Photos change 4x per month since Jan'03
Firewood delivered locally
Phone #'s may be available for Firewood sellers in your area

Organically raised Grass Fed Beef & naturally raised Veal
Game Birds
Bonfires & Hayrides ...

phone 860-684-4574 or email " RNW(at)cox.net"

For Northeast Connecticut Tourist Info:
Quiet Corner
For more information about this area, go to
Works District (Proposed Web Page?)
Stafford,Conn.,USA or
Union, Ct. Free Public Library . Joshua Hyde Public Library (Sturbridge, Mass.)
Guy Fawkes' Day Bonfire will be held
~6 November
Solstice Bonfires will be held
~21 December & ~21 June
====
Modern Roundabouts   Stafford Web Cam
Stafford-Rockville Trolley Trail

The chicks have almost left the nest!
Comparison "grass-fed" beef prices; Sierra Club view;

            I'm going to provide information on these topics, as I discover it.

            My Farm is 1 of about 10 laid out in the Works School District (VII) in SE Stafford ~1719-20 (this site is now part of my farm). The rolling terraine is marked by Poole Hill to the SSE, & Hedgehog Hill to the North.
            Many farms prized their Meadow Lots - this may have been viewed as "insurance" against severe drought - providing livestock feed for emergency use.
            Hixon Meadow (~5a), on Roaring Brook, re-purchased in August'03 after 150 years under different ownership. This Meadow Lot (seen as "Drought Insurance") has been too wet to mow 2003-2006. But I will start to clear & mark the boundaries. Access available only via Rights-of-Way across neighboring property E & W of the Brook. Note: The Meadow probably hasn't been mowed since the 1940's & is overrun by Sedge "stumps" & alder. It must be cleared & mowed once to get rid of the humps (stumps), then the next season the meadow will be smooth & lovely for haying. But when will it be dry enuf to support hay equipment?
            East end of Eden Lot (Eaton Lot)(~1a of ledge), rejoined the farm 26 Oct'05 after 150yr separation & an application for coverage as PA-490 Forest Land was submitted Sept'06

            Wild Cranberries grow through my meadows - how could our fore-bearers not have noticed & used this tangy berry? I met a man from New Braintree, Mass (6/05) who's neighbor has commercial Cranberry Bogs on his farm there. He said many farms raised Cranberries in the early 1900's, & today, the supply of plants is tightly controlled to prevent over production.
            Bog Iron was mined (harvested? It is a renewable resource) throughout Stafford, particularly from 1750 - 1850.
            Charcoal was needed to reduce Bog Iron to pure Iron. This resulted in deforestation of large areas.

            Local Property Tax inequity - Deliberate deception? The town Personal Property Tax Declaration (Ordinance 4-8) calls for this form to be filed annually in October. On page#1, 1 November (Ct Statute 12-41 & 12-42) is specified as the final date to file, but on page#3, it says the "Exemption for Farm Buildings" must be filed by 31 October (Ct Statute 12-91c). This double date discrepancy looks like a deliberate attempt to trip up dyslexic Connecticut Farmers!!! It should be a simple matter for the legislature to make both dates the same!
            Illegal Beef Tax - devised by Connecticut Revenue Services (it is not part of state law!?) - Ct Farmers must collect sales tax on beef sold to customers who do not have sales tax exemption certificates. All beef sales must be reported providing names, addresses, & phone numbers of customers. This is NOT considered a Civil Rights Violation against Ct Farmers because we are not part of a "Protected Group" - A protected group is defined as one bound by ethnic or religious ties. Occupational or recreational groups are not protected against discrimination! It is also NOT vigorously opposed by Ct Farm Bureau. Tolland County FB's complete Policy Manual should be available on the Internet!
            I finally got a STEP (Sales Tax Exemption Permit) back in 2005 after 6 years of difficulty w/ Ct DRS! The STEP is required both for Farm Truck Registration & Composting Permits!! In Sept'06 I got my renewal w/o a fuss! Good til Sept'08! Hurrah!!
            Right to Farm Law - Connecticut General Statutes, Section 19a-341; This law is important to help protect the Agricultural Infrastructure of the state
??

Send suggestions & comments to: Bob White
There have been     visitors since August 1996.
This page was last updated 1 Jan'09.
Return to Top
© 1996-2008 RNWhite
3120 Visitors as of 1/1/99
3860 Visitors as of 1/1/01
4100 Visitors as of 1/1/03
4600 Visitors as of 1/1/04
5400 Visitors as of 1/1/05
6200 Visitors as of 1/1/06
7130 Visitors as of 1/1/07
8260 Visitors as of 1/1/08
9675 Visitors as of 1/1/09
map		 Ct Dept of Revenue Services (click on Forms)

Sales Tax Exemption Certificate Application (Reg-8 pdf fillin)
Farm Fuel Tax Refund Form AU-725 (pdf fillin)
Sales & Use Tax Return Form OS-114 (pdf fillin)

*** Dance Gypsy ***
                    Descendants of Thomas Davis - Haverhill, Ma
                    Cornelius Davis Family Reunion - Stafford, Ct
                    Summer job? - busiest time May, June, & August (Proposed Web Page?)

.