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OVERVIEW OF THE YEAR
2012 was an eventful and busy year.
Sons, Kim and Shawn, having decided to come home to the
farm have prompted a lot of activity. Daily, the barn is becoming more crowded with our livestock. We no longer
board horses.
We received a Massachusetts Department of Agriculture Farm Grant for barn improvements
and repairs to fences and freezers. The expediture of this grant is monitored by MDA to assure that the money is used
as intended. The grant, though tedious in application, has been helpful in addressing farm infrastructure needs.
The result of our increased raising of livestock has been the need to acquire
a second trailer as well as to use a second USDA slaughter facility. Additionally, we have had to improve our animal
handling gates to make for easy loads.
Sales of our beef and pork are increasing. We have sold tons of meat over
the past year. Retail is very strong and we have both a meat store and fine restaurant calling for our products.
The renovation of the anterior section of the milk parlor to our farm store was
completed. The freezer was repowered to meet USDA criteria.
We began the repainting of the barn. This is a big task. Over years,
moisture from the animals' respiration and perspiration has lifted most of the lower level latex based paint. This
has required our pressure washing down to the bare wood for the application of a latex-based stain.
Also around the farm, we acquired a deck mower.
While our brush-hog is useful for the tough stuff, we were without adequate equipment to kee the farm lawns tidy. This
problem is now solved.
Toward the end of the year, Elmartin Farm was the site location for a
butchering photoshoot. Adam Danforth, an author and butcher from Brooklyn NY, was riting a book on the
topic of butchering and needed photos to be included in a book.
Our farm was chosen as we could provide beef and pig, plus 2 lambs from Wendy's
farm (daughter ) next door. Two cameramen hopped around taking photos each time the knife moved. Over
4,000 photos were taken. We are waiting to see what is published.
Dodi and I continued to judge vegetables and other farm crops at several fairs.
We look forward to 2013 with even greater growth and remediation. Our goal
is to increase the size of the herd to 80 head of cattles... that being a combination of steers for beef, cows, and calves.
Additionally, we anticipate our full conversion over to Berkshire* pigs. Barn improvements, animal handling systems,
capital equipment, and improvements to our farm stay residence are all scheduled.
For the Martin Families,
Gus
* Berkshire pig is a breed of pig not associated with Berkshire County. The
pork from Berksires is preferred by chefs in better restaurants.
IMPORTANT NOTE
Most photos may be enlarged by clicking
on them.
Mouse over image. Where a hand appears indicates so.
BEEF -- BLACK ANGUS & BELTED GALAWAY HERD EXPANSION
From our days in dairy, the farm has transitioned into grass-fed beef. We now have both Black Angus and Belted Galaway beef.
PORK -- MIXED BREED TO BERKSHIRE BREED
As opposed to cattle, which deliver one calf per
birth after 11 months gestation, pigs, which progenerate 8-12 piglets per delivery after about four month, represent
the perfect economic complement to the farms cashflow and success.
From a past of mixed bred pigs, the farm acquired a mating pair of Berkshire
breed pigs to which addition sows will be added.
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20 NEW ACRES OF HAY
Elmartin Farm also worked with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Soil Conservation
Service to improve
fields and pastures.
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INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS
We received a Massachusetts Department of Agriculture Farm Grant for barn
improvements and repairs to fences and freezers. The expediture of this grant is monitored by MDA to assure that the
money is used as intended. The grant , though tedious in application, has been helpful in addressing
infrastructure needs.
POWER-WASHED BARN
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NEWLY STAINED BARN STORE
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OPEN HOUSE
Elmartin Farm hosted its Second Annual Family & Friends
Open Farm. The weather was fabulous.
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