Writing about the Doxtaders, recent transplants to the Amish community in East Hodgdon, is no easy task. I’m intrigued by many aspects of their life — the story of how they arrived here, and how they came up with the name of Bark Eater for their farm, and how they’ve managed to produce such a diversity of produce in a short period of time that it’s hard to focus on just one thing. I’ll try with present-day and travel backwards.
2014: Jerry Doxtader and his family established Bark Eater Farm in Hodgdon in May. Their focus has been the farm from day one and they have raised an abundance of crops using high tunnels and cultivated ground. They sell a variety of organically-raised produce and herbs at the Houlton Community Market each Saturday, displaying such signage as “Don’t Panic – Eat Organic.”
Jerry believes food should act as medicine by eating nutrient-dense produce. His farming practices follow that philosophy by focusing on building the health of the soil to produce healthy plants. Ultimately, this is simply translated on market days when one sees his farm’s beautiful array of produce.
Farm name: Bark Eater Farm is an unusual name but has a connection with Jerry and his family. Several years ago, they lived in the Adirondack region in upstate New York. The Iroquois tribe who once lived in this remote, mountainous region sometimes resorted to eating “tree bark” to survive during the harsh winters.
When the Doxtaders moved to Dexter, Maine, they purchased 35 acres of which about half was under water due to the activity of the “bark eating” beavers. With those two connections, they embraced the name, adopted it for their farm and have worked as hard as the namesake ever since by establishing a new home and setting up a working farm in just four short months.
Life change: About 20 years ago, an invitation to an old-fashioned ice harvest altered Jerry’s life’s path dramatically. It didn’t happen overnight but the thoughts and feelings from that day eventually led him and his wife to join a Mennonite community. Jerry said that he was impressed with how the Anabaptist people (a general name given to the Amish and Mennonites) lived a simpler life with sincerity and strong faith. He was drawn to their way of life and has embraced it fully.
He noted that while various practices vary somewhat within communities, the Christian doctrine of Mennonite and Amish are basically the same. The biggest change for his family was with the latest move of coming from car-driving Mennonites to the horse and buggy Amish. I don’t think it was my imagination when I heard a bit of relief in Jerry’s voice when he told me that his twin 17-year-old boys were excited by driving the workhorses.
Before moving here, the Doxtaders knew a few in the Smyrna community well and were impressed by all they do to nurture and meet the needs of their young people so as to maintain a strong faith in God and an appreciation for their heritage. Being a part of the 10 families in East Hodgdon has built a very close-knit community that feels right.
At the Houlton Community Market, Jerry has been encouraged by the friendliness and support of people and feels that there is real potential in the downtown market. Bark Eater Farm will be at the market through the end of the season in October. Stop by and meet him, pick up some veggies, and maybe improve your health.
Angie Wotton loves her work as district manager for the Southern Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District. She also raises pastured pork and vegetables with her husband on their small West Berry Farm in Hammond. She can be reached 532-9407 or via email at angela.wotton@me.nacdnet.net.
