600-h/elizabeth+and+rex.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SilNo4J1mOI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/W5AveAlejFw/s200/elizabeth+and+rex.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343887797515557090" /></a>This week, one half of the Agriculture Power class began working with Lincoln, Rex, and Pete--all draft horses that provide much of the motive power for the Sterling College farm and forest operations. Much like Driver's Education, the first lessons are centered around in-hand work such as turning on the forehand, turning on the hindquarter, movement commands such as gee and haw, back, and step up. Basic pre-work grooming and hoofcare along with harnessing complete the introductory component of the course. The next step involves ground driving the single horse through obstacles and taking a nice walk around the common. Once students become comfortable with these procedures, they will move on to more complex movements with the single horse followed by real work applications such as skidding logs and cultivation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-46598515677818868022009-06-04T17:31:00.005-04:002009-06-04T18:40:51.997-04:00Spring Lambs<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SihAMK1r0sI/AAAAAAAAAFI/PddqAiAgH90/s1600-h/new+lambs.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SihAMK1r0sI/AAAAAAAAAFI/PddqAiAgH90/s200/new+lambs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343591535687226050" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SihAGZpxBvI/AAAAAAAAAFA/0NGbTtXKbRM/s1600-h/sterling+lambs.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SihAGZpxBvI/AAAAAAAAAFA/0NGbTtXKbRM/s200/sterling+lambs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343591436584552178" /></a><br />With frost warnings again tonight, tomatoes and strawberries will spend the night in the hothouse. On the farm, we purchased 13 new lambs from a local flock owner, these lambs will combine with the seven of those born here to complete our sheep flock for the summer. Chores will now consist of lamb management(vaccinations, deworming, tagging, banding, and weighing) with the goal of producing premium grass-fed carcasses for the nourishment of the Sterling College community. In the fall, students enrolled in Agriculture Techniques will trim hooves, shear, supervise the transportation and oversee the butchering of the carcasses based on the needs of the kitchen. We will manage the sheep, as with all our grazers, following good rotational grazing practices and hope that in addition to sound-growing animals, we can improve our pastures to grow good grass and other beneficial species of forage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-78078776615755936312009-06-04T07:25:00.009-04:002009-06-04T18:50:15.489-04:00Opening Week<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/Sie5V0tCNsI/AAAAAAAAAEw/-E6O04UAztE/s1600-h/jascha+grazing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/Sie5V0tCNsI/AAAAAAAAAEw/-E6O04UAztE/s200/jascha+grazing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343443267474306754" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/Siexenu5uSI/AAAAAAAAAEo/h1yIIg6XnNc/s1600-h/compost+temperature.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/Siexenu5uSI/AAAAAAAAAEo/h1yIIg6XnNc/s200/compost+temperature.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343434622518278434" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SiexE5scZOI/AAAAAAAAAEg/vBrmNtgvl1c/s1600-h/greenhouse+00m+25s.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SiexE5scZOI/AAAAAAAAAEg/vBrmNtgvl1c/s200/greenhouse+00m+25s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343434180663207138" /></a><br />Eleven students arrived on June 1st to begin a 77 day intensive Sustainable Agriculture Semester. Joined by five faculty and four academic interns, the students will immerse themselves in the daily rituals of managing the farm and gardens at Sterling; livestock and garden chores coupled with intense classroom sessions focused around our theme: Conscious Farming in the New Economy.<br /><br />Each morning, students rise and are working by 6:30, crews are at the farm feeding our current load of animals (lambs, heifers, cows, beef steers, poultry, horses and oxen), moving fences, or building projects in preparation for the arrival of poultry (100 meat birds, 25 turkeys, and 50 barred rock laying hens) and 15-20 lambs; or, working in the gardens where seedbed preparation and transplanting are in full swing. This summer, we are expanding our small grain operation to include nearly an acre of wheat, oats, and rye. With the construction of our new bread oven, we are hopeful to offset our dependence on outside sources for flour.<br /><br />The draft horses are in full operation finishing primary tillage responsibilities and beginning to cultivate young crops. Students are split between horse power and mechanical (tractors) systems to learn what type of motive power system is best applied to a specific farm application.<br /><br />One large project, the development of an improved compost system, is in full swing as compost bins are being constructed next to each six garden sites. Our potting mix for next season is nearly finished with the active stage of composting and will be set aside for curing--this took only 21 days with our new bin system!<br /><br />Permaculture projects are emerging in preparation for the Permaculture Design Principles course taught by Keith Morris of Prospect Rock Permaculture. Students are already looking at our landscape and brainstorming ideas for their projects. <br /><br />Food, as always at Sterling, has been wonderful--localvores are in culinary heaven as Mary (our cook extradonaire), interns, and students prepare delicious meals for our nourishment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-11727803584053094372008-09-29T16:18:00.004-04:002008-09-29T17:45:48.396-04:00Northeast Animal Powered Field Days<OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-f1ec3a65b7a85aae height=266 width=320 contentId="f1ec3a65b7a85aae"></OBJECT>Saturday, September 27th, twelve Sterling College students attended the 2nd annual Northeast Animal Powered Field Days, a celebration of animal power on the farm and in the forest. Students participated in workshops, viewed quality teams of horses and oxen working in the fields, and ate really good pulled pork (and pesto pizza for the vegetarian option) sandwiches.Thalia Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13829558856199484229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-31793183765476575132008-08-20T10:04:00.003-04:002008-08-20T10:39:55.665-04:00Summer Highlights<OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-d2060480b37d548b height=266 width=320 contentId="d2060480b37d548b"></OBJECT>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-30359326933994761722008-08-15T13:47:00.002-04:002008-08-15T13:54:11.309-04:00How things change over time.So here I am living in the woods in my tent. Nobody, including myself, would ever have guessed that I once was terrified of the forest and the mysteries within. Really—I was terrified. Vermont itself was scary to me. I felt like I had no business being within Vermont, and it had nothing for me. But here I am on a crazy hill called Craftsbury in the Northeast Kingdom completely sidetracked from where I thought my life was going. But I very quickly came to realize that I was in fact not sidetracked, but going in the perfect direction. Though school has been a struggle for me personally, Sterling College has done incredible amounts for me, and the biggest aspect I believe is introducing me to agriculture. Agriculture to me five years ago was the grocery store and shelves being restocked at night. Now, agriculture to me is closing the systems, figuring out how farms (including Sterling) can improve the connection between nature and wildlife and to work with both aspects to enhance both the farm system and surrounding ecosystems. Its funny how things work out sometimes, it really is. I am not able to bring myself to go home to suburbia, New York, but I am so happy. There is no history of farming in my family, but I am confident to say that I am thrilled to continue my life with the track I am now on by creating harmony between the farm and wildlife, to help serve a community and one day pass on my gathered knowledge to the next generation to maintain healthy ecosystems. With all of that said, I think I’m going to go into the woods now to the swimming hole. Third day of sun in a row now—it’s worth celebrating.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-10781216074996363532008-08-14T11:52:00.002-04:002008-08-14T12:10:21.607-04:00Sterling College Welcomes Lincoln<OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-986b6002a1378851 height=266 width=320 contentId="986b6002a1378851"></OBJECT>Recently, Sterling College accepted the gracious donation by Raymond Chauvin of Lincoln, a seven year old Belgian gelding. Lincoln is quite a willing worker, having only been at Sterling for a few hours, he helped Rex with wagon rides around the Common at our annual summer pig roast and moved wonderfully. Students of the Summer Agriculture Program have really benefitted from his presence as they have witnessed first-hand the process of integrating a new horse into the farm.Thalia Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13829558856199484229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-47748385695333060772008-08-12T18:11:00.003-04:002008-08-12T18:21:52.854-04:00Connection to our Food: Harvesting RoscoTo show respect while harvesting our food, Mitch takes the Summer Farm students through the process, from birth to death, in a manner that gives thanks to the animal, allows students the opportunity to experience an on-farm slaughter event, and, perhaps most important, creates a platform to discuss the close connection of food raised for human consumption.<br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-332d48c147339664 height=266 width=320 contentId="332d48c147339664"></OBJECT>Thalia Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13829558856199484229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-14204111422295910662008-08-05T11:59:00.004-04:002008-08-05T12:53:48.511-04:00Rotational Grazing Systems<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JoAgADm2LLA"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JoAgADm2LLA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object>On a small farm like ours that houses many different animals, providing appropriate feed rations is a challenge--rotational grazing provides a systematic method to address and meet the different nutritional needs for each animal while providing a holistic management program for the soil.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-69663311047579455692008-08-05T11:02:00.002-04:002008-08-05T11:06:19.774-04:00Agriculture Power Systems: Introduction to Farrier Science<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lxejkD-x540"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lxejkD-x540" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object>As we have chosen to use horses for much of our traction work, responsible hoofcare is a practical skill that is introduced to students as a part of the draft horse management curriculum. Outside of feed, hoofcare is the largest yearly expense for a horse owner; by learning basic hoofcare practices and mastering a few fundamental farrier skills, students can greatly reduce their yearly expenses associated with working horses.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-29658929386681618012008-08-03T13:44:00.003-04:002008-08-03T14:16:53.321-04:00Metaphors<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SJX2B1En5SI/AAAAAAAAACY/m0YaM8ytaeE/s1600-h/Instructor+Rick+Thomas+works+with+Kyle+LaFerriere+as+Pete+pulls+the+wagon.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SJX2B1En5SI/AAAAAAAAACY/m0YaM8ytaeE/s200/Instructor+Rick+Thomas+works+with+Kyle+LaFerriere+as+Pete+pulls+the+wagon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230357053547472162" /></a><br />Recently, Lynn Miller (editor of The Small Farmer's Journal) presented what I interpret to be a "call to action". Lynn draws our attention to three key realizations that I paraphrase here:<br /><br />1. ...the climate is changing...<br /><br />2. Oil is over...<br /><br />3. ...the world food inventory is hanging by a thread over a precipice...<br /><br />Lynn's metaphor between the collapse of a colony of bees into small like-minded (like-skilled) groups--communities--to survive and the current movement toward a model of human-scaled farming (to also survive) is very timely and meaningful to me. <br /><br />I intend to weave these three strands into each of my agriculture courses this year; the intent is to keep these concepts in mind as we learn to work with animals in our fields and forest, gain confidence in the care and use of our tools, and perhaps of some higher importance, work with one another toward achieving a common goal at Sterling--that each student will connect with the food and fiber system with conscious effort.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-74752582600522095362008-08-01T15:56:00.005-04:002008-08-02T10:33:27.278-04:00Internship Profile: Jascha Pick at The Flack Family Farm<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hA5lp5YKGWc"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hA5lp5YKGWc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object>At Sterling College, students must complete a formal internship (see http://www.sterlingcollege.edu/P.internships.html#What); for a student majoring in Sustainable Agriculture, the internship is a critical component to the degree program encompassing multi-faceted learning opportunities and real-life insight into the daily challenges faced by agricultural practitioners. While not a compartment of the Summer Agriculture Program per se, if applicable, students can apply their experiences during an internship to complete two important graduation competencies in Organic Crop Production and Livestock Systems Management.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-44365811308830960312008-07-29T11:39:00.002-04:002008-07-29T11:44:17.389-04:00Agriculture Power Systems<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8vIWjXvNYYY"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8vIWjXvNYYY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object>On-farm power systems range from poking one's fingers in the soil to plant a seed to large scale diesel tractors. Here, students learn how to operate two pieces of machinery used at Sterling College: A portable sawmill and a brush-hog mower. Following this course, students will be able to make an informed decision about the power systems required to work a piece of land.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-77706915409987268552008-07-28T16:50:00.002-04:002008-07-28T17:03:59.484-04:00EverythingLast friday I was fortunate enough to work with Paul and his two steers Bronze and Chrome, some of my favorite animals here at Sterling. Working with them is similar foundationally as working with the horses, things like haw and gee still mean left and right, and whoa means stop. However unlike working with Pete and Rex where you use your voice and your direct contact through the lines, Bronze and Chrome's behaviour relies on voice only, and usage of the whip when needed. It is pretty impressive to see how well they obey if you are clear and firm. I find one of the most important things when working with animals is the ability to establish dominance without feeling overly harsh or mean, but to the point where you are still firm and obviously in charge. At first Bronze and Chrome, especially Chrome, tried to test me by heading to the nearest patch of grass, it didn't take long though for me to gain the confidence to properly command them to listen to me, and the rest of the evening went rather smoothly. As with the steers and the horses, and pretty much everything else I do in life I need to: slow down, breath, don't have too much slack on my outside line, and smile.- advice given to me by many different people throughout my life, most recently given by Rick last Thursday morning. It is true, and infact I attribute the progess I have made in this department throughout the years, to horses, and now many of the animals here at Sterling, and just the overall pace of life here in Craftsbury.<br /><br />This summer has been a really interesting one for me, but I have learned a lot, and am sure I will continue to do so over the next three weeks. Part of my wanting to get home in a hurry, is really just that there are so many things this place has taught me how to do and motivated me to do them, that I am itching to apply them to my life back in California,<br /><br />Vegetable Brianni for dinner in a half hour, I'm pretty stoked. See ya all therechelsea glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594524584877254891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231971461465623999.post-87291457040157257702008-07-28T10:01:00.005-04:002008-07-28T12:06:11.141-04:00Working Cattle<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SI3uW9IheTI/AAAAAAAAACQ/hkPZMmaqQc4/s1600-h/Chelsea+with+team.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SI3uW9IheTI/AAAAAAAAACQ/hkPZMmaqQc4/s200/Chelsea+with+team.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228096820581857586" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SI3SewV7lcI/AAAAAAAAACI/HgYMf1kp3CY/s1600-h/Chelsea+with+team+4.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SI3SewV7lcI/AAAAAAAAACI/HgYMf1kp3CY/s200/Chelsea+with+team+4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228066168261809602" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SI3Ri6gu3gI/AAAAAAAAACA/d0RaBymi_Og/s1600-h/Chelsea+with+team+3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Tzj15Yo-RHw/SI3Ri6gu3gI/AAAAAAAAACA/d0RaBymi_Og/s200/Chelsea+with+team+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228065140199316994" /></a>Thanks to the careful instruction from our ox trainer and teamster Paul Ferrari, students receive instruction on how to work cattle in yoke. Here, a student learns the basic commands necessary to move a team of oxen. Chrome and Bronze arrived about a year ago and have become integrated into the farm power systems. In addition to the draft horses and tractor, these oxen round-out our ability to do a multitude of traction tasks on the farm, in the garden, and in the woods. As the team matures, their ability to do more work will increase as will their utility in the Colleges' curriculum.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1