Trapp Family Farm

Our farm draws its inspiration from many sources but it all began in earnest with a trip to Burlington, Vt and upstate NY in November 2010. I was on a mission to discover Essex Farm in Essex, NY and see a modern horse-powered farm that seemed in writing to solve so many of the problems that had been vexing a young millennial searching for a different path forward. Essex Farm did not disappoint, nor did the power of a generous and hospitable farm couple at Intervale in Burlington. Benner and Dana welcomed me into their farm field and later home, kidded me a bit, but ultimately were supportive and non-judgmental about my zeal to start a horse powered farm.

They introduced me to the Small Farmer's Journal Cultivating Questions section featuring Eric and Anne Nordell and their unparalleled work at Beech Grove Farm over the last four decades. A pdf booklet on the Nordell's site describes their unique and thoughtful approach to Weeding the Soil, Not the Crop. They also recently posted a beautiful presentation describing their market garden and cover cropping methodology here. I still recall watching this DVD, in awe, 15 years ago as I crafted a plan for a future farm. It has not lost its effect!