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D Acres of New Hampshire Organizational Manual
Last updated January 2004
Table of Contents
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D Acres of New Hampshire Organizational Manual
To explore and develop community knowledge and skills relating to sustainable development, subsistence living and small scale organic farming. To improve the quality of life of the participants and the surrounding community.
Mission
D Acres of NH is an educational center that researches, applies and teaches skills of sustainable living and small-scale organic farming. Striving to improve the human relationship to the environment, the center functions as a demonstration farm to role model exemplars of healthy living. Sharing a communal living situation, individuals come to respect and share values of interdependence and love of nature. In addition, the organization supports educational activities directed toward improving the quality of life of residents and the larger community. Our intentions are to:
Ideals represent our aspirations to be conscientious and respectful individuals to ourselves, each other and the planet. We attempt to: limit our consumption of fossil fuels; reduce, recycle, re-use; emphasize local and onsite production and consumption; conserve water and energy resources; collaborate knowledge and work hours for the betterment of the community agenda; promote art and culture; and study the arts of food, clothing and shelter.
History of the Organization
D Acres was established in 1997 by Charles Dalton, Jim Stevenson, Brenna Nies, and siblings Josh and Dara Trought. They were committed to the idea that the land could be used as a resource for people interested in working hard, consuming less and living cooperatively.
In 2004 a new charitable organization was developed called D Acres of New Hampshire. Formation of the new organization represented a commitment to the organic farm as educational center. D Acres of New Hampshire established a Board of Directors, consisting of local forester Jay Legg, attorney Brian Marsicovetere, Elizabeth Trought, D Acres employee Micki Visten and Kevin Wall. The role of the Board is to ensure that the activities of the organization remain true to the mission, as well as to provide professional advice and guidance. The board meets quarterly for this purpose.
D Acres is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate based on sex, race, religion, age or sexual orientation.
Operational Framework
D Acres of New Hampshire is governed by the Board of Directors. Everyday operations are organized by onsite staff. Josh Trought serves as Executive Director, Micki Visten as Horticulturalist, Abby Holm as Farm Manager, Sam Payton as Wood-crafting Manager.
Please treat the facilities and the land with the respect and care necessary to insure they are available to those who come after you. Have respect for individual’s beliefs, feelings and their personal property. Please remember that D Acres is a public facility and we are part of a community in Dorchester. It is vital to the organization that our behavior reflect our respect for our neighbors.
26 hour internship
The 26 hour internship was set up as a method for individuals to divide their time between communal and personal goals. The 26 hour format allows concentrated and organized communal work. The overall framework for projects and priorities to be pursued are established by staff experienced with the Farm System at D Acres. Interns are welcome to express their interests within the framework established during their stay, but organizational priorities take precedence. D Acres is providing a service for learners in exchange for a committed hard working participant. The basic agreement is 26 hours of assigned labor and $20 per week for the betterment of the project in exchange for organic groceries, seasonal produce, use of telephone and internet, location to sleep and dream, use of library, workshop and facilities of D Acres and the great outdoors of New Hampshire. We prefer a six-week minimum commitment to the project. Timecards and work descriptions are entered daily into the D Acres computer. All workers are required to sign a waiver releasing D Acres of New Hampshire, Bet Realty (the organization that owns the land and buildings) and the Trought Family from any liability for injury.
Research Projects
D Acres works with faculty and graduate students interested in the research and implementation of special projects. We are exploring areas such as school age and adult education, organic garden experimentations, greywater systems, watershed management, forestry, solar cooking, renewable energy systems, erosion control, irrigation and alternative building. We are willing to serve as a host site for funded projects that are congruent with our farm philosophy and priorities.
The Apprenticeship program is designed as a hands-on practical experience. Individuals participate in the seasonal duties pertinent to the farm operations. They receive careful instruction and supervision in the day-to-day workings of what we do here. Students have 12 hours of direct supervision in their area of interest, with additional opportunities for hands-on learning on the farm. They receive room and board, take part in the communal contract and participate in many of the same activities as the residents. This is an opportunity to not only gain knowledge in a certain field (or more than one field), but to experience communal living, decision-making, and networking in an environment that encourages “sustainable” practices. Tuition for participation in the Apprenticeship program is: $20/day, $125/week, $400/month, and $100/week after a one-month period. Perks include access to all D Acres workshops and field trips to farms, attractions and events. A PhD faculty person is available to do on-site evaluations in collaboration with your faculty advisor.
Employment
Employees are skilled and active community members with long-term interest in
the D Acres project. The work week consists of
40 hours in exchange for room and board, plus the standard perks available to
all members. Salaries are LOW but basic living expenses (i.e. food,
shelter) are covered by the organization. After six months employees are
considered Long-term members and we provide catastrophic health insurance .
This is an ideal opportunity for people who wish to practice their trade in a
communal farm environment. D Acres serves as a resource base for individuals to
develop revenue-generating operations that can support the community. We expect
employees to expand the economic sustainability of the project. A high
level of participation in communal living and decision-making is necessary.
Tradespeople
D Acres serves as a resource base for established tradespeople and artisans, who
are an active part of our dynamic community. We actively seek professionals in
many fields, including food production, carpentry, forestry, graphic design,
construction, blacksmithing and ceramics. A suitable agreement between D Acres
and the resident is arranged on an individual basis.
A cleaning schedule is decided at weekly meetings. This is a substantial assignment that can amount to 1-2 hours per week above and beyond the 26 hour commitment. Maintenance cleaning is a communal task, and therefore not a part of work hours. We encourage onsite personnel to take cleaning responsibilities seriously, and do them very thoroughly. Everyone is expected to clean and return all utensils, tools and equipment to their proper place upon completion of a task.
At D Acres we are striving to design a working model of collaborative living. By combining the chores that an ordinary person or family would have to do, and dividing them evenly amongst ourselves, we are able to reduce the work that each individual must do, and increase the quality of life for the entire group. The duties that form the basis of our communal contract include cleaning, cooking and community meetings. Responsibility for these tasks is designated at weekly meetings. Time spent cooking and cleaning are not counted as work hours.
Community meetings are held every week. The time of the meeting depends on the weather and specific activities planned for the day. Community members plan for the meeting by writing announcements and discussion items on the agenda throughout the week.
Three roles are assigned for each meeting: facilitator, note-taker and timekeeper. The Facilitator is responsible for reviewing the minutes from the last meeting, writing down the time limit that the group would like to spend on each agenda item, bringing the group through the agenda items for the current week, seeking consensus from the group on all decisions, organizing the cooking schedule for the week, and establishing the three roles for the next meeting. The facilitator becomes the note-taker at the next meeting. The Note-taker writes down minutes for the meeting, especially noting any tasks that have been assigned to an individual for the week. The notes help us return to unfinished business until it has been completed. The Time-keeper informs the group when we have gone over the time that we have planned for an agenda item.
Meetings can take anywhere from half an hour to eight hours, depending on the agenda that the group has set for the meeting.
The format for community meetings involves three types of agenda item: Announcement, Discussion and Proposal. Announcements are used to pass information on to the group. They are short and rarely require any discussion. The Discussion format is used when there is no firm proposal, but an item needs review. Proposals are grounded plans that are presented to the group. They are predicated on research and initial planning by the person making the proposal. This person should be willing and able to carry out a significant part of the project. All participants capable of following through with a proposal are welcome to submit them to the group, but only long term staff have the right to block a proposal. A reading list on the Daily Life page of our website offers some suggestions for learning more about consensus format.
Staff meetings are also held once a week, usually on Sundays. Staff meetings allow core members to discuss issues that affect the long-term goals of the organization. Such issues include finances, the hiring of new employees, board meetings, fundraising, staff contracts, as well as more day-to-day planning such as staffing needs for the week. One of the reasons for the separation of these two meetings is that interns felt that too much of their time was spent listening to discussions that did not relate to their short term experience at D Acres.
D Acres aspires to be a place where eating wholesome food grown on site is the norm. We all have various diets, preferences and perspectives on food. Although we are not self sufficient in growing all of our own food, we do attempt to limit the packaged, prepared and out-of-season, out-of-state products that we consume. This policy is evolving as we attempt to meet the needs of individuals while pursuing a group desire to eat local simple foods. There is a continuous discussion of peoples' needs versus wants. D Acres aims to provide the group needs while individuals may provide for their wants (coffee etc...).
All personal food products must be clearly marked or will be consumed communally. Refined sugar and flour are currently not purchased by the group.
Cooking is a shared responsibility organized at group meetings. Breakfast and its timing is at the discretion of each individual. Cereals, fruit, eggs, bread and other breakfast foods are available in the kitchen. Some people prefer breakfast before they begin work and others after the first few hours of work so we leave it to personal preference. Lunch is usually comprised of small dishes prepared individually. Leftovers are great for lunch foods so it helps to cook extra at evening meals. Generally lunch is around noon. We like to do a family style supper around 6:30 Monday through Friday. Everyone who uses the kitchen is expected to clean up after themselves. Weekly cooking assignments are part of the Communal Contract, but the evening’s cook is usually exempt from doing dishes. That said, the cook is expected to clean as they go in order to leave a minimum of food preparation dishes to be cleaned up after the meal. All others are responsible for cleaning and putting away all dishes, cleaning the sinks, counters, kitchen table and bread board and sweeping the floor.
All meals are prepared from our bulk foods and seasonal produce. We have a great collection of cookbooks available in the kitchen and suggest assigned cooks make their decisions well in advance of cooking and identify that all products required are available on site and advanced preparation is complete (remember soaking those beans takes time).
If you suffer from food allergies or have intolerance for spicy food, please be sure to advise the group by filling out the chart on the refrigerator. Remind cooks as people often forget in the midst of preparing a new creation.
If you notice low levels of ingredients or use the last of something be sure to note it on food order list.
Decisions are made by the participants. The day to day decisions and scheduling are decided in weekly group meetings on a consensus basis. The level of involvement in the decision making process is determined by individuals’ experience and investment to the project. Staff that have been onsite for 6 months or more are termed long term staff, and are considered the core group of decision-makers. Long term staff reserve the right to make decisions regarding membership, budget, and annual agenda but participation from new personnel is always encouraged. We are aiming to share decisions as well as the physical workload. Individuals are encouraged to utilize and share their personal skills and experiences for the benefit of the community as a whole.
When consensus cannot be reached by the group, the issue will be brought to the Board of Directors for guidance. Representatives of the various sides of the issue will have the opportunity to present their thoughts to the Board. The advice of the Board will be respected in our efforts to reach consensus. Our preference is to utilize the consensus decision making process to reach group supported solutions, turning to the board only when absolutely necessary.
Edith, her husband Delbert and daughter Patricia bought the property in 1945 and moved up permanently when electricity came in 1948. The land had two buildings, a house and a barn, from the 1830’s that were seriously dilapidated. Delbert was raised on a farm in northern Vermont. The family was taking a mid life opportunity to reside in a rural setting. They farmed, raised horses and oxen for pulling carriages and working the land, as well as acquiring skills in woodworking, blacksmithing, spinning, weaving and colonial American painting. Delbert, Patricia and Edith have since passed and the land has been entrusted to Edith’s nephew William Trought and his wife Betty.
For the first six years, D Acres was supported primarily through donations made by Bill and Betty Trought. They have contributed towards the infrastructure and operating expenses. In 2004, with the transfer from D Acres, Inc. to D Acres of New Hampshire, a nonprofit organization, our funding plan has changed. Income now comes from individual and business donations, memberships, sales of goods and services, and fees from educational programming. We are pursuing grant funding. All staff share responsibility for financial planning and revenue generation. The Trought family remains a strong financial supporter of the organization.
D Acres of New Hampshire operates a hostel. The hostel is designed to bring visitors to the farm in order to increase awareness about the project and the ways in which we are trying to build a sustainable farm system. Hostel guests have priority for all bedroom space in the Community Building. Anyone staying in the bedrooms during the winter, spring or fall will sleep elsewhere when hostel guests have booked the Green Room or the Dorm Room. Hostel guests may also sleep in the Yoga Room, in the Barn, or on tent platforms in the woods. Rates and procedures are available in the office. All staff and interns must be familiar with the procedures and willing to help hostel guests get oriented to the farm. The hostel serves as a revenue stream, supporting the other educational activities at the farm.
We are excited to offer internships and employment to people from all around the world. International interns are required to carry their own international insurance, and pay for visa and transportation.
A touchy subject. Dogs can be disruptive and destructive. Cats tend to use the soft garden beds as their prepared latrines and then disappear in the wilderness. Generally dogs must be leashed on the property. All pets are subject to approval and regulation by the D Acres staff.
Your safety is your personal responsibility.
If you are uncomfortable with an assigned activity, behavior or situation (such as climbing a ladder, working with the oxen, etc.) while onsite or with D Acres staff members, please advise others of your discomfort and provide for your own personal safety. Report any problems to a staff member immediately.
Although we have never experienced any real personal threat here on D Acres, we realize we live in a strange world and one never knows what may happen. If you ever experience or witness a serious threat in or near the Community Building, press the police silent alarm system for assistance. The phone at Betty & Bill’s house is available for emergency calls if more accessible than the Community Building.
In an effort to share responsibility and increase communication within the organization, personnel meetings are carried out every two weeks by D Acres of New Hampshire staff and onsite program participants. Half of those present place their names in a hat, and the other half choose a partner's name from the hat. The two participants arrange a meeting time to discuss their work before the next community meeting. Personnel meetings are a time to discuss what has been going well, what has not, and what changes might be suitable. Participants evaluate their goals, recognize progress and shortfalls, and create objectives for the next two weeks. Meetings are designed to address work and community related issues as well as personal issues.
The meetings can be an opportunity to discuss personal conflicts and grievances. Generally, as a community we prefer that individuals handle such grievances themselves. Should this become impractical, the issue can be brought to the community. If further steps are necessary, the core group of staff may gather to discuss the issue and seek resolution to the conflict.
Material discussed in personnel meetings is private and should be treated in that manner. However, if both individuals agree that a matter should be brought up at the Community Meeting, then it is written on the agenda.
Getting along and working together is tough. It is difficult and requires much attention and effort. D Acres is an intense social and physical working experience (we are trying to replace the tractor and patriarchal society). The bugs are fierce, it is dirty, physically demanding and at times the work is frustrating. We are products of an individualistic society attempting to experiment socially and economically together with limited experience. We are bound by a set of beliefs, friendship, love for each other and the land. We live in rural New Hampshire and receive little financial reward for difficult work.
Visitors and Residents are to discuss the visit of their guests with the D Acres community at the Community Meeting prior to the guests’ arrival. All visitors are welcome to participate in the daily activities of D Acres. Overnight accommodations are available and subject to Hostel fees. Parents, siblings and spouses are subject to special rules and arrangements that can be discussed at group meetings. Guests of long term staff are not subject to Hostel fees.
The people of D Acres can be grouped as staff members, interns, and visitors. The current staff members are Founder Josh Trought, since 1997, Micki Visten, since 1999, Abby Holm and Sam Payton since 2003, Michelle Nowak, Sarah Haggett and Matt Felling in 2005. Bill and Betty Trought, who are the owners of the property, are quite present in our community, and usually join us for our evening meal. Visitors are short term participants in the project, friends, family, travelers, and people interested in the project. There is no set number of staff and worker/learners, and their numbers vary with the years. Generally there are 3-4 participants onsite for the winter months and between 5-20 during the summer months. In eight years of operation D Acres has had more than 90 residential participants from across the US, Canada, Israel, Wales, New Zealand, Spain and Germany.
This farm is located in a forest inhabited by wild creatures. Most are more afraid of you than you might be of them, but any wild animal will fight to protect itself and it’s young if surprised or threatened. Let the animals know you are there when you are out walking by talking or singing. Avoid getting between a mother and her young. Avoid any wild creature being too friendly!! This may be a sign of serious illness and should be reported immediately.
Currently we have domestic chickens, goats, bees, worms and oxen. We have a barn cat that helps keep down the rodent population. They require an established routine. Water should always be available. Chickens should have access to their yard during the day and be shut away at night for protection from predators. The chickens contribute to the Farm System by scratching and fertilizing garden areas from their chicken tractors. They also produce beautiful, enormous eggs! The goats are assigned to areas for grazing and clearing land, and are also put away at night for protection from predators. They need people contact despite their standoffish behavior. Pigs joined the farm in 2004. They are Josh's personal project, but friends are welcome to assist in their care, as the pigs provide a great service to the organization by clearing land.
The oxen are in training and must be placed together in certain ways to facilitate their learning to pull together. August and Henri are an invaluable part of our Sustainable Forestry program, pulling trees out of the woods, moving rocks, and grooming trails. They love company and petting so feel free to stop in and tell them your troubles or dreams. The oxen are large, strong and at times unpredictable so please be extremely cautious with personal contact…Beware (seriously!!!!) the horns and hoofs… No children or adults are allowed in the ox area until they have been specifically authorized by a staff person to do so. If you are not certain if you are allowed to enter, do not! Tour groups are not allowed to enter the ox pen. We are all learning with them so ask for information from Josh, Micki or Abby.
D Acres is striving to experiment with alternatives in energy and building technology. So far we have experimented with solar dehydrators, photovoltaic water pumping for irrigation, a photovoltaic cabin system, humanure, cob, cordwood and adobe construction, greywater, solar hot water, and water catchment. We intend to experiment further with these technologies and also pursue projects in biogas and wind power.
Winter (November, December, January, February, March)
November-
Sheet mulch new beds Forestry
Prepare for winter Rest
Clean windows Travel
Take the screens off the windows Clean leaves & debris off treehouses and platforms
December-
Tree order Clean seeds
Indoor maintenance Professional development
Crafts + artisan End of year newsletter
Research Clean e-mail account
Shovel snow Travel
Woodworking Rest
Solstice party
January-
Tree order Develop events calendar
Inventory and order seeds Clean seeds
Indoor maintenance Product development
Crafts + artisan Faculty mailing
Research Organizational Manual revisit
Shovel snow
February-
Put out maple syrup lines Process organic certification
Tap maple trees Research
Start seedlings Shovel snow
Indoor maintenance Crafts + artisan
Begin workshop series
March-
Starting seedlings Start turning compost
Prune trees Spring Equinox
Boil maple syrup Newsletter
Shovel snow Workshops
Spring (April, May)
April- (hopefully this is spring)
Start seedlings Plug mushrooms
Clean up maple sugar operations Seed pastures
Spring cleaning Cob oven maintenance
Transplanting starts into bigger pots Plant coldframes, season extenders
Daylight savings Replace screens & clean windows
Burn Brush Workshops
Clean birdhouses Clean up plow damage
Turn compost
May-
Plant trees Plug mushrooms
Plant cold frames, season extenders Set up water catchment system
Clean up from winter Seed Pastures
Firewood Transplanting starts into bigger pots
Set up drip and soaker irrigation system Workshops
Open Farm Store Put the screens on the windows
Turn compost
Summer (June, July, August)
June-
Firewood Trail maintenance
Planting outdoors Brush and grass maintenance
Weeding Workshops
July-
Firewood Change chicken door (put screen on)
Irrigation Newsletter
Brush and grass maintenance Trail maintenance
Weeding Dehydrate herbs
Farmstand/Farmers' Market Dorchester Old Home Days
Harvest Plant fall crops
Workshops Barter landscape at Mo the Clown's house
Turn compost Outbuilding maintenance and construction
August-
“Farm Day” party NOFA summer conference
Harvest Craft fairs
Weeding Trail and erosion control work
Irrigation Firewood
Brush and grass maintenance Dehydrate herbs
Plant fall crops Farmstand/Farmers' Market
Workshops Visit Bread & Puppet in VT
Turn compost Outbuilding construction and maintenance
Fall (September, October)
September-
Harvest Divide Rhizomes
Storing and Preserving Divide Bulbs
Firewood Fall pasture seeding
Plant fall crops Farmstand/Farmers' Market
Plant cover crops Collect seeds
Workshops Turn compost
October-
Amend soil and winter mulch Firewood
Store irrigation equipment Newsletter
Leaf collection Dorchester Halloween party
Prune perennials Winterize water catchment system
Workshops Turn compost
D Acres currently has seven compost piles on the east side of Streeter Woods Rd, and three on the west side. Compost piles are located throughout the orchard and lower gardens for easy access wherever needed. The hot compost piles are maintained in accordance with organic certification requirements. All participants at D Acres are on a schedule to turn each pile weekly in order to ensure proper aeration. Visitors are encouraged to turn compost! Animal manure and bedding, kitchen scraps, non-invasive weeds, soil amendments, straw and water are added to the piles in the available proportions. Compost piles are kept covered with wool blankets or burlap to retain moisture. Prepared compost is sifted and applied to the nearest garden beds.
Due to the infrastructure at D Acres, there is a great deal of unavoidable electricity use. Our commercial refrigerator runs constantly, and shop tools use a great deal of electricity. There are, however, many ways that we can avoid excess use of electricity. Lights and stereo speakers should be kept off unless someone is the room. Computers and other electronic equipment must be shut off each night. Similarly, water is at a premium during the summer months. In the Community Building, water can be conserved by reusing washing water and bean soaking water for the houseplants. Please do not over-water houseplants.
The project is located in Dorchester, New Hampshire, a town of 300 voters. It is 45 minutes east of Lebanon/Hanover and 25 minutes from Plymouth. D Acres staff participate in town events such as Old Home Days, the children’s Halloween party and Christmas Caroling. We also have participated in the maintenance of historic buildings.
Dorchester has no commercial center and little industry. It is a “bedroom community” in that residents come here only to sleep, working, recreating and shopping elsewhere. D Acres strives to bring together Dorchester residents at monthly full-moon potlucks. The social gatherings are designed to build ties between neighbors that do not have any other place to gather, network with each other, and build the community economy.
Designed to promote organic agriculture and cottage industry, Farmstands and Farmers' Markets are used by many farmers to supplement their income. In addition, experience at our Farmstand provides an education in the production, marketing and sales of handmade goods on a local level. All learners and staff are encouraged to provide some value added product for sale and all are expected to participate in setup, sales and cleanup during the season. Please discuss your ideas at community meetings. D Acres cooperatively markets and shares revenue for artistic value-added products when not produced during D Acres time and without use of our materials. If no D Acres time or materials have been used, the organization charges 10% of sale price for this service. Please talk to staff about how this might work for you. Scheduling assignments to Farmstand and Farmers' Markets is decided at community meetings.
We are surrounded by forest and view this as both a blessing and a responsibility. We are following the directives of a Forest Stewardship Plan that was developed in 1999 by Clark Hill Forestry. We intend to provide wood for our stoves and boilers, foster non- damaging recreational, and value-added use while protecting the growth of native species and supporting our resident wildlife.
We have begun a trail system that both marks the perimeters of our land and also takes hikers to interesting sites. These trails require ongoing maintenance. Stakes in the woods designate where we have planted tree saplings. We have also begun a Medicine Trail, supervised by Micki Visten. Medicinal and especially at-risk plants on either side of the trail include Ginseng, Goldenseal, Black Cohosh and Blue Cohosh.
We are involved in a long-term soil erosion control project and have received funding from the US Department of Agriculture for soil conservation.
The forest that D Acres manages has the potential to provide a great deal of sap for maple syrup. In the past we have provided assistance to a neighbor with his sugaring operation.
Jay is the local Fire Marshal and Josh is one of his deputies. They are available to fight forest fires. Please do not light fires outside of the fire pit or carelessly smoke in the woods.
The garden is a labyrinth of paths and raised beds. The path system is to prevent human compaction of cultivation zones. Please walk only on specified paths. A general rule is to avoid walking on places where there is straw down, as this is our method of mulching cultivated or soon to be cultivated soil.
You will find a unique mixing of trees, flowers, herbs, mushrooms, fruits and vegetables throughout the property. These gardens are a living example of our attempts at encouraging and maintaining biodiversity while providing ourselves with food and medicines. We work on the principle that Nature is our best teacher, and we look to her for inspiration and guidance. In this respect we encourage wild volunteer species in and around the cultivated varieties. The labor in the gardens is primarily by our own hands and backs; we have chosen to not utilize mechanized tools for cultivation. This reliance on our own physical labor stems from our belief that the microorganisms in the soil flourish when the soil is not roto-tilled. This also makes the garden a quiet, peaceful place where the designs of Nature take precedence. In order to convert sod to garden bed in a no-till system, we use a sheet-mulching technique. Sheet-mulching requires newspaper, compost, straw and appropriate soil amendments.
We use techniques derived from Permaculture, bio-dynamic, as well as some conventional organic methods. Some examples are our use of compost, drip irrigation, water catchment and the use of mulch to discourage weed growth and maintain soil temperatures and moisture. We also incorporate trellising and arbors to make use of vertical space while intercropping with the thought of creating multistory plantings that best utilize the space we have available to us. This is another example of mimicking the designs of Nature, where there are always various heights and forms to the vegetation. This philosophy has directed our efforts toward a perennial system, as opposed to producing only annual vegetables. The self-reproducing perennial system is an investment in the future, when the forest garden will require less maintenance, and provide more of substantive and medicinal value for inhabitants.
Another aspect of our gardening here is our attempts at extending the season. New England has a notoriously short growing season and in an attempt to compensate for this we continue to build, greenhouses, cold frames and cloches that provide extra shelter for our more tender plants, while allowing us to plant our hardier crops out earlier and later in the season.
Life abounds in these gardens and the whys and wherefores of this labyrinth can be a bit overwhelming. We have an enumerated mapping system to designate and locate the garden beds. All participants will have time in the gardens planting, weeding, eliminating slugs and pests, and harvesting depending on when, during the season, they are on site. The aim of the garden is to provide food, fresh and preserved, for the residents of the project. The garden also provides products for direct sale as well as materials for value added goods.
The orchard and lower gardens have been organically certified since 1998. Organic certification is a designation by the Department of Agriculture that approves gardening practices with proper crop rotation, use of certified seeds when available, compost regulation and absence of pesticides and fertilizers.
We are open to suggestions of improvements and hope you will share these with us. Again when working in the gardens, please remember to clean tools of all dirt before returning to their storage area. No tools are to be left out after work hours.
Rainwater is collected from the roofs of our buildings for our gardening and animal husbandry needs. A former milk cooling tank holds water from the barn roof, providing a good supply for watering plants in the garden. The irrigation system in the lower gardens can be operated (using a solar water pump), pulling water out of the small pond between the lower garden and the orchard. Rainwater is captured as it drips off the chicken house and Ox Hovel in order to supply the animals with water. Surface level open pipes east of the Community Building direct water coming off the building into a frog pond.
Recycling and reducing the waste stream is highly encouraged at D Acres. Primarily we attempt to limit the inflow of new products and non reusable packaging. We compost kitchen scraps and reuse plastic bags. Non dyed cardboard and newsprint are reused in mulch applications in the garden. Mulching materials must not accumulate in the garage. They should be sorted as we go and brought down to the place where they are neatly stored under the eaves of the barn. We have experimented with using plastic waste as an insulation material in several outbuildings. We reuse glass jars if they have thread sufficient enough to screw down lids completely.
Glass, plastic, metals, batteries, paint products and colored paper products are recycled at the local transfer station. We make trips to the transfer station every week to drop off trash and recyclables, and to pick up materials for sheet mulching. Hazardous chemicals that need disposal are safely stored until an annual drop off at the transfer station.
The property has extensive cross country, snowshoeing, biking and walking trails. Within walking and biking distance there is hiking, swimming holes, canoe and tubing adventures, and rock climbing at renowned Rumney crag. There are major ski resorts within 1 hours drive. Newfound lake state park, with boat launch, and beach is less than 30 minutes away. Talk to the staff and family about options and check the NH reference texts in the library. There is a NH Visitors Center on Rte 25 heading toward Plymouth that will have a listing of current events throughout the state.
Visitors are encouraged to come tour the farm the first Sunday of every month at 2pm. If that time is unworkable please call to schedule other arrangements.
They are provided as rustic housing and protection from the elements for the residents. They are intended to be cost effective structures using local and recycled materials. The construction of these structures provides a learning environment for those who wish to learn more about light construction and woodworking. Please keep treehouses clean and make personal improvements as necessary or desired with prior approval for expenditures by staff. Please report any observed structural deficiencies or hazardous conditions immediately. Platforms are also available for tents.
Mice and other critters are a constant problem in the tree houses especially when food is stored or eaten there. Some of the treehouses are distant from the bathrooms so speak to staff on details of human waste management. It is advisable to bring your own mosquito net.
Treehouses and tent platforms are available on a first come first choose basis. This year, due to an increase in staff people, we expect that there will not be any treehouse space available for interns. Interns will have their choice of the available tent platforms. Interns must bring their own tents and bedding.
Assignments for the week are established at Community Meetings. Though the schedule may change from week to week, participants must come prepared to be punctual and responsive to the daily rhythms at the farm. We prefer to accomplish intern hours during the Monday-Friday work week, though there are specific weekend responsibilities, and special events do arise. Certain tasks must be accomplished by a certain time of day, (for example early morning watering and bug-picking) which requires that participants be responsible about starting work on time. Self motivation and punctuality increase our efficiency, allowing us to accomplish more and move on to the next projects
The staff has a difficult time organizing and supervising volunteers that work on diverse schedules. It is important for organizational purposes that projects begin at the time specified by the coordinator. Otherwise there is confusion and disruption of the planned activities. Please be considerate and punctual.
Each year 20-30 workshops are held onsite, coordinated by the staff at D Acres. Workshops are the focus of our public educational outreach. Please refer to the Workshops & Events listing for details. Additions to the schedule can be discussed at community meetings. The farm is also used as a venue for meetings, family events, and fund raisers. There are adequate bathing facilities, parking, meeting and camping space to accommodate groups for a day, a weekend and weeklong events.
Youth are a component of the education mission at D Acres of New Hampshire. We endeavor to reduce excessive consumption and alienation from the natural world, by sowing the seeds for positive behavior in the minds of youth. In the past, we have invited groups of young people from schools and camps to take part in hands-on activities at the farm. We have also offered workshops oriented toward children and provided limited childcare onsite. We resist delving deeply into this area without adequate funding, personnel and planning. In 2005, expansion of youth education will depend on grant funding..
Construction of the Community Building began in 1998. The structure was inhabited in 2001. The construction was an effort of D Acres staff and local contractors. The building houses commercial kitchen, office, woodshop, garage space, library, yoga space, art studio, sleeping quarters, root cellar, recreation room and bathrooms. The space is communally shared and maintained. D Acres staff use the house to sleep during the winter months, but are encouraged to develop personal living space in treehouses or tents as weather permits.
The Community Building is the center for our educational activities and lectures, and the place where we get together for meals, meetings and social gatherings. It is an immense resource for the organization, and we treat it with great respect and care.
There is a stereo system installed in the house. Please keep volume to a respectful level and return compact discs to their proper location.
Keep the doors shut! Avoid tracking cob and other working materials into the building. Keep the mudroom tidy.
This can be a major headache or a lifesaver. The system incorporates both fire and security components. We usually arm the security system (black boxes) only when the facility is to be unoccupied for a specific reason. The fire alarm system works independently with both heat and smoke detectors. It cannot be turned off!! Smoke in the kitchen will set off the alarms so use the vents and fans. The system employs both audible alarms and flashing lights in the shop. The system automatically calls an operator who will attempt to call 786-2366 to determine if help is needed. If the operator is not able to get a response (busy signal or no answer due to call waiting) or that response is not correct they will notify the appropriate authorities – fire or police. To repeat: if the fire alarm goes off and there is no fire, listen for the phone. The security company will call. Tell them that there is no emergency. If they ask, tell them the password.
We have had the experience of bringing two towns of volunteer firemen to our farm and it is quite unpleasant. Please familiarize yourself with the operation of the system in case of emergency (directions above hall fire unit) so you can disarm the system when required.
Even when the security system is disarmed for entries, you still can call for help both upstairs in library and downstairs in entrance hall in either red or black boxes. If there is ever a major health problem and you need an ambulance press the red cross button on keypad. The alarm service will call ambulance. If you press button beside the open shield the service will call the state police to immediately come to building with no verification call 1st.
There is a communal bathroom located on the first floor of the Community Building. Only solid human waste and toilet paper should be deposited in the toilet compost system. We pee outside as much as possible year round in order to keep the composting toilet functioning at its best. (Please do not urinate by the Community Building.) Deposit a cup of wood chips down the chute after each B.M. The toilet lid should be closed when not in use to maintain proper odor removal. The maintenance of the compost toilet is on the Communal Chore List The storage tank in the basement must be emptied when it gets full. The material is taken down to specifically humanure piles near the goat house.
Personal hygiene products and towels should not clutter the bathroom space. Only biodegradable personal hygiene products (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, shaving cream etc…) are to be used onsite. Please bring your brand of choice. Use the exhaust fan while showering and ventilate the bathroom after showering to prevent mildew. Staff and visitors are expected to maintain the cleanliness of the bathrooms and a thorough cleaning is organized at weekly meetings. First Aid materials are stored in this bathroom.
There is also a bathroom on the second floor. This bathroom is designated for (hostel) guests only. We have chosen not to use this bathroom for community use because it is one less room to clean. The downstairs bathroom is perfectly adequate for the needs of the community.
An outhouse located by the lower gardens is to be used as much as possible. The outhouse is located in close proximity to the humanure piles, and therefore requires less effort to transport material. All are expected to maintain the tidiness of the outhouse.
First Aid & Fire Extinguishers
First Aid supplies are located in the barn, the woodshop, the downstairs bathroom and Josh’s green GMC truck. Fire extinguishers are located on all three floors of the Community Building. The first floor fire extinguisher is located in the kitchen under the dishwashing sink.
This is a shared space where cleanliness must meet commercial kitchen health standards. Hand washing is permitted only in the sink by the bathroom. All staff are expected to participate in daily cleaning and the scheduled deep cleanings coordinated at group meetings.
We have many kitchen appliances and gadgets hidden in cabinets. Please ask staff for instructions on using appliances. Clean and replace all appliances to their storage place after use. Take time to explore the cabinets, pantry, root cellar, downstairs freezer and refrigerator. Familiarize yourself with products kept in bulk, frozen or canned products and seasonal produce storage. These are items that should make up your recipes for community meals.
The compost bucket is under the sink. During the winter kitchen scraps are fed to the chickens, during the summer they are fed to the pigs. The chickens do not receive citrus peels, banana peels, egg shells, tea bags, coffee grounds, and onion or garlic skins. The chicken bucket should not be given to the chickens in the evening, as the food that they have not consumed when they go to bed will attract predators. Only organic materials goes in the compost, please remove stickers from fruit and staples from tea bags.
Please make a note on the food order list if we run low or out of ingredients. If you don’t see what you need, ask – someone will know where to check or what to do to substitute. We make a monthly food order from a regional distributor. We invite members of the community at large to order with us.
A Maytag washer and dryer are available for use in the community building. Manuals are available to help you use them effectively. Please use the biodegradable detergent available in the cabinets above the units. Do not overfill the machines. The washer does not require much detergent. Community towels and dishcloths are washed weekly as assigned by the cleaning schedule. Be careful with down sleeping bags and comforters. Keep washer door ajar after use to prevent mildew.
You are encouraged to use the clothes line in an effort to reduce electricity use. Although the Community Building has a number of luxuries (plenty of water, a dishwasher, washer/dryer), our community is concerned with limiting our use of electricity, water and other resources. It is a personal responsibility to appropriately use energy resources.
We have three major areas where books are available. The basement recreation area stores history, fiction, some series, and past issues of interesting magazines like National Geographic.
The kitchen has an extensive cookbook collection. There are still more books about nutrition, wild foraging, and herbal preparations in the upstairs library.
The more formal library upstairs is a designated quiet space where people may research topics of interest or find a retreat to read. Please remember this when using this space and be respectful of your fellow residents. The upstairs sitting room can be used as an additional space for quiet discussion or reading.
Please return all books to their proper place. Please use bookmarks instead of dog ears or leaving books open. Treat books kindly. All D Acres books must remain in the Community Building. This means that they may not be taken out to treehouses or tent platforms. This policy is inconvenient but based on the experience of the long term residents at the farm. The books are a fragile resource, which we can be easily damaged by travel and weather
Internet access is available in library when it is not being used for farm business. Line access for personal computers is available in the upstairs research library. It is necessary to use a phone card or dial collect in order to make long distance calls. Please use internet and make personal calls in the evening to avoid tying up D Acres line (786-2366) during work hours. Please answer call waiting. Also check message machine and voice mail regularly. Messages should be noted on the dry erase boards. Snail mail and packages can be received at: your name c/o D Acres of NH, PO Box 98, Rumney, NH 03266.
A computer is located in the library for personal use. The upstairs computer has internet access, but there is only one line available in the house, so office use has precedence. Keep the computer area habitable for others. All computers must be shut down at night. It is the responsibility of the last person to go to bed to shut off the computers and all lights.
There are several personally registered vehicles onsite. All use of vehicles requires permission from their owner. Please limit use of fossil fuels for personal transportation by coordinating trips with others. All vehicles used by people at D Acres (including the van, Josh's truck, and Bill's truck) must be maintained. The oil must be checked every two weeks (assigned by the cleaning schedule). In the winter, keep gas tanks full and allow time for all vehicles to warm up before driving off.
The wood boiler heats hot water and the Community Building through radiant floor tubes that are installed in the floors. There is a backup propane boiler. The wood boiler must be attended to twice daily except during the summer. If the temperature is allowed to drop, the backup system will automatically begin using propane. Propane is not only a nonrenewable resource, but it costs money and requires transportation. If you are responsible for the wood boiler, be vigilant! Before operating, Josh, Micki or Sam must be consulted. It is the responsibility of the people maintaining the fire to keep the room clean as well.
The shop is an area with many safety hazards. Safe use of the shop requires skill in the use of the various tools and the discipline to clean as you go. D Acres requires all users to utilize safety devices such as goggles and ear protection devices. We also require shop clothes to be worn when working on a project that creates a lot of debris. Shop clothes should be removed before leaving the shop in order to limit the amount of sawdust that enters the rest of the building. Please familiarize yourself with the operation of tools and dust collection system. Shop manuals are located in a file in the office. Spend some time in the shop with Josh, Sam or Bill to be sure you know where things are and how tools work. Seek help when you are unsure or require just a bit more experience. Remember to clean as you go.
We encourage personal projects. Please propose projects at group meetings to discuss the use of materials and space.
First Aid kits in the workshop are located on top of the cabinet to the right of the door to the garage.