Fox and Crow Farm

09/28/2026

Erin French is such an inspiration.

“So I did the only thing I knew how to do: I kept going.”

This incredible book is ready for you to pick it up here at Water's Nook Home + Gifts in Alton, NH.

09/28/2026

Farming in Barnstead: A Public Record — What Happens When Town Hall Simply Stops Answering?

One of the hardest parts of this experience has not been disagreement.

It has been silence.

When a municipality issues an enforcement action, places conditions on a permit, questions the use of your property, or allows an official’s conduct to become part of an ongoing dispute, a resident should have some reasonable way to obtain an answer.

We have repeatedly submitted written questions.
Formal complaints.
Requests for clarification.
Requests for correction.
Requests for records.
Requests for the Town to explain the legal basis for decisions affecting our property.

And at several points, the response has been no substantive response at all.

That creates a very unequal dynamic.

A Town has attorneys, staff, enforcement authority, public resources, and the ability to simply let time pass.

A resident has limited money, limited time, work, family, animals, a farm to run, and eventually only a few options left:

Hire an attorney.
File a Right-to-Know request.
Appeal to the Zoning Board.
Go to Superior Court.
Keep trying to appear before the Board of Selectmen.

All just to try to get the local government to explain or review its own actions.

That is the part of this story that should concern people even if they have no interest in farming.

What meaningful remedy does an ordinary resident have when the local government simply does not answer?

And how many people can realistically afford to keep pushing until someone finally does?

Local government is supposed to be the level of government closest to the people.

That should mean it is also the most accessible and accountable.

You do not have to agree with us to believe that residents deserve timely answers, clear reasons for government decisions, and a realistic path to challenge those decisions without exhausting their personal resources.

The documented timeline, correspondence, complaints, and requests are here:

www.thefoxandcrowfarm.com/news

All documents, attachments, and exhibits shared on this page are public records obtained through the Town of Barnstead, official municipal proceedings, or New Hampshire RSA 91-A (Right-to-Know) requests. Personal contact information of private individuals has been redacted where appropriate. Any com...

09/28/2026

🐎🌾 A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IN PITTSFIELD WITH POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR LOCAL AGRICULTURE

A proposed development in neighboring Pittsfield, New Hampshire, has caught our attention, particularly because of its potential implications for agriculture, equestrian activities and local businesses.

The proposed 603 Gaming Resort is the subject of a zoning variance application scheduled for a public hearing before the Pittsfield Zoning Board of Adjustment on October 1, 2026.

While the application concerns a casino, the developer’s September 28 fact sheet describes a much broader development concept, including:

🐎 Central NH Horse Park: A proposed regional equestrian facility. Depending on its eventual design and operations, a facility of this kind could create opportunities for horse owners, independent trainers, clinics and equestrian events.

🥩 Iron Will Farm Custom Meats: A proposed USDA meat-processing facility. If developed to serve independent livestock producers, it could provide another processing option for New Hampshire farmers and potentially expand opportunities for locally raised meat.

🍎 603 Cidery and 603 Distillery: Two additional proposed businesses that could create opportunities for local agricultural suppliers, depending on their sourcing and operations.

The developer also describes a potential 114.79-acre site near the intersection of Routes 107 and 28 as the intended permanent location for the larger development.

Why does this matter to local agriculture?

Access to livestock processing, equestrian facilities and agricultural markets can influence the ability of small farms to operate and grow.

These proposed facilities raise important questions about new infrastructure, agricultural partnerships and economic opportunities in our region.

Of course, these are proposed components of a larger development. Their construction, operating arrangements and availability to local farmers have not yet been established.

The currently advertised zoning application concerns a casino at 80 Will Smith Road, not separate approvals for the agricultural facilities.

We’ll be interested in learning more about the project and its potential implications for our agricultural community.

📍 Public Hearing
Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 6 p.m.
Pittsfield Town Hall, 85 Main Street

We encourage anyone interested in the proposal to review the application and learn more about what is being considered.

The Fox & Crow Farm
Live Free and Farm.

09/27/2026

Farming in Barnstead: A Public Record — When Does a Farm Building Become a “Business” Building?

One phrase in the November 2024 cease-and-desist has stuck with us:

The Town took the position that site-plan approval was required before obtaining a building permit for a structure “suitable for the operation of a business.”

That sounds simple until you apply it to an actual farm. Pick-Your-Own, Christmas Tree Farms, Food Stands, Dairy/Milking Rooms, Sugar Houses... take note!

A barn can house livestock.
A barn can contain a woodshop.
A barn can be used for processing, storage, classes, or direct agricultural sales.
A farm kitchen, milking room, sugar house, can support value-added agricultural products.
A workshop can support fencing, equipment repair, carpentry, or farm infrastructure.
A room used privately today might support an agricultural activity years from now.

So the question becomes:

Does the mere fact that a farm building could someday support income-producing activity make it a commercial project requiring site-plan review now?

That is a serious question for New Hampshire agriculture.

Farms are businesses by nature.

They produce food, livestock, timber, products, services, education, and increasingly agritourism and direct-to-consumer sales.

New Hampshire law also recognizes that agricultural operations evolve with changing markets and technology.

So if “suitable for the operation of a business” is enough to trigger commercial-style review, where does that leave the ordinary working farm?

Barnstead, should a farmer have to predict every possible future use of a barn before building it?

Barnstead, should a structure be regulated based on what it is actually being used for — or on what someone thinks it might someday be capable of?

We think that distinction matters.

The November cease-and-desist and supporting records are available here:

www.thefoxandcrowfarm.com/news

All documents, attachments, and exhibits shared on this page are public records obtained through the Town of Barnstead, official municipal proceedings, or New Hampshire RSA 91-A (Right-to-Know) requests. Personal contact information of private individuals has been redacted where appropriate. Any com...

09/26/2026

Farming in Barnstead: A Public Record — Can a Farm Be Regulated for a Future It Hasn’t Planned Yet?

In November 2024, the Town’s cease-and-desist took the position that site-plan review could be required for a farm structure based not only on its current use, but on the possibility that it might someday be used for future business or public-facing activity.

In other words:

The structure could be agricultural today.
The farm could have no present plan to use it differently.
But because it might someday support another use, the Town’s position was that additional land-use review should happen now.

That raises a much bigger question for every working farm in New Hampshire:

How is a farm supposed to evolve if it must seek municipal approval for hypothetical uses it has not even planned yet?

New Hampshire law specifically recognizes that agricultural operations change over time. Existing agricultural uses may be altered to meet changing technology or markets, and may be changed to other agricultural uses, subject to state law and specific limits.

The law also recognizes agritourism, wholesale and retail marketing of qualifying farm products, meals, education, overnight stays, and other accessory farm activities as part of the statutory definition of agriculture.

That does not mean farms are exempt from every building, traffic, parking, setback, or safety requirement. They are not. But New Hampshire also says municipal planning and zoning powers should not be interpreted in a way that unreasonably limits agriculture or agritourism.

So our question remains:

Should a working farm be required to obtain site-plan approval today because a barn might someday be used differently — even when that future use has not been proposed?

That is not just a Fox & Crow Farm question.

It is a question about whether New Hampshire farmers can realistically adapt their farms as markets, families, livestock, and agricultural opportunities change.

The November cease-and-desist and full timeline are here:

www.thefoxandcrowfarm.com/news

All documents, attachments, and exhibits shared on this page are public records obtained through the Town of Barnstead, official municipal proceedings, or New Hampshire RSA 91-A (Right-to-Know) requests. Personal contact information of private individuals has been redacted where appropriate. Any com...

09/25/2026

One last NEW product highlight from The Fox & Crow Apothecary: Lip Balm & Hand Salve

A little goes a long way: https://www.thefoxandcrowfarm.com/product-page/lip-balm-hand-salve

09/25/2026

It’s WH***EY Season!!!
I don’t know about you but I like my wh***ey neat
BUT… c***r season arrives every fall and I am tempted into something with seasonal flavor and aroma that blends well with the smell of our woodstove fired up.
Thats when I reach for this mulled c***r simple syrup.
Last year I purchased a countertop infuser and the things I have concocted here are limitless.
Fall is so inspiring.

09/25/2026

Farming in Barnstead: A Public Record — What Should a Cease-and-Desist Actually Say?

A cease-and-desist is a serious enforcement action.

You would expect it to identify the conduct being prohibited, the law or ordinance being violated, and the factual basis for the enforcement.

The current cease-and-desist involving our farm does not identify a building-code violation or a safety defect at all. It doesn't even offer a path for remedy with the town.

Instead, it addresses the use of our agricultural property and describes activity we believe is being characterized as a future prohibited use rather than an actual present violation.

That distinction matters.

There is a difference between:

“You are currently violating this law.”

and

“You might someday use this property in a way that would require additional approval.”

We asked the Town to explain the legal basis for the order and to withdraw or correct it if it does not accurately reflect the present use of our farm. Our request dates back to February of this year!!!

We are still waiting for a substantive response.

So the question is simple:

Should a municipality be able to leave a cease-and-desist hanging over a property owner without clearly identifying a present violation and then fail to explain or correct it when formally asked?

This is not just about our farm.

Any resident receiving an enforcement order should be able to understand:

what they are alleged to be doing wrong;
what law applies;
what evidence supports the allegation; and
how to obtain a timely review or correction if the order is inaccurate.

The cease-and-desist, our written requests, and the surrounding records are preserved here:

www.thefoxandcrowfarm.com/news

All documents, attachments, and exhibits shared on this page are public records obtained through the Town of Barnstead, official municipal proceedings, or New Hampshire RSA 91-A (Right-to-Know) requests. Personal contact information of private individuals has been redacted where appropriate. Any com...

09/25/2026

It’s Dry Rub, Brine, Marinade, Jerky Season on the farm and you know what that means?
It’s time to fill the 8oz tins of some of our farm-made smoked salts, dried herbs, savory spices and seasonings.
Made for your Cornish Game Hens, Turkeys, Prime Rib Roast, Steak Tips, Venison Roast or Jerky. Heck, I even made a brine for Rabbit since we still raised and process our own sustainable rabbit meat here.
Toss it some some fingerling potatoes, popcorn, roasted veggies… I mean this stuff is good on everything.

You can now buy it online from our farm direct: https://www.thefoxandcrowfarm.com/online-farm-store

OR

Visit Water's Nook Home + Gifts in Alton, New Hampshire to grab some and shop their absolutely wonderful store.

09/24/2026

Farming in Barnstead: A Public Record — What Belongs in an Inspection Report?

Building inspections serve an important purpose.

They should identify code compliance issues, life-safety concerns, construction defects, required corrections, and other matters within the inspector’s authority.

But some of the inspection reports involving our farm have gone beyond those objective issues and documented things like furniture, room setup, and perceived use of spaces.

That raises a question we think is worth asking publicly:

What belongs in a building inspection report — and what does not?

If a room is built in accordance with the approved permit, does the presence of a table, chairs, daybed, sewing equipment, or other ordinary furnishings become an enforcement issue?

And if an inspector believes a particular furnishing or room arrangement creates a code or zoning issue, should the report identify the specific rule being applied?

Our concern is not with legitimate safety inspections.

Our concern is with the line between objective inspection and subjective interpretation of how private property is being used.

That distinction matters to any homeowner, farmer, or small-business owner who has ever had a permit inspection.

The inspection reports, permits, and related correspondence are preserved here:

www.thefoxandcrowfarm.com/news

All documents, attachments, and exhibits shared on this page are public records obtained through the Town of Barnstead, official municipal proceedings, or New Hampshire RSA 91-A (Right-to-Know) requests. Personal contact information of private individuals has been redacted where appropriate. Any com...