The farm became home to a pair of donkeys and the tradition has carried on through the present day. By the early s, help was becoming harder to find and the cost of producing milk continued to grow. By , the milk cows had been sold and the farm went into hay production as its main source of revenue.
At that time, we sold most of our hay to horse customers in and around Litchfield County. Today, most of our hay goes to feed our ever increasing beef herd. On May 18, , in celebration of our annual Open House, we launched the retail meat shop in the north end of the main cow barn.
The meat shop has steadily grown from selling beef only into a full-service meat market carrying our own pasture-raised beef, pork, roasting chickens and farm fresh eggs that are hand-picked daily. The meat shop allows us to reach more consumers, especially those who are interested in top-quality, locally raised food. Look for the green awning and park as close to the barn as you are able to avoid any tractor and truck traffic. Toplands continues to be home to four donkeys, beef animals, pigs, chickens, goats, sheep and an occasional visiting Percheron horse.
These animals are such a part of life at Toplands Farm, that people stop by frequently just to see how they are doing. Be careful near the fence, as they may nibble your fingers by mistake. Please do not feed any of our animals, as they are on special diets to avoid illness. Toplands is also home to a large collection of antique tractors, trucks and farm equipment from around the country that I have been collecting since I was a boy. We restore all of the machines to working condition and paint to original specifications right on the farm.
Through the Double D Living History Farm, we offer tours on an appointment basis for individuals or groups interested in the history of farming and antique machinery.
If you are interested in more information on our beef or a farm visit, please email us at homeofthetops gmail. We are excited to be providing our customers with a great variety of local meats. In addition, Mrs. Diebold leaves behind dear friends Shirley Gilbert , and Olive Simpson, as well as nurses and staff in Roxbury and Boca Grande, who gave her kind care for many years.
Mumsie will be eulogized today Friday at 11 a. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution may be made to the Christ Church, 24 Church St. Growing up at the Erdle farm meant growing up with the tractors. Even the grandchildren enjoyed the old iron. He is a close-to-the-vest kind of guy. He has some others in his shop to restore and two more he is working on buying. That sagacious part of Erdle has made him one of few sellers to give bidders the ability to buy a tractor on installment.
His one disappointment at the auction was the top-selling Flour City. Rumors say it grossed 7 to 8. He leaves an obvious and public legacy with the tractors.
Quietly, he leaves a legacy of charity. Only through others do you hear that he let each of his three children keep their favorite tractor; that he left tractors with the New York Steam Pageant so that they could keep displaying them on the Gehan Road show grounds in Canandaigua; and that he generously supports his church, anonymously. In fact, he suggested I make a good part of the article about them. Once fully renovated, the house will provide hospice care.
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