Focus Is Animal Power

In Tunbridge This Sept.

Conservation, stewardship, small farms, healthy forests, and the roles they play in vital rural communities will be highlighted at an upcoming event in Tunbridge Vermont.

The 2007 Northeast Animal-Power Field Days will be held at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds on Sept. 29 and 30.

This two-day trade fair and conference will present resources for farmers, loggers, and forest landowners pursuing the use of draft animals as part of their land-based livelihoods.

The prevailing trend in ownership throughout the Eastern US is toward smaller acreage, said organizer Carl Russell of Bethel Gilead. Along with this, he said, is the tendency away from sound agricultural and forestry practices.

"Together, these conditions increasingly limit the availability and health of natural resources. By encouraging diversified farming, low-impact logging, and the use of draft animals, small acreage can be effectively managed for valuable farm and forest products, expanding opportunities for families to enjoy good livelihoods where they live. The Northeast Animal-Power Field Days is a gathering dedicated to the use of horses, mules, and oxen, and promoting stewardship of forests and farmland.

It will feature exhibit space for equipment, resources, and services that support sustainable farming and forestry, and animal-powered enterprises.

There will be field demonstrations of equipment, workshops, and panel presentations by notable experts and supporters of small-scale diversified farming and logging with draft animals.

Feature presentations will include: Lynn Miller, horse-farmer/artist/author, and editor of Small Farmers Journal; Les Barden, a Farmington, NH horse-powered tree farmer, and D-ring harness authority; Jason Rutledge of Healing Harvest Forest Foundation, a Virginia horse-powered low-impact forestry and timber marketing organization;

Also, Robert Crichton, a Maine mule teamster; Berry Brook Ox Supply; 4-H Working Steers; Jay Bailey and Beckah Murchison, Vermont horse-powered diversified farmers; Rob Flory, Howell Living History Farm in N.J.

Workshops will be held on topics such as grazing management, composting, CSA/market gardening, and working with draft animals on the farm and in the woods. There will also be artists, local food vendors, children’s activities, and an equipment auction

Camping is available (please pre-register).

For more information, to reserve exhibit space, or to help with sponsorship, please contact Carl Russell and Lisa McCrory at Earthwise Farm & Forest, 341 Macintosh Hill Rd., Randolph, 05060, the e-mail is lmccrory@together.net.