Musterfield Farm

by Shane Smith, Outreach Coordinator 

Agriculture is alive and well at Muster Field Farm in North Sutton, as it has been for parts of the last four centuries. The large, flat and open fields, where militias mustered during the 18th and 19th centuries, are used to demonstrate farm operations and equipment during Musterfield Farm Days in August. They also produce a large amount of hay that is used on the farm to winter-over the cows and other animals.

Steve

Today's farm produces vegetables, flowers, hay, eggs, and cordwood. Ice blocks are cut from Kezar Lake in the winter and stored until summer in the farm's ice house. Over 200 of the museum's 250 acres are under a conservation easement with the Society for the Protection of NH Forests, and a program of selective cutting and sustainable forest management maintains diverse stands of mixed hardwoods and softwoods.

Steve Paquin, the farm manager, and seasonal helpers are always hard at work. The farm specializes in vegetable production, with the best fields producing a wide range of vegetables (including Steve's speciality, sweet melons of all varieties

Steve and Paula

The farm enjoys robust produce and cut flower sales from their farm stand during the summer months.  It sells to local visitors as well as supplying neighboring restaurants and food markets, like the Kearsarge Cooperative Grocer, just up the road in New London.

The farm also maintains a small but varied population of farm animals which round out the farming operation. Pigs, cows, and chickens are always to be found on the grounds.

View of the Pillsbury Barn