Got Rain?

April 2009 was stunning in New Hampshire!   May was pretty spectacular as well.   June and July, however, have been the rainiest &coolest summer months in a very long time.   So bad, in fact, that we have not had a BBQ in weeks.

With our farm on a hilltop, our pastures usually dry out very quickly after a storm.   But with so many storms stacking up like airplanes on final approach into Oshkosh, even the highest hilltops stay saturated a lot longer.   Fortunately, we somehow keep managing to squeeze in a few mowing hours here and there, allowing us to tidy up the pastures, our groomed riding trails, and of course, the front lawn.   But it is a challenge!

I don't mind riding my dressage horses in a light cooling misty rain.   But the kind of rain we have been having for the past couple months has even driven me to ride in the indoor arena more than the outdoor arena.   And on the few days that we have had hot sunshine, the humidity that arises from the saturated ground has been another good to avoid the outdoors!

While the horses, chickens, and turkeys don't seem to mind the AWOL summer season, our garden areas sure do.   The vegetables, grapes, and hops are all crying out for warmth & sunshine, and lots of it.   And I know our pooch would rather see more dry days on the calendar.   She is definitely not a water dog.

Tomorrow, August 2009 arrives.   The Meteorologists at WMUR Channel 9 promise it will begin with stunningly beautiful weather.   Here's hoping we will see lots of great August weather!   Until then, folks in town are maintaining their smiles, pointing out that "at least it's not snow!"

Got rain?   Too much rain?   We understand how it feels....

Hiring Farm Employees

One of the challenging areas of owning any business is in the recruitment and hiring of good people with the right skills and attitude to do the job and represent the business with pride.   Whether a high tech firm, a medical centre, a super market, or a horse farm, finding good staff is always critical to the success of a business.


(From the website http://www.apprenticesearch.com/ in Ontario Canada)


In general, we have been lucky in finding employees who have the knowledge, passion, and skills needed to provide the horses and our clients with the kind of care they need, deserve, and have come to expect.   Some people stay with us for years and some only for a few months.   No matter how long they are on the payroll, the good ones are a joy to have working on the farm.

As with all companies, we also run into our share of "misfits", people who do not care...   They don't last long at all.

At this time, we are expecting one of our fabulous employees to move on to another job in the next few weeks.   And so once again, we will be looking for the next right person to fill their muck boots.

It's actually hard work, recruiting.   It takes time & money to advertise, time to interview, and even more time to through the required paperwork, including IRS and U.S. Department of Justice forms.   But, when the right person comes along, it's worth it.

So, we are hiring again...   We hope to continue to find good horse people in the Warner area to join the team at Kearsarge Meadows.