Interview with Marc Moran on Biodynamic Farming in NH
Recently I walked through the Hopewell Farm in Newbury New Hampshire photographing along the way.
Below is an interview with Marc Moran from Hopewell Farm.
When I am landscaping one of the principles of Biodynamic that I find vital for growing in Southern Californina is double digging, prepping the soil and digging at least 24″ for optimal growth. What priniciples of Biodynamic do you find most vital for growing in NH?
Because of the constant cycle of seasons in New England the breakdown of organic matter is far more rapid than it is in semi arid climates. Through the application of carbons to the surface of our orchards, pastures and gardens in the form of shredded leaves, composted manures, wood chips and bark there is constant development of mychorrizhae, as well as an endless supply of nutrients and feed for other soil dwelling creatures that increase soil fertility an tilth. The soil, properly ammended, builds structure for accelerated root development.
How does raising heritage meat relate to Biodynamic Farming?
Heritage livestock are animals that are tied to place- not simply old lines. For example we raise white-face Hereford beef cattle with an emergent lineback stock. These animals are voracious herbivores that are extremely easy to mature and fatten on grass based diet alone- unlike warm weather breeds that require a much higher intake of grains to develop fat. They are also more cold hardy and able to withstand hard Winters because of their large body size and smaller, stockier legs. The mothering instincts provide for a longer nurse- the madre method- giving their calves excellent cape for the first Winter. Animals belong in the climates where they evolved for the maximum productivity possible.
Who do you find influential right now with regards to the process of raising and harvesting meat?
I am an admirer of Joel Salatin’s work as a farmer because he has shown that a superior livestock can be raised through intensive livestock management and species selection/development, rather than through progressive agricultural practices and the application of non-traditional feeding/stocking methods of the past 50 years. You can convert a steer to market weight by feeding it a constant supply of GMO corn and candy bars- yes this practice is acceptable to the USDA- but you cannot raise a healthy animal with the proper mix of nutrients and protein to fat rations unless it eats the type of diet it was designed by nature to digest, i.e. grasses and forbs. By working with your herds daily in moving them to fresh pastures you assure that their diet is the best possible, that they are tempered to human interaction, that they help to fertilize their pastures through rotation. Joel Salatin was the catalyst for our embrace of these practices and we are thankful to him for sharing his methods. We also believe deeply in the philosophy put forth by the Animal Welfare Approved organization- we were the first farm in New Hampshire to bear the appellation of AWA Approved- in both handling, raising and slaughter practices. Our animals are slaughtered on farm for our family and at an AWA Approved USDA licensed facility for our customers. The one we use was designed by Temple Grandin, another giant in the field of humane animal practices.
Your farm is off the grid are there Pros and Cons to this?
Off grid living gives us an opportunity to reduce our dependency on the fragile and costly systems of energy supply. The costs upfront are often cited as the biggest drawback to installation of such set ups, but that kind of thinking is never applied to using a taxi as rather than owning a car, or living in a hotel room rather than buying your own home. Long term dependence on the existing power supply of pubic utilities is far more costly than owning your own means of energy production. We live in one of the coldest climates in the United States and the only source of heat we use is solar thermal- 100% generated on the roof of our home. The biggest drawback is that on very sunny days in Winter you have to open windows because the passive solar gain combined with the radiant system causes the house to get too warm. We supplement our photvoltaic system with a wind turbine and have an ample battery backup system to store energy, however after our day working on the farm, once darkness falls we usually head to bed so nighttime electric usage is minimal.
What are some of things your children are learning by living on a farm?
I think the most important lesson our children have learned living on a self sufficient farm is that you can depend upon your own skills and abilities to solve virtually all of your needs. The era of specialization that has developed in America over the course of the last century has led to a population that can’t feed itself, doesn’t know how to fix their own home or belongings, or even raise their own children without reliance on “professionals”. Once you’ve learned how to plant, harvest, prepare and eat your own meals from the earth you begin to understand the processes associated with virtually any operation. I always include our children in whatever I am doing daily, from cutting timber and slaughtering chickens to building barns and repairing equipment. The level of problem solving required, the use of tools, the constant implementation of mathematics and natural science- all of these lead to a greater understanding of the underlying mechanics of the world we live in. If I were to point to the one thing that our children benefit from the most it is their exposure to the concept of true independence- not the hypothetical freedom used by politicians to motivate voters- but the actual liberty of living your life by your own wits and abilities nd the resulting confidence it builds in their character.
Awards for this farm include in 2012 the New Hampshire Farm of Distinction and as Mother Earth News’ Homesteader of the Year.
this is a quick background on Marc Moran from Hopewell Farm
http://animalwelfareapproved.org/2011/07/01/hopewell-farms-newbury-nh/
Marc and Meredith Moran along with their children Matthew, Sarah and Will raise Animal Welfare Approved beef cattle (Chianina and Hereford), sheep (Dorset, Romney and Lincolns) and pigs (Landrace) at Hopewell Farms in Newbury, NH.
In 2008, despite not having any type of farming background, Marc and Meredith successfully started Hopewell Farms. Marc, who previously ran an internet finance company found farming to be much easier than he imagined. Marc says, “We thought it would be grueling. I wish I did it 10 years ago. The rewards outweigh the labors. I’m glad we read up and didn’t get caught up in the monoculture and government sponsored agriculture.”
The Morans are most proud that they are able to raise animals as close to their natural environment as possible. They live outdoors in 40 acres of mature maple trees. They eat what they’re supposed to, live outdoors and they thrive. Marc and Meredith are also very proud of the health of their grass and soil. The farm had been neglected when they first purchased it, but they’re convinced that their beautiful pastures are the result ofrotational grazing and always keeping their animals on the move.
Hopewell Farms decided to become Animal Welfare Approved because they wanted to have a way to legitimize what they thought were the besthusbandry practices by having AWA come out and certify the farm. Marc says, “AWA helps to refine the intuitive part of farming and helps consumers see that AWA farmers truly care about the lives of their animals.” Marc went on to say, “We’re honored that we passed the AWA audit. The woman who visited the farm was really, really good at what she did. She wasn’t just looking at a checklist. She looked at the whole picture. Everyone at AWA has been great to work with.”
“It’s an honor to be the first Animal Welfare Approved farmer in New Hampshire,” says Marc. “NH has some really fantastic farmers that are doing great things. We really appreciate the work that Animal Welfare Approved is doing.”
Please enjoy my recent interview with Spencer MacDonald he is a documentary film maker who’s latest short film Age of the Farmer was an Official Selection at the this years Environmental Film Festival, Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival and a VIMEO staff pick. Spencer’s film travels from Portland Oregon up into British Columbia with director Eva Verbeeck staying at WWOOF farms. WWOOF is a worldwide movement linking volunteers with organic farmers and growers to promote cultural and educational experiences based on trust and non monetary exchanges thereby helping to build a sustainable global community. This is a wonderful cause and allows anyone who is interested in farming or sustainable lifestyles to go and learn at no cost. Photos for this interview are by Eva Verbeeck
avajane: Your short documentary Age of the Farmer expresses that farming is in all of us. Can you tell me more about that?
Spencer: Farming is one of the core human activities. It is one of the few things that we actually need for survival. It is what has allowed humans to form civilizations and settlements. Prior to the last hundred years or so, most humans had a much closer relationship with farming and the production of food. There were more farmers per capita and farmers were a more integrated group of people. Only recently have we begun to look at agriculture as something that happens in the background.
avajane: “Connecting with the land allows us to connect with ourselves”.
Can you think of a simple way urban families can connect with the land?
Spencer: I think Urban families can always find a place to grow food, even it’s just a bot of basil or kale in the kitchen window. Growing food seems to be one of the most therapeutic, rewarding activities. Tending to crops can really take us out of our heads for a little bit and put us in the flow of the natural world.
Also, I find that going to farmers markets and supporting our local farmers can make you feel very connected to the land, even if we don’t actually get involved in the growing process.
avajane: How can we inspire more youth to take up farming?
Spencer: There are many levels to this.
We need to spread messages of farming as a viable career option — as a realistic alternative to pursuing a career in the city. It is certainly tough financially to be a full-time farmer, but I have met many young farmers who are making it work, and are in love with what they do.
In my opinion, most people don’t even consider it an option. Our society draws us so much to the hustle of the city, that we become afraid of isolating ourselves in farming lands. Lots of young people want to do something positive, so we try to work for nonprofits and socially-conscious organizations, but often don’t consider that sustainable farming has massive benefits to our environment, culture, economy and personal psyche. I think it’s all about spreading awareness of these matters.
Also, Ideally there needs to be change at the legislative level to make farming viewed as more of a public service so that young people can afford to purchase land. We really should be incentivizing our youth to take up farming.
avajane: “Getting back in touch with food”
People have lost touch with where their food comes from. Can you elaborate on this?
Spencer: Until a few years ago, I lived my whole life in cities – mostly in San Francisco. Growing up, I rarely considered what it took to get food onto the shelves of grocery stores. I vaguely understood that certain crops grew in certain seasons, but since food is shipped all over the world, that barely effected me.
What I especially didn’t consider until a few years ago, is that at a consumer level, what we choose to purchase results in the success of certain industries, which effects the treatment of our lands. What we put into the land, seeps into the biosphere which all plants and animals share.
I suspect that most city-dwellers are like I was, and I have found that even if I do not grow food myself, knowing what it takes to grow food and get it to us, and choosing to make conscious purchasing decisions that support local, sustainable agriculture, can allow us to feel more connected to the rythym of the natural world.
avajane: Do you plan on making Age of the Farmer into a feature length documentary?
Spencer: I would love to one day but at this point there are too many uncertainties in my life to know what will happen in a few years. However, being around farms and farmers has forever changed the way I see my connection with the natural world, so I am sure I will make more farming related films of some kind.
avajane: What are you currently working on?
Spencer: While my passion is always sustainability related, my next project actually drifts a little bit from that. In March I am going to Kenya to make a short documentary on the villages where many world-class runners come from. I have dreamed of going to Africa since I was a child, so I am very excited.
avajane: What organizations inspire you?
Spencer: So many! I could never list (or remember) them all, so I am just going to name a few that come to mind, including some individuals:
WWOOF, Food is Free Project, Couchsurfing, The Intercept, Paul Stamets, Bernie Sanders, Paul Salopek, Young Agrarians, and all organic farmers, social workers, activists and environmentalists. Basically anyone (or any organization) who is using their time on this Earth to try to leave it a little better for those to come after us.
Vimeo Link to Age of the Farmer
A quick synopsis of Spencer and Eva’s project from there Vimeo page:
“65 is the average age of farmers, and there are not enough young farmers to replace them. How did we get here?”**
In the summer of 2015, Eva Verbeeck asked me to join her on a trip throughout the Pacific Northwest to produce a short film on young farmers, that would accompany her photo story for a variety of publications. Having spent much time WWOOFing on organic farms, I knew the importance of this mission. So we loaded our iPods with old bluegrass music and set off in a 1990 Nissan truck, heading from Portland to British Columbia. We offered our labor in exchange for room and board at the farms that we made it to.
This film is an attempt to express some of the thoughts and feelings of the young farmers that we stayed with. Hopefully a little bit of justice was done for all the young farmers out there.
Infinite gratitude to all of the farms that hosted us this summer and kept us filled with organic produce and warmth:
Film maker / Director / Editor – Spencer MacDonald website: www.halfmagicfilms.com/
Producer / Photographer – Eva Verbeeck website: www.evaverbeeck.com
Farms featured in the film
Earth Candy Farm (facebook.com/earthcandyfarms)
Plenty Wild Farms (plentywild.ca)
Skyberry Farm (skyberryfarm.com)
Hoe Down CSA at Tulaberry Farm (hoedowncsa.wordpress.com)
Yummy Yards (yummyyards.ca)
Growing Veterans (growingveterans.org)
Beacon Food Forest (beaconfoodforest.org)
WWOOF (http://www.wwoof.net)