Ten Horse Farm
Contact: W Franklin Aultman
Address: 2479 Bethel Rd Bainbridge, GA, 39817
Email Address: franklinaultman@gmail.com
Phone: 229-254-0790
Website: www.tenhorsefarm.com
About Us
Ten Horse Farm was established in approximately 1912 just outside of Bainbridge, GA using some of the most progressive agricultural development and farming practices of the early 20th century. Ten Horse Farm was first in the area to plant pine tree forests and pecan orchards as crops, and among the first to install terraces in pastures to prevent erosion. It was first to grow Blue Lupine, which was used to restore overworked land and rebuild the soil. The farm supported a diversified community of people who grew and raised everything they needed. Records show the only thing they bought was salt for seasoning and curing meat. When Ten Horse Farm was established, every crop was organic because chemicals, herbicides and insecticides had not yet been invented.
In the early days, farms were not measured by how many acres they contained - but by how many horses it took to farm them. Thus the name Ten Horse Farm! It was about as large as a sustainable farm could get with the available resources used to support the working community and farm operations.
In the early days, farms were not measured by how many acres they contained - but by how many horses it took to farm them. Thus the name Ten Horse Farm! It was about as large as a sustainable farm could get with the available resources used to support the working community and farm operations.
Practices
Over the course of 100+ years, Ten Horse Farm has grown row crops such as cotton, peanuts, field corn, sweet corn, soybeans, and sugar cane. Figs and timber, not to mention a multitude of garden vegetables, were also grown on the Farm. Turpentine was produced from the Slash pine forest. The farm raised cattle, hogs and chickens. The community even produced cream and butter which supplied the local hotels and restaurants.
Today, the 4th generation of family owners has returned to the farm to restore the architecture, landscaping and farm operations. Not only has the founder's original planter's house and barn been restored but also The Guest House has been renovated and now is a short term stay business. The longleaf pine timber lands and pecan orchards have been restored, and we have now restored row and specialty cropping with the production of pecans, sweet corn, field peas, butter beans, figs from the farm's 100+ year old fig tree among others!
It is the goal of the 4th generation owner to continue the legacy of Ten Horse Farm using the same no herbicide input, low fertilizer input and in most cases no insecticide input. We have developed proprietary organic practices to grow our sweet corn using no pesticides or insecticides for example. We prepare the soil, plant, cultivate our produce using 3 point hitch tractors and agricultural implements. Among the four tractors used is an original 1946 Farmall M tractor with pull type implements. Everything we sell on Red Hills Online Market is harvested by hand.
Today, the 4th generation of family owners has returned to the farm to restore the architecture, landscaping and farm operations. Not only has the founder's original planter's house and barn been restored but also The Guest House has been renovated and now is a short term stay business. The longleaf pine timber lands and pecan orchards have been restored, and we have now restored row and specialty cropping with the production of pecans, sweet corn, field peas, butter beans, figs from the farm's 100+ year old fig tree among others!
It is the goal of the 4th generation owner to continue the legacy of Ten Horse Farm using the same no herbicide input, low fertilizer input and in most cases no insecticide input. We have developed proprietary organic practices to grow our sweet corn using no pesticides or insecticides for example. We prepare the soil, plant, cultivate our produce using 3 point hitch tractors and agricultural implements. Among the four tractors used is an original 1946 Farmall M tractor with pull type implements. Everything we sell on Red Hills Online Market is harvested by hand.