Kelly is one of Triform's day students. She worked this fall and winter on the farm.
Kelly enjoys the piglets.. So here is a small story she made about the piglets.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
David Wallace Thought on the different pigs
My name is David Wallace and I am a 27 year old farmer all the way from Atlanta, GA. Here on the farm I am an apprentice farmer working like a beaver, there I feed all the animals and give them water wherever it is needed. Through this blog some of my farmer friends and I will share our thoughts and pictures for all of you from all around the world. Here at the farm we always work as we can. Today, I would like to share my thoughts and facts on the different types of pigs we have here at Triform Farm.
The landrace pig is a medium to large sized pig know for his white skin and occasionally freckles with long ears and a long body. In fact, he is know for his lean meat, fast growth, and sturdiness. I like this pig because it was the kind of pig which saved Zeus when he was a baby.
The Gloucester Old Spot or GOS if you prefer is a large pink pig with white hair and an irregular black spot on his rear flank. It's a pure bacon type pig although it's sow are know for a high milk production. The GOS breed was first raised as a free range pig which had to fatten it self. I like the GOS because just today one of them gave birth to the prettiest piglets I have ever seen.
The Tamworth pig is a large red pig with a long snout, long legs, and upright medium ears. The Tamworth sizes can range from small to medium. They are used mostly for meat on some occasions these pigs can be used to herd cattle. The Tamworth breeding began in the United States in 1882 when Thomas Bennett brought the first Tamworth to this fine country. I like this pig because she is a beautiful sow.
The large black pig is a medium to large pig with droopy ears. It's breeding started in the United Kingdom long before anyone had heard of them during the present era. I like this pig because, when I look at it from a distance he looks mean (he is a boar) but is a big baby.
The landrace pig is a medium to large sized pig know for his white skin and occasionally freckles with long ears and a long body. In fact, he is know for his lean meat, fast growth, and sturdiness. I like this pig because it was the kind of pig which saved Zeus when he was a baby.The Gloucester Old Spot or GOS if you prefer is a large pink pig with white hair and an irregular black spot on his rear flank. It's a pure bacon type pig although it's sow are know for a high milk production. The GOS breed was first raised as a free range pig which had to fatten it self. I like the GOS because just today one of them gave birth to the prettiest piglets I have ever seen.
The Tamworth pig is a large red pig with a long snout, long legs, and upright medium ears. The Tamworth sizes can range from small to medium. They are used mostly for meat on some occasions these pigs can be used to herd cattle. The Tamworth breeding began in the United States in 1882 when Thomas Bennett brought the first Tamworth to this fine country. I like this pig because she is a beautiful sow.
The large black pig is a medium to large pig with droopy ears. It's breeding started in the United Kingdom long before anyone had heard of them during the present era. I like this pig because, when I look at it from a distance he looks mean (he is a boar) but is a big baby.I hope that you have enjoyed by reading on the different breeds of pigs as they have evolved from around the world. I also admit that I had a fun time writing to you about this topic.
Your Roving Report
David Wallace
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Lillipo Article
Lillipo Magazine is devoting one of their editions this year to the Camphill Communities of North America. Many of us submitted articles that will be considered for the section on Triform. Here is the article that Elijah and Sarah wrote about his apprentice project. Maybe you will see it soon in the Lillipo Magazine!
“First the pigs. Take down a bucket. Now add two scoops of grain. Can you pour in some milk? Okay, now pick up the bucket. Let’s go.” Across the barnyard I see Elijah helping one of the new students. It is September and a new group of young people has just joined the farm crew. They may have just worked in the weavery, bakery or garden. They might be new to Triform all together. In their fist days on the farm they will try many new jobs; like feeding the animals and they look to the apprentices for guidance. Elijah is one of these apprentices. After three years on the farm, he is confident in his tasks. His responsibilities include feeding the animals, cleaning the milk room, fetching the cows from the pasture, hand milking, and delivering milk cans while driving the farm golf cart.
Most new students, trial visitors, children, new co-workers and guests who come to the farm will work with Elijah. His enthusiasm and patience make him a natural teacher. These qualities have inspired his senior project. Each graduating apprentice must create a senior project. The project will highlight the skills they have learned in their work areas and their personal strengths. Elijah’s project will build on his abilities to work with other people and his desire to share his love of farming.
“For my senior project we are going have kids from different schools come to visit Triform and work on the farm. We have been writing to local schools for children with special needs. We want them to come for field trips or to have summer camp on the farm. They can learn how to feed, milk the cows, muck out, and do woodworking or painting projects.”
Children are an integral part of a healthy farm. They bring joy and vitality to the farm as they work and play. We see this very clearly each year during haying season. Even the smallest community children show up to help unload the wagons and stack the hay. Everyone works hard and gets hot, sweaty and covered with hay dust. In the end we all feel satisfied by a group effort and job well done, as the last bales go up the hay elevator at dusk. Elijah’s project will open up our farm to even more children. As they help on the farm, children will feel empowered by doing meaningful work. They will have the chance to develop a relationship to the natural world and understand where and how their food is grown and raised.
As a hand-on component of the project Elijah will be building a covered wagon. He will take an old running gear and build a new wagon for it. This will be his third wagon project. Last year he also helped build a hay wagon and a flatbed wagon. “I want to build this wagon so we can take the kids out and work in the woods and far pastures. We can bring tea break and supplies. We can bring it down to the creek. One of the projects for the schools group could be to help us build it or paint the wagon.”
Once the field trip program is launched it will be time for Elijah to graduate. The rest of us will carry on the work that he has begun. The project will be a lasting contribution to the farm and community. Elijah will go on to Camphill Village Copake. The skills he has learned at Triform will be a great asset to their dairy farm. “As an apprentice I have become more independent. I have learned how to drive the golf cart and stack hay. It makes me feel good because I know I can be working by myself. I am looking forward to working at the Copake farm. I still want to learn how to drive a tractor!”
-Sarah Bassett and Elijah Kent
“First the pigs. Take down a bucket. Now add two scoops of grain. Can you pour in some milk? Okay, now pick up the bucket. Let’s go.” Across the barnyard I see Elijah helping one of the new students. It is September and a new group of young people has just joined the farm crew. They may have just worked in the weavery, bakery or garden. They might be new to Triform all together. In their fist days on the farm they will try many new jobs; like feeding the animals and they look to the apprentices for guidance. Elijah is one of these apprentices. After three years on the farm, he is confident in his tasks. His responsibilities include feeding the animals, cleaning the milk room, fetching the cows from the pasture, hand milking, and delivering milk cans while driving the farm golf cart.
Most new students, trial visitors, children, new co-workers and guests who come to the farm will work with Elijah. His enthusiasm and patience make him a natural teacher. These qualities have inspired his senior project. Each graduating apprentice must create a senior project. The project will highlight the skills they have learned in their work areas and their personal strengths. Elijah’s project will build on his abilities to work with other people and his desire to share his love of farming.
“For my senior project we are going have kids from different schools come to visit Triform and work on the farm. We have been writing to local schools for children with special needs. We want them to come for field trips or to have summer camp on the farm. They can learn how to feed, milk the cows, muck out, and do woodworking or painting projects.”
Children are an integral part of a healthy farm. They bring joy and vitality to the farm as they work and play. We see this very clearly each year during haying season. Even the smallest community children show up to help unload the wagons and stack the hay. Everyone works hard and gets hot, sweaty and covered with hay dust. In the end we all feel satisfied by a group effort and job well done, as the last bales go up the hay elevator at dusk. Elijah’s project will open up our farm to even more children. As they help on the farm, children will feel empowered by doing meaningful work. They will have the chance to develop a relationship to the natural world and understand where and how their food is grown and raised.
As a hand-on component of the project Elijah will be building a covered wagon. He will take an old running gear and build a new wagon for it. This will be his third wagon project. Last year he also helped build a hay wagon and a flatbed wagon. “I want to build this wagon so we can take the kids out and work in the woods and far pastures. We can bring tea break and supplies. We can bring it down to the creek. One of the projects for the schools group could be to help us build it or paint the wagon.”
Once the field trip program is launched it will be time for Elijah to graduate. The rest of us will carry on the work that he has begun. The project will be a lasting contribution to the farm and community. Elijah will go on to Camphill Village Copake. The skills he has learned at Triform will be a great asset to their dairy farm. “As an apprentice I have become more independent. I have learned how to drive the golf cart and stack hay. It makes me feel good because I know I can be working by myself. I am looking forward to working at the Copake farm. I still want to learn how to drive a tractor!”
-Sarah Bassett and Elijah Kent
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Thoughts from a Senior Student
For me, being a senior student is a bit rocky and hard at times, but mostly it can be fun. These couple of years has gone by like a fan, which blows off all the pages until you come to a blank page of your life. On this page is the heading of: "Now that you are about become an apprentice, what workplace will you apprentice in and why?" Also, are there any memories you would like to share with everyone, that happened in your life here at Triform?
I will answer the questions as I have placed them in order. The place that I would like to apprentice in is the farm. This is because there are many animals to take care of in health, lots of mechanical projects to fix and clean, and also there are still lots more things that I can improve on from working here. Some of them include working your hardest to get rid of ice when it comes into the water troughs and always fill the water troughs to the top and not cut corners when it gets cold. Another reason I would like to work on the farm is I have read some of James Herriot’s works and I would like to find out about more about farming and become a farmer.
In answer to the second question I have to answer "yes," there are some thoughts can be let out in the open. One of my most favorite memories from here at Triform was when I got to name one of the calves and watch her when I could in the daytime. Also I have seen a few births here on the farm and I would like to see some more.
Thank you letting me share some of my thoughts, from becoming a senior student to an apprentice.
-David Wallace
I will answer the questions as I have placed them in order. The place that I would like to apprentice in is the farm. This is because there are many animals to take care of in health, lots of mechanical projects to fix and clean, and also there are still lots more things that I can improve on from working here. Some of them include working your hardest to get rid of ice when it comes into the water troughs and always fill the water troughs to the top and not cut corners when it gets cold. Another reason I would like to work on the farm is I have read some of James Herriot’s works and I would like to find out about more about farming and become a farmer.
In answer to the second question I have to answer "yes," there are some thoughts can be let out in the open. One of my most favorite memories from here at Triform was when I got to name one of the calves and watch her when I could in the daytime. Also I have seen a few births here on the farm and I would like to see some more.
Thank you letting me share some of my thoughts, from becoming a senior student to an apprentice.
-David Wallace
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Kids on the Farm
For my senior project we are going to start a school year program for kids on the farm. We made some brochures to send to schools for children with special needs. We want to see if they will come on the farm for a field trip. When they come on a field trip they can do things like cleaning the barn, feeding the animals, working in the hay loft, walking the cows to the field, picking and drying herbs, wood working and carpentry projects, painting the barn and fences, camping, swimming, nature walks, and more.
We are also going to build a wooden wagon for the camp. We can bring the wagon for tea breaks, working down in the woods, and going down to the creek.
I like this idea because I like children a lot and work well with new people that come up to the barn, like students and trial visitors. I can't wait to do my senior project and graduate from Triform Camphill Community .
-Elijah Kent
We are also going to build a wooden wagon for the camp. We can bring the wagon for tea breaks, working down in the woods, and going down to the creek.
I like this idea because I like children a lot and work well with new people that come up to the barn, like students and trial visitors. I can't wait to do my senior project and graduate from Triform Camphill Community .
-Elijah Kent
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Winter on the Farm
This is David Wallace and Mandy Connor coming to you from the Triform Farm on a cold and wintery day. So many things are happening this winter. Lets take a look at some of them. David and a few other farmers worked very hard on cleaning out a pig pen where the Copake pigs lived. From what we have seen, they did a good job. Now the pen is standing ready for new pigs in the springtime.
We moved the cows that were in the field into the shed where we store our tractors and other farm machines. From what we have seen they are living like monarchs in their own pen. One of the cows that were born in the autumn was sold and the owner who got her has decided to keep her name. She was Smokeys calf and her name is Suki. She now lives at Blue Star Farm.
The prices of the meat shop have been lowered for our holiday sale. So if you want to buy some meat from us, now is the time to do it!
The piglets from the last batch are being sold today. Soon we will move the next litter of piglets into that pen so they can wean. We hope that we can sell them. If you want any piglets on your farm, come on down before they get sold like hot cakes.
Well, that is all from us so have a safe and happy holiday. This is David Wallace and Mandy Connor signing off until next year. If you want any more meat and information on what we do and how we run check out our website.
-David Wallace and Mandy Connor
We moved the cows that were in the field into the shed where we store our tractors and other farm machines. From what we have seen they are living like monarchs in their own pen. One of the cows that were born in the autumn was sold and the owner who got her has decided to keep her name. She was Smokeys calf and her name is Suki. She now lives at Blue Star Farm.
The prices of the meat shop have been lowered for our holiday sale. So if you want to buy some meat from us, now is the time to do it!
The piglets from the last batch are being sold today. Soon we will move the next litter of piglets into that pen so they can wean. We hope that we can sell them. If you want any piglets on your farm, come on down before they get sold like hot cakes.
Well, that is all from us so have a safe and happy holiday. This is David Wallace and Mandy Connor signing off until next year. If you want any more meat and information on what we do and how we run check out our website.
-David Wallace and Mandy Connor
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