I continue to learn many things through my journey with pain and inability to do much beyond get up and walk to the bathroom. One piece has been how much I love and appreciate the people who make this farm what it is. I would like to introduce the various folks who help us.
Today I will tell you the story of Chad and Gwen Vogel and their son Layton. Chad, Gwen, Racey and I all met while working at Essex Farm, just down the road. Chad and I shared a passion for working draft horses and we lived together while we worked at Essex Farm. Gwen worked with Racey on the animal/fencing crew.
When we started our first plowing project at Reber Rock Farm in the fall of 2012 Gwen was still working at Essex Farm and had started dating Chad. We thought that we would run the farm together: Nathan, Racey and Chad. As the years went by Gwen joined our work here and it also became clear that Chad and Gwen loved farming but did not want to own and operate their own farm. In a stroke of luck they were able to purchase the property across the street from our farm!
Chad and Gwen have built a beautiful house and welcomed Layton into the world at the beginning of 2020. Chad has grown his successful horse logging business and breeds Suffolk horse draft horses when he is not helping with fencing, grazing and chicken processing on the farm.
Gwen recently told me that she started her graphic design business when Reber Rock Farm needed a logo (thanks Gwen) and other folks started asking for her help and she now supports her family through that work alone. When she is not building her house or a green house or a sauna, or working on graphic design, Gwen helps us move the chickens, process the chickens and is our grazing master.
Thank you to you both for all of the support, friendship, smiles and laughs and of course amazing farm support that make it possible for me to recover while the farm continues to thrive.
Reber Rock Farm Blog 