Walla Walla farmers say draft horses power success
Published 10:12 am Wednesday, October 13, 2010
WALLA WALLA — Andy Asmus sets bunches of recently plucked carrots, fresh from the ground, onto his work station. With a hose, he sprays away the earth that conceals the veggies’ true glow. As dirt-stained water drips down, the carrots shine a bright, vibrant orange, complemented by their long, green tops.
“When they’re wet, they just shine,” he said.
It’s a typical harvest morning at Welcome Table Farm, an organic draft farm just east of the Walla Walla city limits, near Rooks Park. Across 13 acres, Asmus and his partner, Emily Dietzman, have established a sustainable small-scale farm that stands out in part for its size, and in part for its environmentally-friendly approach to crop production.
Although Asmus and Dietzman own and operate the farm with just a few employees and helpers, they give credit for the farm’s distinction to Dandy and Avi, the male and female American Belgian draft horses who work the fields the way farmers did in past eras, before the introduction of fuel-powered equipment.
Dandy and Avi, both about 6 years old, are towering, graceful animals whose wide bodies and thick legs show they were born to work. With the farm as their home, the pair sleep in their stables but are free to walk throughout the fields, along a path away from the crops, on their down time and on work-free days.
“They really love to work,” Dietzman said. “They are happiest when they feel useful.”
Welcome Table Farm is an organic farm, and the use of Dandy and Avi complements the driving philosophy of what Asmus and Dietzman set out to achieve three years ago. Their goal was to grow the food they eat, while also establishing a farm that could be simply managed and serve local residents. Through the draft practices, and by using green and organic materials over herbicides or pesticides, the couple is in the third year of producing vegetables, berries, fresh eggs and an assortment of other goods that stand out for taste and quality.
The produce is fresh, aromatic, each with distinct color and in some cases, unusual shapes. Slightly crooked carrots or cucumbers may look funny, but the true test is in the taste.
