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THE ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2022
Without tech, mules make farm go
By ANN BLOOM
Wallowa County Chieftain
ENTERPRISE — The rich, black
sod peeled away like chocolate curls as
the mule teams pulled the sharp plows
through the earth cutting straight lines,
guided by the sure hand of their owners.
The Lazy Mule Farm plowing bee,
held on a recent Saturday, despite the
dark skies overhead and occasional rain,
went on as planned.
There were two teams on hand to pre-
pare the land for planting the garlic that
will be sold in the fall by owners Jessica
Bass and Adam McGrath. Salad greens
also are planned, which will be sold to
restaurants and stores. The seed garlic
will be sold to nurseries and wholesal-
ers. They also plan to have a farm stand
off ering produce.
The Lazy Mule Farm is named after
resident mule, “Charlie,” who would
rather receive petting and lay in the
sun sometimes than work. The cou-
ple’s other mules in addition to Charlie,
include “Mae” and “Pete.” There is also
“Belle,” a Belgian draft horse.
“They (the mules) are our employ-
ees,” said McGrath.
McGrath describes the relationship
between the mules and the use of them,
as opposed to mechanized farming, as
being positive for the planet.
“It’s an attractive application,” he
said, “horses have no ‘off ’ button. They
have strengths and weaknesses,” like
any relationship, plus, “it’s fun!”
He said the size of their property
is just right for the two of them and
allows them to make ends meet while
still being able to pursue other interests
and activities. McGrath said the opera-
tion allows them to, “select the things
we like with the size we have and merge
the things we’re both passionate about.”
The mules can work into their early
30s and the draft horses to their early
20s. McGrath says it’s important to
keep them active, “chugging along,
plowing and turning the sod — it’s the
single hardest draft task.”
McGrath and Bass will plow fi ve
plots that are three-quarters of an acre,
but will only grow one plot of garlic
at a time. They will rotate the plot that
contains garlic each year so the soil is
not overused and would thus encourage
pests and disease. The other four plots
will be planted in a cover crop, mostly
alfalfa.
“This is the best crop (alfalfa) to
Ann Bloom/Wallowa County Chieftain
‘Pete,’ the mule, and ‘Belle,’ the draft horse, are driven by Jessica Bass and Adam McGrath.
THE MULES CAN WORK INTO THEIR EARLY 30S
AND THE DRAFT HORSES TO THEIR EARLY 20S
follow garlic because it fi xes nitrogen
as well as accumulates other import-
ant nutrients in the soil,” Bass said.
“The second reason we chose alfalfa
as a cover crop is because it can feed
our stock. Alfalfa provides a source of
protein for the mules and gives them a
healthy boost as they age and continue
to work.”
McGrath explained that by doing a
wholesale operation, and confi ning the
size to what they have, it allows them to
make a living and still leave time to pur-
sue other activities.
They can also branch out to what
McGrath calls tertiary venues; places
which buy salad mixes may also buy
fl owers, which the couple will grow.
They also plan to use the team to deliver
produce to customers in Enterprise and
off er wagon rides as an extra source of
income.
McGrath said one of their biggest
challenges has been that they did not
come from a farming background. Also,
fi nding farm ground to purchase contin-
ues to be a challenge. He said some peo-
ple may have a romanticized perception
about farming.
“Farming with mules is not tidy,” he
said, “but I wouldn’t farm if I couldn’t
farm with mules.”
He said the couple looked for a cou-
ple of years before they found their
land, which he said could have discour-
aged other people.
He said the number of farmers who
farm using mules is not large. Many that
use mules or horses to farm are faith-
based, such as the Amish, and are often
located in other parts of the country.
There is a farm in Walla Walla, Wash-
ington, called the Hayshaker Farm,
which uses mules and is not Amish.
“They are young folks about our age
that learned how to drive a team from
the same mentor as us, John Erskine,
who lives in Sequim, Washington, on
the Olympic Peninsula,” Bass said. “We
have collaborated with Hayshaker Farm
a couple of times for plowing. We went
to their plowing bee last year and they
came and helped us plow this year. We
plan to continue to help each other out
in order to keep the tradition alive,”
Bass said.
Another draft-powered, non-Amish
farm, the Hedgerose Farm, is located at
Halfway.
McGrath grew up on the front range
of Colorado and has been a skier all his
life. He moved to western Oregon at 18.
From there he moved to the Olympic
Peninsula in his early 20s. He learned to
work with horses and drive a team more
than a decade ago and has been farming
with horses for about seven years. He
met Bass when they worked together
at the River Run Farm on the Olympic
Peninsula.
Bass, a born-and-raised, self-pro-
claimed city kid from Minneapolis,
learned to drive a team in her mid-20s
when she worked at a dude ranch in
Colorado. She continued to hone her
skills, and learned to farm, while work-
ing at the River Run Farm after mov-
ing to the Olympic Peninsula. McGrath
and Bass bought their fi rst team, Charlie
and Mae, a pair of Belgian mules, about
three years ago.
“We chose to start a farm because we
are passionate about the work. We both
love making ecological observations,
watching plants grow and caring for
livestock,” she said. “We hope to earn a
living doing work we enjoy, while also
being able to pursue other passions that
relate to that work,” she said.
Of farming with mules, McGrath
sums it up this way: “It’s just a choice
we made, and we really like it.”
H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H
4th
of
July
H
H concert
H
Celebrate
America’s day
with us at
Seaside Outlets!
in the parking lot
presented by Seaside Outlets,
Legends Public House
and KSWB Radio CLATSOP.
Starting at
noon
live bands, Hamburgers,
Beer Truck, Ax throwing
and more!
Legends
Public
House
Plus sales happening all weekend!
Family friendly,
bring your own chair.
H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H