Oak Hill Farm came under our care during the summer of 1995. We do not consider that we "own" the 105 acres of vertical landscape in the foothills of the White Mountains, but rather that we have been entrusted with the care of the land and are bound to work with the gifts, energy and direction it gives us.
When we came to Oak Hill Farm, Art brought with him twenty-six sled dogs. He had founded Washington Kennel in 1987 near the coast of Maine. Art and his son, James Melanson, trained and raced 4-dog and 6-dog Alaskan and Siberian Husky teams in sprint competition. Besides training and racing, we also bred several litters of pups each year. But that chapter of Oak Hill Farm history is now over.
Sue came to Oak Hill Farm from Reading, Massachusetts, bringing with her a curiosity and aptitude for working with the herbs found in the forests, fields and gardens here. She laughs that she can create teas, tinctures and salves from green things her former suburban neighbors were trying to eradicate from their lawns.
Together we have added High Acres Maple Syrup to the property, as well as our four Cottages at Oak Hill Farm (nightly, weekend and weekly rentals).
Maine Maple Syrup Weekend is celebrated the weekend of the fourth Sunday in March and our sugarhouse is always up and running. We serve a pancake breakfast in our heated barn on both Saturday and Sunday.
In our "spare time" we tend the maple sugarbush and do all the usual chores rural living brings with it. Sue is also an author and a watercolor artist, and both Art and Sue serve as elected officials on the MSAD 55 School Board of Directors.
