tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781899042441307052024-03-21T19:14:56.297-07:00FarmerErinerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.comBlogger354125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-78977411496067772862017-06-25T11:23:00.001-07:002017-06-25T11:25:27.512-07:00Labor of Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnNmos348P-m0bBRcLQf534mgjJ6kYCfw3zZAkg7nez4jhaS9kDRGKhX31cyHkn0c701yrBA7mrSUg1TDSOjgAScjd7RSZv6CKNofYzFg1uVqgAXZt0cqNSjea0uEtgkIuPCZrQ8JZBA/s1600/IMG_1839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnNmos348P-m0bBRcLQf534mgjJ6kYCfw3zZAkg7nez4jhaS9kDRGKhX31cyHkn0c701yrBA7mrSUg1TDSOjgAScjd7RSZv6CKNofYzFg1uVqgAXZt0cqNSjea0uEtgkIuPCZrQ8JZBA/s320/IMG_1839.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This past week was the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and truly it is the peak of the vegetable farmer’s work load. We are still seeding fall crops in the greenhouse, watering trays of transplants through hot days, planting dozens of trays of transplants into the ground every week, direct seeding, hoeing, weeding, cultivating, mulching, irrigating when it doesn’t rain (not a problem this spring!), and mowing laneways and fencelines. Now add to this schedule 2-3 days a week of harvesting, washing, and distributing produce to 150 CSA members weekly.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The to-do list is long, and continual. Every time something gets crossed off the list, five more things get added. My job as a farm manager is to make constant decisions-- What do we prioritize this afternoon: harvesting crops or seeding crops? Saving this crop from weeds that took over, or weeding this other crop when it’s just the right timing? What needs to happen before the storm makes it too muddy to get a tractor in the field? How can we do this job more efficiently so we can get more done? W</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 19.33333396911621px; white-space: pre-wrap;">hat are the things that we can afford to have fall off the end of the list?</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> And the hardest question: what are the limits of our human bodies to perform all this work? </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDbVxwWIHlm3M5Sr-p75mIsrhHOTpPte4PE0LCVKrZ3vQO5TkbQPLd-vzgghUY5ZchH6UfAiOMVnKb2HYnr8Ccn4QxF0WmdesmEIpT-1hgom99Zo070xE0KMy3KpYYDRQjwRB4j3mS14/s1600/IMG_1834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 19.33333396911621px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDbVxwWIHlm3M5Sr-p75mIsrhHOTpPte4PE0LCVKrZ3vQO5TkbQPLd-vzgghUY5ZchH6UfAiOMVnKb2HYnr8Ccn4QxF0WmdesmEIpT-1hgom99Zo070xE0KMy3KpYYDRQjwRB4j3mS14/s320/IMG_1834.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We’ve been working hard, trying to “get it all done”... and this means regular 10-12 hour days. One hot and humid day before a huge rainstorm, we all decided to work right through lunch, getting caught up on the spring planting that we were behind on from all the cold weather in May. We worked 6am-6pm straight through, in 90 degree heat, guzzling gallons of water with salt in it, and sweating it right out-- we weren’t even hungry. At 6pm, the sky opened up and heavily watered the plants, as well as us. It’s satisfying work, and it takes almost olympian endurance. One day we worked a 15-hour day, until 10:30pm, finishing up the tomato planting by the headlights of the tractor. Then we got up and started harvesting at 6am the next day.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVAELRXcuzMICHd7CVTL_fybktzIisYiP_FAPNln12af1_axw03RbaYcVD4NwUyeHMKY0Wrg2c36ZPigietS_s0T69ZhLTm1G78BUwwOjIs2M6i_Oag_SDMPw_uHtyJe5Cq7V8HG0fWs/s1600/IMG_7702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1593" data-original-width="1600" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVAELRXcuzMICHd7CVTL_fybktzIisYiP_FAPNln12af1_axw03RbaYcVD4NwUyeHMKY0Wrg2c36ZPigietS_s0T69ZhLTm1G78BUwwOjIs2M6i_Oag_SDMPw_uHtyJe5Cq7V8HG0fWs/s320/IMG_7702.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I learned this crazy work ethic early on in my farming career (my first apprenticeship in California). I learned that when a job needs to get done, and it’s the right time to do it (everything depends on the fickle weather), you just put your head down and do it. It doesn’t matter if you want to do it, or if it’s cold or hot or you had something else on your calendar. You get in the trenches, and summon the strength. You reach what you think is your physical limit, and then you push through, to find that you can actually do more. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is an empowering thing to learn, and I’ve enjoyed sharing this stretching of self accomplishment with the dozens of young farm apprentices I’ve had work for me through the years. Beginning farmers might start out thinking-- this job (whatever it is: weeding, irrigating, planting) is so huge, how can we get this all done today? And by the end of the season it’s nothing, we just do it. I think that over the nine or ten years that I’ve been practicing the farmer’s work ethic, I’ve developed a kind of attitude that there is nothing I can’t accomplish! Which is not true. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdI7uwjCi9lRJRQfuis53o-UKp-DBC2GCzMQSgWNxWLJGWNFy7O70lG8AdhwLUZrTG5MVoc65SyVXlB8-cGBhU1kEpBBkZ4q-ghrtIIPcf1qn_EaFVCXDzpwXEaYogGbyTPs0zo3iXRyQ/s1600/IMG_7745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdI7uwjCi9lRJRQfuis53o-UKp-DBC2GCzMQSgWNxWLJGWNFy7O70lG8AdhwLUZrTG5MVoc65SyVXlB8-cGBhU1kEpBBkZ4q-ghrtIIPcf1qn_EaFVCXDzpwXEaYogGbyTPs0zo3iXRyQ/s320/IMG_7745.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, as a soon-to-be-37-year old, not-so-young-anymore-farmer, I’m starting to feel the real limits of my body, and my new practice will be: how do I balance the needs of the farm with my own self’s needs? How do I prioritize my health and happiness, getting enough sleep, eating right, spending time with loved ones, having a little time to relax and have fun, when the farm has so many demands? Someone told me once a long time ago: Run your farm, don’t let your farm run you. It’s harder than it sounds.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9ajbKn4JwbBurczoQf6aOrDyTZUnMK10yz93WpqApQLHLV64qugbWnpXOBA55GsKU7uHetCmXkHt4-ct8v4tuetbgLMsZSIPr5DG5CGPDWFdqQoLdXz8m6ebG4982L0z-NYqB6zEyQ0/s1600/IMG_1824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9ajbKn4JwbBurczoQf6aOrDyTZUnMK10yz93WpqApQLHLV64qugbWnpXOBA55GsKU7uHetCmXkHt4-ct8v4tuetbgLMsZSIPr5DG5CGPDWFdqQoLdXz8m6ebG4982L0z-NYqB6zEyQ0/s320/IMG_1824.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The obvious answer that many people suggest when I express my frustration with the situation is: hire another person to help with the farm work. But even at minimum wage, when you factor in workers comp, taxes, payroll, training, etc., sometimes this breaks the bank for a farmer. I start the season out with a simple financial spreadsheet-- the amount of CSA share income I expect, minus the cost of supplies, equipment and repairs, fuel, land rent, organic seeds and fertilizer, and labor. The first few years of building up a business, one doesn’t expect to many any money. But farmers have really </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">really</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> tight margins. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And it’s not like we can raise prices -- people will only pay so much for food. I think part of the reason food is so cheap is that it’s based on low wage workers. Did you know that 70% of farm workers in the US are undocumented immigrants? Also, the use of “labor-saving” technologies (read: chemicals that poison our drinking water) has made food cheaper too. Why would a farmer pay expensive labor costs to weed, when we can pay a tenth of the cost to spray the problem away with chemicals?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3dHiT_eEaMhQADc6gNcJ_sKzc4udnECOeXQ7GRUb8fsYza2ZIHz6F8Ycco_nz7kgNJtJNB-3GtTajJ0iCvoR3prpE63bLrvnikEQhSUd8wZ7t31jvXZnFIlwKKDAKNlGHNDFy-Bx2aQ/s1600/IMG_7773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 19.33333396911621px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3dHiT_eEaMhQADc6gNcJ_sKzc4udnECOeXQ7GRUb8fsYza2ZIHz6F8Ycco_nz7kgNJtJNB-3GtTajJ0iCvoR3prpE63bLrvnikEQhSUd8wZ7t31jvXZnFIlwKKDAKNlGHNDFy-Bx2aQ/s320/IMG_7773.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A CSA member once told me what she tells herself when buying expensive organic food in the grocery store: “Pay now, or pay later!” Most Americans have decided to pay later, and that money won’t go to farmers for using responsible practices, it will go to pharmaceutical companies when we all get sick.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, back to Wild Hill Farm, Monday morning, 6am:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75T0GHRMJNkjqLBCUlRaLCfWaWX2iXheLf5A7nsWvxi92JDu_nu8v-Ta3SEuC0vPMr8b5-ksCcsyy5I3M-evvmptZu4QDjpFxpWxH6JB4VY-GwWKbHXAXmya9upqeCs6_izJaxje0mgs/s1600/IMG_7759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1593" data-original-width="1600" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75T0GHRMJNkjqLBCUlRaLCfWaWX2iXheLf5A7nsWvxi92JDu_nu8v-Ta3SEuC0vPMr8b5-ksCcsyy5I3M-evvmptZu4QDjpFxpWxH6JB4VY-GwWKbHXAXmya9upqeCs6_izJaxje0mgs/s320/IMG_7759.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the dew of the early morning, we squat in muddy paths along rows of arugula, lettuce, and kale, delicately wielding our sharpened harvest knives. The field sparkles green with health. The sun is rising over the treeline. The bluebirds and sparrows serenade us. We pick and count four-hundred-and-fifty heads of lettuce, haul bins of greens out of the field, and then spend an hour dunking them in very cold tubs of water to wash the dirt off. Later on we will spend an hour or two with rubber bands on our wrists, bunching turnips, beets, or radishes, and spraying the dirt off the roots. Our fingers are encrusted with mud. Then before the heat gets too intense, we hustle out to the fields to pick broccoli. We bend over to pick food off the ground dozens of times an hour.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBhJEF5SW7-fXtvcKDZBBDuKmNHRlqs_bDG_74JbTPhrSdjWelWjQFa32UheeR7EvtpqUS9ES53d2LcX5XjLLShz23G3U7g-9gyWWU7gFyoxetD1ffbjx7JrTt1tB38lgZsKsI0jzXl4/s1600/IMG_7680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBhJEF5SW7-fXtvcKDZBBDuKmNHRlqs_bDG_74JbTPhrSdjWelWjQFa32UheeR7EvtpqUS9ES53d2LcX5XjLLShz23G3U7g-9gyWWU7gFyoxetD1ffbjx7JrTt1tB38lgZsKsI0jzXl4/s320/IMG_7680.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After most of the share gets safely stowed away in our 38-degree walk-in cooler, hundreds of pounds of salad material for hundreds of people, we take lunch. Lunch for farm workers at Wild Hill is usually something simple, like rice and beans, rice and sardines, or hard-boiled eggs. Food that is quick and cheap and nourishing. I rarely eat salads, they take too long! I get my greens while I harvest, wiping the mud off on my shirt. I’ve probably eaten pounds of dirt.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then there is zucchini picking-- the most backbreaking job on the farm! There is really no easy ergonomic position for summer squash harvesting. Right now we have 300 feet of squash plants, and each squash plant in the row (18” apart) bears 1 or 2 squash a week. Zucchini is a delicate vegetable, and requires skill with a small sharp knife. The process of removing the squash without scraping it or your hands and arms on the giant spiky stems of the squash leaves always reminds me of the game Operation we used to play as kids. But now do this technique while bending down to touch your toes. Now do it 200 times, dragging 30lb bins of squash down a 200 foot row. If anyone has a better suggestion for how to harvest summer squash at this scale, please let me know! We are continually trying to find ways to make our backs hurt less!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the end of the day, after harvesting and washing all the food, we proudly set it out on tables for CSA members, who fill their bags and bring it home. Kids wander around CSA distribution with big eyes, grandmothers smile. The produce looks beautiful-- these vegetables are completely different creatures than grocery-store vegetables! They are still so very much full of life, being less than 24 hours and 1,000 feet from their roots in the muddy field. They have never seen a warehouse, a truck, a sprayer, or a supermarket shelf. This is the revolution of CSA. Food, full of life force, grown by neighbors for neighbors.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpK67R0sh3SL1hgGrktgf2GbGSGblUSihXDPqZ-wehhsTe9FZT9Z_3-RrKX4lAS-ZD1L8X30krcNoOkqMEW7N7rOLqpqwrGcZU2_gNq627QcDMFhqquFU6iIxb7bMspIRRGP0jvk6WpY/s1600/IMG_7769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpK67R0sh3SL1hgGrktgf2GbGSGblUSihXDPqZ-wehhsTe9FZT9Z_3-RrKX4lAS-ZD1L8X30krcNoOkqMEW7N7rOLqpqwrGcZU2_gNq627QcDMFhqquFU6iIxb7bMspIRRGP0jvk6WpY/s320/IMG_7769.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Closing up the farm for the night after distribution, we are exhausted. We’ve often worked a 13-hour day at this point. I am ready to go home and lie on my back. Sometimes I eat ice cream for dinner.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How do we make small organic farms sustainable in the long run for the farmers? In my ten years of farming, I’ve seen many burn outs. I’ve seen farmers around me leave farming for better paying jobs when they have kids to support. I’ve seen multiple divorces due to the stresses of running a farm. The first young female farmer I ever knew, my first true role model for this career, back in the Bay Area, committed suicide at 30 years old, two weeks after I visited her farm and met her. It’s a lot to handle. It's not exactly the romantic farm life that people might imagine.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If people paid more for their food, farmers could hire the help they needed, right? But this isn’t the easy fix that it seems like. The help farmers need is often seasonal, and not something you can offer someone as a straightforward full-time year-round position. Hence the convenience of migrant labor.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the past, small farms thrived in strongly connected communities, which included large extended families, churches, and grange organizations. Farms were the backbones of healthy villages, and the villages supported the farms with the community they fostered. As farms got bigger in the '70s and '80s, less people remained in these small towns, and the real service of community, “neighbors helping neighbors”, dwindled. Kids move to the cities for jobs. The interwoven fabric of supportive rural communities unravelled. These days people hardly know their neighbors. They commute to jobs far away, and shop in large supermarkets, coming back home to little islands of refuge in segmented family pieces, relying on social media to connect them to a sense of community which they dearly miss in real physical life.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOCeGZlqvrfYVKWP5rauYDvJ0iKOyDxJxZo_OEdR3P9o_K4iFkCrKPd-znItaHR6V0RFRbMk6akgWOagBnE1UEfmrVMydSi4prdxo_MlzgmOa5NFIrQwfMkymoFcZNQOEbse_WvwtH_o/s1600/IMG_7783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 19.33333396911621px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOCeGZlqvrfYVKWP5rauYDvJ0iKOyDxJxZo_OEdR3P9o_K4iFkCrKPd-znItaHR6V0RFRbMk6akgWOagBnE1UEfmrVMydSi4prdxo_MlzgmOa5NFIrQwfMkymoFcZNQOEbse_WvwtH_o/s320/IMG_7783.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is my belief that Community Supported Agriculture is a piece of the puzzle which can bring us all back together to create more of a sense of cooperation, support, and interconnectedness. It goes against the overwhelming current of consumer capitalism, designed to give the individual everything you could ever want at your finger tips, delivered in 2 days. But I think that deep down, we all remember what it was like to have real community, to have a “tribe”, to have a “people”, to have a </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">land</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that you belong to. Even to have difficult responsibilities that trump our constant daily need for a comfortable lifestyle.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is not about going back to the past. In the past, women would never have had the chance to be farmers because they’d be busy bearing and caring for children! This is about forging a new way of being a community -- a way that makes sense for everyone. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With climate change shaking things up for us out there in the fields where our food is grown, it is my (biased) argument that farmers need more support than ever. When CSA was first started, it included very active individuals in the community who formed a “core group” to help the farmer get everything done. Now, this was not necessarily even involving farm-work, but running distributions, newsletter editing, coordinating events, coordinating volunteers, membership management and outreach.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have resisted having a core group as part of my CSA because I thought I could “get everything done myself.” Now I am humbly asking for help. I can’t do it all. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because I love farming so much</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, I have sacrificed my own needs for the farm’s needs for so many years, neglecting my body, my mind, and my loved ones. I am now looking for more balance in my life. Friends have suggested that I might instead get a job teaching, consulting, working for Cooperative Extension or a non-profit, etc., and be able to make more money and have things like a family life.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don’t want to stop farming. </span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">My goal for the farm all along was to provide an example and be a role model for young people who want to pursue careers in farming. How can I model </span><span style="font-size: 19.33333396911621px; white-space: pre-wrap;">sustainability</span><span style="font-size: 14.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> when I'm </span><span style="font-size: 19.33333396911621px; white-space: pre-wrap;">working such long hours and not taking care of myself?</span><span style="font-size: 14.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Something needs to change.</span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-0a5ad1b6-e013-d32e-392e-6aeb35c35bb1"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is reality. Farmers need help. It is hard to be humble when you are as proud and stubborn a breed as us crazies. But the system that used to support us is broken. Let's rebuild it together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 19.33333396911621px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I definitely don't have all the answers, but this is my best attempt at reaching out for help: In this week's CSA newsletter, I'm suggesting ways that our CSA members could be more involved in supporting their farm. We're looking for "special volunteers" for the following roles right now:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">1. Bin washers (during distributions Monday/Thursday evenings or Tues/Fri/Sat)<br />2. U-Pick Flower Garden Steward (dead-head & weed flower garden)<br />3. Barn Dance Helper (set-up, clean-up, greeter/parking help)<br />4. "Snack Fairy" -- farmworkers need food-based encouragement! (cookies?)<br />5. Handyman/Fixer (changing the blades on our mower, etc.)<br />6. Regular fence-line mower<br />7. Veggie washing help (8am-4pm Mon/Thurs)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 19.33333396911621px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe you have some other ideas about how we can make the food system truly sustainable for our future? I'd love to continue this conversation (for the rest of our lives).</span></span></div>
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erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-41404314834191930392017-06-07T03:44:00.005-07:002017-06-07T03:45:52.946-07:00REPORT FROM THE FIELDS<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3lBWWDG1FzfGdcvnoO-JBuAHthculJ2OhMwClsVNt7YBxu4zTUoXi4dBrSyLSyPfrCAzpQfmYl-wOYySsKJ1ziqL0prm7tkzOx0ouKgp0ELv2A1TNa3rAkduYiWT2ys1YXinOPP7slo/s1600/IMG_1569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3lBWWDG1FzfGdcvnoO-JBuAHthculJ2OhMwClsVNt7YBxu4zTUoXi4dBrSyLSyPfrCAzpQfmYl-wOYySsKJ1ziqL0prm7tkzOx0ouKgp0ELv2A1TNa3rAkduYiWT2ys1YXinOPP7slo/s320/IMG_1569.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What a spring here at Wild Hill Farm! Our new greenhouse has been wonderful to start plants in this spring, we built it just in time (a warm spell in February!) Things like carrots, beets, and a few other things need to be direct-seeded in the field, but other than these, we start almost all our vegetables from seed in the greenhouse. We do this so that the plants have a few weeks head start to get strong enough to “compete” in the field with things like weeds and bugs. Since we don’t spray chemicals on these competitors, we need to use every trick in the organic toolbox.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our transplants coming out of the greenhouse have been super healthy and just loving their new home in the rich sandy soil of our fields! Some get covered with a thin white material called row cover for a few weeks, which acts almost like a greenhouse out in the field. Row cover keeps the tiny bugs (cucumber beetles and flea beetles mostly) from eating the leaves too much. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQoZkK21aGuQ8i7HbMbQGy7tp8GjP8nWsE0tQQqJVd1p6EyUWRUgrwdv8GWD6x-V_Y9SQmONOx0IJklTdHi2FOlDEdD_0L6xdzN9wRUKnIKt95lsvHmX2wquMyrx26utdMsHz2CYWJZ08/s1600/IMG_1519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQoZkK21aGuQ8i7HbMbQGy7tp8GjP8nWsE0tQQqJVd1p6EyUWRUgrwdv8GWD6x-V_Y9SQmONOx0IJklTdHi2FOlDEdD_0L6xdzN9wRUKnIKt95lsvHmX2wquMyrx26utdMsHz2CYWJZ08/s320/IMG_1519.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We’ll remove the row cover when we deem the plant strong enough to suffer some small holes… we do pamper our plants but we also believe in tough love! And by paying close attention to the nutrients in our soil, as well as irrigating with water when it doesn’t rain enough, we can grow strong plants that can actually fight off pests on their own. This resiliency in the immune system of the plants </span><a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/07/11/330760923/are-organic-vegetables-more-nutritious-after-all" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">actually might increase their antioxidant levels and nutrition. </span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCq4DIW8tjsCDDpHJP9JcMEWdBj5rx3ybBbYPzj6m6Tq-nSa2dYQxoKDCvVkRKhwlEMk2LOZEIzXBBMYHJzQ9ovkFhyphenhyphenYopnVdtYtCf5OSrNbgCIpDxkfulxHmXMpCpJQ2HhE8kmPRzkRU/s1600/IMG_1689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCq4DIW8tjsCDDpHJP9JcMEWdBj5rx3ybBbYPzj6m6Tq-nSa2dYQxoKDCvVkRKhwlEMk2LOZEIzXBBMYHJzQ9ovkFhyphenhyphenYopnVdtYtCf5OSrNbgCIpDxkfulxHmXMpCpJQ2HhE8kmPRzkRU/s320/IMG_1689.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The weather has been cold, unseasonably cold, and very wet. We are lucky to be on sandy soil so we don’t have a lot of standing water after all this rain, or any problems with plants rotting in the ground. We can even get in the field with a tractor, after a rainstorm, earlier than most farmers. But the cold temperatures have been challenging as we started sowing our summer heat-loving crops (squash, corn, cukes) directly in the ground a few weeks ago.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoB39LLSZtRXI9-J6AObqK7ZG-g_MKBN7Y_F3unwNNWtUxnyFk1BCcVuOq_-frtoTm7YWu1NbKhbARHriTOKkbRjokKAcrLMT4r92mIf3m6PDxQj7jOqJjd-pVKHrlbSRiyurkqfUj0No/s1600/IMG_1677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoB39LLSZtRXI9-J6AObqK7ZG-g_MKBN7Y_F3unwNNWtUxnyFk1BCcVuOq_-frtoTm7YWu1NbKhbARHriTOKkbRjokKAcrLMT4r92mIf3m6PDxQj7jOqJjd-pVKHrlbSRiyurkqfUj0No/s320/IMG_1677.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We planted everything according to our grand crop schedule spreadsheet which has been refined over the years. But Mother Nature does not follow the schedule all the time… in fact, lately, she seems to be writing her own rules! Sadly, many of the seeds we planted a few weeks ago were lost.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a farmer who's been growing vegetables for nine seasons now, I still learn lots of big lessons every year. This spring I definitely learned to pay more attention to soil temperatures when I seed things directly in the ground. When you put a seed in the ground, something like a big pumpkin seed or a corn seed, you can imagine that lots of tiny critters consider that seed as awesome food: even humans relish these seeds! But in the environment of the freshly tilled soil of our fields, I'm talking </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">really</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> tiny critters, like bugs and things you can only see with a microscope. These critters are all part of a healthy living soil (</span><a href="http://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Books/Building-Soils-for-Better-Crops-3rd-Edition/Text-Version/The-Living-Soil" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the soil is very much alive!</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) We need the earthworms, and other “decomposers” to break down our cover crop leaves and roots into the rich compost that feeds our crops. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But what’s keeping all those critters from just munching away on the corn seeds that us humans so lovingly and expectantly place into the soil? Well, if the conditions are perfect for that corn seed to grow into a corn plant, it will grow, despite all odds! But if it’s not quite warm enough for corn seed… it might rot (or get devoured by microorganisms). Check out our poor winter squash seed here: 1 point decomposers, 0 points plants.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBwsKtFwk8ubNX3EK3tHQd4G8q6IvRxWZrWdOusNhMDdkrbN882s-C6HDT9fmQXjluvya7wT-_o9vK61mp4rni0aCKajyD9x503QWp3mFu39SaWzrr5le5AOf8OapybP_1y1hefGKVIU/s1600/IMG_1736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBwsKtFwk8ubNX3EK3tHQd4G8q6IvRxWZrWdOusNhMDdkrbN882s-C6HDT9fmQXjluvya7wT-_o9vK61mp4rni0aCKajyD9x503QWp3mFu39SaWzrr5le5AOf8OapybP_1y1hefGKVIU/s320/IMG_1736.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Conventional farmers (vs. organic) use seeds coated with things like fungicide, antimicrobial chemicals, or insecticides, to protect the vulnerable seed while it waits in the ground for the conditions to be right. </span><a href="http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2017/Q2/corn-seed-treatment-insecticides-pose-risks-to-honey-bees,-yield-benefits-elusive.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some of these chemicals have been directly linked to the decline of honeybees</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">! Organic farmers don’t use this “treated” seed, so we have to just wait for the timing to be just right. Farming is a gamble, and organic farming is maybe a bigger gamble. But a worthwhile one, if you ask me. It just might be an example, though, of why organic costs more: the consumer is paying extra to keep the honeybees around. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUNLTj4s8L5WsxVLG47_YkcPtSqnBkMxGwlYeEDA4UsWxudVxmNXXPv8wEApQ8hvcKtfP7tYXE7NSrfmprboVGMpENWH-nBx8lAaciVpRXOB0K25ydxdXC9m1C-Zokc2IJQM2iTdpQKE/s1600/IMG_3648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUNLTj4s8L5WsxVLG47_YkcPtSqnBkMxGwlYeEDA4UsWxudVxmNXXPv8wEApQ8hvcKtfP7tYXE7NSrfmprboVGMpENWH-nBx8lAaciVpRXOB0K25ydxdXC9m1C-Zokc2IJQM2iTdpQKE/s320/IMG_3648.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We lost a whole planting of squash, cucumbers, and corn. Not only do we need to buy more seed, but we have to spend more time re-planting. And we’ve even decided to start these seeds in the greenhouse this time, which costs us more in potting soil and labor planting them out, but will assure us healthy plants and a more dependable harvest. Our CSA members may have to wait a few extra weeks for summer crops to appear in their shares, but we will have food this summer!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDc-XZue_BjnLFWRTl3vQogXg39WNoRegNANbOTdNDfoWJ94EOwB8sT3KyPLx4ETAVMMmZyQ6hjoV8fZtaP_SkZatzsNt6qNgHiqg9jTIW1P6SyonXwP4JNLWM3nmpbfierIuN100hSN0/s1600/IMG_1575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDc-XZue_BjnLFWRTl3vQogXg39WNoRegNANbOTdNDfoWJ94EOwB8sT3KyPLx4ETAVMMmZyQ6hjoV8fZtaP_SkZatzsNt6qNgHiqg9jTIW1P6SyonXwP4JNLWM3nmpbfierIuN100hSN0/s320/IMG_1575.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And we will have honeybees. And health. And happy soil critters.</span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-0a5ad1b6-7f96-4001-afa2-fd8eaf24ed47"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you for supporting your local organic farmers who work extra hard to work with Mother Nature instead of waging war against her. However unpredictable she is lately. We still love her.</span></div>
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erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-70878673313771428512016-05-22T19:11:00.000-07:002016-05-22T19:11:29.643-07:00Team farming!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We had a lot of helpers this week on the farm, and got a ton planted!</div>
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Our winter squash and first round of summer squash went in with some volunteer Cub Scouts and their families. Thank you!!!!!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6RT-sn4Ni6OWyChfyfriK2pbWs2-6HbfEf605LBf6BlOlQtO4xBbce3ArwaM59LKNi6u-Qoq-ObNZG1zgBVsgwtsoZXmQNH8D-_aphj1pyvMtBscR5Yh-P0_IiRx8u0mthRWIq8-L0Y/s1600/IMG_9294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6RT-sn4Ni6OWyChfyfriK2pbWs2-6HbfEf605LBf6BlOlQtO4xBbce3ArwaM59LKNi6u-Qoq-ObNZG1zgBVsgwtsoZXmQNH8D-_aphj1pyvMtBscR5Yh-P0_IiRx8u0mthRWIq8-L0Y/s320/IMG_9294.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We also planted peppers, fennel, scallions, and the rain held off so that we could get it all in!</div>
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We could use the rain though.... farm apprentice Stephanie spent the rest of the evening laying irrigation lines on everything we planted (and got muddy feet!) We also cover up some of the plants to protect them from the bugs.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPK6yb8IWErUKcp5NMGKSDHsIW7xYdv7XnvApsIUrp-xg3ldsI7inNXS8LtLk0THA04HOjwHVOTfBva8fwiedBzkrjdjyfIK40FyaS8UiTZj09nKdRqJsogoZ7VbyFT5Pa7FS7QSqY3I/s1600/IMG_9215.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPK6yb8IWErUKcp5NMGKSDHsIW7xYdv7XnvApsIUrp-xg3ldsI7inNXS8LtLk0THA04HOjwHVOTfBva8fwiedBzkrjdjyfIK40FyaS8UiTZj09nKdRqJsogoZ7VbyFT5Pa7FS7QSqY3I/s320/IMG_9215.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hopefully we'll get rain this week.</div>
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The blueberries are blooming! I've plowed up most of the ground that we'll be planting this spring, and the sand polished the plow nice and shiny. </div>
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Also, I took the little 1953 Farmall Cub out for the first time this season to cultivate the onions! It is a very fun tractor to drive.</div>
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It's hard to see the onions in this photo, but they are there. Some of them got accidentally buried, but the weed control was easy in the sandy ground with the Cub cultivators.</div>
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This week we also finished seeding 17 acres of pasture and clover with a nurse crop of oats! It's been a busy week.</div>
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Getting that field ready for planting</div>
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Breaking some equipment on rocks</div>
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We spent a whole day picking rocks out of this field. Did I mention it's been a long week?</div>
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We rented a friend's grain drill to seed the oats, grass, and clover, and it was so satisfying to get it all done! Now we just wait for rain.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUVzz6iyErbLYyfYZ1nyO7bBEXGeiLmwmjxpqewnKf_0k4BhdDLflEZAqVnKZGNYwCoEwQNAv8LM3FQtsjKWY0wNOCwDWaZ2Nqs-z-iKzDCbP2MwVpCYxY1o3tIsVo2wwBKTEcwjMlKo/s1600/IMG_9275.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUVzz6iyErbLYyfYZ1nyO7bBEXGeiLmwmjxpqewnKf_0k4BhdDLflEZAqVnKZGNYwCoEwQNAv8LM3FQtsjKWY0wNOCwDWaZ2Nqs-z-iKzDCbP2MwVpCYxY1o3tIsVo2wwBKTEcwjMlKo/s320/IMG_9275.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />We still have lots more to plant this week, like our first sweet corn field, lots of lettuce, and more covering and irrigating to do.</div>
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Not to mention weeding! I'm trying to be in denial of all the tiny little crabgrass seedlings that are coming up right now in all the planted beds, especially the ones under the covers. I don't see them! Just kidding, I'll be tackling them tomorrow morning, and likely all day tomorrow.</div>
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We've been so blessed by getting volunteers. The farm really is going in fast. In a few weeks, when the covers start coming off, the plants will really shine. I'm looking forward to the view from the hill when the mosaic of vegetables starts to come in.</div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwtKKDH3Rgg17_94KXnW3XjEAMjW7Uj02BHgwWhjnI6x6k2RSnE4OHLtC8dtjdvnSADU_XcE0_Lrg-BEh66IHiN66Zze1-TrIF7zi5NBNOjFQL60IGFuGQgV6EQ-Hg7j6Jj1WMJJt2oM/s320/IMG_9363.JPG" width="320" /></div>
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Do you want to help out on the farm? We always need more hands. We also have CSA shares available still, Full and Half. Go to www.wildhillfarm.com for more info. Thanks folks, and happy full moon!</div>
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erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-13883903163201356112016-05-05T13:55:00.001-07:002016-05-05T13:55:23.794-07:00The sport of May Veggie Farming<div style="text-align: center;">
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There is a long gravel driveway that leads out to our vegetable field.</div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJei3KPeqOoIKsAc-Hu-piDOC63nRzs4RWO4scRpAgm3d2O0w6c0gk0IT8-xJs7OFgg21Ig1mydh4PX2TpzJpFjA6d4PnVIG14zcTjZAYqr3ent86EKa0n3Lg6XDRLA3Uvsr24J4vvxNs/s320/IMG_9085.JPG" width="320" /></div>
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We've started plowing, tilling, and planting, and that's why I haven't written a blog post in a while! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4nu4b7Rv1T6NnayDJ6rq44MFB_kPwqT_fQQQrGcIMUd7z5_6f3UlUHGwJBmYcNfJOlbpj0lUM0lmiz1131fOHPcTG4kLSUthbL2qGFN7OjD_eiZGyOxAqHzAYy_CCYnZebWqeGZsRvA/s1600/IMG_9127.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4nu4b7Rv1T6NnayDJ6rq44MFB_kPwqT_fQQQrGcIMUd7z5_6f3UlUHGwJBmYcNfJOlbpj0lUM0lmiz1131fOHPcTG4kLSUthbL2qGFN7OjD_eiZGyOxAqHzAYy_CCYnZebWqeGZsRvA/s320/IMG_9127.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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Did I mention that besides the 2 acres of veggies we're growing this year, we're also transitioning an additional 50 acres of conventionally managed corn fields into organic pasture and future fruit/veggie ground? I've been on the tractor a lot. Dreams coming true can involve lots of work.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKABMKL1grY4YlEftdiNqGlRAOjaP8v2VjGuxvc1ulqq1SXsPyG3IrkZwzZfB9IKEiVEqCOYIHPho0O3QIY50hp6tloIU8NSeADKGgPAS7iIqfU59a9WpOlgLSUnog5DhC4_Hy_q-U4V8/s1600/IMG_9094.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKABMKL1grY4YlEftdiNqGlRAOjaP8v2VjGuxvc1ulqq1SXsPyG3IrkZwzZfB9IKEiVEqCOYIHPho0O3QIY50hp6tloIU8NSeADKGgPAS7iIqfU59a9WpOlgLSUnog5DhC4_Hy_q-U4V8/s320/IMG_9094.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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There are some rocks in these fields. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZiA-qybtsBLdbGPFLmqldHfgcMlzhVywPYR3Vv5_pv1m2sF4o5Uxp2yfwrl1a0JBYnCJZNJ4fA9uCy_WTa_hh2yC8FKulkj4wxUwtMAUwjpWpve91dv9BkdKsKYvbEney7_24MO0CjQ/s1600/IMG_9090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZiA-qybtsBLdbGPFLmqldHfgcMlzhVywPYR3Vv5_pv1m2sF4o5Uxp2yfwrl1a0JBYnCJZNJ4fA9uCy_WTa_hh2yC8FKulkj4wxUwtMAUwjpWpve91dv9BkdKsKYvbEney7_24MO0CjQ/s320/IMG_9090.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fortunately for us, though, the fields we're planting vegetables in this
year don't have hardly any rocks at all-- they are just like heaven to
work in. Actually, like heaven was a beach that was growing organic
vegetables, and had friends helping. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxlDYYI33hRM8hkUxULi5yoSTBoXC92Eph6dq8mAQ3WfHHICVgOSlQp77MmRjXYphmoI5e09nJKdM_ScUABBTo0Av-XlUqzKRn2_hMJvQFf6_MIp3LHM4aKvyaQBOwxlMxCEjUCNjDWA/s1600/IMG_9149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxlDYYI33hRM8hkUxULi5yoSTBoXC92Eph6dq8mAQ3WfHHICVgOSlQp77MmRjXYphmoI5e09nJKdM_ScUABBTo0Av-XlUqzKRn2_hMJvQFf6_MIp3LHM4aKvyaQBOwxlMxCEjUCNjDWA/s320/IMG_9149.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYl6yYaaMG450CDRFuonUjOD7S_vc-1yRa5U7URkT3p4aDM8wyJeBzg7XhQhdW5ZMYbZ4QHwWvYF2Z5xurbIJa6W4qJ-bhGgnk6whzHVpm2CTRi6HmAkSJPREZknG6c6pGEGEs427VU4/s1600/IMG_9152.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYl6yYaaMG450CDRFuonUjOD7S_vc-1yRa5U7URkT3p4aDM8wyJeBzg7XhQhdW5ZMYbZ4QHwWvYF2Z5xurbIJa6W4qJ-bhGgnk6whzHVpm2CTRi6HmAkSJPREZknG6c6pGEGEs427VU4/s320/IMG_9152.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We've
had 2 volunteer planting parties so far-- onions and broccoli. The onions were a big haul to get in, but they are all in now! They look a little sad for a few weeks, as they establish themselves in their new surroundings. But they will perk up and we'll keep watering them once a week if it doesn't rain enough.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCPXbw3UtNgm2BBmnNfDC1VBaCkZLFdsjBTj457JtS8lk8qP7iH3QIBhm7rbgrR_zVXhJHgJyGa7RpFikflUetkTyB2AFH83f7JWpZm0G3p5-WuiS4nzSeSrfAh9Cceda5O7yyKKWbiQ/s1600/IMG_9139.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCPXbw3UtNgm2BBmnNfDC1VBaCkZLFdsjBTj457JtS8lk8qP7iH3QIBhm7rbgrR_zVXhJHgJyGa7RpFikflUetkTyB2AFH83f7JWpZm0G3p5-WuiS4nzSeSrfAh9Cceda5O7yyKKWbiQ/s320/IMG_9139.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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There
are a lot more plants coming out of the greenhouse soon to plant as
well. Farm apprentice Stephanie has been busy helping seed trays of lettuce, peppers, basil, scallions, and more!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RcVC4FohffI6ZM2YTD-XnuXbk42OV3pxZE-biurjKybdt5gERfB-g7kkpQuyHxxwUvJ0tzRaTNIgXoP90ntYiJqKGiLDIoA954NdeeFs76j9e4AcKtkeOMEH2QpupxV1U7QsSZS1wSA/s1600/IMG_9121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RcVC4FohffI6ZM2YTD-XnuXbk42OV3pxZE-biurjKybdt5gERfB-g7kkpQuyHxxwUvJ0tzRaTNIgXoP90ntYiJqKGiLDIoA954NdeeFs76j9e4AcKtkeOMEH2QpupxV1U7QsSZS1wSA/s320/IMG_9121.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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Also we have 600 lbs of potato seed to plant this weekend. We are
always looking for volunteers, and potato planting is one of the easiest jobs. Last night I spoke with 12 excited Cub
Scouts in Rochester who want to come out and help plant something on a farm. I love
the possibility of including kids more, teaching them about real work, that involves their whole bodies and not just their thumbs and fingers on a screen!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VC7V1AhNpg32DFW2sZNslQ57RrTdFVgZsTMi8_rooi9YETWf2skt6cTMrUNo0ZiHJZQj-Y5jVWlsxwLtjRKGzr7nh64e6KWA9dymy1kef_pTxXQa9a6aYCDlFvcy4PS1NV97UiY7Olo/s1600/IMG_9141.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VC7V1AhNpg32DFW2sZNslQ57RrTdFVgZsTMi8_rooi9YETWf2skt6cTMrUNo0ZiHJZQj-Y5jVWlsxwLtjRKGzr7nh64e6KWA9dymy1kef_pTxXQa9a6aYCDlFvcy4PS1NV97UiY7Olo/s320/IMG_9141.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCPXbw3UtNgm2BBmnNfDC1VBaCkZLFdsjBTj457JtS8lk8qP7iH3QIBhm7rbgrR_zVXhJHgJyGa7RpFikflUetkTyB2AFH83f7JWpZm0G3p5-WuiS4nzSeSrfAh9Cceda5O7yyKKWbiQ/s1600/IMG_9139.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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Water! We have a great well on the property, and have run a large flexible hose from the barn where it's located out to our field. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJyyRKRZylIZwJ0b0c3i4JGAHRLmzZ95y1635d1wEzcEKTTZToOuCWDkLX2-RqtttKtq4fXMiCyCsM-b0hBO_XFBWDRBGeBSusUaN_GlyNwxu6i19bPY6wi1woLMCRkGKa1JmviX85MI/s1600/IMG_9095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJyyRKRZylIZwJ0b0c3i4JGAHRLmzZ95y1635d1wEzcEKTTZToOuCWDkLX2-RqtttKtq4fXMiCyCsM-b0hBO_XFBWDRBGeBSusUaN_GlyNwxu6i19bPY6wi1woLMCRkGKa1JmviX85MI/s320/IMG_9095.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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From there, we run drip irrigation lines down the 200' rows of veggies. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHO-0qvt3pmCd77FUc-Pt76_4QwRUODfZoTQPBoyNNhQo-f9v-whdQUsLs7tsDIHDxW784lZolPOS4R99MXUK8moMXkGTwRtfX37EZLOFJSf9g5VpoJBi5v2wEd2z9aNfw4W2akkxVPGU/s1600/IMG_9128.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHO-0qvt3pmCd77FUc-Pt76_4QwRUODfZoTQPBoyNNhQo-f9v-whdQUsLs7tsDIHDxW784lZolPOS4R99MXUK8moMXkGTwRtfX37EZLOFJSf9g5VpoJBi5v2wEd2z9aNfw4W2akkxVPGU/s320/IMG_9128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's an efficient way to get the water right to the roots of the plants, without losing a lot to evaporation. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0ZWemEf5b25EtR-ULhtBKuEZY3E9D6DIGdlo_C4XRKmDfYx7hR7P9jgTSMLpujWYCtFnY5Bk5izRjUIMlNq4WuTRSyYbyEljOpGT5zwuwCUKdznK7J4USDZwCmsEUMCPJ2hITgqreF8/s1600/IMG_9130.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0ZWemEf5b25EtR-ULhtBKuEZY3E9D6DIGdlo_C4XRKmDfYx7hR7P9jgTSMLpujWYCtFnY5Bk5izRjUIMlNq4WuTRSyYbyEljOpGT5zwuwCUKdznK7J4USDZwCmsEUMCPJ2hITgqreF8/s320/IMG_9130.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUFf6CRERfNYhi3q6sQnn9M8eXmVx2vg2e3iMaxsPNaNH2SLI4mdx0HN-169NeYRSu-3cg4lVmQ8OmnQXAQ4cvhGZUu_PjPUneGUVGDG1PLbZz-qVu3DrSoPArj1QHdAjlFf08BMewtE/s1600/IMG_9156.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUFf6CRERfNYhi3q6sQnn9M8eXmVx2vg2e3iMaxsPNaNH2SLI4mdx0HN-169NeYRSu-3cg4lVmQ8OmnQXAQ4cvhGZUu_PjPUneGUVGDG1PLbZz-qVu3DrSoPArj1QHdAjlFf08BMewtE/s320/IMG_9156.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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After planting and irrigating, we will sometimes cover our plants with row cover to keep the bugs off--- in this case, the broccoli/cabbage/kale crop is protected from flea beetles. We weigh down the cloth with sandbags. Lots of sand available! The cover also creates a little greenhouse environment for the plants, letting in rain and sun, keeping out bugs, and raising the temperature by 5 degrees or so.</div>
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We spent a long day setting up a high voltage deer fence. Two fence lines with three hot wires, baited with peanut butter to teach them to stay away... hopefully it will work!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbxXlspbX05LK0S9kTQF1OTNnG_NzJY9s90Zu2hZScsP1RaLbCvsfstLrkhuMmYCI_MuImTBcKQRCYfZ9pgjKbYMBk9ezZD77YPygkDd8deFz_wjA3hn5mv_7Tkuhq1NxtMi2A_hFbBQ/s1600/IMG_9111.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbxXlspbX05LK0S9kTQF1OTNnG_NzJY9s90Zu2hZScsP1RaLbCvsfstLrkhuMmYCI_MuImTBcKQRCYfZ9pgjKbYMBk9ezZD77YPygkDd8deFz_wjA3hn5mv_7Tkuhq1NxtMi2A_hFbBQ/s320/IMG_9111.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The blueberry bushes are starting to think about blooming. </div>
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We are transitioning this quarter-acre patch of berries from conventionally managed to organic, so we spent the early spring mulching with wood chips, pruning, fertilizing with organic Fertrell fertilizer, and now we've planted grass and clover in between the rows. </div>
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And things are starting to pick up at the EquiCenter Farm again, with a tractor safety class to kick off the spring season-- a professional safety trainer came out and showed us how to avoid potential dangers around tractors. Managers and apprentices from several other farms gathered to learn.</div>
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The weeks ahead promise to be exhausting, with planting, planting, planting, and everything else that comes with it. Of course the weeds will start growing too soon! But for now, this rainy day has allowed me to take a little rest, and prepare myself for the olympic sprint that May is for vegetable farmers.</div>
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erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-38637296408037254232016-04-15T17:18:00.002-07:002016-04-15T17:18:55.902-07:00Getting roots in the ground!<div style="text-align: left;">
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The greenhouse has suffered through some really gnarly
weather but our pampered little vegetable transplants are doing alright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To do seeding work in this
protected little bubble during a snow storm is very nice… the propane heater
kicks on when it gets below 6o degrees, a fan keeps the air fresh and
circulating, and if it ever gets warmer than 85 degrees, the automatic vents
open and blow cold air through to cool it off!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is ideal, it is control—it’s easy to understand why so
many people are excited about hydroponics and hoophouse growing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it can be energy intensive. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsMWGxwAoaHBozGuPD74SwFYKDhexikcHlrkiXNE1Wq_iGujU71kQne2kB4EI6KpQk9TgqkS70JVBoBcYWuHLWJdcLzpKMRCp2btdEccE_9rtuYjz4GHcSXC_nvbaTGtBr0yiJ6bdMJ8/s1600/IMG_9022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsMWGxwAoaHBozGuPD74SwFYKDhexikcHlrkiXNE1Wq_iGujU71kQne2kB4EI6KpQk9TgqkS70JVBoBcYWuHLWJdcLzpKMRCp2btdEccE_9rtuYjz4GHcSXC_nvbaTGtBr0yiJ6bdMJ8/s320/IMG_9022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8rjmrgTEPtu72GdGWPHlXLDnL1mf0Gm1h_MeUrqptofbTi9qDn3zZm33jm9ZJ1h_E-sxAH5MFbaCoeWoAh3ar48JmBseMxcljhH2_l_Qjx-dizb-8X2ABYQ0TGhobPAh5kJuStQUnJc/s320/IMG_8999.jpg" width="320" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpEock0sQO3RTkgFFlGwwO3AtBYfTHQ05312B7l9oH-iydfjPGFpMWPfntJk7n7wL2dRsmOXej9ghf5HXDACQ6dAG_0eQJh7CUJL2D67kg3sVzhvW7WnDdIzyIq9BavxrLxCJyvmULOg/s1600/IMG_8997.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpEock0sQO3RTkgFFlGwwO3AtBYfTHQ05312B7l9oH-iydfjPGFpMWPfntJk7n7wL2dRsmOXej9ghf5HXDACQ6dAG_0eQJh7CUJL2D67kg3sVzhvW7WnDdIzyIq9BavxrLxCJyvmULOg/s320/IMG_8997.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fairly soon we’ll start the hardening-off process for our
March-seeded vegetables, which means we take the trays of seedlings out into
the “unprotected” outside environment, in the sun and wind, and they get to learn
firsthand about the cold hard world, but still get some pampering at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is to prepare them for their mature
lives in the field, where they need to be strong enough to withstand storms and
weather.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVlztQvJfq8qNvN5kvQ2f_EPu1ZQXRE0YVfuRkm1dnh6uQ9mgJpVZnXyOHTQ-glSe-csTUn5JFLo14GTI81NHdTTDXYE5eSN9VVNCHmpGXen7Vwa0BC0Lw29mufGrsIzaIW6SUFZbAfo/s1600/IMG_8977.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVlztQvJfq8qNvN5kvQ2f_EPu1ZQXRE0YVfuRkm1dnh6uQ9mgJpVZnXyOHTQ-glSe-csTUn5JFLo14GTI81NHdTTDXYE5eSN9VVNCHmpGXen7Vwa0BC0Lw29mufGrsIzaIW6SUFZbAfo/s320/IMG_8977.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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Speaking of the field, we’ve started plowing up some of the
new sandy ground!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (no rocks!) </span>Next week the
weather looks pretty good for us to plant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ingredients are simple:
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>A prepared bed to plant in:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the clover we’ve plowed under takes a
few weeks to decompose, and then we’ll sprinkle in a little bit of certifed
organic soil amendments and fertilizer (we use Fertrell products), then till up
a 5’ wide bed 200’ long, marking the rows we’ll plant with a custom-welded row
marker our friend made for us.</div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>An electric deer fence to save our crops for the
two-legged eaters</div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>A drip irrigation system hooked up to a well</div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Plants ready to go in the ground!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We received our onion shipment – this
year we decided to buy onion starter plants that were grown in the south where
the weather is a bit more conducive in the spring (instead of firing up our
greenhouse in February and expensively heating it just for a few trays of
onions).</div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Farm workers and volunteers to help plant – will
you help?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re hoping to get them
in the ground mid to late next week, possibly next weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Email:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>erin dot dandelion at gmail.com<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>if you’re interested in lending a hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Onions are easy to plant, and the more
hands we have helping the faster it goes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Donuts for volunteers!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOT2KNhPR3npvc5_hyphenhyphenUY7WehhWXpyHnZuQT2l2QJ2mFF0HLJVNjlMRLh48fNkL2SMLAtpI15mv1KL-kIu3xudwqey45bDzP1oBo-m8vAYaGp9brfRHpK2IMp0OAbtFOyfUE245s4j6rzw/s1600/IMG_9054.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOT2KNhPR3npvc5_hyphenhyphenUY7WehhWXpyHnZuQT2l2QJ2mFF0HLJVNjlMRLh48fNkL2SMLAtpI15mv1KL-kIu3xudwqey45bDzP1oBo-m8vAYaGp9brfRHpK2IMp0OAbtFOyfUE245s4j6rzw/s320/IMG_9054.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uckre6EVSu5olGQyZD1apBw3Zz269KHywx8LTy9X3nxr4QSAErM7MxzMCzbe960emN3ZK9JJ5s3YsMeOjDnCNgkrCYNOiDKubWjgg9l_wW7x38Z4MCNkevXU1Qqz3lEtgGJ6FMBy_k0/s1600/IMG_9050.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uckre6EVSu5olGQyZD1apBw3Zz269KHywx8LTy9X3nxr4QSAErM7MxzMCzbe960emN3ZK9JJ5s3YsMeOjDnCNgkrCYNOiDKubWjgg9l_wW7x38Z4MCNkevXU1Qqz3lEtgGJ6FMBy_k0/s320/IMG_9050.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uckre6EVSu5olGQyZD1apBw3Zz269KHywx8LTy9X3nxr4QSAErM7MxzMCzbe960emN3ZK9JJ5s3YsMeOjDnCNgkrCYNOiDKubWjgg9l_wW7x38Z4MCNkevXU1Qqz3lEtgGJ6FMBy_k0/s1600/IMG_9050.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-38186355293990807532016-03-28T16:28:00.002-07:002016-03-28T16:28:45.115-07:00Marching forward!<div style="text-align: center;">
March is very unpredictable in this climate.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One day it is 70 degrees, the next day it is snowing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We've had a lovely warm spring so far, but this week has been a bit stormy!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It makes planning kind of difficult... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirG8ORLuE1DTOUpPAGBiXmnEjtOwiTIdp3lQD9s_rra2HFWZeaQOGHTQye9Sh10_et5j2Td7VdAa2qQL8JCT8pV5EuesiCGJEpEix1m8XylxKkH6VwDi4FeP1XI9HICVPzalo6iycH7o/s1600/IMG_8915.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirG8ORLuE1DTOUpPAGBiXmnEjtOwiTIdp3lQD9s_rra2HFWZeaQOGHTQye9Sh10_et5j2Td7VdAa2qQL8JCT8pV5EuesiCGJEpEix1m8XylxKkH6VwDi4FeP1XI9HICVPzalo6iycH7o/s320/IMG_8915.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
However, things are moving forward quickly at Wild Hill Farm. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPtwHHmuEohRHZAfMVIcsPBxoe-BnfSZ7s0RFjGTeZkkVzvmZnfFk_ZVpb3aAHiHpfh6zXXb4jCdsLSRCuYXGoHy-Aeo7zspECa9a9BpEGmlwFBmd290TegKjC03HjmEtE2ObI1wKs2Q/s1600/IMG_8863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPtwHHmuEohRHZAfMVIcsPBxoe-BnfSZ7s0RFjGTeZkkVzvmZnfFk_ZVpb3aAHiHpfh6zXXb4jCdsLSRCuYXGoHy-Aeo7zspECa9a9BpEGmlwFBmd290TegKjC03HjmEtE2ObI1wKs2Q/s320/IMG_8863.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We've tested the soils, decided on our veggie field location, and ordered our organic fertilizer and amendments based on the soil test results.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KdZYTuwMw_ZQYNHHPAHTsKYQIUmhemPK4VHACrQAgnxnkjXAYh_CfmCTv5JlrDNIzZbdhXNYm93hCjkTmdRKNYh_WLbRIkorhyBuGiiGE2NYNQMDbHJs0RHxetusVgyjxPdluQf0r6M/s1600/IMG_8857.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KdZYTuwMw_ZQYNHHPAHTsKYQIUmhemPK4VHACrQAgnxnkjXAYh_CfmCTv5JlrDNIzZbdhXNYm93hCjkTmdRKNYh_WLbRIkorhyBuGiiGE2NYNQMDbHJs0RHxetusVgyjxPdluQf0r6M/s320/IMG_8857.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The last person to farm this land planted corn on some steep hillsides, and last spring's stormy weather resulted in some major erosion. Check out this gully! They wised up and planted alfalfa which holds the soil in place for many years, unlike corn, which leaves soil bare to wash away.</div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzWnq1K1NPxR-XfErKPiNGPAijM_DNLx4y6GYveOyld2SHydjJ9BLuXZPwV3xTr4L3CNzsZDyBSy1Xk3EsZIu9UF4UyGjTQ8J3Fik7qPOW_Z9_iHW7wJMpumcO39khyWYnl_KNazNWio/s320/IMG_8865.JPG" width="320" /></div>
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Fortunately, this erosion ended up just depositing silt and nutrients right into the flat field which we'll be growing vegetables in! Most erosion, however, results in precious topsoil being washed into a stream which washes into a river which washes into a lake or the ocean, and by that time it's lost to us as the valuable food-growing substance that it is.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZc5EHaAxSmXh4R3Sm3thbxBq5555aAHJlB3c7itA6h9LTeCZGkOgLH8dVtWC04zqX4_3OI7RXg5heVDA_WvDllf5ja4Ze5QKiBx4uwAfHoxxrd4y1wXPcGw1t_G_siTn47O3vVoEM9gI/s1600/IMG_8868.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZc5EHaAxSmXh4R3Sm3thbxBq5555aAHJlB3c7itA6h9LTeCZGkOgLH8dVtWC04zqX4_3OI7RXg5heVDA_WvDllf5ja4Ze5QKiBx4uwAfHoxxrd4y1wXPcGw1t_G_siTn47O3vVoEM9gI/s320/IMG_8868.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This farmer was definitely doing some of the right things, though. Below is a picture of the soil where you can vaguely make out little clumps of straw. It might not look too fascinating, but it is!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKD3ikGtyzpE20W5pynos-FVk5Fks02xGTbgfRkZy86JiR-CZdHzMaiEGlUrVupwNdlL2PMDgMWAsoTcxXeaVuc7pPiQ_IjoP3XCJRD1SCwt8FfP2i0UiAFl6J1ZxIJfjN3eb9Zfpmh4/s1600/IMG_8862.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKD3ikGtyzpE20W5pynos-FVk5Fks02xGTbgfRkZy86JiR-CZdHzMaiEGlUrVupwNdlL2PMDgMWAsoTcxXeaVuc7pPiQ_IjoP3XCJRD1SCwt8FfP2i0UiAFl6J1ZxIJfjN3eb9Zfpmh4/s320/IMG_8862.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Under each little mound of straw there is an earthworm hole! The worms come out to the surface at night, and pull these little sticks and pieces of dead grass down into their holes, where they eat them and turn them into amazing compost! The sticks on top of their holes were just too big to fit down their holes. It's fascinating to me! </div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2FmgvDc8H8-NK-8540wgjMgSzDOyLaiEvRrJVZJd6JCkLNhC1O0Tw6VJ7uIqteAq4irroaLj6ifh1UJ3Ru5_sLV2BXJdUzYim080iUklvSBf9pJ1i8fMamRfqENHfwzm_YF9F2VBLvw/s320/IMG_8861.JPG" width="320" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirG8ORLuE1DTOUpPAGBiXmnEjtOwiTIdp3lQD9s_rra2HFWZeaQOGHTQye9Sh10_et5j2Td7VdAa2qQL8JCT8pV5EuesiCGJEpEix1m8XylxKkH6VwDi4FeP1XI9HICVPzalo6iycH7o/s1600/IMG_8915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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I'm also on the hunt for a few key pieces of equipment that will allow me to work the soil, and plant what I want easily in it, preventing the weeds from taking over.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwJevZTn03_Rltpdza4lncS9P18rV9WG-9D5atTXXjvEy1a1QrjVIpevq0ug3I_LEPCZPau3ylm092bVEplF3-LQKeojBO1nFpYYDgcVk8SoHJFDhCdXdbGCYdKRG99wQExLJCbOHbAY/s1600/IMG_8909.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwJevZTn03_Rltpdza4lncS9P18rV9WG-9D5atTXXjvEy1a1QrjVIpevq0ug3I_LEPCZPau3ylm092bVEplF3-LQKeojBO1nFpYYDgcVk8SoHJFDhCdXdbGCYdKRG99wQExLJCbOHbAY/s320/IMG_8909.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A friend is making a rolling marker that we'll pull behind our rotary tiller -- it marks a grid on our beds which we can transplant or direct seed into! I hope that we'll be using this within the next 2 weeks to plant peas, carrots, beets, etc. It's very important to get the rows straight, because we use an antique cultivating tractor to weed with, and anything that doesn't get planted in the line gets wiped out! Brutal, I know. But very effective.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlyr8RN-4TVSm3VbOjXgi7i6CyL8lpKqhLqdY5wlM0WQ6NKdCq1IoC-MfFKIlUiqs4-VAa20ycC-IKIEHUi8R6T2fchMPzpkSlGbHAHf2izu5rM5p4Hv7aJIo1OkNcJB3OxVw5Zb__Lc/s1600/IMG_8934.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlyr8RN-4TVSm3VbOjXgi7i6CyL8lpKqhLqdY5wlM0WQ6NKdCq1IoC-MfFKIlUiqs4-VAa20ycC-IKIEHUi8R6T2fchMPzpkSlGbHAHf2izu5rM5p4Hv7aJIo1OkNcJB3OxVw5Zb__Lc/s320/IMG_8934.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The greenhouse is starting to fill up with <br />trays of transplants.</div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdnYVC8FNTL3ciu2c8IKr1nAWprdDC8lU0R2cCxW8vLSw669W9IMTaowZ_yRUOhiWItM2Oow8iX3-O8u2rmJF_SO27qGI5Oh8Hi_f1jYm_EOYNoLnn7OosFT96iwLYl0lLisP9SseRMo/s320/IMG_8935.JPG" width="320" /></div>
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And things are starting to sprout! </div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OtbewQy9pU95aZ0B2UX8UB_fR5r_SZDxTbzQtNKENbrX5oKuHi45iLAvsTX9DxaBVO9ACfBAWR4hS_ghEEct3tHrhaBok5nJxw_dytlkUzopiBFrKanzWOJa_55KJspFxTZQdUdtwR4/s320/IMG_8936.JPG" width="320" /></div>
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We were out pruning blueberries one sunny day, when a cold wind blew in something fierce, and suddenly we were in a snow squall! Almost done getting the blueberries ready. It will be nice to have these taken care of in the next few weeks and just anticipate the harvest in July!</div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGADJRbfuEKe9TZaaX0sWVejVf6reKVe4DIqDLv1gINVfNs065yuAjFT15dmztEvxiuYX6Jm8C_gIvahPRtCCowsGT3DjHKRvVAg-Z6I43-pb0kVU02Ofj54pP1UfmO6sW7uGu8k3Hgw/s320/IMG_8919.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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Onward we march... </div>
erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-42481242679609714502016-03-10T07:27:00.002-08:002016-03-10T07:27:29.514-08:00How to make a vegetable farm<h2>
<b>How to make a vegetable farm, steps one through eleven.</b></h2>
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1. Start with a good field.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxGA7AsY61jmu_Bb1lGVet7-RHMRVRRPJJAxwj_KD9PG2SLFLOurG7a46pNIuMsyVLIwhebUEUIiJ6HW4DvN0IA7yaz46AcHwFcRbu4YQpf7v03oY9bKlJQ8S8PtCwbP3wk5DUOJs114/s1600/IMG_8777.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxGA7AsY61jmu_Bb1lGVet7-RHMRVRRPJJAxwj_KD9PG2SLFLOurG7a46pNIuMsyVLIwhebUEUIiJ6HW4DvN0IA7yaz46AcHwFcRbu4YQpf7v03oY9bKlJQ8S8PtCwbP3wk5DUOJs114/s320/IMG_8777.JPG" width="320" /></a>I just signed the lease on 60 acres of beautiful sandy ground that is permanently protected from development with a conservation easement through the <a href="http://www.geneseelandtrust.org/" target="_blank">Genesee Land Trust</a>! It's overwhelming but invigorating. It's the land I've always dreamed of, and have been looking for. Now I am the proud steward of it, and it comes with lots of responsibility. This is truly a "field of opportunity"... besides growing vegetables, the possibilities include: organic hay, berries, fruit trees, pastures for animals, grain crops, who knows! This year I will put most of it into grass/clover, and grow a few acres of vegetables in a field that was thick with clover last year. <br />
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2. Have good water.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwi66B5otssR6R2CYPd1VB1gvliHNtQTTLbJqydyjqV1sONi26WMW7ZaL3EFgeBW9EYn7ka3N_dbSf3dN_mnG73ySdMv9Dkbq0VlhQXy0b-KjfM3eGBnHRfemDe-9SNi4CVeVUR9YHB_0/s1600/IMG_8751.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwi66B5otssR6R2CYPd1VB1gvliHNtQTTLbJqydyjqV1sONi26WMW7ZaL3EFgeBW9EYn7ka3N_dbSf3dN_mnG73ySdMv9Dkbq0VlhQXy0b-KjfM3eGBnHRfemDe-9SNi4CVeVUR9YHB_0/s320/IMG_8751.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
The small hamlet where the farm is located is a very special spot geologically -- it's the dividing line between three watersheds. A watershed is also sometimes called a river basin, it's an area that all drains into the same thing, whether big rivers or lakes. All the small streams run into larger streams, you get the idea. In the case of this farm, to the north the water drains into Lake Ontario, through Irondequoit Bay most likely. To the west, the water drains into the Genesee River, which drains into Lake Ontario. And to the east, water drains into the Finger Lakes, and a bunch of rivers that also drain into Lake Ontario further east. Check out this <a href="http://www.nygeographicalliance.org/resources" target="_blank">map of New York State</a> to find out what's downstream of you. <br />
So all this means that the farm is located on a ridge or hill that doesn't have a lot of big surface water, but has lots of springs that start small and go in all directions. On this particular field, the sandy topsoil would never hold a pond, but there are underground streams, 30-40 feet down, nestled into layers of clay and rock, which run clear and strong.<br />
I had a well drilled in the fall on a small lot that I own adjacent to the leased 60 acre field. At 37 feet we tapped into that underground stream, and we can pump a large volume of it at a time to irrigate crops with. Water is life.<br />
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3. Test the soil.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPeqkJ8cU6hyVvlxLhJWCb7dorirq9hj6BnQctzoZI4uYHJzZJQj8KDeT_Lo3Uc3C-wbhGaWmASqgrQ50F81omN4GlVbJJ6zfnjmU16OJhDH4U4A4OjtIpCVA2C17lIE9Cagq7NhYfHE/s1600/IMG_8851.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPeqkJ8cU6hyVvlxLhJWCb7dorirq9hj6BnQctzoZI4uYHJzZJQj8KDeT_Lo3Uc3C-wbhGaWmASqgrQ50F81omN4GlVbJJ6zfnjmU16OJhDH4U4A4OjtIpCVA2C17lIE9Cagq7NhYfHE/s320/IMG_8851.jpg" width="320" /></a>Yesterday was 73 degrees (crazy for March 9th!) so I walked all around the fields with my new <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00792URP0/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1457621151&sr=1&keywords=soil+probe" target="_blank">soil probe </a>and took samples. I will send them off to the lab today to be analyzed for nutrient levels, organic matter, and pH. This will tell me what kind of soil amendments (all organic) I need to add in order to best create the perfect conditions for vegetables to thrive in. The ground was completely un-frozen, and the probe sank right down into the sand. I only hit 3 rocks, out of probably 45 samples! I am very much looking forward to cultivating this velvety soil.<br />
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4. Make your crop plan, and order seeds.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHVNsBxgTqcdGfanz_-PdnAtolSdEa14ZZ-ZMZtCNYE7C8GEj8qv9rMWHAHPNfQzVXU6avk3CGc-bf2h0u9XUFSYCvClvcnbceZH-5wSmWjKCiBPUy9cqRPTsplGiHK2xJ-o2y6rXoF8/s1600/IMG_8844.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHVNsBxgTqcdGfanz_-PdnAtolSdEa14ZZ-ZMZtCNYE7C8GEj8qv9rMWHAHPNfQzVXU6avk3CGc-bf2h0u9XUFSYCvClvcnbceZH-5wSmWjKCiBPUy9cqRPTsplGiHK2xJ-o2y6rXoF8/s320/IMG_8844.JPG" width="320" /></a>I am basing my crop plan on the last farm that I started, Mud Creek Farm. For years we polled CSA members to find out exactly what they wanted me to grow, and how much of what. Of course some things are easier to grow than others. Running a CSA means that I have to balance efficiency with variety, and strategically choose cultivars that are resilient to all sorts of crazy weather. I order hundreds of different types of seeds to give me a kind of insurance ("hedge my bets"), as well as plenty of the varieties that I know work well. My seed order this year cost around $2,000, not counting cover crop seeds, potato seed, and garlic seed, which are all good investments but double that figure. These are the risks taken by the farmer, that in a CSA model, the farm members help to share. It is an exciting, but scary time.<br />
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5. Build and heat a greenhouse to start your baby plants.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCrL-WGHYakGRjMkTNT-zO94wvgrYcKpXFD9ltcGsIE8FWZy11tcXgKykGPDL6na0D5eAM8Rx46H_P_FJX9S3qvidX7xXEgL9SWWpMZHuzkfp6ke9Znxsq04liSNNFIKoXKKGPjFSOas/s1600/IMG_8742.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCrL-WGHYakGRjMkTNT-zO94wvgrYcKpXFD9ltcGsIE8FWZy11tcXgKykGPDL6na0D5eAM8Rx46H_P_FJX9S3qvidX7xXEgL9SWWpMZHuzkfp6ke9Znxsq04liSNNFIKoXKKGPjFSOas/s320/IMG_8742.JPG" width="320" /></a>I bought a 10' x 24' greenhouse from a friend who is scaling up to a bigger greenhouse. We disassembled it, and reassembled it. We bought new plastic for it, built tables for inside, and today the propane tank gets delivered which will keep our baby plants from freezing at night (we might have frost for another 2 months!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yQXh6GCWk3jZ85vCiLYw5JoZiC17YMsIT21_CSris2y3TMcmYTXRl1iEVvMGZf0-AIN6o8LadF4KAnfKJYCZY4IlTXki3pumQ2hk9GtDbntGLRVFIRB0hzwgJ2lrai4X8wlpRiqes74/s1600/IMG_8846.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yQXh6GCWk3jZ85vCiLYw5JoZiC17YMsIT21_CSris2y3TMcmYTXRl1iEVvMGZf0-AIN6o8LadF4KAnfKJYCZY4IlTXki3pumQ2hk9GtDbntGLRVFIRB0hzwgJ2lrai4X8wlpRiqes74/s320/IMG_8846.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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6. Start with really good potting soil.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iEt9LqYCKTaeuDRn6rgEgjcs-CK87cBmE2WKQPw_ID_mKRNVybg4JQJtuZrYPmVuwRfIwi_Ylkk_jejpqQ3rOsPWQ91TCl7g9M3AmO2BRyZju4q_X6_RhHaSyJVQMWUwZ77_ouaonVg/s1600/IMG_8792.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iEt9LqYCKTaeuDRn6rgEgjcs-CK87cBmE2WKQPw_ID_mKRNVybg4JQJtuZrYPmVuwRfIwi_Ylkk_jejpqQ3rOsPWQ91TCl7g9M3AmO2BRyZju4q_X6_RhHaSyJVQMWUwZ77_ouaonVg/s320/IMG_8792.JPG" width="320" /></a>I have really enjoyed using <a href="http://lighthouse-gardens.com/Lighthouse_Gardens/Home.html" target="_blank">Lighthouse Garden's </a>organic potting soil. It is compost based, and has all the nutrients that the plants need to be healthy, for the month or so that they are raised in the greenhouse, until we plant them out in the field. And the potting soil is made by my friend Todd just a few miles away from the farm!<br />
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7. Buy supplies.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXzIQLzyaSbzvYVVaP5lpss7ahmEO359786jp3yn6QQpbiQRXFKzX5FNkL0UayQh8-JsDP_vz1zsl98od_xI5VlNKzgGrkQa8o77rhY5d4VWnQRXBMdgS0l-XJ9l1HLurRrOODV05-WA/s1600/IMG_8852.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXzIQLzyaSbzvYVVaP5lpss7ahmEO359786jp3yn6QQpbiQRXFKzX5FNkL0UayQh8-JsDP_vz1zsl98od_xI5VlNKzgGrkQa8o77rhY5d4VWnQRXBMdgS0l-XJ9l1HLurRrOODV05-WA/s320/IMG_8852.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Just the beginning. Hose spray nozzle, max-min thermometers, infrared thermometer. It seems like packages are delivered daily. It really helps to have exactly what you need, and not have to guess or make-do with baling wire all the time. Of course this happens too. But I try to prepare myself in the spring for what I know I'll need.<br />
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8.<span style="color: #0000ee;"> Have a farm office</span>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDDYj4D35Rp79lReZQXIyyy6U_SFp-HYgl6jKg3VFXups2ygiXg_By33hO2aGzv5NvhI2SvjLZ2m99oSuXBq_6Zp7gJC5mbVoucYzbkrLl1SL95vFbuaJjK5DUJkkPtoGmG6Mjl1Ei-k/s1600/IMG_8847.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDDYj4D35Rp79lReZQXIyyy6U_SFp-HYgl6jKg3VFXups2ygiXg_By33hO2aGzv5NvhI2SvjLZ2m99oSuXBq_6Zp7gJC5mbVoucYzbkrLl1SL95vFbuaJjK5DUJkkPtoGmG6Mjl1Ei-k/s320/IMG_8847.JPG" width="320" /></a>This corner usually fills up quickly with paperwork, files, bills, checks, soil sample buckets, tools, books, hardware, catalogs, seeds, posters, and coffee mugs. Keeping it organized usually happens after dark or on my "day off"!</div>
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9. Sell CSA Shares.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA4d9KDT-jwGMykNemRFlbrh9pF0C4SPauRtyt3EDvQ35_M66dCyACEz7AqbG_3CNg4JeW7xXkHkNavTtppbeyEzBxj95ru2-YDIrSAs3pUQxpmJH5UzSBl3BG7WgnPTr7gC4NQHIEqY/s1600/IMG_8842.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA4d9KDT-jwGMykNemRFlbrh9pF0C4SPauRtyt3EDvQ35_M66dCyACEz7AqbG_3CNg4JeW7xXkHkNavTtppbeyEzBxj95ru2-YDIrSAs3pUQxpmJH5UzSBl3BG7WgnPTr7gC4NQHIEqY/s320/IMG_8842.jpg" width="320" /></a>I am trying to sell 75 CSA Shares this year! I know it's a little ambitious for a first year, but I'm confident I can grow that much, since I've done it before. This is only a quarter of the size of the farm I was running a few years ago. So, I'm putting some time and money and energy into getting the word out -- these flashy color postcards are a first for me, but I'm happy at how they turned out. I am trying to reach people who've never heard of CSA. I'm also tabling at 2 CSA fairs, and giving <a href="http://www.wildhillfarm.com/free-info-meetings.html" target="_blank">2 free info meetings in March</a>.</div>
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10. Take a deep breath and sow the first seeds. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwD7tL9Ql2oGqqstS6XuoWJzzK2R9uHZ4OXPwfD6x8s_SpHZemPTQW0fb-IWuKL3i5y1eh9xn6dYbh1YRQj-0R8MsHaO8g8PJpQQ0F6JoMkQ_Bt9K32dRnr_5fVjaCkKHvA8wA8GFPSqQ/s1600/IMG_8788.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwD7tL9Ql2oGqqstS6XuoWJzzK2R9uHZ4OXPwfD6x8s_SpHZemPTQW0fb-IWuKL3i5y1eh9xn6dYbh1YRQj-0R8MsHaO8g8PJpQQ0F6JoMkQ_Bt9K32dRnr_5fVjaCkKHvA8wA8GFPSqQ/s320/IMG_8788.JPG" width="320" /></a>I am using a heat mat in a sunny window to start the first very early seeds, parsley and a special kind of pepper. Next week we'll fire up the greenhouse, and start many more trays! Seeds on a heat mat need watering at least 3 times a day, since the heat dries the soil out quickly. Some seeds need over 80 degrees to germinate, but after they "pop up" they can be brought back to regular temperatures (60-70). I am relying on my "greenhouse schedule" master spreadsheet which tells me when to plant everything, and what temperature they need, and what size trays and how many trays.</div>
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11. Don't freak out.</div>
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Spring is here. The birds are going crazy, the red maples are starting to blossom. The snow is melting, the streams are rushing. The geese are flying back north in big honking V's. I still have a list with 40 different things I need to do to get this farm started. It overwhelms me sometimes, in the early hours of the morning.<br /><br />
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When I look at the parked tractor (my big new Kubota) I get a combination of "gulp" and a feeling of rushing energy... it's the spring plowing urge. I imagine myself like a tree when the sap starts to run again in the spring, after being frozen all winter. I want to turn the soil over again, to cultivate something good, something powerful, food growing from the ground. I want to take this field that has lain fallow, quiet, and frozen all winter, and make it flower with abundant green life.</div>
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I can't wait. The honeybees and birds and the tiny crocuses that pop up in the spring all know this urge. It's risky. There could be more snowstorms. There could be a summer drought. There will be exhaustion. But there will be sweetness too, and bright colors. And so maybe it's worth it. Here we go!</div>
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<br />erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-26731140022535825342016-02-23T13:45:00.002-08:002016-02-23T13:45:31.162-08:00Beauty of winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Some winter magic!</div>
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<br />erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-79778178780635575402016-02-16T20:12:00.002-08:002016-02-20T07:04:52.468-08:00Presenting my new CSA: Wild Hill Farm!<a href="http://www.wildhillfarm.com/" target="_blank">Now signing up members for the 2016 season!</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrCEZvzngnHT2Vl961pctkKflVeYeVPZh-MvTtpML0BRBTPmpLEGtNTD-hMNrRxbUcmUKsJGkjmkBFE1eQdBqKUHQfZAtXyHBuVDm5KykMkzxw-ZP4Kbk6f9E_wNTE2-kzlVoKBSzsPw/s1600/WILD+HILL+FARM+LOGO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrCEZvzngnHT2Vl961pctkKflVeYeVPZh-MvTtpML0BRBTPmpLEGtNTD-hMNrRxbUcmUKsJGkjmkBFE1eQdBqKUHQfZAtXyHBuVDm5KykMkzxw-ZP4Kbk6f9E_wNTE2-kzlVoKBSzsPw/s320/WILD+HILL+FARM+LOGO.jpg" width="183" /></a><a href="http://www.wildhillfarm.com/">www.wildhillfarm.com</a></h2>
More stories to come... erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-41741584759587436322016-02-16T20:05:00.003-08:002016-02-16T20:05:32.495-08:00Report from the CSA Farming Conference in Beijing!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This winter I didn't get to go on any tropical vacation, but I can't really complain because I got to go to.... China! Yes, it was freezing in Beijing. When we flew over the North Pole, the flight attendants served gelato, seriously. I packed everything fleece and wool that I owned, and a respirator mask for the smog, and got onto a plane with a farming mentor and friend, Elizabeth Henderson. The Chinese Government had helped sponsor our trip there, as guest speakers at the 6th International CSA Farming Conference! </div>
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We participated in a week of presentations and workshops, then a few days of visiting farms around the giant city of Beijing.</div>
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The air quality was indeed awful. You could see how locals were somewhat forced to live in denial of it, feeling like they were powerless to change anything. </div>
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But we did see a hopeful amount of resilience.</div>
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Especially among the people at this conference. There were over 800 people attending from countries all over the world, including a whole contingent from the Chinese National CSA Conference, which overlapped our international conference. Most inspiring to see at this was the hordes of young Chinese farmers, officially dubbed the "New Farmer" movement. These folks have usually gone to universities in cities, and choose to return to the villages where their families still have rights to some land. This is a radical swimming-upstream, as much of what has been going on in China (and the world) is the mass migration of young people from their rural hometowns to large cities for work or education. </div>
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In a touching display at the conference closing ceremony, each young
farmer poured a bottle of their home farm soil into a big tube onstage! </div>
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Elizabeth Henderson, my travel buddy, gave a great plenary speech one morning -- her book "Sharing the Harvest" has been translated into Chinese, and she is quite a celebrity there! </div>
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Did you know that CSA started in the 1970s in Japan, then spread to Europe and then to the US, and finally came back around to China just about 10 years ago? There are CSA networks all around the world, on every continent. We spent a lot of our time hanging out two farmers from West Africa, and a farmer friend from Long Island, Scott Chasky. </div>
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We also had an amazing interpreter who allowed us to learn and share with local Chinese farmers who didn't speak English. </div>
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And we met some fun characters who did speak English -- <a href="http://jonaifarms.com.au/#jonaifarms" target="_blank">Tammi is a butcher / pig farmer</a> from Melbourne, Australia who makes her own charcuterie and has a meat CSA.</div>
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Although the conference and the whole experience usually involved lots of translation, we learned that people care about the same things as us: healthy soil, healthy farms, healthy communities.</div>
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In China, they still have a strong "peasant" culture -- people who have been living in rural areas, subsisting off the land, usually using very "sustainable" and "organic" practices. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaz6Mq3mDoZmGmVM2r_KT-kTlZP97KFMoO6MurqIhKrhtBt0hUG5n9ZkZkqSTUsKEl9PCgUGEVP90gAcD-1YnGveSwgUhdCfKwhDOpfzmbl3QKunpJpPbrCxJIZRwJFDHcj1BNSlgcyw/s1600/IMG_6993.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaz6Mq3mDoZmGmVM2r_KT-kTlZP97KFMoO6MurqIhKrhtBt0hUG5n9ZkZkqSTUsKEl9PCgUGEVP90gAcD-1YnGveSwgUhdCfKwhDOpfzmbl3QKunpJpPbrCxJIZRwJFDHcj1BNSlgcyw/s320/IMG_6993.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gMs29F2LYGj7mkSzoF0jqTJYX9msU9BSjCXTNueVDNWGK0xkedHXZADs5MBx1iBfnPl1cxz3_bAk1WIiZ9AWZ6JBCN9mcBveeDXXbdUq6CYSZWHPvSKbjUHoJoa2BFSN9TBcAGh3dBs/s1600/IMG_7042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gMs29F2LYGj7mkSzoF0jqTJYX9msU9BSjCXTNueVDNWGK0xkedHXZADs5MBx1iBfnPl1cxz3_bAk1WIiZ9AWZ6JBCN9mcBveeDXXbdUq6CYSZWHPvSKbjUHoJoa2BFSN9TBcAGh3dBs/s320/IMG_7042.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This is the Chinese Yam, a staple food for locals. The root is starchy, like potatoes but supposedly very healthy for you. We had it almost every day, maybe almost every meal. The root itself grows very deep, and all the farms we visited (small organic farms, granted) dug them by hand!</div>
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The Yam grows a long twisting vine up trellises, and has these tiny little "potato berries" that you can eat too! Two crops in one! They were delicious, about the size of peanuts, and tasted like buttery potatoes. Why don't we grow this crop in the US?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21kdzj5hsr96RtoLtYxjGWhqM1O_f3qSoiusZBNpqxyozF-_LNJyaK5AesM0-JkNvEF4ZlogQNwPcBfL64_84urTTir1FfNOYMHbDhwfUc71E5HQwREDf_2ZigtuiSxaPIrQQnhmtRM8/s1600/DSCN0144.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21kdzj5hsr96RtoLtYxjGWhqM1O_f3qSoiusZBNpqxyozF-_LNJyaK5AesM0-JkNvEF4ZlogQNwPcBfL64_84urTTir1FfNOYMHbDhwfUc71E5HQwREDf_2ZigtuiSxaPIrQQnhmtRM8/s320/DSCN0144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We went to an inspiring organic cherry farm / cooperative on the outskirts near the mountains, where a motivated New Farmer has moved back to help take over her family's orchard and do some needed creative-marketing for the cooperative.</div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15pwfya07OPgiFGiGBiYn8vjS8pdr04z02i5Cj6SOH1F1Iyj-5cSAhfZ4S3AzSA_tDUO15sB8GuonhEZwAWQrlE47dkLesvtg0dT8Mgd0K97nDrN_zqUNy4C_FrulDEkuEGcGNYRIRJM/s320/IMG_7155.JPG" width="320" /></div>
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These farmers have started to use geese to clean up their apple orchard -- they reported much less pest pressure on the trees from the presence of the geese. They cooked us one of these geese for lunch.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplI1uErnBTobYhauqd3pzPlpE3MVLSqBsTl6O9eoS8ZyxveQECmbxHrp68crWMtB2_LlcJLe9yqE00ckEZYE5ntbcEp5pmEF56TP5ItthdP5O4HayjQonFsijcLsPpTYC3VmWcDekLS4/s1600/DSCN0299.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplI1uErnBTobYhauqd3pzPlpE3MVLSqBsTl6O9eoS8ZyxveQECmbxHrp68crWMtB2_LlcJLe9yqE00ckEZYE5ntbcEp5pmEF56TP5ItthdP5O4HayjQonFsijcLsPpTYC3VmWcDekLS4/s320/DSCN0299.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here is one of her creative labels for the boxes that she ships cherries in to urban customers who order their using a cherry farm "app"!</div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHitwcwWvfIeQhyphenhyphenPmCwyfs-XagK_sdtZI6Ah7f4e8eM5ArbJDahaPn2i0jN84qPUKChTRejqwrxuVZMuyxsb_Nr1tZo2BK-uADDAi-uIvHYG7oa8jmOpn918peIKQ55wglAm8Q2cFWnww/s320/DSCN0317.JPG" width="320" /></div>
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One of the CSA farms we visited had the farm divided into two -- one area where they grew vegetables to pack into CSA shares and deliver to folks, another area where locals could get a cheaper CSA subscription, and grow their food themselves -- with land, seeds, tools, water, fencing, advice, provided! Like a community garden but with more coaching.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuq5degtutnsX8oAvtIguV9A3Aa6AeE1fFAkKblsO0dETPlhyphenhyphenefFoBhTj8NKCZxWBynWPgh215y3upDVu91bpq-_GxQgRN4mM5EC-PsSTOaq8qxxU5J-DdfB_wKYsDkqfiD-pyG8YYOck/s1600/IMG_6974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuq5degtutnsX8oAvtIguV9A3Aa6AeE1fFAkKblsO0dETPlhyphenhyphenefFoBhTj8NKCZxWBynWPgh215y3upDVu91bpq-_GxQgRN4mM5EC-PsSTOaq8qxxU5J-DdfB_wKYsDkqfiD-pyG8YYOck/s320/IMG_6974.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And some people might not need the coaching, they might just be doing what they have always known how to do-- possibly displaced peasants living in the city who don't have any rights to land. </div>
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We saw some areas where people had dug big root-cellar pits in their garden plots, stuffing cabbage in them & covering them up. </div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWMG0C_WEWFpiYZzBZLc1XO24wNoPPJXWyVqNrYC_gCRwSd2njN4h-Fy8pHK4OFtS6_IvsvU1xRm0k6UHZR0dN61HOI_oUi8gDyH0dR7bdLP9amLy12XmcovoT11wThgAs6Z93Jzqn6M/s320/DSCN0014.JPG" width="240" /> </div>
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Chinese Cabbage is the other winter staple here. I was told that back in the day it was the only fresh vegetable around in the winter. Then the government started sponsoring all these greenhouses, which expanded the possibilities. Many CSAs are able to go year-round now due to the intensive greenhouse culture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPz41bFwAQTgYdJg8F8X5StzL6-oj6Lqd7z2buPaXStWgtNJjeinZXAJe67EnUBZpJh3_OqO-sPKjxML7YkMjWqZTI7rnDk6ZUrb7vfuXP04RsNDRHOlYKtOyEpw1Nqrwuh_TdMJOeYo/s1600/IMG_7242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPz41bFwAQTgYdJg8F8X5StzL6-oj6Lqd7z2buPaXStWgtNJjeinZXAJe67EnUBZpJh3_OqO-sPKjxML7YkMjWqZTI7rnDk6ZUrb7vfuXP04RsNDRHOlYKtOyEpw1Nqrwuh_TdMJOeYo/s320/IMG_7242.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3f220fv8W8ks4hMw2oYDQxregyWSmtIF52aMDcs3QIwq8OHUykSYy3H1v6eMwBTKaAujPDANFQOvO72BqSUfRlnRfGAbCTuVLdfZADxVhp8PRDDg0f8nnLxB6Mhoza8Dgo5Efgf7N20/s1600/DSCN0035.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>The greenhouses we saw in this district of Beijing (Shunyi district) were unlike any I have seen in the US. They have a thermal wall on the north side, and a half-greenhouse on the southern face. They are several hundred feet long and 25' or so wide. Some farms used heat in these greenhouses (burning coal for heat is quite common there) but mostly the sunny days would heat up the massive northern wall (about a meter thick!) and that would radiate heat through the night. Every evening a long metal arm attached to a motor would roll a blanket down to keep the heat in. In the morning, it would roll up again.</div>
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On the very coldest days, the blanket stayed covering them, while poor little tomato plants shivered in negative 14 degrees Celcius. (-6F)</div>
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Yes, I said tomatoes! In late November! They were also expecting strawberries in February. We also saw greenhouses full of ripe eggplants and peppers.</div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6eJzF9IX6afNer5YPHF4Z8q6p-QjnT-FHgUgQ9cc9Hv0cIrEDhNDDoM0XFRx-6ZHsDUAboLUAuBJ4uXrQFXVnPkGG_B68tEtodjK5RULq0xgcO50pzZ3OOWxiY1ldqoOyGfzXC_a0Cg/s320/DSCN0006.JPG" width="320" /></div>
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We saw lots of trellised things -- besides the obvious beans, winter squash (looks like of like Red Kuri) trellised up, and cucumbers that looked like they might have suffered from the extreme cold we had while we were there.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4Wqv9NB-UvJ-EFu00BGMC0CPQwt-_E4ZE03J4_i1eV34SJwyN8VnQsE6jubhc2DezmZnFgG5sAoILoFWU83mJG-ue8laIRP2ulVE50aLoO4DrQZ43mh-P-9FGtb3YFHf_vdFAJjG24M/s1600/DSCN0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4Wqv9NB-UvJ-EFu00BGMC0CPQwt-_E4ZE03J4_i1eV34SJwyN8VnQsE6jubhc2DezmZnFgG5sAoILoFWU83mJG-ue8laIRP2ulVE50aLoO4DrQZ43mh-P-9FGtb3YFHf_vdFAJjG24M/s320/DSCN0037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And here is a way to get some free fertilizer as well as eggs to sell to CSA members -- when you have 20 greenhouses of the same size, you can easily work out a rotation where one greenhouse gets chickens.</div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVW4Aa9lm7vs8ArQe0EJHR1YR-Axq3vnnkYo24rFp6e2f_uidYO-rBv97CwzReV_vTFia_GlsKYXMKt9X-xip0_BiwHqrVduqICY0xdo4RGaSPKCT3bLXFXTJmEUd_Oq1SSYlPGCrxfCY/s320/DSCN0292.JPG" width="320" /> </div>
The farm where we spent most of our time was Shared Harvest farm, the founder of which (Shi Yan is her name) worked at a CSA farm in the US before returning to her hometown and starting up something similar. She got a lot of support from her local government, and hired a lot of young people to help with marketing and distribution, and hired some old pros (with their peasant wisdom) to manage the farming! They employ 35 people and feed 600 families.<br />
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Can you believe, each of those 600 CSA members gets to custom-order their vegetables?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8j-FHn219Hv9BonRN-4MGXc4WDe1OjT-VwFXHro_r1FcttEzIN0YapGfYevZ23OnApOEX62k6wMXekOmtGsXLuqqFArKICaEE1HP4INVhdXPbhtZowqx0jRqTpYODPg5pS5iN0tSzFDQ/s1600/DSCN0073.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8j-FHn219Hv9BonRN-4MGXc4WDe1OjT-VwFXHro_r1FcttEzIN0YapGfYevZ23OnApOEX62k6wMXekOmtGsXLuqqFArKICaEE1HP4INVhdXPbhtZowqx0jRqTpYODPg5pS5iN0tSzFDQ/s320/DSCN0073.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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That's a lot of work.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYyZsciyjTxPmq066Mk62bsbPF_SS_jY9ayaMxQqLOGFXXEGIkcGa-8G0Z6sBhEGPsZr5V2YFPdSFdirLUKlVtWNVPQokRrQb7y0PRar-YYD4ohqaOuWkKigeUnXyKQBB03L9sOefciE/s1600/DSCN0072.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYyZsciyjTxPmq066Mk62bsbPF_SS_jY9ayaMxQqLOGFXXEGIkcGa-8G0Z6sBhEGPsZr5V2YFPdSFdirLUKlVtWNVPQokRrQb7y0PRar-YYD4ohqaOuWkKigeUnXyKQBB03L9sOefciE/s320/DSCN0072.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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They also delivered each of these boxes to everyone's doorsteps!</div>
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They had just made the switch to hiring
a delivery company instead of doing it themselves. When we asked why couldn't CSA members come to the farm to pick up their shares, they responded, "Chinese people work too much and don't have any time to go to a farm." They are catering to the urban Beijing crowd which apparently demands convenience.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8j-FHn219Hv9BonRN-4MGXc4WDe1OjT-VwFXHro_r1FcttEzIN0YapGfYevZ23OnApOEX62k6wMXekOmtGsXLuqqFArKICaEE1HP4INVhdXPbhtZowqx0jRqTpYODPg5pS5iN0tSzFDQ/s1600/DSCN0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYx54uKzb4J_YOoi9w5SkFFULxc9z8K6Rigg3IgB1vV7qc00YphGuH4SmLroMICMWCOjvciHhc-v7_rrwo9SBqQ17f6FbDXl1R3E_vICPsOtYR2GuJxU3NyQ-BvMYfVHB33A4TqxsfTdI/s320/DSCN0074.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Personally, I do think that a very busy person who is working all the time misses some of the finer points in life... like smelling the earth where your food comes from. It's a hard point to argue though, in today's society. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9D1CJnrNM9clq4bCzWPdFA_M4ND5Z4CMIZxFKyb9aSLNJqfQsZBR6gdLFLMge-5Em9DcsasvV9d4KFxO7Z7fuChb_juLXS4Sky3Lxh7eQYYe4iOwLj14KJX77m_VMBBuDDXtw37sk8XI/s1600/IMG_7250.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9D1CJnrNM9clq4bCzWPdFA_M4ND5Z4CMIZxFKyb9aSLNJqfQsZBR6gdLFLMge-5Em9DcsasvV9d4KFxO7Z7fuChb_juLXS4Sky3Lxh7eQYYe4iOwLj14KJX77m_VMBBuDDXtw37sk8XI/s320/IMG_7250.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9D1CJnrNM9clq4bCzWPdFA_M4ND5Z4CMIZxFKyb9aSLNJqfQsZBR6gdLFLMge-5Em9DcsasvV9d4KFxO7Z7fuChb_juLXS4Sky3Lxh7eQYYe4iOwLj14KJX77m_VMBBuDDXtw37sk8XI/s1600/IMG_7250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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This tofu is distributed to CSA members--- one afternoon we got to check out the tiny family business that is thriving due to Shared Harvest CSA. They start with organic soybeans grown on a local farm, and grind them up.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRmqlsJFUpiqZcLIrDG8IDrEVu8-M5YvjwTZxA9bANz8rgcqQ9945imGOrR4aOdF3h34HiuvNayxxQKEkFkwnr4oZmwU9ZvCIinfOoZgBohb0sViEJFO46PPibLwBU46k9zW7QP5tEnk/s1600/IMG_7190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRmqlsJFUpiqZcLIrDG8IDrEVu8-M5YvjwTZxA9bANz8rgcqQ9945imGOrR4aOdF3h34HiuvNayxxQKEkFkwnr4oZmwU9ZvCIinfOoZgBohb0sViEJFO46PPibLwBU46k9zW7QP5tEnk/s320/IMG_7190.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then, the mash is strained and heated in a giant cast iron vat, heated underneath by a fire made of corn cobs and coal, stoked by an old woman.</div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BqA16JviaKB0YnX0G3otcuSHSRiWM24ua8j9aGXK8PF2-kgqG_Yr1qvTfo5ps0DkMI07itNu3Yf5G5w72XJP7G8YEDP-YyjZAJ7fH1hE5IQtZ1IQvoQonrmfQbLo_YsJiqIL7wRtjrs/s320/IMG_7198.JPG" width="320" /></div>
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Then there is a process of cooking the soy milk, which we got to enjoy as a warming beverage while we were waiting for the curd to form.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVt162Pk3ppTiEFwnAOnXRElBYbBM48E3o8Z8Li4YpcwrYHSg6k-QKf4sL652jGUzVoKs3WTVCrwpBgh8mVvZvr4msavbTO6TVsiTwqH1AwlvlTo8zyIIKEXryl_mD0az4zYdlTNcTHw/s1600/DSCN0342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVt162Pk3ppTiEFwnAOnXRElBYbBM48E3o8Z8Li4YpcwrYHSg6k-QKf4sL652jGUzVoKs3WTVCrwpBgh8mVvZvr4msavbTO6TVsiTwqH1AwlvlTo8zyIIKEXryl_mD0az4zYdlTNcTHw/s320/DSCN0342.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5n3T5txJtXpFXkoskGGkKgXuy1zR6Uc8qSQv2Xgz6l1OdL4Q3ZI99IX4mrit1pzelO_FehCtBHApVrAkUjBk8iCvA1LUVsN4CjnF3FUCh3tqCHABfB2JTVU4Zn-QNBKNrNrRZKlH8AM/s1600/IMG_7200.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5n3T5txJtXpFXkoskGGkKgXuy1zR6Uc8qSQv2Xgz6l1OdL4Q3ZI99IX4mrit1pzelO_FehCtBHApVrAkUjBk8iCvA1LUVsN4CjnF3FUCh3tqCHABfB2JTVU4Zn-QNBKNrNrRZKlH8AM/s320/IMG_7200.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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The fire, by the way, not only heats the big cooking pot, but then heats underneath a bed in the adjacent room, where the family sleeps. Peasant smarts.</div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIGQVjIFlzTFi7ckMVYZF5Jruz4dp9_UeUdPNqdTcWV0coLVXKprEoGaqROI5esVbFJRRFzDt3QKRtSxoVt05Y5obK7UcoHMrSBY3hNoXa6c8byDD-X2ja3iisea6GBpZomVcnnSZA6E/s320/DSCN0341.JPG" width="320" /> </div>
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Then the soy is poured into cheesecloth molds, pressed, and becomes tofu!</div>
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We had a lovely time, especially Elizabeth and her new lady friends.</div>
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One day I went to downtown Beijing to visit the new organic farmers market. It is definitely ironic to be shopping for organic food when your air is so un-organic that you have to wear masks outside. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNSbm22pckRp7m0iBsMgJgb0Thf7ddyL3a8zuVobrrDmLKbzXg0F54nAqwBITpXNp4dAxMZ1Z35fmH1nQHJ0qJQjF1n-M-TM00s8SrG1Q8Jq476noSOZ_FwMxWybqa-JByJ3Y-gk-MNQ/s1600/DSCN0248.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNSbm22pckRp7m0iBsMgJgb0Thf7ddyL3a8zuVobrrDmLKbzXg0F54nAqwBITpXNp4dAxMZ1Z35fmH1nQHJ0qJQjF1n-M-TM00s8SrG1Q8Jq476noSOZ_FwMxWybqa-JByJ3Y-gk-MNQ/s320/DSCN0248.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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But even with the unseasonable cold and the snow, dozens of dedicated farmers showed up to sell their goods. There was also an indoor "Community Market" as part of this farmers market, which sold products from all the local farmers, and had a communal kitchen and gathering area. This place was warm and welcoming, and definitely inspiring. Could you imagine if we had these in all our US cities?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1seKJAfVky4hh7VKMbVhDhm34hmLVBuNZGXu2FHfN_YcNQpefPqxFZPT3XPcph24V_bwoYMPkMYbWSRkJqOdRvOsjYyyqt_y4C-cGt_qtVVXo8sfDWMXY7yFk1ROOcgSkltnbVMV0s9Q/s1600/DSCN0259.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1seKJAfVky4hh7VKMbVhDhm34hmLVBuNZGXu2FHfN_YcNQpefPqxFZPT3XPcph24V_bwoYMPkMYbWSRkJqOdRvOsjYyyqt_y4C-cGt_qtVVXo8sfDWMXY7yFk1ROOcgSkltnbVMV0s9Q/s320/DSCN0259.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Despite all the wonderful and hopeful things that we saw during this trip, there was still a looming sense of giant things that are just baz-ackwards. They are on a scale beyond governments; big international phenomena. The photos below are of slides presented by a Chinese university professor, cartoons about rural people becoming urban people, against their will.</div>
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Even though this phenomena looks different in the US, and we have incredible freedom and democracy, urbanization really does threaten us too. When we take everyone off the farms so they can work/live/study in the city, where are we going to get our food?<br />
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We are forced to rely on low-labor, highly-mechanized factory farms that grow giant fields of mono-crops, and are more about business than about family and culture. While this presents convenience for us urban folks, what have we lost by the wayside when we've abandoned the hard-working peasant life?<br />
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Maybe we can regain some of the richness of our ancestors' traditions, without completely going "back to the land" ... maybe being a CSA member or a CSA farmer can be a way to stay connected to both worlds.<br />
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Below was the final slide presented by Shinji <span class="st">Hashimoto, a CSA farmer in Japan, who shared heartbreaking stories of his friends who farm near the </span>Fukushima nuclear disaster. He speaks with hope, and with conviction for this movement. Teikei is the original Japanese word for CSA. <i>Teikei</i> in Japanese means "cooperation", "joint business", or
"link-up". It is commonly associated with the
slogan "food with the farmer's face on it."<br />
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I saw that people on the other side of the world are talking about the same things -- cooperation, a healthy place to live, good clean food, and a celebration of the rural values of hard work, savoring life and each other.</div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aMlYo29NZqNw3Ajg3_6S7pLkKsKk8nkIhxUGngYs-fJAAjFyVjGjM6Szth9LggufO7l7PEiVduTNNjIqFvfju3-FYEYTJ2fs0Vm4eKQGxa9L7tiFiFS1Fw4NShVqiHyHqgygoLRg4Yo/s320/DSCN0165.JPG" width="320" /></div>
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erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-48625353207080629312015-05-10T06:43:00.002-07:002015-05-10T06:43:09.913-07:00Starting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We're turning a hay field into a vegetable farm on <a href="http://equicenterny.org/">a non-profit horse ranch</a>! <br />
In the past few weeks, we've:<br />
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1. Borrowed a neighbor's plow <br />
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2. Transported flats of plants that we've grown at the greenhouse<br />
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3. Prepared ground for planting (built a roller-marker for behind the tiller) </div>
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4. Planted a quarter acre of lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, kale, onions, carrots, spinach, beets, herbs <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOWd1FRarPDaC_j8UJ1DieVXzrhIc_zZvQvF4XSV5Bno8gi5dpzIDXg54jkhXsVeD_d3JhqBUJvcHNnEJDF01fbM5W-adfkQxM-54w2645BjJ5I_heJh9vsOKeMWedPhwzofLnQYJw1Go/s1600/IMG_5920.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOWd1FRarPDaC_j8UJ1DieVXzrhIc_zZvQvF4XSV5Bno8gi5dpzIDXg54jkhXsVeD_d3JhqBUJvcHNnEJDF01fbM5W-adfkQxM-54w2645BjJ5I_heJh9vsOKeMWedPhwzofLnQYJw1Go/s320/IMG_5920.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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5. Set up a drip irrigation system <br />
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6. Covered the brassica-family plants (cabbage, broccoli, kale) with row cover held down with lots of sandbags because it's a windy hill<br />
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7. Staked out a 3 acre deer fence and drilled holes with a rented bobcat and post-hole digger<br />
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8. Received our donation of fencing material from a generous Home Depot grant<br />
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9. Set post in ground with the help of strong Veterans and volunteers<br />
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10. Put eight-foot-tall wire fencing up <br />
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11. Put together a set of cultivating tools on my "new" antique Farmall Cub tractor ('53)<br />
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12. Watched the world become filled with flowers and green things!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7hYqrhyphenhyphenPn_JpPQMd7HCNrXzSxQZULXhyvOMaS84Ub5DTuVP1IDtgKZBWHwhH3mXrVGH8Eb7hqhlaUuh4aYp8ZpsrjFJOoavjhSmr7fFgt9WdRb1tVJ0hjDcJRb1gVTVtwv5gLYlztjI/s1600/IMG_5887_2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7hYqrhyphenhyphenPn_JpPQMd7HCNrXzSxQZULXhyvOMaS84Ub5DTuVP1IDtgKZBWHwhH3mXrVGH8Eb7hqhlaUuh4aYp8ZpsrjFJOoavjhSmr7fFgt9WdRb1tVJ0hjDcJRb1gVTVtwv5gLYlztjI/s320/IMG_5887_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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On your mark, get set, this summer is GO</div>
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<br />erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-27561866267078140532015-04-24T20:21:00.001-07:002015-04-24T20:21:05.818-07:00Spring, the vital energy returns!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Winter succumbs her subtle beauty to the Spring,</div>
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with protest </div>
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in the form of snowflakes.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rewDIyX12IbJoZ6GF2URv-vFuTTSHmbhoZZ_KI8uee2sU5YXTGiG-3apdMhds5DJ0AnZ27JkGpgjHndpprlUhyZQJ8GGoSb_MHVXBxJYYRqJlFsQsEZ_vbLmiOD1Jf4KN7UDHyDQgRY/s1600/IMG_3487.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></div>
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Today, a week from May,</div>
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they lazily wandered through the greening landscape,</div>
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announcing their soft, pure, powerful presence of </div>
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coziness and letting go</div>
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to the vibrating and insane pace of sap flow, insect emergence,</div>
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and frantic nest building.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLkAAe5zEtGe66BDpm3WxzoLhA-YtoCU8oJNWffjByk2U1yHXswXmvnBc90byg7KQ7pbU2gnuvEVtu-G9gizuPeRAwxQW1ZErI-M9kfezxbt-baWRnEW1qKY5jeVrsMIi0ZwYWz44LGA/s1600/IMG_5716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLkAAe5zEtGe66BDpm3WxzoLhA-YtoCU8oJNWffjByk2U1yHXswXmvnBc90byg7KQ7pbU2gnuvEVtu-G9gizuPeRAwxQW1ZErI-M9kfezxbt-baWRnEW1qKY5jeVrsMIi0ZwYWz44LGA/s1600/IMG_5716.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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We have been busy little seeders in the protected shell of the greenhouse.</div>
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And busy pruning blueberry bushes before the buds burst. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwF_8UKkgHFbxrjlznaf5fzb6LrACZ7XdRLPW52dUDoirrwrzlNNiQ4Vt_TO-mrroLc0uiqaxdJXdJHVdKIJftm3btLcwzc1SIwFtWT2hsUH4_ctfiMxyI-dvPGX0mKAk1mACDXz5HHZ8/s1600/IMG_5723.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwF_8UKkgHFbxrjlznaf5fzb6LrACZ7XdRLPW52dUDoirrwrzlNNiQ4Vt_TO-mrroLc0uiqaxdJXdJHVdKIJftm3btLcwzc1SIwFtWT2hsUH4_ctfiMxyI-dvPGX0mKAk1mACDXz5HHZ8/s1600/IMG_5723.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have been so busy that I nearly forgot myself.</div>
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As things move from inside to outside in this transition,</div>
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I crawled out like an anxious awkward bug, unaware of all its appendages,</div>
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yet keeping its eyes on the prize and using age-old instinct </div>
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to navigate the challenges ahead.</div>
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I broke my toe on the stairs. Twice, in the same darn place.</div>
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The body's wisdom</div>
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of slowing-down,</div>
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even with sacrifice,</div>
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for the greater balance of things.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOPCR3DTH2TDXN42Tebs0qGF0wruY9WmwcSYaYcFl3M3g3tBxXTDJIr6SPeJ0IDtuWjknTKM7hXY52fxzvTzun_Em7NWuWnHRSwXP1ax9gk3Dl_F_Zp1q2RdTAIGJIsDIaLFJlv4fCbY/s1600/IMG_5719.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOPCR3DTH2TDXN42Tebs0qGF0wruY9WmwcSYaYcFl3M3g3tBxXTDJIr6SPeJ0IDtuWjknTKM7hXY52fxzvTzun_Em7NWuWnHRSwXP1ax9gk3Dl_F_Zp1q2RdTAIGJIsDIaLFJlv4fCbY/s1600/IMG_5719.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a> </div>
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My fruit trees arrived in the mail the same day I made an offer on a piece of land. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepVfuPkmudJTq38i-HlTGdsqzQcjoWh29EJ1FDWdYooNKvSv3_unQsH0Mjp_G9-OlY_iKOtL1UW6sQ0P62zCUtFCflchjupD6rzA0Q2t4tejCoOlPS38poK-Zk8XNj0Pj8o6T734p6tI/s1600/IMG_5721.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepVfuPkmudJTq38i-HlTGdsqzQcjoWh29EJ1FDWdYooNKvSv3_unQsH0Mjp_G9-OlY_iKOtL1UW6sQ0P62zCUtFCflchjupD6rzA0Q2t4tejCoOlPS38poK-Zk8XNj0Pj8o6T734p6tI/s1600/IMG_5721.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a> </div>
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I decided to start buying tractors and stuff again... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF10F4AFAY_AHGc1Jg9zF1G0QP2eSkTlF2PnfnRv-5_P7SL-LafA43KxY_WxzGUUzEMEZpRyefWGnDAWVHrtqb4LzGqT1VzJeljUHtt914WzK1ZqQ0siefn0I_hJjvfMKf8zK7AACUNQw/s1600/IMG_5717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF10F4AFAY_AHGc1Jg9zF1G0QP2eSkTlF2PnfnRv-5_P7SL-LafA43KxY_WxzGUUzEMEZpRyefWGnDAWVHrtqb4LzGqT1VzJeljUHtt914WzK1ZqQ0siefn0I_hJjvfMKf8zK7AACUNQw/s1600/IMG_5717.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Spring, FINALLY. </div>
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Things that seemed dead asleep for ages and ages come crawling up in shades of vibrant green.</div>
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Miracles. An eight-petaled bloom where snowflakes piled up three feet thick.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JRmOq1ZWcl81SeRGKycUt8di_DxmrQnamiYk3OuUXVjuQLKU4C-3TILEdVZwjMGtaKiAWlJFHmcFRZNbjnSNJ_TNhVt0kqteVuVehgikFULyNG2ehOh4P4JucTwv6iJCnbAjwMDXP54/s1600/IMG_5720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JRmOq1ZWcl81SeRGKycUt8di_DxmrQnamiYk3OuUXVjuQLKU4C-3TILEdVZwjMGtaKiAWlJFHmcFRZNbjnSNJ_TNhVt0kqteVuVehgikFULyNG2ehOh4P4JucTwv6iJCnbAjwMDXP54/s1600/IMG_5720.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then it happens, one evening, always when I'm not expecting it.</div>
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The urge to till the soil again.</div>
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To ask the gentle ground if she will bear us food</div>
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another year.</div>
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The silent sacrifice of earthworms to the plow,</div>
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the rich smell of warming soil,</div>
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what the steel and the diesel allow us...</div>
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Springtime creates strong instincts in animals, including human farmers.</div>
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To jump on the tractor and claim a piece of the land, in determined frenzy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHZ0rg-b3U3Y5heoaJhwysaX8ZbY3pw6wcUS0VBZiwpdy7EAtankUppEtAOb5IvBNurckRoZU4IeSnYbpjsSU3DjymgwdMXAzzG_QrLo0JzcZrNjvP99e2Iea4uaybwX4u6ku4vJPIYU/s1600/IMG_5718.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHZ0rg-b3U3Y5heoaJhwysaX8ZbY3pw6wcUS0VBZiwpdy7EAtankUppEtAOb5IvBNurckRoZU4IeSnYbpjsSU3DjymgwdMXAzzG_QrLo0JzcZrNjvP99e2Iea4uaybwX4u6ku4vJPIYU/s1600/IMG_5718.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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And now all those unromantic errands that go with farming,</div>
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like picking up new tractor tires from Waterloo,</div>
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clog up the never-ending TO-DO list.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_CHvXCRWiLnAZDXSHOcGVLBrip5GlQsx3iwEBnxgTcK172_NRGEz_fFQHIUlloqkVne56OiEcHH_mY1xVYgWWwiBh_C98ziqnUVGw2UcmqeybIgUn0ctZG2LUn2RWHzCWQDOOil9cFo/s1600/IMG_3486.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_CHvXCRWiLnAZDXSHOcGVLBrip5GlQsx3iwEBnxgTcK172_NRGEz_fFQHIUlloqkVne56OiEcHH_mY1xVYgWWwiBh_C98ziqnUVGw2UcmqeybIgUn0ctZG2LUn2RWHzCWQDOOil9cFo/s1600/IMG_3486.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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While the dandelion's spring to-do list includes:</div>
<ol style="text-align: left;"><ol><ol><ol><ol><ol><ol>
<li>LEAF</li>
<li>BUD</li>
<li>STEM</li>
<li>FLOWER</li>
<li>SEED</li>
</ol>
</ol>
</ol>
</ol>
</ol>
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Among other tasks, such as vital mineral acquisition and transport up from the deep. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPaztr2LsHIqyEmDex6DFIgVq-ZS3V_dVH53n9JSqLTC-60lpMakROeLFq_wqkOvGkTiUtCxmIyv1WMIamX4k4K8S6qFDxWCZGhptfRYfWdBX_R7YCmjmYs7TYTDukWu1wegh8aeQs4o/s1600/IMG_5722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPaztr2LsHIqyEmDex6DFIgVq-ZS3V_dVH53n9JSqLTC-60lpMakROeLFq_wqkOvGkTiUtCxmIyv1WMIamX4k4K8S6qFDxWCZGhptfRYfWdBX_R7YCmjmYs7TYTDukWu1wegh8aeQs4o/s1600/IMG_5722.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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And, as human species with capable large brains, </div>
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our To-Do list, this spring and beyond,</div>
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Maybe could include action on some long-term goals:</div>
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Like saving our toes, and our balance.</div>
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Our barns, our farms, and our communities.</div>
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Our one precious planet. </div>
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James Hansen, top Climate Scientist, spoke a few days ago in Rochester, NY, </div>
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and suggested his hope</div>
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for our future</div>
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lies in <a href="https://citizensclimatelobby.org/">projects like this</a>.</div>
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Let's direct our vital energy this spring to what is truly important to us.</div>
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The time to wander like lazy snowflakes is over.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qrbI0bXG83xDvFvH8Ykh9iqLlnzJ8WQhh8i-lFcht2qH16JNCMlNmCHjPWC97aEEpO87SrU4CG-icO7dmhi_0gSCHvlNHL2aXtTyy4V7jbwD944fFRRIWon72GOwQY49MTfeMLt6Gs0/s1600/IMG_3485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qrbI0bXG83xDvFvH8Ykh9iqLlnzJ8WQhh8i-lFcht2qH16JNCMlNmCHjPWC97aEEpO87SrU4CG-icO7dmhi_0gSCHvlNHL2aXtTyy4V7jbwD944fFRRIWon72GOwQY49MTfeMLt6Gs0/s1600/IMG_3485.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Bloom where you are planted, </div>
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bloom strong, </div>
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in the face of the frozen past and the uncertain future.</div>
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A barn builds community, as the community builds a barn.</div>
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Same applies for taking one down I would say.</div>
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Last week I went down to Groveland to lend a hand in the dismantling of a "small" barn which is ages old, and has been taken down and put back up who knows how many times.</div>
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This barn was taken down and put back up here by my friend Eli, who thought he was going to be farming in Groveland, and now finds himself moving to a well-established farm in Newark (<a href="http://www.peaceworkcsa.org/">Peacework</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> Farm</a>). Funny how plans change. I don't know anything about that!</div>
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Eli gifted the barn to Ruth to put up at<a href="http://www.mudcreekfarm.com/"> Mud Creek Farm</a> over in Victor, as long as she could... take it down and put it back up. Of course, she is not going to do this by herself. So about 15 of us pitched in for the day, in the ages old practice of coming together as a community so the job gets done and nobody gets hurt.</div>
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We dismantled the thing using a variety of techniques... a constructed A-frame & pulley system which I am still not actually sure how the thing worked... heavy-duty straps... ladders...supports...</div>
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...pounding out the wooden pegs that hold the whole thing together.</div>
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Lazy snowflakes fell silently and disappeared in the mud, and the blackbirds announced their territories around the pond. I looked around and felt glad to have all these wonderful people in my community, young people who value things like old barns.</div>
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Finally the last wall remained.</div>
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We were going to take this wall down by the strength of our arms alone. <br />
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Slowly, slowly, carefully, carefully. Everyone ok? Over there, over there! Yeah, right there. </div>
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Keep breathing. Slowly. Good. </div>
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A whole minute of extreme concentration, where every bird's syllable becomes crisp and clear, </div>
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and you value things like </div>
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the traction of boots and leather gloves, the muscles in everyone's arms, tall people.<br /><br />
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Just to give you an idea of the weight of these beams, some of them took 10 people to lift. </div>
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Serious oak, the kind they're not making anymore.</div>
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And we did it! </div>
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Then we dismantled all the walls on the ground, pounding them apart where they fit together like lincoln-logs, each perfect little slot fitting neatly into the next beam. How I admire those little hand-carved wooden pegs that miraculously hold a thing like a barn together. </div>
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After the truck and trailer got stuck in the mud trying to get down to the barn, we decided we would have to haul them up the hill to the road.</div>
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We piled high the trailer that would take this barn to it's new home.</div>
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Nothing left here but a bit of clean-up, and the ghost of a dream that hardly started in this field.</div>
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Although he directed the day's progress with good spirit, I feel a bit of Eli's sadness in the going-away of his plans for this land. At breaktime, we all marched through his piles of farm junk and timidly laid our claims. A historic agrarian sight-- a bunch of dirt-covered people standing around in their boots, discussing the value of a grain drill. Or a walk-in cooler if these folks are vegetable farmers.</div>
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Plans change. Stuff gets swapped around. I gave away all my farm junk for a trip around the universe of the heart. It was worth it. Now I get to buy stuff to farm with again.</div>
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There's always a chance to start anew, even after a disaster like winter. </div>
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And, I guess, nothing really ever stays the same, not even an ages old barn.</div>
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But what doesn't change is our will to grow, our will to be a part of something bigger, something lasting, to be part of a family of friends, to help things along when fifteen can do what one or two can't. </div>
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<br />erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-6950642574807574832015-03-28T13:54:00.001-07:002015-03-28T13:54:47.565-07:00Therapeutic Farming<div style="text-align: left;">
Let the growing begin! </div>
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I've started my work at the <a href="http://www.equicenterny.org/">EquiCenter</a> in Honeoye Falls, NY, as Farm Manager of their newly developing program for Therapeutic Farming! The EquiCenter currently offers horseback riding and other equestrian activities to people with disabilities, at-risk youth, Veterans, and their families. They have 200 acres of beautiful fields and 25 beautiful horses! It's the perfect situation for starting a food-growing project: beautiful rolling landscapes of pasture and hay, tractors, tools, barns, a group of eager volunteers, and as much manure as we need!</div>
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The EquiCenter has been already working with <a href="https://www2.naz.edu/academics/minors/horticultural-therapy">Dr. Beverly Brown</a>, a Horticultural Therapist and professor at Nazareth College, to develop a program at the EquiCenter using small raised-bed gardens. Now they've hired me to help them go from "garden" to "farm," increasing their ability for healthy organic production of food to distribute to families in need and the communities they are already working with.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqCCQxUMGLnRMn75qTw3kiGutCPfbjxJOPy5eo-EwtaiI53EdPpImVxyKtU_V-VkWgG1rUUNsV3U94iVvdcwXsOZHSJgiKuXdBnDApWmoachkGUbMB-AFpncLIfOXZnf0q0pAI_lAIUA/s1600/IMG_5450_2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqCCQxUMGLnRMn75qTw3kiGutCPfbjxJOPy5eo-EwtaiI53EdPpImVxyKtU_V-VkWgG1rUUNsV3U94iVvdcwXsOZHSJgiKuXdBnDApWmoachkGUbMB-AFpncLIfOXZnf0q0pAI_lAIUA/s1600/IMG_5450_2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Nazareth College has generously donated use of their greenhouse until we've got our own. It's a fancy high-tech glass greenhouse with automatic temperature and humidity control, and I've even set up automatic watering on our germinating seeds. We're also growing vegetable and flower starts for the healing garden at Nazareth that the students help run, and I am speaking to classes about organic farming. I run a weekly volunteer session, for folks to come out and learn how to start vegetables from seed. Many people are coming out to lend a hand-- we are almost out of room in there! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWby0mgBr0WVwGQGMwBpVc87oSsrr2joV6QFuEfW-7YYRAt1npMEmBOgL_8tB95W0EVuo1UqhG-Xl2fia9B3ubtxEl_oPWOZvtiigWyfnka4saLOJtOhwWw_H3VaxpL6ws-ZaSWp1KR4/s1600/IMG_5434_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWby0mgBr0WVwGQGMwBpVc87oSsrr2joV6QFuEfW-7YYRAt1npMEmBOgL_8tB95W0EVuo1UqhG-Xl2fia9B3ubtxEl_oPWOZvtiigWyfnka4saLOJtOhwWw_H3VaxpL6ws-ZaSWp1KR4/s1600/IMG_5434_2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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How nice is it to smell the <a href="http://www.lighthouse-gardens.com/Lighthouse_Gardens/Home.html">compost-rich earthy potting soil </a>and get your hands in it? After a cold snowy winter, this is a welcome activity for me, and I am already benefiting from the therapeutic elements of germinating seeds in unfrozen soil. Another benefit is the focused meditative state that comes with concentrating on putting just one tiny seed in each cell of the plastic seedling trays. I like to imagine the full head of lettuce that each seed will become. What a miracle I get to participate in. What a powerful act to help turn soil, water, sunlight, and a speck of a seed, into a big healthy salad for a family.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6qjWL2uem8GT2tPNEezCxIy2Dd7s73hHnL1GS5zmnfCt7_SwBpout6a503DW2HRJGL0x8QQbJ70IvtCnyoFqk1Ssiy_YZLG21e2o-GaVBSbqQy-tEejqc8625FanGa5gPMDX1oreRnI/s1600/IMG_5446.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6qjWL2uem8GT2tPNEezCxIy2Dd7s73hHnL1GS5zmnfCt7_SwBpout6a503DW2HRJGL0x8QQbJ70IvtCnyoFqk1Ssiy_YZLG21e2o-GaVBSbqQy-tEejqc8625FanGa5gPMDX1oreRnI/s1600/IMG_5446.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </div>
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We have started some broccoli, kale, onions, flowers, and lettuce so far! Someday the snow will finally melt and we can plant these in the ground. My planting schedule says they will be ready at the end of April. I hope the ground will be thawed and dry by then! I will be leading regular volunteer days several times a week out at the EquiCenter Farm starting in May. Email me if you want to help out: ebullock at EquiCenterNY dot org. All ages and abilities are welcome to participate. Come be a part of the miracle. The hungry world needs you.</div>
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erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-51038354733002485562015-03-26T21:40:00.001-07:002015-03-31T05:10:17.184-07:00Winter PastimesIt's been over five months since I've written a blog entry! I feel
as if I've been in hibernation, but looking back over my photo record of
the winter, I realize that I've been all over: <br />
<br />
1. Land Searching!<br />
2. Big Picture Learning & Practicing<br />
3. Civic Duty in DC<br />
4. Visits to Faraway Friends<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEnhkiXhHJPMwkWKwMOG1Dn1DqfRH8mJzez-qYRETpHqhGaLhDwqDf-gP18eQJjvvqnV2YbEi_xyyy_8-fEQv3P8vF6Gr_bkFxzW1OgOi7qKiTqgEpF8b-XrUgM3TS8QZSopH_5vqviw/s1600/IMG_4371.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEnhkiXhHJPMwkWKwMOG1Dn1DqfRH8mJzez-qYRETpHqhGaLhDwqDf-gP18eQJjvvqnV2YbEi_xyyy_8-fEQv3P8vF6Gr_bkFxzW1OgOi7qKiTqgEpF8b-XrUgM3TS8QZSopH_5vqviw/s1600/IMG_4371.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
This
land search deal has lasted for 6 years, as my patient real estate
agent knows well. However, since I sold my farm business and moved out
of town, and then through life's unexpected twists and turns, moved BACK
to Rochester, the search has intensified. I know I want to farm, I
know where I want to farm, I know how to farm, and I know that I don't
want to farm on leased land anymore.<br />
<br />
I've been looking
high and low, far and wide, for the right place to plant my roots for
the rest of this lifetime. Land-searching in the wintertime lets me
flex my creative-visioning muscles, dreaming up colorful abundance in
monotone landscapes that often look more like the surface of the moon
than an organic fruit or vegetable farm. But I enjoy walking through
fields, and I enjoy dreaming and planning. Here is a sampling of the
landscapes I've seen this winter, some candidates for my lifelong
stewardship:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjb5kQeXB4bdMRBP3qP0lYPljL3pDhLfdaXjcAHN1KhTCAJEVAfH_Fj_3gwP-HUr8JsEontDaWJMG1NsnxJB_2g9BNy55ivFBPWmkgMlCVdHwAtx2aDqBttSLoiVL6WoPKtZIl9WOW2tA/s1600/IMG_4865.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjb5kQeXB4bdMRBP3qP0lYPljL3pDhLfdaXjcAHN1KhTCAJEVAfH_Fj_3gwP-HUr8JsEontDaWJMG1NsnxJB_2g9BNy55ivFBPWmkgMlCVdHwAtx2aDqBttSLoiVL6WoPKtZIl9WOW2tA/s1600/IMG_4865.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UN8kUpdBHEYz72KW2_QOMPmIuBi-2aTk0plJ6j5ofljhK7xWZSdP8P7OwLNfI1i6HM4Ir3kV4YXPWn905dtEaWa1zFuR_3KcFdG-kW4NfaNXBhF9T_kwn8Wnm4Ik1cJu9r-YdZIMrao/s1600/IMG_4351.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UN8kUpdBHEYz72KW2_QOMPmIuBi-2aTk0plJ6j5ofljhK7xWZSdP8P7OwLNfI1i6HM4Ir3kV4YXPWn905dtEaWa1zFuR_3KcFdG-kW4NfaNXBhF9T_kwn8Wnm4Ik1cJu9r-YdZIMrao/s1600/IMG_4351.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0JpnSgb3fEN0lu8hQXNlOXyuz22lLls5WpMb5kWyihSt1FxPjLXZY3bxEtP1AXpRHifEL-2nIinBF1s7ktDNlBbcivCfxj16WlYS7O-cjUcoDgRWoslPa83mkhBWTn0xzNFgG077WZY/s1600/IMG_4770.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0JpnSgb3fEN0lu8hQXNlOXyuz22lLls5WpMb5kWyihSt1FxPjLXZY3bxEtP1AXpRHifEL-2nIinBF1s7ktDNlBbcivCfxj16WlYS7O-cjUcoDgRWoslPa83mkhBWTn0xzNFgG077WZY/s1600/IMG_4770.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKstdwDwlTVOS9rlQgpi6AWtIvOIOKLD0WN11j47LiMXY_fZRdlqmMMeTabHfTn1QV2TiYJ1E9iUXLXH0AIFFR0uD1OG-aquZ3UMeJnOkhqLkZo1WtWdHyIjAqMXvZeOBMa30YNxsqq4/s1600/IMG_5341.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKstdwDwlTVOS9rlQgpi6AWtIvOIOKLD0WN11j47LiMXY_fZRdlqmMMeTabHfTn1QV2TiYJ1E9iUXLXH0AIFFR0uD1OG-aquZ3UMeJnOkhqLkZo1WtWdHyIjAqMXvZeOBMa30YNxsqq4/s1600/IMG_5341.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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And
oh, the soil maps! I may have the glacially-formed landscape of all
arable topsoil less than 30 miles south of Rochester memorized by the
time I'm finished with this search. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nyxnigjxgDruLUdlODALDcJJfGztdNIvV_ncJQQGxayKtbppvpcEKctD-Xk1E2CiBEWIcy9YJq7HVUyE_evGd9ifqxbQLBrmLhtNsfL9A1C3rL31oiHBs6Lmgr1Ky94TroaaGwxSvuo/s1600/IMG_4286.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nyxnigjxgDruLUdlODALDcJJfGztdNIvV_ncJQQGxayKtbppvpcEKctD-Xk1E2CiBEWIcy9YJq7HVUyE_evGd9ifqxbQLBrmLhtNsfL9A1C3rL31oiHBs6Lmgr1Ky94TroaaGwxSvuo/s1600/IMG_4286.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nyxnigjxgDruLUdlODALDcJJfGztdNIvV_ncJQQGxayKtbppvpcEKctD-Xk1E2CiBEWIcy9YJq7HVUyE_evGd9ifqxbQLBrmLhtNsfL9A1C3rL31oiHBs6Lmgr1Ky94TroaaGwxSvuo/s1600/IMG_4286.JPG" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nyxnigjxgDruLUdlODALDcJJfGztdNIvV_ncJQQGxayKtbppvpcEKctD-Xk1E2CiBEWIcy9YJq7HVUyE_evGd9ifqxbQLBrmLhtNsfL9A1C3rL31oiHBs6Lmgr1Ky94TroaaGwxSvuo/s1600/IMG_4286.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
And
the barns. I have always been in love with these pastoral dinosaurs.
Unfortunately, many of them are falling down because we have
collectively turned our backs on these relics that were once so central
to our thriving rural communities and economies. Now we often just
store junk until the whole thing collapses.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5CPDJ0aDjVdNiVryyMeD1RYhMm4dHwl6_Tc_B4Wa8J3_es1PgQbCCoQDOqVXueT_1WQ3xp80Psix2dpLsz8Pz1G60je37kAC31qGG6g3cxCI7_jBiVALZormJdfBd10p2yE5L0hN68s/s1600/IMG_4829.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5CPDJ0aDjVdNiVryyMeD1RYhMm4dHwl6_Tc_B4Wa8J3_es1PgQbCCoQDOqVXueT_1WQ3xp80Psix2dpLsz8Pz1G60je37kAC31qGG6g3cxCI7_jBiVALZormJdfBd10p2yE5L0hN68s/s1600/IMG_4829.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLgNSBbRNrvUHLwpabefcGN-R__apXyYxsmty7vvyfgST2kKwQX47d38e4pn2Z7ucx__rJDQdt_A7QmwWCnt2zyKqP_jZbV_YXCdgvw2cXEN5q2YCa-aFDo8fhDMoEUwf5yQXdx2kVvk/s1600/IMG_4847.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLgNSBbRNrvUHLwpabefcGN-R__apXyYxsmty7vvyfgST2kKwQX47d38e4pn2Z7ucx__rJDQdt_A7QmwWCnt2zyKqP_jZbV_YXCdgvw2cXEN5q2YCa-aFDo8fhDMoEUwf5yQXdx2kVvk/s1600/IMG_4847.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQo4eGEJb9l7jbc-D9R5YwUhrPn6F8JJ0VO4luGylm9F7RkJ-c579sb3TFTzQR2K5Jos1CNg_Q3oaEcedUzC5vWP9hyphenhyphen2dsHztNgIM0840ws4zgMHtPOkRJJBkaTn5AmfbX9Q7K-e84Rl4/s1600/IMG_5397.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQo4eGEJb9l7jbc-D9R5YwUhrPn6F8JJ0VO4luGylm9F7RkJ-c579sb3TFTzQR2K5Jos1CNg_Q3oaEcedUzC5vWP9hyphenhyphen2dsHztNgIM0840ws4zgMHtPOkRJJBkaTn5AmfbX9Q7K-e84Rl4/s1600/IMG_5397.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </div>
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But,
other than prancing around in collapsing barns and across tundras of
blowing snow, I've filled my time with learning, in its various forms--
from gatherings to farm visits. Also, practicing meditation, at <a href="http://www.bluecliffmonastery.org/">Blue Cliff Monastery</a> as well as on my own.<br />
<br />
I was blessed to be invited to a lovely meeting of the <a href="http://northeastpermaculture.org/">Permaculture Institute of the Northeast (PINE) </a>at
the Omega Center in Rhinebeck. These committed folks are thinking
really long-term: how we will be growing our food in a not only organic
and sustainable way, but absolutely regenerative, restorative, and
resilient! We brainstormed, networked, shared experiences and project
ideas. I am excited to learn more and more about how agriculture can
change and adapt beautifully to a changing climate.<br />
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<br />
I spent a few days with <a href="http://www.edibleacres.org/">Sean Dembrosky in Trumansburg</a>,
who is becoming a serious expert at extreme backyard food production--
he is experimenting with locally-adapted fruit and nut tree varieties,
shittake mushrooms, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biochar">bio-char production</a>.
We stayed up tending neat pit-fires of recently felled pine trees, then
poured water on them when they were all red-hot as hell. What remains
is not ash but a dark stable form of carbon which can stay in the soil
for thousands of years, adding fertility to garden beds for the
long-term. This is a practice that indigenous people used for many
years in the tropics, but we are just starting to learn now, and it
could be an important tool for our atmospheric-carbon problem.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4WrZ-qzTrgbYagLV1gr9poaMNkXeOCr3YmlwDKn2QMdcj31nEvKE8kWuUnkZTgB-tXNqZoc9gTADNvUqm5r2TGvzpAG-6xANHUJZTGosL4cg0MGv03xRg4EGuWVge2biU1JTsHYp_Ec/s1600/IMG_4256.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4WrZ-qzTrgbYagLV1gr9poaMNkXeOCr3YmlwDKn2QMdcj31nEvKE8kWuUnkZTgB-tXNqZoc9gTADNvUqm5r2TGvzpAG-6xANHUJZTGosL4cg0MGv03xRg4EGuWVge2biU1JTsHYp_Ec/s1600/IMG_4256.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ACGI8DLwtbnD-OPj3vW-mobLy0vgrpqwt4LeVdJGCjbJjteaX9EEStJaCj87H3NKAH44qnLirFzqK1Q_6qS-ueU0mqOebHpQvq7H-pfWTJv7ZrHAF_WkMms5iYM1_6mb0iSwlQ6mpq4/s1600/IMG_4269.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ACGI8DLwtbnD-OPj3vW-mobLy0vgrpqwt4LeVdJGCjbJjteaX9EEStJaCj87H3NKAH44qnLirFzqK1Q_6qS-ueU0mqOebHpQvq7H-pfWTJv7ZrHAF_WkMms5iYM1_6mb0iSwlQ6mpq4/s1600/IMG_4269.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have been hanging out with my favorite farmer-mentor,<a href="http://newfarm.rodaleinstitute.org/archive/1000_stories/sare_stories/henderson.shtml"> Elizabeth Henderson.</a> She and I both live in the city of Rochester now, so we like to get out to farms on field-trips and stuff: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSjOR-lN3A0qYer8bqpe37Fi2sGLuNp-mu79cpTkN_YzHLLewMhzA25WT47NXiglle-IfS5takTxErYVN8OOai-24frWERhyL06M_4zN3ApjWscMrZFxBEVShCK6JVHugv9o0hUBd6uI/s1600/IMG_4294.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSjOR-lN3A0qYer8bqpe37Fi2sGLuNp-mu79cpTkN_YzHLLewMhzA25WT47NXiglle-IfS5takTxErYVN8OOai-24frWERhyL06M_4zN3ApjWscMrZFxBEVShCK6JVHugv9o0hUBd6uI/s1600/IMG_4294.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This is our field-trip to see <a href="http://www.wegmans.com/blog/2013/11/lasting-rootsmason-farms/">Doug Mason</a>'s hundreds of acres of produce, and high-tech warehouse:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rc7_dUEDwD1LqcorBtBvJQKrNhyphenhyphen2-iK16QCHukOzCDF-wthpD9oKkMHUCBCZJ8rdYg9PjXXy10c7rcciDPEviAN6Jgx4iqhJ8ejrbsWkyVkN4FjfgzfTSed5QXLcOdj3IiDOzY3NCuA/s1600/IMG_4300.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rc7_dUEDwD1LqcorBtBvJQKrNhyphenhyphen2-iK16QCHukOzCDF-wthpD9oKkMHUCBCZJ8rdYg9PjXXy10c7rcciDPEviAN6Jgx4iqhJ8ejrbsWkyVkN4FjfgzfTSed5QXLcOdj3IiDOzY3NCuA/s1600/IMG_4300.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
I swear we are not a Carhart ad. And yes, those are robots x-raying and sorting apples for size, color, and defects.<br />
<br />
Another
field trip: I couldn't pass up a visit with my favorite kids in the
world, Felix and Zola, who just moved to Cooperstown with their
omelette-providing buddies.<br />
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<br />
And it was a good fall for gathering wild mushrooms! My housemate Emily and I found a 50-pound <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laetiporus">Chicken-of-the-Woods</a>
while walking the dog along the Genesee River, eating it for many meals
for several weeks, and freezing some for the winter months. And these
Maitake were abundant and delicious in a woods which will remain
anonymous!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OvnkAfOOlxu7Hbciv8uH6hr1bTVueTzA5iY1zm_dADiXgDL3i-Os9XKoivdMzRP6tU0gOjQcwRlVhVdjYJeWQIs4ZPgauWitNq81KmxltijmCM7U_B73nMoRVVY1HiQM89BBLWw_V9M/s1600/IMG_4361.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OvnkAfOOlxu7Hbciv8uH6hr1bTVueTzA5iY1zm_dADiXgDL3i-Os9XKoivdMzRP6tU0gOjQcwRlVhVdjYJeWQIs4ZPgauWitNq81KmxltijmCM7U_B73nMoRVVY1HiQM89BBLWw_V9M/s1600/IMG_4361.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I
got to tour the apple orchards of Ontario and Williamson, up by the
lake where the weather is moderate for fruit growing and the landscape
almost looks like Napa Valley. New apple production is all on a trellis
system like grape vines, except 10 feet tall! "Trees" are planted as
dense as two feet apart and pruned aggressively. I understand the
practical reasons for this change in techniques, and appreciate the
skill and beauty that goes into it all. But I still have questions
about the long-term resilience of a system like this, which currently is
dependent on a lot of chemical sprays.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHn1zGG7A-GvRDUhmNjt_NjdrfOqoYrSyHKGaUMsnowFVPUW7aY4VHWq1frZykMZauK7pe5TEnSQ7Sbs68HMhDASTibuHTtSi6DvVIHsWVqo46yK6vW8RKee_GF7gn6FMVZT6wDqaBL3w/s1600/IMG_4417.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHn1zGG7A-GvRDUhmNjt_NjdrfOqoYrSyHKGaUMsnowFVPUW7aY4VHWq1frZykMZauK7pe5TEnSQ7Sbs68HMhDASTibuHTtSi6DvVIHsWVqo46yK6vW8RKee_GF7gn6FMVZT6wDqaBL3w/s1600/IMG_4417.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Winter
is also for dancing -- I learned that a local grange hall hosts a
monthly Cajun Zydeco band, a sign out in front claiming that it is the
largest grange in the USA! It is a beautiful building, and as I get
down on that lovely wood floor, I feel connected to all my ancestral
booty-shakin' agrarian folks.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Oh,
also berry pies. I like to perfect my pie crust practice in the
winter. We all need more butter in our lives when the temperatures go
below freezing. These were made from wild grapes!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVnKlVUR_72Ov47wk1gSLNcLsyBF_6Z5ibDCy8XVUgY4h-h5TuOd8I9f4lCG8jDvG6XQYhzpyE-0WkNSEC_wkQxBKPJavIWnakYb8UkmUkuWceg5XSrtEHr4_RVOYvhsc2AE1-1jBF-s/s1600/IMG_4687.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVnKlVUR_72Ov47wk1gSLNcLsyBF_6Z5ibDCy8XVUgY4h-h5TuOd8I9f4lCG8jDvG6XQYhzpyE-0WkNSEC_wkQxBKPJavIWnakYb8UkmUkuWceg5XSrtEHr4_RVOYvhsc2AE1-1jBF-s/s1600/IMG_4687.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Can't
say enough about Blue Cliff Monastery, in the Catskills, and the
life-changing lessons I've experienced there. Sitting on a cushion in
silence, I learn again and again that peace and happiness are not
something to be sought after but are actually present and accessible at
all moments when we just wake up to the fact that we are alive right
now!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqeu9jz-ymIKfvRknrxVCL_1WVEvRq_yRf7q8U1jLVmwD81D_PDDR7I9zk3If2r86XqJYBKXrK0xqUE3t2nIw43L96s0Gz_F0sC7csvMqi2i7scHy8vUqpDPKociUeIQyNv1ftGqT7JAA/s1600/IMG_4515.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqeu9jz-ymIKfvRknrxVCL_1WVEvRq_yRf7q8U1jLVmwD81D_PDDR7I9zk3If2r86XqJYBKXrK0xqUE3t2nIw43L96s0Gz_F0sC7csvMqi2i7scHy8vUqpDPKociUeIQyNv1ftGqT7JAA/s1600/IMG_4515.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<br />
I
got the wonderful chance to lobby in DC as an organic farmer concerned
with the fact that so much of our food in the US comes from genetically
modified crops which were designed by the big-ag industry to tolerate
vast spraying of herbicides. I was joined by a dozen other organic
farmers from around the country, as well as top scientists researching
these herbicides and <a href="http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/our-failing-food-system/industrial-agriculture/the-rise-of-superweeds.html#.VRTM-Wbo6pM">"super-weed" resistance</a>,
which requires farmers to spray more and more chemicals in order to
kill weeds, a toxic treadmill which poisons our land, our water, and our
bodies, and only benefits the companies selling the chemicals.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yuHxEemqA5bEmZAC1YM-1EI_z-dsKMAe-hbyLaxdktwv5FxvO3IyFW5XZ8NX6w36ATD04pGXD-_kx-YldNVuMy8bfJ6J-AYsUZWRa8BCHa2EHnqQqBT89DheVyvGS7WC7ih006Q0qec/s1600/IMG_5037.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yuHxEemqA5bEmZAC1YM-1EI_z-dsKMAe-hbyLaxdktwv5FxvO3IyFW5XZ8NX6w36ATD04pGXD-_kx-YldNVuMy8bfJ6J-AYsUZWRa8BCHa2EHnqQqBT89DheVyvGS7WC7ih006Q0qec/s1600/IMG_5037.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW8dlmZuZx-8UWwVfz-NxB8RZYBHgGYoU21l3LZl40X1x-MEseQxUOWmRVivXr-DhtSuGjvmSup0nSrDJdYXyRDRnOoiW_2D_GNtFZ-NmxObBgSp349d7W-e5bE9Qn1DP8ww8DQCOLXds/s1600/IMG_5030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW8dlmZuZx-8UWwVfz-NxB8RZYBHgGYoU21l3LZl40X1x-MEseQxUOWmRVivXr-DhtSuGjvmSup0nSrDJdYXyRDRnOoiW_2D_GNtFZ-NmxObBgSp349d7W-e5bE9Qn1DP8ww8DQCOLXds/s1600/IMG_5030.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a> </div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2015/03/24/394912399/a-top-weedkiiller-probably-causes-cancer-should-we-be-scared">An important report</a>
just came out from the World Health Organization that the world's most
popular herbicide, glyphosate (Round-Up), probably causes cancer. Over
80 million acres in the US are sprayed with this stuff each year, so
this is a bid deal.<br />
<br />
I have been disappointed by all the
US mainstream press coverage on this report, which across the board
seems to defend Monsanto's claim that this science, done by French
researchers working for the International Agency for Research on Cancer,
is faulty and not to be listened to. I hope that people can read
between the lines to see that of course a gigantic multinational company
like Monsanto, and others in the industry, will spend millions to try
to convince us that its toxic chemical business is safe! They have a
lot at stake! But so do we...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiTiDggF9StIQV9IRp6xaCek_aF-E7lesoaafGWf3k1kqsD56zYd3cQzaIfrrM3TZfVFEIEvfWULZfrrLnPMQ256KxqAMHa8bNXYPat1vXhIIPlk6sO0w7PA_2l_deRmSFv0z_c2SQk8/s1600/IMG_5033.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiTiDggF9StIQV9IRp6xaCek_aF-E7lesoaafGWf3k1kqsD56zYd3cQzaIfrrM3TZfVFEIEvfWULZfrrLnPMQ256KxqAMHa8bNXYPat1vXhIIPlk6sO0w7PA_2l_deRmSFv0z_c2SQk8/s1600/IMG_5033.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In
DC I got to see it from the inside, hear it direct from the mouths of
our legislators: the agribusiness industry has lobbyists in there <b>all the time</b>,
telling them about studies that their (paid by Monsanto) scientists
have come up with to prove that the chemicals are absolutely safe. The
Senate and House staffers asked us to show them science which proves the
hazards of glyphosate-saturated GMO crop production -- they honestly do
want a clear and true view. We left them with a few facts, a few
stories, (I may have shed a few tears), but really, we do lack a lot of
solid scientific evidence. That's because there's no money to fund
these kinds of studies. It seems like science is no longer a noble
effort for truth; results you are looking for can be easily bought.<br />
<br />
The two scientists I spent the day with in the Senate confirmed this story: the research they are doing at <a href="http://www.weedecologypsu.com/whos-who.html">Penn State</a>
and Washington State University (which highlight the potential hazards
of escalating herbicide use, and dire warnings about cancer and birth
defects) is consistently squelched, accused, questioned, and called
"junk science" by the industry. These are intelligent men with PhD's,
with genuine concern for people's health and the future health of our
land and our planet. They have volunteered their time, like me, to fly
to DC to try to help our law-makers understand the situation we are in.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgISpE6uujmsm6bpZnO-DXWt5HtRV1Qfpx59uhCRfQzu55TasZFrfdu3sbcEhtZ_M6nHJhahxoKzNBnMo_YND_Gbu-ZpPhnA4lJJckXRRWiWoDkGU6aSCCferZ3OTcB1fNNjE4-rMXKTw/s1600/IMG_5045.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgISpE6uujmsm6bpZnO-DXWt5HtRV1Qfpx59uhCRfQzu55TasZFrfdu3sbcEhtZ_M6nHJhahxoKzNBnMo_YND_Gbu-ZpPhnA4lJJckXRRWiWoDkGU6aSCCferZ3OTcB1fNNjE4-rMXKTw/s1600/IMG_5045.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Monsanto's
lobbyists are probably not volunteering. What an eye-opener for me to
understand how things function in this country. Big corporations have
money to be able to basically make laws as friendly to their purposes as
possible. Their purposes being: making more money. They may claim to
be feeding the world through technology-enhanced crops, but I'm sorry,
the world can feed itself in<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-rodale/6-reasons-organics-can-fe_b_1399380.html?"> a much better way.</a>
It's just that no one is making much money as a small organic farmer
growing for their local community. So our ability to change laws is
limited. <br />
<br />
But we try! Below, my new friends Matthew
Raiford, 6th-generation veteran-farmer from Georgia, and Kara Boyd,
president of the Association of American Indian Farmers! I feel so
honored to be a part of this hopeful effort. I truly believe that our
hearts are stronger, in the long run, than the dollars that are
currently turning the wheels of our "democracy." <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbedQNL0koh-Jryaq-G3tYE8q6uplO6wjyRDoZhUX_PX3pRKYhBsdqg9urkGfAfjuAXPHwDPDz4hVg5Rv2fREzzfqKLvqljBlxFk6kI7VS37qHIKMBQ11AjfY0UMHqaaqskJruqphLgE/s1600/IMG_5026.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbedQNL0koh-Jryaq-G3tYE8q6uplO6wjyRDoZhUX_PX3pRKYhBsdqg9urkGfAfjuAXPHwDPDz4hVg5Rv2fREzzfqKLvqljBlxFk6kI7VS37qHIKMBQ11AjfY0UMHqaaqskJruqphLgE/s1600/IMG_5026.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After
this intense civic effort, I turned west-ward, to my heart's longing
for sun, green, ocean, and old friends in California. Goodbye, winter
storm warnings, hello Half-Moon Bay. Everyone needs a little splurge once in a while.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aO2-zpeuSTkopwwn226UEDo6b82UK3Z4avG1-1dFUOOm8VJfBlhAAN0vwBuvbSeBILzC3reRE4cHsPaTkaRpLvxruLulB5FzkBkerW5Nw0vh-rfk6SrDmemtoDsTnkcXrS2aOxA4Gg4/s1600/IMG_4622.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aO2-zpeuSTkopwwn226UEDo6b82UK3Z4avG1-1dFUOOm8VJfBlhAAN0vwBuvbSeBILzC3reRE4cHsPaTkaRpLvxruLulB5FzkBkerW5Nw0vh-rfk6SrDmemtoDsTnkcXrS2aOxA4Gg4/s1600/IMG_4622.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGxpSIA8JMBYSetNhDwWTBUNq9-nNOFHtf9KgSraonUlw29MIgbiU9rsQGJbhjzkcmQwVo6vFAd9XW52AC2VXAXPv5n-bRinbMaKQYroTLMiRSPiWFWmYePeq9sCIRqqaGOoKDX5h06I/s1600/IMG_5100.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGxpSIA8JMBYSetNhDwWTBUNq9-nNOFHtf9KgSraonUlw29MIgbiU9rsQGJbhjzkcmQwVo6vFAd9XW52AC2VXAXPv5n-bRinbMaKQYroTLMiRSPiWFWmYePeq9sCIRqqaGOoKDX5h06I/s1600/IMG_5100.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </div>
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Now
it's March, back to a shades-of-grey landscape, invisibly lined with
the hopefulness of flowing sap, buds preparing themselves for another
season's growth, farmers preparing themselves for long days of work.</div>
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I
am taking soil samples through a foot of snow. I am as eager as those
buds. I am a seed almost bursting with its desire to put roots into the
ground. </div>
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I
am turning my new hatchback into a truck again, filling it with rusty
farm equipment and a fine layer of dirt. (My old hatchback didn't make
it through the winter.)</div>
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And I am dreaming of summer, of blueberries, and of a bright future of good hard work powered by the heart.</div>
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erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-6206037994262502182014-10-13T08:41:00.001-07:002014-10-13T08:41:39.042-07:00Small Potatoes and Industrial Food Economics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzI8UJe4f_fXCnMBatGsiFNG5yNM2KNh07R4mowavuqG1w6E0P5pBITXR_R3UivbrQSQneYHKD9aF3z4P646ug8dLK6BpZh99KMGXdn2vs5yCoZH1KFtaMFs5VEPaofZB6l2bc40gBuI/s1600/IMG_4180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzI8UJe4f_fXCnMBatGsiFNG5yNM2KNh07R4mowavuqG1w6E0P5pBITXR_R3UivbrQSQneYHKD9aF3z4P646ug8dLK6BpZh99KMGXdn2vs5yCoZH1KFtaMFs5VEPaofZB6l2bc40gBuI/s1600/IMG_4180.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I decided to write about this subject because of a New York Times opinion piece that came out in August titled, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/10/opinion/sunday/dont-let-your-children-grow-up-to-be-farmers.html?_r=1">"Don't Let Your Children Grow Up to Be Farmers"</a>. While it may have hit some of us a little close to home, with its photo of three straw-hat-plaid-shirt-wearing lads, bending to pick up rocks in a dry dusty field, it made some good points. The author, himself a young farmer, argued that for all the hullabaloo of the foodie movement, small-scale farmers are just not making ends meet. Taking a look at the statistics, he might be right. US median farm income in 2012 was negative $1,453. This article got my parents concerned.<br />
<br />
According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, over 75 percent of all farms in the US had annual sales of less than $50,000 ("small farms"), but together they produced only 3 percent of the total value of agricultural products sold. In contrast, less than half of one percent of farms had agricultural sales of more than $5,000,000 ("big farms"), but these few farms produced 32 percent of the total value of all agricultural products sold. Farms with sales of $1,000,000 or more -- 4 percent of all farms -- produced 66 percent of the total value.<br />
<br />
So there are a few big farms out there, making most of the money, and there are a lot of little farms out there, barely making anything. And the gap is widening. Between 2007 and 2012, the number of "mid-sized farms" has steadily declined, while large farms (over 1,000 acres) and small farms (under 10 acres) didn't change.<br />
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<br />
If you look up "Economies of Scale" on Wikipedia, you'll see a
simple graph explaining that as quantity of production increases, cost
of each unit decreases. This principle, with the help of US farm
policies over the years, has led to bigger and bigger farm operations in
this country. Big farms just make sense (economically).<br />
<br />
A quick walk through the produce section of a Rochester, NY grocery store illustrates how vegetables from all over the country, even from all over the world, find themselves on our local shelves. And you can bet that most of these don't come from small farms. Supermarkets rely on producers that can offer quantity and consistency. HUGE quantity. And year-round growing consistency. Cal-Organic grows organic produce on more than 28,000 acres; Earthbound Organics, 50,000 acres. Earthbound's slogan is "Scaling Organic for Consumers Everywhere." And certainly, having this many acres converted to chemical-free production is a great thing, as is the benefit of making more organic food available to more people. But lets look at some of the other realities of big and small.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2CUbSVmi73qhv9BA0ZsINZc9KyU5vICmM6OFfiLZdMwxeMyWL4sooNztPtGbAeCRWlWDx8Ll4ESDu74aTeb-u11OD2uCoL8SmbA5oWOnnZxad4lEFdzGww9WvaSYpJspVyxqU2hl4e1A/s1600/IMG_4103.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2CUbSVmi73qhv9BA0ZsINZc9KyU5vICmM6OFfiLZdMwxeMyWL4sooNztPtGbAeCRWlWDx8Ll4ESDu74aTeb-u11OD2uCoL8SmbA5oWOnnZxad4lEFdzGww9WvaSYpJspVyxqU2hl4e1A/s1600/IMG_4103.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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In the early 1970s, the US Secretary of Agriculture, Earl Butz, famously promoted the mantra "Get Big or Get Out" to farmers across the country. The policy shifts that he helped set in motion coincided with the rise of major agribusiness corporations, and the declining financial stability of the small family farm. The agribusiness lobby today is nearly $60 million a year, with the interests of agricultural corporations highly represented. Thus US policies stay kind to big farms, because big farms can afford to hire big lobbyists and lawyers. <br />
<br />
(Side note: if you're wondering about subsidies, the US gives out about $14 billion a year to farmers who grow things like corn, wheat, and soybeans, but nothing to "specialty crops," otherwise known as fruits and vegetables. Yep, that's $14 billion of taxpayers' dollars going mainly to help make cheap factory meat, soda pop, and processed foods that make us sick. This helps the pharmaceutical industry thrive but not so much our local vegetable growers.)<br />
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</div>
But things could be changing. Our current Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, in a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/29/business/usda-to-start-program-to-support-local-and-organic-farming.html">very recent NY Times article</a>, spoke about his plans to "revitalize the rural economy," by supporting local and regional food distribution systems with $52 million from the USDA. "Small and medium-sized operations end up helping to generate more employment than commercial operations because of their different distribution systems and their local natures," Vilsack said. "If you can connect local produce with markets that are local, money gets rolled around in the local community more directly compared to commercial agriculture where products get shipped in large quantities somewhere else, helping the economy there." <br />
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Tom Vilsack brings up two good points about the small farm vs. large farm debate: employment & local economy. Almost three quarters of all agricultural workers in this country are not US citizens; half are unauthorized immigrants. Small local farms often employ local residents instead of migrants, keeping them around for longer and taking better care of them because they depend on them (and they might be neighbors!) <br />
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Working on a small farm could be more appealing to locals, because of the diversity of tasks, chance to understand the bigger picture, satisfaction in feeding their local community, and potential for management responsibilities. Working on a large farm is likely to be repetitive, specialized, more similar to factory work, and disconnected from the end product and customer. So larger farms import their workers, who then export our money. Pay a crew of Mexican workers and they will send the money home to Mexico; pay a crew of local kids, and they spend the money locally. Small farms really do help revitalize the local economy, albeit in their small-potato ways.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mud Creek Farm</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zNXlQFxqy5hkHyrTW3FXc2bU2V5AdelzOWosPCdJImrH2QQZvqEeVgQQqWOqOImp6eSScdOwkyIldpmIIQxRqlclw-4nJ2TdUF2_tp6rnut-pPPz0wCMY5b3PzbGX71PoEYOM4I1I0I/s1600/060530_organic_hmed_12p.grid-6x2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zNXlQFxqy5hkHyrTW3FXc2bU2V5AdelzOWosPCdJImrH2QQZvqEeVgQQqWOqOImp6eSScdOwkyIldpmIIQxRqlclw-4nJ2TdUF2_tp6rnut-pPPz0wCMY5b3PzbGX71PoEYOM4I1I0I/s1600/060530_organic_hmed_12p.grid-6x2.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Earthbound Farms</td></tr>
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It seems like the food production industry's natural drive toward higher production, the "Industrial Growth" model that our economic system seems to inevitably follow, often leaves out the local. Global trade has allowed for multi-national corporations to thrive, for big businesses to benefit, while small farmers all over the world are forced by economic conditions to "Get Out."<br />
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But the thing that a 28,000 acre farm misses, and consistently tries to convince customers through marketing campaigns, is the heart and soul. The human. The place.<br />
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People who work the land they call "home," care about how it is treated. They may have had grandparents who put everything they had into the farm, into the family, into the community. They may have grandchildren who will depend on the health of the land, who will breathe the air and drink the water. A large farm might have a difficult time caring about more than just bottom line, but care comes easy when it's your own backyard. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qIJdcMJox9fRjo9jex3xm7L8IPwT-CrD14iT-bcn1Gb4xLeUbhBgbfisobANAjxnwrEKuCNU29odzzapBgNNPHZ1wCkvplJTXPxS9uUz3y3-InJHk1Fat1m2iQ9qzNfse-OemS16QY4/s1600/IMG_3359.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qIJdcMJox9fRjo9jex3xm7L8IPwT-CrD14iT-bcn1Gb4xLeUbhBgbfisobANAjxnwrEKuCNU29odzzapBgNNPHZ1wCkvplJTXPxS9uUz3y3-InJHk1Fat1m2iQ9qzNfse-OemS16QY4/s1600/IMG_3359.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Betsy (MCF 2013 crew) is a third-generation on her land, living on a country road bearing her family's name.</td></tr>
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Environmentally responsible management is one of the values that small farms offer, a value that doesn't often end up translating into grocery store prices. Yet it is vital for the future of our soil, water, and ecosystems.<br />
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Big farms often have a traditional corporate labor structure, with CEOs and professional managers who rarely step foot in a field. These people make decisions which get passed down through the hierarchy of people in charge, to folks actually working on the ground. Farmworkers are given tasks to carry out as fast as possible, with little understanding of the bigger picture, or concern for anything other than keeping their jobs. Where is the care in this kind of structure? The executive may claim benevolent motives, a spirit of goodness toward the land, the people, the health of the customer, but at the end of the day, the big house where they live is probably far from the fields that grow their profits. Bottom line is bottom line. Big farms are big business, run by people in suits and not Carharts.<br />
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Small-scale farmers live in the communities they feed. They are held accountable in a real way for any negative actions that might harm the community, whether that's mismanagement of the land, people, or product. Knowing your local farmer establishes a trust-based relationship with the people providing your daily bread.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvD46QOlsLaGqYdxFtjK57IcVbuG1IMpmsrqMQRBazhPZ8ETInRcIlVblwNn9xnsoheeK88wDF6JYvqNvLZcFUrQ-coV_WkB9xPgw9XHIYi7XlAe_Id-aGSl2sWS3S-G5PWf3BBqeGJzg/s1600/IMG_1747.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvD46QOlsLaGqYdxFtjK57IcVbuG1IMpmsrqMQRBazhPZ8ETInRcIlVblwNn9xnsoheeK88wDF6JYvqNvLZcFUrQ-coV_WkB9xPgw9XHIYi7XlAe_Id-aGSl2sWS3S-G5PWf3BBqeGJzg/s1600/IMG_1747.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </div>
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Small farms can protect diversity of crop varieties, which is important as we move into uncertain climate times. Large farms often streamline their operations by selecting a few proven varieties with high yield, but more local farm operations can help preserve genetics adapted specifically to certain regions.<br />
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Local farms often produce food that tastes better and has higher nutritional content, due to the fact that it's not shipped across the country and moved through distributors' warehouses. Efficiency often sacrifices quality for the sake of quantity -- are we just trying to survive or do we actually want to thrive? Is our ultimate goal to be able to eat cheaply, or to feel healthy?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSX-C7wLQO6uPrpsVXPTb49_c-C1598ProvDA_UBWq_KQ1Jbxq5p3lZHlZ9BqrIm1GZI6vuHYduQbhvYkNHdszuyEgbXqUno0Cg0RLp4PrcQ9ObRP3jRcPdTkaIMrJd06c-dNDhewsIE/s1600/IMG_0208+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSX-C7wLQO6uPrpsVXPTb49_c-C1598ProvDA_UBWq_KQ1Jbxq5p3lZHlZ9BqrIm1GZI6vuHYduQbhvYkNHdszuyEgbXqUno0Cg0RLp4PrcQ9ObRP3jRcPdTkaIMrJd06c-dNDhewsIE/s1600/IMG_0208+2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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And, last but not least, small farms give urban and suburban dwellers the chance to connect to the land, to our rich agricultural history. They offer a place for kids to learn about the miracle of turning dirt into food with just a tiny seed. And to understand everything that goes into that process, learning patience in the natural pace of the seasons, nurturing in the caring hands of the planter and harvester, interdependency with the sun, the rain, the living ecosystem, and gratitude for the planet which sustains them, three meals a day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24nNrqQfNCkmy_hYWDiW3EFMwJnuElHsFw30VEEP2F5OIdQxBQNRin6t9d95OodchnzyC-wCdSZsTt_s5dB8kVo_xU4whDDDPAswF4Z2h5F50sElXbmNg_Us2EfVJk_tjhk0DHxZw3L0/s1600/members.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24nNrqQfNCkmy_hYWDiW3EFMwJnuElHsFw30VEEP2F5OIdQxBQNRin6t9d95OodchnzyC-wCdSZsTt_s5dB8kVo_xU4whDDDPAswF4Z2h5F50sElXbmNg_Us2EfVJk_tjhk0DHxZw3L0/s1600/members.jpg" /></a></div>
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Maybe it's time to redefine our food system in terms of values beyond the economic principles that drive us toward more and more efficiency. Values of a life-sustaining civilization based on love, care, and connection to a place we call home. And connection to each other.</div>
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So, in answer to the dilemma of small farm viability, a <a href="http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2012/03/06/in-the-magazine/trends-and-opinions/the-organic-food-paradox.html">Saturday Evening Post article</a> puts it well: </div>
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<i>"This is how organic family farms will survive: by bypassing long supply chains and dealing instead with the people who eat their food."</i></div>
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Farmer Jim Riddle says: "It's a personal relationship: 'If you buy from me, I'll be here tomorrow. I'll be here next year. I'll respond to your needs. We're in this together.'"</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Harvesting small potatoes at Mud Creek Farm)</td></tr>
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erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-84830750584823088062014-10-05T12:32:00.001-07:002014-10-05T12:32:39.678-07:00No Farmer, No Food - Personal Sustainability for Body, Mind, and Soul<div>
This blog entry is about personal stuff. Because at the center of every food-growing operation, there's a person, without whom none of the crops would be produced. If this person thrives, is healthy in their body, mind, and soul, then the larger farm body can thrive as well, and continue to feed us the delicious food we all depend on.<br />
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Being a full-time farmer, especially a CSA farmer, involves stepping into a role, taking on a title with which you identify yourself to the public. Some farmers prefer to do less direct marketing, wholesaling their products so they can stay in the fields most of the time. But even then, I bet if you asked anyone who knew them, they would describe them by their occupation. Farming is a "lifestyle" more than a job.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtU2c8zMFdXc3U15P4BOAx-YIBs8wFXLmiH5Ta0pws4zwBRNBwhRVvKaaNDEvM8PpXI27aMxqFIYAIUc83nKQdVstfK5kWeG_VWEZ1EUcfZBsKZ4A94WUtLgQ2A9WeWsFanu_Tn7HQ204/s1600/IMG_4029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtU2c8zMFdXc3U15P4BOAx-YIBs8wFXLmiH5Ta0pws4zwBRNBwhRVvKaaNDEvM8PpXI27aMxqFIYAIUc83nKQdVstfK5kWeG_VWEZ1EUcfZBsKZ4A94WUtLgQ2A9WeWsFanu_Tn7HQ204/s1600/IMG_4029.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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People don't get into farming for the money. In days past, reasons might have included family pressure, or just plain survival. But now, mostly, we do it for the love. <br />
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We love to watch things grow. To work outside. To work with our hands. To nourish our communities. To be around plants and animals. To feel natural, to feel alive. To be our own bosses. To be a part of the miracle of dirt into food.<br />
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But all of these lovely things come at a cost. We open up our soul wallets eagerly to spend what we have: our time and our able bodies. If all works out well, we are rewarded by the diverse joys that farming brings, as well as the creature comforts that we feel we need to survive.<br />
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Sometimes things don't work out too well, mostly due to time management and financial issues. When there's not enough money coming in, farmers will often do what they do best: work harder. And then all sorts of other problems can arise -- from injured backs to suffering relationships. Just in the few years that I've been farming, I've seen what happens when time and money issues push people to their limits: sickness, injury, divorce, suicide, and just plain burn-out. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTb1f2xsirzOAGoWFKznQKocYjx899Zuqeo0fnicjSV5bXxui8YtGld72uT8gHWBBAolM0HZPZehbJWotE-yFUY40d6GoX5fZfyxBUTvjoQGQe-yyk36-1Onj7g5hbjNAib3DMyA1Y9zc/s1600/P1010001+9.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTb1f2xsirzOAGoWFKznQKocYjx899Zuqeo0fnicjSV5bXxui8YtGld72uT8gHWBBAolM0HZPZehbJWotE-yFUY40d6GoX5fZfyxBUTvjoQGQe-yyk36-1Onj7g5hbjNAib3DMyA1Y9zc/s1600/P1010001+9.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a> </div>
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The viability of the local organic food movement depends on us preventing farmer burn-out.<br />
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I was curious to hear from some farmers in the area after this cold, wet, summer -- how were they feeling on a personal level? Was everything feeling balanced? What would they wish for if they had a magic wand and could have three wishes? I put a shout-out on a local farmer list-serve and got some response.<br />
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Having more time for non-farming activities ranked highly for many farmers. Time to spend with loved ones, family, social life, time for yoga and stretching, for relaxing. Figuring out how to manage a "day off" a week... bringing us to another common wish: more good help. Hiring experienced farm workers requires paying them more, and hiring inexperienced farm workers requires spending more time teaching them, or suffering consequences of inefficient work and mistakes. Sometimes farmers can't even find <i>anyone</i> willing to do the work. It's easy to see why farming families often had many children.<br />
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One farmer, a friend in the Hudson Valley, wished that she had someone to cook her meals from the food she grew, so she didn't subsist on potato chips and grilled cheese. I guess that's the traditional role a "farmer's wife" played, besides keeping the house and raising the kids. At the French farm I worked on, the farmer's 93-year-old mother cooked us all our meals.<br />
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Now that fewer of us are growing up on multi-generational family farms, we need some other kind of creative structures in place to meet our needs.<br />
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What can we do to keep small farmers healthy and happy?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k-KF7oN-t6HsDSko4xV9cAEmGCJVoJB-rvbrZrTv5OBpp5GmPxj0caaIyFQ4_lljmvdEG63rxtEcIMqKjW8_NdmJU8anICekO2UMeaZ3dPBpTt3IEQ205vTjLeqqZ6Ekyf4J0xxAggs/s1600/photo+4.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k-KF7oN-t6HsDSko4xV9cAEmGCJVoJB-rvbrZrTv5OBpp5GmPxj0caaIyFQ4_lljmvdEG63rxtEcIMqKjW8_NdmJU8anICekO2UMeaZ3dPBpTt3IEQ205vTjLeqqZ6Ekyf4J0xxAggs/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Well, firstly, we can pay them whatever they need to get for their products. Often we see prices at farmers markets that seem a little steep. $6 for that pint of berries?!! But now that I've been farming for a while, I understand -- that's just what it costs to grow the stuff. Plain and simple. Our food buying senses are skewed because of global trade, industrial farms, subsidies (more next week on this!) I promise you, the farmer is not getting rich off you. <br />
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What if we really can't afford to financially support farmers the way we wish? We can help create policy change. <a href="http://www.youngfarmers.org/">The National Young Farmers Coalition</a> is working on student loan forgiveness for beginning farmers, farmland affordability, training, and many other awesome reforms. Get involved, spread the word. Lots of opportunity for positive change.<br />
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And maybe cook a little extra food and bring it to a hungry farmer sometime.<br />
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Well, I promised the personal stuff in this blog, so I might as well hint a bit at my own struggles. I have been looking for a partner to make a family with. When you are working all the time in a rural area, it's hard to meet someone! Farmers don't often go out to the bar on Friday nights, don't have a lot of time to socialize, go on dates, etc. And meeting someone who doesn't mind the muddy-boot lifestyle is another thing too.<br />
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We all want sustainable love lives. We all want family lives. We all want food. Time to remember what's at the center of all this: a healthy human being. Now I must end this rambling blog entry and go to the Rochester Zen Center to meditate with friends (<a href="http://bloominglilacsangha.blogspot.com/">join us!</a>) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ypDgyyudtIUkYpDkRIm3W6fsXaKGK2VAt2eYuO9nHHF9Ubm8otBkaREH68xnonFWPg2Eu42dmhiSKvTQNYyVCaieCeSGVG7AdC7-tvgVXjy-X5mDPx8FEqY5y9NF7rytYXajSPz74qc/s1600/IMG_0218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ypDgyyudtIUkYpDkRIm3W6fsXaKGK2VAt2eYuO9nHHF9Ubm8otBkaREH68xnonFWPg2Eu42dmhiSKvTQNYyVCaieCeSGVG7AdC7-tvgVXjy-X5mDPx8FEqY5y9NF7rytYXajSPz74qc/s1600/IMG_0218.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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A poem I wrote at the monastery:<br />
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I will learn</div>
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to practice loving without being loved</div>
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or expecting anything in return.</div>
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It could be easy</div>
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if I can generate a sense of inner love</div>
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a fountain of unlimited love</div>
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within myself which flows and flows</div>
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reassuring me</div>
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with all the confidence born up from</div>
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Mother Earth's solid body</div>
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her hands holding me up</div>
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at all moments.</div>
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Whether I'm standing, sitting, lying, jumping,</div>
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she is propelling me forward toward my</div>
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joy.</div>
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To blossom under the sun</div>
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in this big green world.</div>
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Yes, the wind can be cold, and the brambles sharp.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But I will continue the practice</div>
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to feel the healing honey of inner joy</div>
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inner reassurance.</div>
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<br /></div>
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And it will ripple out into the world.</div>
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And it will allow me to love</div>
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and listen compassionately to all,</div>
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even those who hurt me.</div>
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<br /></div>
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To nurture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp88YGwGOzgK83d7ZJB3kFkehKB8poC6J2mLeTS1mrNHl8iq3ipWTk95EnXF0EaWK5baZBsiTxM-qRzxPcv7MkMMgqw3JvL4IhSv2rDUsnbdfyXMQnPa5TVq7PQk1qkEvh9qljF1-6Sog/s1600/IMG_3599.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp88YGwGOzgK83d7ZJB3kFkehKB8poC6J2mLeTS1mrNHl8iq3ipWTk95EnXF0EaWK5baZBsiTxM-qRzxPcv7MkMMgqw3JvL4IhSv2rDUsnbdfyXMQnPa5TVq7PQk1qkEvh9qljF1-6Sog/s1600/IMG_3599.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-65600666011774391112014-09-28T11:00:00.002-07:002014-09-28T11:02:51.822-07:00The Next Generation of Farmers & Land Accessibility<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJA7RxMuifx-R_Txx1SaR0rEvMbcX7hsvBkGWjVM2U0NtfaEKKSyr2_R1dtnS4Kp3hgXOl18AYD5ltuB5XiT2gCue1FwGa_kxdNU4IDZ0mkPAPFzSUGpgAg85bnMgxYcMaJiO2z1HABFc/s1600/IMG_3838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJA7RxMuifx-R_Txx1SaR0rEvMbcX7hsvBkGWjVM2U0NtfaEKKSyr2_R1dtnS4Kp3hgXOl18AYD5ltuB5XiT2gCue1FwGa_kxdNU4IDZ0mkPAPFzSUGpgAg85bnMgxYcMaJiO2z1HABFc/s1600/IMG_3838.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ruth, like most of the farmers in Western NY here, had a heck of a summer that didn't ever really feel like summer, and some of her crops struggled for it. She also stepped up to the daunting task of setting up a 300+ member CSA farm from scratch on a raw piece of land. Land which had been growing weeds for ten years. Besides all the work of setting up the infrastructure to run that kind of operation (water, electric, roads, parking lot, greenhouse, sheds, walk-in cooler, fencing), she carved ten acres of 200-foot-long garden beds out of a hilly clay-loam. And then had to grow the vegetables. Looking at the produce she and the crew are putting on the tables, I consider her a bit of a miracle worker, and a darn good farmer.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFL_wvbz_utCzeo6Gg8McatvRRMntmB5JjGfnPBQxKWRIoCgu-N9m9f5ynyr5gEE0aOIvBYGprcLfcBL1hoDX709Fv_IZ4tY0GMjMUs5jHNECD8jcs92nbvJ8hwDOouPUQBQNVDr5OSoQ/s1600/IMG_3822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFL_wvbz_utCzeo6Gg8McatvRRMntmB5JjGfnPBQxKWRIoCgu-N9m9f5ynyr5gEE0aOIvBYGprcLfcBL1hoDX709Fv_IZ4tY0GMjMUs5jHNECD8jcs92nbvJ8hwDOouPUQBQNVDr5OSoQ/s1600/IMG_3822.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I wish that she hadn't had to move the whole farm this year. But so it goes, especially when you're farming in Victor, NY, the most rapidly developing suburb of Rochester. I have seen a lot of prime agricultural soil turn into housing developments just in the few years that I farmed here. In 2008, when I first found the land to rent from an organic-friendly 84-yr-old farmer, the land adjacent to his still looked like a hay field on google maps. When I started plowing, it looked like this:</span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEY_UiMH29GtNQpHF1Ak5C840fnZem_xBShSfHSUIeB2sr-By7hlBwQBERWEhvOn9GTVRJNJSDKblf_-iLdNL-KwUwljKy0n0A9A1E4TJfhM9nGGN9JELkHNKCvwKYaSUcL-riDQpx-U/s1600/IMG_3861.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEY_UiMH29GtNQpHF1Ak5C840fnZem_xBShSfHSUIeB2sr-By7hlBwQBERWEhvOn9GTVRJNJSDKblf_-iLdNL-KwUwljKy0n0A9A1E4TJfhM9nGGN9JELkHNKCvwKYaSUcL-riDQpx-U/s1600/IMG_3861.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </span></div>
<br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">No chance for this young farmer to expand production into<i> that</i> field. The land around the corner, that I passed every morning and evening on my way from home to work, also succumbed to the bulldozer, turning into this in a mere six months:</span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrClbKTR63G0W7aFdIXpjfJAhS8e4afbkNEQ6FZ-cOJZQxEkIlD7N15xrhCH0PckXYYpA4aurRTTQ_jWKKHJ1BsBkDFeyzUIedaWmNwF4rrpjqXtBZ8FYuXpYY3FeJ3qTgY1sE1tt1AIc/s1600/IMG_3866.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrClbKTR63G0W7aFdIXpjfJAhS8e4afbkNEQ6FZ-cOJZQxEkIlD7N15xrhCH0PckXYYpA4aurRTTQ_jWKKHJ1BsBkDFeyzUIedaWmNwF4rrpjqXtBZ8FYuXpYY3FeJ3qTgY1sE1tt1AIc/s1600/IMG_3866.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </span></div>
<br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I would push back tears as I drove by, as week by week I watched the big equipment first push the trees into big piles, then scrape the rich topsoil off and haul it away, then roll out the roads and utilities, then the construction crews put up those cookie-cutter houses. I know people have to live somewhere. And people like to live in the country. But if you build houses all over the fields, does it still feel like the country? </span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWES1bcTPVeHrLa2TRdw6P5z4j_uMIOEGm47_01b7nNTSFBxsfntHLX1F-KSyHFkmbUfMxcPJOjFR6w3-UbdCOPBdpKW1KyXieiFFtLROahq_FQ2ypz8qKln36OmmGXwf6-chxtP_KtAw/s1600/IMG_3803.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWES1bcTPVeHrLa2TRdw6P5z4j_uMIOEGm47_01b7nNTSFBxsfntHLX1F-KSyHFkmbUfMxcPJOjFR6w3-UbdCOPBdpKW1KyXieiFFtLROahq_FQ2ypz8qKln36OmmGXwf6-chxtP_KtAw/s1600/IMG_3803.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPQVlT8fphLGKPmAX8dgGJZcPbyEo7Dst-q8x-hkyiY1HnpF0LbPR5dpIe5vK8XW-mkO3JEXcZr34wyeZStIwVLfXYixxbl1Y9Mt9g5j21e4CLyciErA1OzFA2oTLqdfZI487LQ8wIMg/s1600/IMG_3811.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I could go on and on with these stories. I've cried while speaking in front of the town planning board on more than one occasion. The place I used to U-Pick Pumpkins from as a kid turned into the subdivision below. There is still a huge pile of topsoil sitting there next to the road, the soul of past and future ghost pumpkins, the lifeless mineral remains of a place that was once a growing jungle of vines. Holding its screened-topsoil-for-sale sign like a strange and desperate hitch-hiker. I guess in these fast times, everyone is moving around, even the ground itself. And what does this new community of houses feel like to its new human inhabitants? Does it miss the faint smell of sweet squash, the footsteps of friends wandering and enjoying the color and ripeness of another autumn's abundance?</span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPQVlT8fphLGKPmAX8dgGJZcPbyEo7Dst-q8x-hkyiY1HnpF0LbPR5dpIe5vK8XW-mkO3JEXcZr34wyeZStIwVLfXYixxbl1Y9Mt9g5j21e4CLyciErA1OzFA2oTLqdfZI487LQ8wIMg/s1600/IMG_3811.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPQVlT8fphLGKPmAX8dgGJZcPbyEo7Dst-q8x-hkyiY1HnpF0LbPR5dpIe5vK8XW-mkO3JEXcZr34wyeZStIwVLfXYixxbl1Y9Mt9g5j21e4CLyciErA1OzFA2oTLqdfZI487LQ8wIMg/s1600/IMG_3811.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When I first drove by that field-pushed-into-mountain pile, and the trucks and machinery doing their "thing" on my old U-Pick pumpkin patch, I didn't cry, I yelled. It felt personal.</span><br />
<br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But then, of course, the most personal happened -- we got the boot off our land too. It went the way a lot of nice fields, especially those close to cities, go:</span><br />
<ol>
<li><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The farmer gets old, as all of us do.</span></li>
<li><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The farmer's kids don't want to farm, as many of us don't.</span></li>
<li><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The farmer's kids need the money to pay for things like medical bills, as all of us do when we get old and ill.</span></li>
<li><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The farmer never made any money because he was competing with today's global market of industrial-produced food (more on this later)</span><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></li>
<li><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Developers will happily pay top dollar for the farmer's land, because they make a lot of money selling houses to people who want to live in the country.</span></li>
<li><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Anyone who <i>might</i> be around wanting to farm the land can't pay anywhere near what the developers can pay, so the young landless agrarians move on.</span></li>
</ol>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So <b>we</b> moved on, further out of town where the subdivisions haven't sprung up yet. Pushed to the fringes, the outskirts, where we do the dirty work of turning soil into food, year after year. </span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaeTyRNd691xqmjaqUUCGbOsJtI-S1MgNXoZ67ECQmFgN6sCF-KA9t_gEj2xAlElgYG67sI1UeCll8JPU0qVbrmFuvLhUtmG4WR0npT3JxDU3C-cWpbhurceFc-7g40MzBigbXxExgzI/s1600/IMG_3856.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaeTyRNd691xqmjaqUUCGbOsJtI-S1MgNXoZ67ECQmFgN6sCF-KA9t_gEj2xAlElgYG67sI1UeCll8JPU0qVbrmFuvLhUtmG4WR0npT3JxDU3C-cWpbhurceFc-7g40MzBigbXxExgzI/s1600/IMG_3856.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And there are a lot of us young and landless. The <a href="http://www.youngfarmers.org/">National Young Farmers Coalition</a>'s vision is "a country where young people who are willing to work, get trained and take a little risk can support themselves and their families in farming." When they did a survey a few years ago of 1,000 beginning farmers, land access came up as the No. 2 challenge, number one not having enough financial capital.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQj_DIJiTOXI7roUCQdAexEuEkE55jd4Bvo6NLelar6aCCgUX3-EgZzOVdd8OfoIgGIT_LhRKziUy3hENBKtZh6Ww3RlNMUOQZv6tzJGuIw81d3XQF3UYnLPmH_WqOwKILPIkkPeYAJrA/s1600/IMG_3692.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQj_DIJiTOXI7roUCQdAexEuEkE55jd4Bvo6NLelar6aCCgUX3-EgZzOVdd8OfoIgGIT_LhRKziUy3hENBKtZh6Ww3RlNMUOQZv6tzJGuIw81d3XQF3UYnLPmH_WqOwKILPIkkPeYAJrA/s1600/IMG_3692.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The good folks at <a href="http://agrariantrust.org/">Agrarian Trust,</a> a newly formed non-profit project aimed at tackling the challenge of connecting young farmers with land, says it quite well:</span></span><br />
<br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"</span>Farmland Access remains a keystone issue for the next generation of
farmers in the country and for farming as a whole. In historical terms,
the ‘agricultural use value’ and ‘real-estate value’ have never been
more polarized. In other words, the value that you can earn from
production on the land is far below the value of the land in the
marketplace. As a consequence financing of land adds to the the high
capital needs of a start-up farm business ( restoring barn, cooling,
greenhouses, fencing, pasture upgrades, equipment etc) along with
inevitable life and operations costs: healthcare, gasoline, housing. In a
cheap-food economy earning enough to pay for these four costs : 1.)
land, 2.) infrastructure, 3.) working capital, 4.) living expenses
presents a major challenge for new farm operators. Add on to this high
perishability, high labor costs, un-predictable weather and a
perishable product, you can see why it takes a brave soul to enter
agricultural entrepreneurship."<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEKH0u_nzoY2-y2-MAnwwRQvWN70uP_H_tzxN25xn1zf4dXh712lk5hKKPWBWqonP9cAxrj2P8BwS6mIYDggcEaDbpJwNrLSqV7jSrZilG8C9huMbgVM6IAlDlKq1wmDIylN20zLr6a0/s1600/IMG_3776.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEKH0u_nzoY2-y2-MAnwwRQvWN70uP_H_tzxN25xn1zf4dXh712lk5hKKPWBWqonP9cAxrj2P8BwS6mIYDggcEaDbpJwNrLSqV7jSrZilG8C9huMbgVM6IAlDlKq1wmDIylN20zLr6a0/s1600/IMG_3776.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yet this movement is not lacking brave souls. They are training up in internships all over the country, working for nothing or nearly nothing, even with mountains of college debt. They are living off wild rabbits and potatoes, savoring the dirt under their fingernails, and the pride of contributing something meaningful and real to their communities. They are learning how to take care of the land, while taking of each other too. What is lacking is a good system in place to help these eager apprentices take the next step of having their own farms that provide them with a meaningful livelihood and financial stability.</span></span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtxrZddAjQcs3fZQq4UAwZuHxmvzLWbDkm2_sIn8nvXwfp3khZ-EsE33NVCFtT3zzPwVgY2oKNengXUvcQfe3VUlGGk0aZ12XfiRxZvsrgnzE3L2bjSO8rnENRmrk_7x-T4d8tma5VCo/s1600/IMG_3222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtxrZddAjQcs3fZQq4UAwZuHxmvzLWbDkm2_sIn8nvXwfp3khZ-EsE33NVCFtT3zzPwVgY2oKNengXUvcQfe3VUlGGk0aZ12XfiRxZvsrgnzE3L2bjSO8rnENRmrk_7x-T4d8tma5VCo/s1600/IMG_3222.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The reality is, even though an explosion of young energy is entering the agricultural arena, still farmers 65 and older outnumber farmers 35 and younger by a factor of 6:1 (USDA census)!</span><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.farmland.org/">American Farmland Trust</a> reports that NY State has been losing the equivalent of one farm every 3 1/2 days. Just in my lifetime living in this state, a <i>half a million acres</i> of farmland turned into subdivisions, strip malls, big box stores, and scattered development. And a lot more farmland is about to change hands in the next few decades as older farmers retire. This is a crucial time for us to decide what we want, if we care about our food security and local economies. Is it worth saving that phenomenon of the "family farm" that created our quaint all-American villages, or is this just nostalgia from the past? </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YAWJEt7rI9ylGpjpblcmZkVX_zr-O0oRFxEqwx9fKhfLhBkcQxHe7F4N6FjDLuFe6QY3H5E1mUHFdA4FX1VZ5KLFlUwxV6jxgGY76Ni0M69M_jiiMbA4_GBLvFE1uZxjZhibFyweIYw/s1600/IMG_4474.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YAWJEt7rI9ylGpjpblcmZkVX_zr-O0oRFxEqwx9fKhfLhBkcQxHe7F4N6FjDLuFe6QY3H5E1mUHFdA4FX1VZ5KLFlUwxV6jxgGY76Ni0M69M_jiiMbA4_GBLvFE1uZxjZhibFyweIYw/s1600/IMG_4474.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span> </span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The future of agribusiness seems to be heading toward mega-sized farms with mega-sized tractors, DNA-scrambled seeds controlled by the same mega-corporations who sell the chemicals, and farmers who rarely have to touch the ground they grow on. The freight train of technology is a hard one to stop. If we want something different, we're all going to have to speak up.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEmBnYMKqH38S2tPpYITM-S0Qt_Ij4njF9RV4oHPHs-4Piywj2ls3poPsO1UzZFPU5UYYaoKeZ6495sXxDrB-XvA8rNNsJN-bd8iEfiYR0ZHizQgguXZJfT2gBjvxFYQCmt7dp_ZBwGs/s1600/IMG_3652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEmBnYMKqH38S2tPpYITM-S0Qt_Ij4njF9RV4oHPHs-4Piywj2ls3poPsO1UzZFPU5UYYaoKeZ6495sXxDrB-XvA8rNNsJN-bd8iEfiYR0ZHizQgguXZJfT2gBjvxFYQCmt7dp_ZBwGs/s1600/IMG_3652.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">New York City has a "<a href="http://www.scenichudson.org/foodshedplan">Foodshed Conservation Plan"</a> which tallies up the surrounding farmland, decides which land is most critical to save, how much it will cost to protect it from development, and what are the steps to save it. They are concerned about feeding 8.3 million people, in the context of the grand changes that might have to happen when we reduce our carbon footprint (ie. less trucks bringing food from across the country). It kind of makes sense to keep some good soil nearby.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nVnFYLbU1YnHbXzqVr07LASNLZrs2-u_2F018BbtOiB7zmjKVUzGoYFwQk1gPvpd2m8NT9dHoVWIil35E8qrF899rgcO25K8kfAM4x6mhDLTdbHmVM7mEimS6xgmUuhjfCLMy4C4AmY/s1600/IMG_4511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nVnFYLbU1YnHbXzqVr07LASNLZrs2-u_2F018BbtOiB7zmjKVUzGoYFwQk1gPvpd2m8NT9dHoVWIil35E8qrF899rgcO25K8kfAM4x6mhDLTdbHmVM7mEimS6xgmUuhjfCLMy4C4AmY/s1600/IMG_4511.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If NYC has one of these plans, why not Rochester? We have over 1 million people in the Greater Rochester Area, and I bet most of these folks eat food.</span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The <a href="http://www.geneseelandtrust.org/">Genesee Land Trust </a>is an awesome local resource, with a mission of protecting natural areas for wildlife and people to enjoy, and farmland too. They are doing a lot to make sure there's still some green left in the county, and they would be doing more if they had the funds. Investing in our local open-space is a wonderful gift for the future residents of the area. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_scEEqpWmrvyBtHoteaYG8ZM87z9Qn09_-7ZSwlfh91VLm2LfRetd4rbfQKvoHWFiEUDnK30cQ7aJ50DBluuvkUUf0jOk2q_rElGArrDu2E-si8SFhoAKVesGwm05uGUzpreMZJ6ShDA/s1600/IMG_3790.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_scEEqpWmrvyBtHoteaYG8ZM87z9Qn09_-7ZSwlfh91VLm2LfRetd4rbfQKvoHWFiEUDnK30cQ7aJ50DBluuvkUUf0jOk2q_rElGArrDu2E-si8SFhoAKVesGwm05uGUzpreMZJ6ShDA/s1600/IMG_3790.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I have a bumper sticker from on my car that says "No Farms, No Food." As much as I dislike using a double negative, and would rather say something like "small local organic farms yay!", I think i</span><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">t's about time the local food movement realizes that we have to get serious. If we don't protect our local soil somehow, then local farmers will go elsewhere. </span><br />
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkElSXn6L_fUVdQ0V-UOjad65uLLuge98tJunG877jN6kZkoJlUYbQgdSXDwzDSiND1dy0Sw-fitm33NsArpOs0LITvLlsV0e00z-OgKOy5np310IT50pfQtdta-PUpRNjwsizga4RNw/s1600/IMG_0337.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkElSXn6L_fUVdQ0V-UOjad65uLLuge98tJunG877jN6kZkoJlUYbQgdSXDwzDSiND1dy0Sw-fitm33NsArpOs0LITvLlsV0e00z-OgKOy5np310IT50pfQtdta-PUpRNjwsizga4RNw/s1600/IMG_0337.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This would truly be a loss.</span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_OUn1a77VKzHqD3x7vpcz-8oRe_If8lr6kBHLUo-dyjDrIHPujFIwoVZTCEcZkKM7O4Zo2VKxyd4_QMB49Vj1MfT2esuUToX_c9eARn3Swf8zWurOFgWAHxxgQcJbcN-wdno647JnOPo/s1600/IMG_3966.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_OUn1a77VKzHqD3x7vpcz-8oRe_If8lr6kBHLUo-dyjDrIHPujFIwoVZTCEcZkKM7O4Zo2VKxyd4_QMB49Vj1MfT2esuUToX_c9eARn3Swf8zWurOFgWAHxxgQcJbcN-wdno647JnOPo/s1600/IMG_3966.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We have some of the best agricultural soil in the world. Even the <a href="http://www.ganondagan.org/">Seneca people</a> knew it was good corn growing ground, and they farmed it for probably longer than us European invaders. What would they say if they saw what we were doing to these fields?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzewPMJnXLnqzh06Fj8nZal8JIoCid-NNKjvo10N2cikt3JMjdGS6Xah7ZQAK6Ku4YWhHgUb4HgEjnY6OkQTk5zlC7g0oyx4ROYC1ldO8anqYi3c7-3z8y2larj0vc9JvaV13TXqBOGI/s1600/IMG_3809.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzewPMJnXLnqzh06Fj8nZal8JIoCid-NNKjvo10N2cikt3JMjdGS6Xah7ZQAK6Ku4YWhHgUb4HgEjnY6OkQTk5zlC7g0oyx4ROYC1ldO8anqYi3c7-3z8y2larj0vc9JvaV13TXqBOGI/s1600/IMG_3809.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What would you say to a young person who actually wanted to labor in the fields all day to produce food for a living to feed her community, but couldn't do it because the land wasn't there? </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJASVRcTwf6u7F5-VmvElGGLD1LpMmYudlVl1yABkGNcBJmz345Z8HVLL1XOBkc6krkW3uUnrsDD1eC-CJdJzGvMdL15evYoLIOZbpSlL8jvfGJZXKnhzbTUnxqOOYsMAQNJrb2VXVnkg/s1600/IMG_3359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJASVRcTwf6u7F5-VmvElGGLD1LpMmYudlVl1yABkGNcBJmz345Z8HVLL1XOBkc6krkW3uUnrsDD1eC-CJdJzGvMdL15evYoLIOZbpSlL8jvfGJZXKnhzbTUnxqOOYsMAQNJrb2VXVnkg/s1600/IMG_3359.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yes, I've heard it said before: there is plenty of land out there. It's true. Out there. But for the next generation of farmers, living and working close to a city is often important, not only for marketing their produce, but for social life as well. (Stay tuned for next week's essay: </span><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1e27b2b-b92f-8cb3-a6e0-30ff6e94fe79" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e5f7d289-bd60-dbc9-e826-0bf3849eb257" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“No Farmer, No Food -- Personal Sustainability of the Body, Mind, & Soul.")</span> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLHQ4Jb6BROdBgOEaK6XCHGPhhwNmRbE13oEnWUJD6eog7NySbhv7IFcMM3ntl2h9Qvw6XRKjMAWl3PXODUTdQ8cZKmeqir4diWGa3aE9KYxVKUOX7N-rEb99lPDqI014lVuaFS92qFo/s1600/IMG_3798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLHQ4Jb6BROdBgOEaK6XCHGPhhwNmRbE13oEnWUJD6eog7NySbhv7IFcMM3ntl2h9Qvw6XRKjMAWl3PXODUTdQ8cZKmeqir4diWGa3aE9KYxVKUOX7N-rEb99lPDqI014lVuaFS92qFo/s1600/IMG_3798.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-e5f7d289-bd60-dbc9-e826-0bf3849eb257" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">By the way,</span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-e5f7d289-bd60-dbc9-e826-0bf3849eb257" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">;)</span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-e5f7d289-bd60-dbc9-e826-0bf3849eb257" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I am looking for 10+ well-drained tillable acres, within 20 miles of Rochester. If anyone knows of a lead, pass it on! Honeoye Falls area looking most enticing right now. Can't wait to get my hands in the dirt again. Thank you! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NSftcre6Dr6OT27KgrXh-GsUlMpqgEaN1LyFf-9WcKK_JQB-QmKzh-aSgP-_T30yKfqZeLcr0i9inKQv5Gau2SRuLvaW1vNkm4xIJRHQ8bqVtF9zssK5YAeF61EAm3I4zmB9LU-O7yw/s1600/IMG_3998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NSftcre6Dr6OT27KgrXh-GsUlMpqgEaN1LyFf-9WcKK_JQB-QmKzh-aSgP-_T30yKfqZeLcr0i9inKQv5Gau2SRuLvaW1vNkm4xIJRHQ8bqVtF9zssK5YAeF61EAm3I4zmB9LU-O7yw/s1600/IMG_3998.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-41283383310795357392014-09-20T20:21:00.000-07:002014-09-20T20:21:07.822-07:00How We Eat the Climate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If
I had been farming this year, I might not have had the chance to stay
quite as up-to-date with all the stuff going on in the world news right
now. I might not know that scientists say we are hinging on the edge of
ecological disaster, that the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere
rose faster this year than they have for the past 30 years, and that if
we continue burning fossil fuels like we are now, we cross a few tipping
points that set the good earth on a sure path of destruction. The UN
scientists are using words like "cataclysmic consequences."</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFb4EZ93N0ZBhCI2Yt-p2uAHtlC9HdDmhqUFAckUcFHhMbMYiDo8EyxMvaLtLRKP9IiW10KQ6e3yugZrHBASH8XawHOtYvNOGAT5MhZiPEgZn5hq6LuBKqksH3j-zAfmzeMh7-p43uL0/s1600/IMG_3564.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFb4EZ93N0ZBhCI2Yt-p2uAHtlC9HdDmhqUFAckUcFHhMbMYiDo8EyxMvaLtLRKP9IiW10KQ6e3yugZrHBASH8XawHOtYvNOGAT5MhZiPEgZn5hq6LuBKqksH3j-zAfmzeMh7-p43uL0/s1600/IMG_3564.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I might not have heard that the ice caps really are melting, and the oceans really are rising. Faster than we thought.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-4b68c704-934c-479f-e6c2-9a7594756509" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
would certainly not have heard it direct from the mouth of another
woman farmer on the other side of the globe, whose family for
generations has cultivated a dry, terraced, olive grove in the
Mediterranean, planted in medieval times. Her biggest worry? Climate
change. It wasn’t a very dry summer for her trees. More on this later.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3CJaUyOZaW-WdhX0RlLUhciYO1xoE0twhTQ9hnJC3mib4y4jMtLCMUURJTPIjKrJwrcjaTWij3Z98JZbMjyFV3JtjC1IN0v50_Q5-unUf7j4FGt6hIS9IZkoNe-O2Mx4ca3Yw1w9wLU/s1600/IMG_1871.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3CJaUyOZaW-WdhX0RlLUhciYO1xoE0twhTQ9hnJC3mib4y4jMtLCMUURJTPIjKrJwrcjaTWij3Z98JZbMjyFV3JtjC1IN0v50_Q5-unUf7j4FGt6hIS9IZkoNe-O2Mx4ca3Yw1w9wLU/s1600/IMG_1871.JPG" width="320" /></a> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If
I had been farming this year, I might not have skills of dealing with
the overwhelming despair I feel when I hear these things. I might not
have learned how to meditate, how to be gentle with myself, how to
generate joy, happiness, and compassion to help take care of my other,
more difficult, feelings. More on this later too.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ufbm5jEcfZ_RwJZRDx44ucxaytcJCICIVUtzDS3caC3Jb-eb74Gqslx1f5by84x9PQSWlT8btd0wYanc2K87l_pWvxVtaqRm72j6KyNlpcbNRtH-ZUQXDPskmkqwZkWaSJb3LYofCAo/s1600/IMG_0172.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ufbm5jEcfZ_RwJZRDx44ucxaytcJCICIVUtzDS3caC3Jb-eb74Gqslx1f5by84x9PQSWlT8btd0wYanc2K87l_pWvxVtaqRm72j6KyNlpcbNRtH-ZUQXDPskmkqwZkWaSJb3LYofCAo/s1600/IMG_0172.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I would have experienced the climate in a much more intimate way: every day in the muddy fields. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ztbakxhNgMC9hmhHrBdcR9PRMZuovB8KJcXIx_Ghb4OHkO4_RtZyrfp-SWNgHx7GdhKipi2p1p3fNN68HhBGY2sG4qI-9jbJgktI5gwv0kHZWKBaq6reVdyM8lOQUHIn6dHN8fUi5oY/s1600/IMG_3872.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ztbakxhNgMC9hmhHrBdcR9PRMZuovB8KJcXIx_Ghb4OHkO4_RtZyrfp-SWNgHx7GdhKipi2p1p3fNN68HhBGY2sG4qI-9jbJgktI5gwv0kHZWKBaq6reVdyM8lOQUHIn6dHN8fUi5oY/s1600/IMG_3872.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-4b68c704-9351-6947-7557-ef7f3035d6f2" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
met up with Ruth to get a download on how the season went -- she gave
me a two-page list of all the challenges she faced, from learning the
particularities of new fields to too much rain. I stopped by the farm
in early September, to find everyone bundled up in sweatshirts and wool
hats. Usually we'd have been sweating out in the fields, picking
tomatoes frantically in their peak of production.</span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-4b68c704-9351-6947-7557-ef7f3035d6f2" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmu3FWGopygqIWU_FCM7xUhldgXceJkRJyOEhdwGWGsR8HpnonSRtB983R7-YZru8Ua5GioO1X3O_DCcRvYZYxWAsViAU8YVDof4tr9UgN9KJxS2uFXohM9roomFyrPojHdubBo_CbT0/s1600/IMG_3873.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmu3FWGopygqIWU_FCM7xUhldgXceJkRJyOEhdwGWGsR8HpnonSRtB983R7-YZru8Ua5GioO1X3O_DCcRvYZYxWAsViAU8YVDof4tr9UgN9KJxS2uFXohM9roomFyrPojHdubBo_CbT0/s1600/IMG_3873.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-4b68c704-9351-6947-7557-ef7f3035d6f2" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">While
I secretly rejoice in choosing this season to take a year off farming,
my heart goes out to Ruth and all the other farmers in the region who
had to deal with some "extreme weather events" and a very un-summery
summer. </span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-4b68c704-9351-6947-7557-ef7f3035d6f2" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-4b68c704-936f-8f3b-b8a9-2ca451ee12d1" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">To
begin with, the coldest winter in 20 years was very very slow to let
up, and the ground stayed frozen well into April. This delayed
everything on the farm. Pushing back the plowing dates means pushing
back the planting dates, which in turn pushes back harvest dates. It
also means losing critical time in the spring to deal with weeds.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwOnHMlAhSNCVCD_NXRRYUIPPRmrvTqoClgdARsejdi1CmppFzLj7W_5lobJ6hmFQ2ADA2pChAFz42BbTCV4ef2BCud3IF6g-wY_7aNodaGkb7wSaQR9aZPLdCwuJlR8ToKkvfW8j9lc/s1600/plowedfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwOnHMlAhSNCVCD_NXRRYUIPPRmrvTqoClgdARsejdi1CmppFzLj7W_5lobJ6hmFQ2ADA2pChAFz42BbTCV4ef2BCud3IF6g-wY_7aNodaGkb7wSaQR9aZPLdCwuJlR8ToKkvfW8j9lc/s1600/plowedfield.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This
summer we also had twice the average rainfall expected for the region!
Wet fields mean no chance to get a cultivating tractor in, so the weeds
get tall enough that you have to pull them out by hand: on the scale
of more than five acres, this is a nightmare! What Ruth might not have
been aware of as well is that the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/09/climate-change-crops-agriculture-public-health_n_5289109.html">weeds could be growing even better</a> due to the higher carbon dioxide in the air.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bpd0xQeTDMva_o7-oygHaomEHRHNtyM4dBUIFBIDpXcG5vpx5LwYtDzwN-Cphh2BlFZY7h2SO0JvQ9hjdLpW1qJfVd30iJwChWytuW4go9vPIbwqVTd927cqIW1Xie1XcnIekZb72fg/s1600/weeding.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bpd0xQeTDMva_o7-oygHaomEHRHNtyM4dBUIFBIDpXcG5vpx5LwYtDzwN-Cphh2BlFZY7h2SO0JvQ9hjdLpW1qJfVd30iJwChWytuW4go9vPIbwqVTd927cqIW1Xie1XcnIekZb72fg/s1600/weeding.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Several articles alerted me to the dire situation of incredibly soggy Western NY fields (Read them here: <a href="http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2014/08/01/soggy-season-threatens-farms/13473069/">D & C</a> and <a href="http://rochester.twcnews.com/content/news/761723/low-temperatures-and-large-amounts-of-rain-affecting-western-new-york-farms/?ap=1&MP4/">TWC News</a>), and a few weeks ago the <a href="http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/NewsBlog/archives/2014/09/03/attorney-generals-report-says-ny-experiencing-heavier-rainfall">Attorney General of the Sta<span style="color: black;"></span>te declared</a>
that all this extra rain is in fact a symptom of climate change. The
press release states "the need to focus on greater resiliency planning
and response measures for our infrastructure, neighborhoods and
landscape in order to promote a safer and more sustainable New York." I
assume that farms fall into all three categories, as their presence in
our region's infrastructure and physical landscape provides
neighborhoods with food security, if done well. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Resiliency planning is
built into the basic organic farming model. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">CSA farmers plant hundreds of different varieties of vegetables, so that when extreme weather hits, usually <i>something</i>
will do well, even if other crops fail. Diversity is really the key
when you are gambling with such uncertainty. Farmers practicing
sustainable growing also create more resilient soil, through practices
like cover cropping, adding compost, and avoiding chemicals which
destroy the living soil ecosystem. The healthier the soil is, the
better it can withstand drought and flooding.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9e9N8_TnNK8XaxuV5n3xvzSI4X2d1_Vnxcz214RCir_GOnQxByOKcRRDtrBPmTci6275gQIwjntDc3XvX1zLEkDB06lPLrWmZpAEnijtdz64T50OPgEI6NskuCdV3QBmUAyDfRfDfUg/s1600/giantbeet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9e9N8_TnNK8XaxuV5n3xvzSI4X2d1_Vnxcz214RCir_GOnQxByOKcRRDtrBPmTci6275gQIwjntDc3XvX1zLEkDB06lPLrWmZpAEnijtdz64T50OPgEI6NskuCdV3QBmUAyDfRfDfUg/s1600/giantbeet.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></span>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9e9N8_TnNK8XaxuV5n3xvzSI4X2d1_Vnxcz214RCir_GOnQxByOKcRRDtrBPmTci6275gQIwjntDc3XvX1zLEkDB06lPLrWmZpAEnijtdz64T50OPgEI6NskuCdV3QBmUAyDfRfDfUg/s1600/giantbeet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The extra moisture this summer also brought more disease into the fields -- tomatoes were decimated again by <a href="http://www.longislandhort.cornell.edu/vegpath/photos/lateblight_tomato.htm">Late Blight</a>, the serious fungus that brought about the Irish Potato Famine, and the poor <a href="http://www.longislandhort.cornell.edu/vegpath/photos/downymildew_basil.htm">basil got Downy Mildew,</a>
a relatively new disease occurance. Fungi LOVE wet weather. And they
hate sunshine-- on a good sunny day, UV rays will destroy the fungal
spores and slow the spread of the disease. Not like we had too many
sunny days this summer...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Farmers
make a living from working with natural systems-- soil, water, seeds --
and all of these systems are dependent on the ever-changing and
unpredictable weather, which, as we know, is becoming more and more
unpredictable.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3KtX-US0sr1bTEjh2QUWHyJjybvD4XLuaEQcMJH2yWVclhbarJ-vJhrF5howvT8H77nGwO_eotH203QvwF8KyNNs5yTv4-WvIMUoD1SqJqx1e2SWd9mtSJUWgaVvLIWScC3oWz0XqoE/s1600/IMG_4062.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3KtX-US0sr1bTEjh2QUWHyJjybvD4XLuaEQcMJH2yWVclhbarJ-vJhrF5howvT8H77nGwO_eotH203QvwF8KyNNs5yTv4-WvIMUoD1SqJqx1e2SWd9mtSJUWgaVvLIWScC3oWz0XqoE/s1600/IMG_4062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBFC_FwsdBdi_10O25CPGL_c1CeRqTqTStbtqKvLasy78vJNOger82uBYOmeO4r22NeLYRaRyjLw5WNZPwWGrEUbHTr9yIuvzMYXvKxaqycLtP-TKaduJFyovd3HwEhS68chl-7DjqRI/s1600/IMG_4511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Remember <a href="http://farmererin.blogspot.com/2013_06_01_archive.html">last spring</a>?
We also had too much rain, early on in the season. Luckily, it warmed
up enough for us later in the summer. This year, Ruth had less of a
break. She educated me on "growing degree days," which is a fancy farmer
word for calculating the rate that plants grow based on the ambient
temperature they experience. And, yep, it was a cold summer. The growing degree
days were even <a href="http://rochester.twcnews.com/content/news/761723/low-temperatures-and-large-amounts-of-rain-affecting-western-new-york-farms/?ap=1&MP4/">down 25% from the average this season</a> in some areas, delaying the ability of the crop to mature for harvest! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
climate scientists also talk about more heat waves and droughts, and in
the five years that I've farmed in the area, I have experienced these
firsthand as well. Working in the heat is not fun. Neither is
breathing in dust blowing off your fields after five weeks of no rain.
These occupational hazards are probably some of the big reasons the
reasons people give up farming. Oh, yeah, and it doesn't make any
money. But if we all stopped farming, who would grow the food? </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBFC_FwsdBdi_10O25CPGL_c1CeRqTqTStbtqKvLasy78vJNOger82uBYOmeO4r22NeLYRaRyjLw5WNZPwWGrEUbHTr9yIuvzMYXvKxaqycLtP-TKaduJFyovd3HwEhS68chl-7DjqRI/s1600/IMG_4511.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBFC_FwsdBdi_10O25CPGL_c1CeRqTqTStbtqKvLasy78vJNOger82uBYOmeO4r22NeLYRaRyjLw5WNZPwWGrEUbHTr9yIuvzMYXvKxaqycLtP-TKaduJFyovd3HwEhS68chl-7DjqRI/s1600/IMG_4511.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>
</div>
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<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We'll have to figure it out somehow, and adapt our growing techniques and choice of crops to the changes happening. The <a href="http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/northeast.html">EPA is even going so far to suggest</a> that by the end of the century, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Large
portions of the region may become unsuitable for growing some fruit
varieties and some crops, such as apples, blueberries, grain, and
soybeans.” It's obvious we are facing a whole new world out there. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Farmers are the first to feel the effects of climate change, because they work outside every day, and their whole livelihood depends on the weather. But as consumers, if we look deeply, we can see that three times a day, we eat the climate.</span></span><br />
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-l-jLxvLKvny6gBknh9ztllsbFZDz66goHubhypw2Z319-Ayc8VIysHYSR-ISKDOwmX7h9RllKH-kKkN66Q9hrJLwC9Xz8QEPkE79T4j6DN86zQAuzkhdiwbSwiCUjQMVlMtpmfdGa0g/s1600/IMG_3949.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-l-jLxvLKvny6gBknh9ztllsbFZDz66goHubhypw2Z319-Ayc8VIysHYSR-ISKDOwmX7h9RllKH-kKkN66Q9hrJLwC9Xz8QEPkE79T4j6DN86zQAuzkhdiwbSwiCUjQMVlMtpmfdGa0g/s1600/IMG_3949.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">(Insert David Bowie song)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Turn and face the strange Ch-ch-changes, Don't want to be a richer man, Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes,</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Turn and face the strange Ch-ch-changes, Just gonna have to be a different man"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As a modern humans in today's society, we could live our whole lives indoors, in our climate-controlled houses and cars, giving us an illusion of protection from the changes happening outside our windows. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When we step outside, we have no control over things like the temperature,
whether the lights are on or not, and what falls from the sky.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYrkO1n74t42nFaqivupNY9YT9EVsnIzhHpdg4n2PfTr8QZi9J4oUEee7Ue4lPJpeRisdALXwpWxHSObshoYYaVZrPMDMPvHwucXrEbFzpqMPVnkCgGP5E-Yw3YnolP6XzDGOmeQe9eU/s1600/IMG_4176.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYrkO1n74t42nFaqivupNY9YT9EVsnIzhHpdg4n2PfTr8QZi9J4oUEee7Ue4lPJpeRisdALXwpWxHSObshoYYaVZrPMDMPvHwucXrEbFzpqMPVnkCgGP5E-Yw3YnolP6XzDGOmeQe9eU/s1600/IMG_4176.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a>
</div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This
is why so many farmers are moving indoors themselves to grow their
crops -- hoop-houses, high tunnels, low tunnels, greenhouses,
hydroponics… I understand all the logic behind it. Controlled environments are easier, more comfortable, more predictable. And for a farmer's bottom line, it can make all the difference.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> But I believe this is a step in the wrong direction.</span>
</div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
want to live in a world where I can be outside. I want to feel the sun
on my skin, the breeze in my hair, see a hawk circling over a field. I
want to walk the weedy edges in my boots and see jack rabbits bolt to
the woods. I want to look up into the clouds to feel the first
raindrops on my face, and stick my hands down into the rich moist loam
to say “thank you” for the nourishment of another season. I want to see
the determined bees and hummingbirds take their nourishment from
flowers, while they simultaneously ensure the flowers’ continuation, and
provide me with such joy. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXerkJech2bpxZbfPJ-nfx4tc_Hu_DDXaCbH8T60MymdXbCmiLokz3N5HQdWJaZhad-CzPrw_-iZuP1ox-HFc5N3c7QnmwlZFb9y1oCc_wqbKQfIZPDxjhoqXvMM802rEv2VLan7yn-E/s1600/IMG_4538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXerkJech2bpxZbfPJ-nfx4tc_Hu_DDXaCbH8T60MymdXbCmiLokz3N5HQdWJaZhad-CzPrw_-iZuP1ox-HFc5N3c7QnmwlZFb9y1oCc_wqbKQfIZPDxjhoqXvMM802rEv2VLan7yn-E/s1600/IMG_4538.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I want to ensure the continuation of the
things that nourish me.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Step outside for a break after reading this. What does the climate feel like to you right now? How do things smell, how does the air feel on your skin? Can you hear birds or crickets? Look up into a tree. An old tree has seen a lot of seasons in its time, maybe more than you have. What will it see in the coming years, and will it be ready?</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxDUXMBvytWfU3v5P37tOnN-EWBasq9BAl6JGHfpl6mr6-YeRuHNZbL5JE6HYkmE6RfeXUO8F1MH02FFIT1hCIHw386C5Qw4Be1vr8JDElPOGh8oV6-vALUoKYJAWwUjfe1waKDc5ia4/s1600/IMG_3949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxDUXMBvytWfU3v5P37tOnN-EWBasq9BAl6JGHfpl6mr6-YeRuHNZbL5JE6HYkmE6RfeXUO8F1MH02FFIT1hCIHw386C5Qw4Be1vr8JDElPOGh8oV6-vALUoKYJAWwUjfe1waKDc5ia4/s1600/IMG_3949.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-l-jLxvLKvny6gBknh9ztllsbFZDz66goHubhypw2Z319-Ayc8VIysHYSR-ISKDOwmX7h9RllKH-kKkN66Q9hrJLwC9Xz8QEPkE79T4j6DN86zQAuzkhdiwbSwiCUjQMVlMtpmfdGa0g/s1600/IMG_3949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Are you ready? </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Supporting local farmers who are using sustainable growing practices, who are committed to taking care of the soil, who are looking for more ways to be resilient in the face of climate change, is one of the things we can do to ensure a hopeful future. It's going to be a wild ride, but together we can build a more resilient community and learn to adapt to the crazy changes together.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>(And I almost forgot: Stay tuned for stories about my adventures with an olive farmer in the Mediterranean, and my discovery of a Zen Buddhist monastery in the Catskills, in a future blog entry! It's good to be back.)</i></span>
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“To live in this world<br />
<br />
you
must be able<br />
to do three things:<br />
to love what is mortal;<br />
to
hold it<br />
<br />
against your bones knowing<br />
your own life depends on
it;<br />
and, when the time comes to let it go,<br />
to let it go.”</div>
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<i>-Mary Oliver</i></div>
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<i> </i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkdgpjjpJVTJazaJAeCFdBginLXVf5gilBNxIDNFKT1qM-O_s4f_b5nFCw0rtCLBs8LNwH1URNKMDQem9B0fGHkCyitH3O011uhQX6VZ_ONQvRrPGalK6ya-AbZQbhZnwvsxR56-BFpk/s1600/IMG_3525.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkdgpjjpJVTJazaJAeCFdBginLXVf5gilBNxIDNFKT1qM-O_s4f_b5nFCw0rtCLBs8LNwH1URNKMDQem9B0fGHkCyitH3O011uhQX6VZ_ONQvRrPGalK6ya-AbZQbhZnwvsxR56-BFpk/s320/IMG_3525.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKKCgkTTke5-81K4K-IcmnkKiIXwuJDVz3RWz_VJe9t9B0C_hvbZIHOCk11a9_8zDuCROWldBEv3XqcaRXlFDu-49yqJfKCcLS92-ijoKkFDOxkWMBlvxiMP9RoDp1xD2zb_H-G28G2U/s1600/IMG_4137.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
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I am leaving Mud Creek Farm CSA. I am
choosing to be with my partner, who lives four hours away in the
Hudson Valley.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbgQ-ew53tcK6sDVCnR79mnNDG9Zzc8XavAU8PUsIYdox_rlKA9tU-ArB1qUhsW-EQr5x1vpNE67u7qJ09cpy0sVo347KYKnEBWRACkqBu5AwrrOq2T7cutlvlDACZCqgzEI9Hyq2lkI/s1600/IMG_3767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbgQ-ew53tcK6sDVCnR79mnNDG9Zzc8XavAU8PUsIYdox_rlKA9tU-ArB1qUhsW-EQr5x1vpNE67u7qJ09cpy0sVo347KYKnEBWRACkqBu5AwrrOq2T7cutlvlDACZCqgzEI9Hyq2lkI/s320/IMG_3767.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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For several years now we've been doing
the long-distance thing, taking Amtrak back and forth every few weeks
across the state. It gets old! I am very much in love with this man. So I've decided to make the move to his
town, and I truly believe that I'm leaving Mud Creek Farm in very
capable hands. It will continue on without me, the Community
Supported Agriculture spirit quite alive in the dedication of the
members and the eager new farmers. </div>
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This was the hardest decision I've ever
made. The farm has been my <i>everything</i> for the past five
years. I had found my calling, followed my passion, sweat and
toiled-- and the community had embraced it, resulting in a hugely
successful operation. Mud Creek Farm has been in almost every local
publication, on TV, radio, etc. We were voted “Favorite Farm of
the Finger Lakes” in Edible Magazine this year.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgzh0LRr0njyg2jcwpZQbNkTDYOomr5Q1xA5-AnIaMfjusAsq8RkXFcBRxm5HUrhyphenhyphenhdo1vd6vW4NQPPaN-RFUCqw6ZVClgoYt5JUgx8arK-JD15WIqxKMQCO898XArbR35cCwbfhcQ6w/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgzh0LRr0njyg2jcwpZQbNkTDYOomr5Q1xA5-AnIaMfjusAsq8RkXFcBRxm5HUrhyphenhyphenhdo1vd6vW4NQPPaN-RFUCqw6ZVClgoYt5JUgx8arK-JD15WIqxKMQCO898XArbR35cCwbfhcQ6w/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have never been so satisfied by my
job. So much gratitude from CSA members! What a feeling to be
feeding hundreds of families, many of whom I know well after years of
nourishing them. I've seen babies grow from pregnant mamas into
curious kids, wandering around looking wide-eyed at flowers and bugs
and tomatoes. I've seen people stumble awkwardly onto the farm in
early spring, and then leave strong and glowing with health at the
end of the summer, raving about kale and potato soup.</div>
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Playing the role of “Farmer Erin”
had become my primary identity, and I embraced it and loved it. What
an amazing gift to be able to do something I enjoy that people
appreciate so much. I truly feel that farming is in my blood, that growing food is something I <i>need</i> to do.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKKCgkTTke5-81K4K-IcmnkKiIXwuJDVz3RWz_VJe9t9B0C_hvbZIHOCk11a9_8zDuCROWldBEv3XqcaRXlFDu-49yqJfKCcLS92-ijoKkFDOxkWMBlvxiMP9RoDp1xD2zb_H-G28G2U/s1600/IMG_4137.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKKCgkTTke5-81K4K-IcmnkKiIXwuJDVz3RWz_VJe9t9B0C_hvbZIHOCk11a9_8zDuCROWldBEv3XqcaRXlFDu-49yqJfKCcLS92-ijoKkFDOxkWMBlvxiMP9RoDp1xD2zb_H-G28G2U/s320/IMG_4137.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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As I grew the CSA from 80 members to
400, I needed helpers. The first few years we relied solely on
volunteers, then I hired full-time interns, young folks who wanted to
learn how to farm. This year I hired an assistant manager, Ruth,
and a greenhouse manager, Jonny. The crew was absolutely amazing
this summer. I left for two weeks in August, and they hardly missed
a beat. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzaWufim1VxBwa8L5wIKtRw2-bSxg5n6H21xhv41SImXB_j9-KMQvBJczQuJSIKqTqvh316QgrhJL841VSGWiHP-jD3DW2mXXwlzopRoVTUms_5ywugLOLUFNwDEI8BYoqbsgL50pfoc/s1600/IMG_3438.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzaWufim1VxBwa8L5wIKtRw2-bSxg5n6H21xhv41SImXB_j9-KMQvBJczQuJSIKqTqvh316QgrhJL841VSGWiHP-jD3DW2mXXwlzopRoVTUms_5ywugLOLUFNwDEI8BYoqbsgL50pfoc/s320/IMG_3438.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></span> </div>
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When I asked the crew mid-summer if
anyone wanted to return next season to work for Mud Creek Farm, three
of them said YES! Ruth, Jonny, and Josh. As I anticipated my
absence next year, I started thinking about what a great team they
would make. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsBp5e1B8ZgXnTwKlmPwX8TnKFlfApQisuiLfMGQLy9THLxBQB4XZzjlzk9gze3sq7sSyukDpcc9ZZcBg7TUDT5iK-eYUMNOIy4qD36Y4mY90VsoxqEiFjQHhyphenhyphen_3Sfa1TSbr8ur7cUjs/s1600/IMG_5075.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsBp5e1B8ZgXnTwKlmPwX8TnKFlfApQisuiLfMGQLy9THLxBQB4XZzjlzk9gze3sq7sSyukDpcc9ZZcBg7TUDT5iK-eYUMNOIy4qD36Y4mY90VsoxqEiFjQHhyphenhyphen_3Sfa1TSbr8ur7cUjs/s320/IMG_5075.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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Ruth has 5+ farming experience under
her belt, and her strengths lay in field operations, tractors, and
spirit. She worked for Peacework Farm, one of the very first CSAs in
the area. She was raised on an organic farm in Vermont, and her dad
runs a winter-storage vegetable operation. She is an incredible
person. It's kind of nice, too, that the business will stay
woman-run. She's ready for it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8s4ZVBw2hRcIchnqReHNFJMAP1uLxXD75NmF3jLwrGuNMoAWAgq8TwDYQFmLito-Irr1BbN5Ii0fZeHScfPTTgm5vIsBFMzbPruFRmYmJN5r9Z7XExYrln9PN9mHt32SFScXhH0qX4A/s1600/IMG_3387.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8s4ZVBw2hRcIchnqReHNFJMAP1uLxXD75NmF3jLwrGuNMoAWAgq8TwDYQFmLito-Irr1BbN5Ii0fZeHScfPTTgm5vIsBFMzbPruFRmYmJN5r9Z7XExYrln9PN9mHt32SFScXhH0qX4A/s320/IMG_3387.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Jonny managed his own small CSA last
year, and has leadership and organizational skills, and a great
attention to detail. He will be managing the greenhouse transplant
production, and harvest/washing of produce. His dedication to CSA
member satisfaction will ensure that the quality of the produce and
the experience remains the same great Mud Creek style!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpj_s0jCJ3mrrEb1j7-sva3jOQamJq9pEhO0XNp3Uvlh9-BhX3YEU-A5_NIDx7XSPD-caJ723EpF7tx0xrt3nKc5yqf74pMUkWhjd-gqm55DWjXgD7mAQgPyZOt8Iso53F7bQTuHCmciM/s1600/IMG_3352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpj_s0jCJ3mrrEb1j7-sva3jOQamJq9pEhO0XNp3Uvlh9-BhX3YEU-A5_NIDx7XSPD-caJ723EpF7tx0xrt3nKc5yqf74pMUkWhjd-gqm55DWjXgD7mAQgPyZOt8Iso53F7bQTuHCmciM/s320/IMG_3352.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Josh grew up with a hammer in his hand.
He knows how to work hard, has 8+ years experience in construction,
and he's decided farming is his true path now. He learns quickly,
and because of his focus and determination, he's become quite skilled
at tractor cultivation. We're very lucky to have him.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPV5hFP3XE3DNVm_fHvmY4zrkmriKhyW20I350LKSDb4rlvVY5XypiGurOncMTH6N2EUH2aUsiINeMGZ6n3Imjme-HAgjXXug2XTDCR3ImpazLKLvqknOYwRCcrzpkkE9lIWfcM6IGOE/s1600/IMG_5059.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPV5hFP3XE3DNVm_fHvmY4zrkmriKhyW20I350LKSDb4rlvVY5XypiGurOncMTH6N2EUH2aUsiINeMGZ6n3Imjme-HAgjXXug2XTDCR3ImpazLKLvqknOYwRCcrzpkkE9lIWfcM6IGOE/s320/IMG_5059.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
All three of these guys have an amazing
work ethic and devotion to the CSA's mission. As much as it saddens
me that I don't get to work with them anymore, they are totally
capable of running the farm without me. They have more than earned
my confidence, and proven again and again that they have what it
takes.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdT3xRuFHtwOuIzokdoxlKxj_vWwfzjxBrkMDXKU1QMgDPQBj7LeTYpXe-Ss5lPRW_7lZ-Adde2hkl8WMubvpWMn0__O-fptRmf_mr3p3gefLA9wa0vJcrCZEyokkKRvWQGwZLfiVGOY/s1600/IMG_5036.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdT3xRuFHtwOuIzokdoxlKxj_vWwfzjxBrkMDXKU1QMgDPQBj7LeTYpXe-Ss5lPRW_7lZ-Adde2hkl8WMubvpWMn0__O-fptRmf_mr3p3gefLA9wa0vJcrCZEyokkKRvWQGwZLfiVGOY/s320/IMG_5036.JPG" width="320" /></a>
</div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9osuTWWKHv9Q7SljOVysain4__rFBQl5fKoo5OB9t3NJ0l0HgPDW-AWT7kRwucODEkzrpzPSECl14w8Lzl6x1wk56QpuXBxqyk-skmNv7YBoPZ8dSshx0gOrM0B_7yGbRNXP6Zje_us/s320/IMG_5028.JPG" width="320" /> </div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZpCblSW9ZkuYLxZqEgTCdHq9K7JpX9k7lUITWkCrlE9zg3dU8SRvJA6oy1dM7_zD1cv2kUcPQlxWtcC4_qkgwkgylBZoMzHS5W1IRQE080pJOjD3Fmj-naQrsPrE2zoVxqAoQW550o0/s320/IMG_5038.JPG" width="320" /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIvrWDw3pQ3HLLAk8HNwzRLcgXavJalCMGN_yJeoE7oN-po3KgcAIWEhfDLtN2A_Eg20n6kxB9V0K1X06WnyWqKAIOgLajBABgdiBUDZ37O-aK3uxuc2DFQ-YFT8VxYtPh2Wm_gvr5PE/s320/IMG_5039.JPG" width="320" /></div>
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5U2P6s4m5YoyUtDPbjpk45lLk1cDxPUk7s3QVsdMoMrPk-K_1l3uE26TrSdG2zLtXjL-W1wi0A2_sM-R5vFZErVken6ph6x_Qp-kySGFk514_gwK_cWtcMZXjbZzmyE5-_xNACBfhiM/s1600/IMG_5035.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5U2P6s4m5YoyUtDPbjpk45lLk1cDxPUk7s3QVsdMoMrPk-K_1l3uE26TrSdG2zLtXjL-W1wi0A2_sM-R5vFZErVken6ph6x_Qp-kySGFk514_gwK_cWtcMZXjbZzmyE5-_xNACBfhiM/s320/IMG_5035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
I've spent the summer training them in
on every detail of the operation, working closely with them
sometimes, and sometimes just letting them learn lessons on their
own. I've tried to be the best mentor I could be, guiding them into
their own confidence on tasks. Next year I will be a phone call away
if they need anything. But I feel like they are ready to take it and
run with it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpENK3m6kAv_HZM3eHyI_y5xbleicT19Anwfx5JDIsPVd2W4dmabI4JthlA-UhHGuB-ljzp1WzDefa6hleOv8qak5wew6tO8hqDfuy9qr1G82atuGfsp-ZTmhXKi4WhN2UYNQupBfidk/s1600/IMG_5008.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpENK3m6kAv_HZM3eHyI_y5xbleicT19Anwfx5JDIsPVd2W4dmabI4JthlA-UhHGuB-ljzp1WzDefa6hleOv8qak5wew6tO8hqDfuy9qr1G82atuGfsp-ZTmhXKi4WhN2UYNQupBfidk/s320/IMG_5008.JPG" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
One challenge is that this shift in
management coincides with moving the farm location to new land.
(See the last blog post for details) Sure, it will be a lot of work to break in new fields, move sheds,
water lines, fences, etc. But this might give them a chance to claim
the project as their own, clean-slate. To put their hearts into the
physical building-up of the farm, like I did. They have a more ideal
land situation than I ever had-- a 5-year lease with long-term
potential, and they might even get a pond and a pole barn, things I
only dreamed of!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHV66kxY0dSgjdpyTnnurTWbhwvntgzVV4iZxMKqd4uOpSU46DmFhjWbdTzXh_Hrw9ZwHkaxIkWe1sq922HfImIo_cRvNKnBTg-mo3BwWPOOvO82KqhE981wmYJYmqmo1D_SMhemSX5QA/s1600/IMG_5011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHV66kxY0dSgjdpyTnnurTWbhwvntgzVV4iZxMKqd4uOpSU46DmFhjWbdTzXh_Hrw9ZwHkaxIkWe1sq922HfImIo_cRvNKnBTg-mo3BwWPOOvO82KqhE981wmYJYmqmo1D_SMhemSX5QA/s320/IMG_5011.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Sure, the farm's going to change. The
farmers' unique strengths and personalities affect everything about a
farm. But while Mud Creek's farmers are in charge of all the
planning, growing, and harvesting, the real heart of the CSA organism
is the<i> members</i>. Not only do they support the farm
financially, but they become a real type of community, one with its
own strengths and personalities.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgPIaJbONMHGD4vFOE4wjtAB0EHwfImcg4JHWCh354t0v6mWV1MgHLOE0vbpWTjN3E4nbvGK9WZW8_sNTHjm4QNWD-QsGP-aYHHyOKYk0cBVW5OE3yLOZiUCD-GxujIyolTcF6nLSiKs/s1600/members.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgPIaJbONMHGD4vFOE4wjtAB0EHwfImcg4JHWCh354t0v6mWV1MgHLOE0vbpWTjN3E4nbvGK9WZW8_sNTHjm4QNWD-QsGP-aYHHyOKYk0cBVW5OE3yLOZiUCD-GxujIyolTcF6nLSiKs/s1600/members.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
It is my hope that the members of Mud
Creek Farm CSA continue to be the active and supportive heart of the
farm that they have been for these past five years.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Ruth, Jonny, and Josh are all committed
to keeping the mission of Mud Creek Farm alive – <span style="font-family: Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
provide the highest quality vegetables to CSA members, produced as
sustainably as possible. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9Al3DoLGkty2pejjzQZjY5l6ke3XeKzwiniEP_bamMqimqdUVqna3Utqj9vyGXC13B8KFptITn1LMaoXtqCnlG2Dv4MfIWA0Y1szhorMWwYRlXtRH7BjHMVnrceLFR6VBkRUb-Z9hTQ/s1600/IMG_5021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9Al3DoLGkty2pejjzQZjY5l6ke3XeKzwiniEP_bamMqimqdUVqna3Utqj9vyGXC13B8KFptITn1LMaoXtqCnlG2Dv4MfIWA0Y1szhorMWwYRlXtRH7BjHMVnrceLFR6VBkRUb-Z9hTQ/s320/IMG_5021.jpg" width="240" /></a> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">They
will carry on nourishing people in the community, both physically
through delicious healthy produce, and soulfully, through a positive
and hands-on experience of nature, sustainability, and abundance. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtbTz4siD-qEFT-E5eK8hJER77SIFfnUesGBlG02FvzueOGOmxkjXWFUoHmPjSdSxzgP45Ci58SNckQrWZK28jVZhn8qhp1D7pzqSgFJhgYm9TXOKA99Pn6vc7jfYOZyZiwydo7EA-ig/s1600/IMG_3531.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtbTz4siD-qEFT-E5eK8hJER77SIFfnUesGBlG02FvzueOGOmxkjXWFUoHmPjSdSxzgP45Ci58SNckQrWZK28jVZhn8qhp1D7pzqSgFJhgYm9TXOKA99Pn6vc7jfYOZyZiwydo7EA-ig/s320/IMG_3531.JPG" width="320" /></a> </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">And
I will get to venture into the unknown, this time without a 5-year business
plan. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I will really value the friendships I've made with CSA members over the years, and I'll miss so many people! I hope to sustain these connections, even from afar. I will try to keep up the blog. Come visit me when you're in the eastern part of the state! I hope to visit the "new" Mud Creek Farm often, of course, too. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">But during this sabbatical from farming I'll get to explore other sides of me, besides being "Farmer Erin". I know
that growing food will always be a part of my life, but now I get to
round out my experience a bit, adding new roles of family, domesticity, music, activism, maybe even
writing a book... Who knows?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGB-5F2Mgs7nNHiy3hRjIHBh84X5JkQBjJjmlzXmgK0MJl8qRXdy7qQOE2l4Cmn-xQX3jBB9DxpMubf-eulqZsiyLtjSFEDUcEckwDsO162osYmeBy6ERF4QoWi7xemcwKkp9rvL1u3z0/s1600/IMG_2506.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGB-5F2Mgs7nNHiy3hRjIHBh84X5JkQBjJjmlzXmgK0MJl8qRXdy7qQOE2l4Cmn-xQX3jBB9DxpMubf-eulqZsiyLtjSFEDUcEckwDsO162osYmeBy6ERF4QoWi7xemcwKkp9rvL1u3z0/s320/IMG_2506.JPG" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<div class="western" style="text-align: center;">
<br />
The Real Work</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>by <a href="http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/author.php?auth_id=1441">Wendell
Berry</a></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It
may be that when we no longer know what to do<br />we have come to our
real work,<br /><br />and that when we no longer know which way to go<br />we
have come to our real journey.<br /><br />The mind that is not baffled is
not employed.<br /><br />The impeded stream is the one that sings. </span></span></span>
</div>
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<br />erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-35926881551738284352013-09-19T09:01:00.001-07:002013-09-19T09:01:42.761-07:00On this harvest moon...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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September... the peak of summer's bounty.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The full moon closest to the autumn equinox is known as the "Harvest Moon" because its light has traditionally helped farmers gather their abundant harvest into the night.</div>
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There is that sad moment you <b>know </b>that summer is slipping into fall. That tragically beautiful hour that you feel winter's chill creep in sometime in the early evening one night, and the next morning you realize that all the plants in the field feel it too. The grand race to ripen before the cruel frost replaces summer's kind warmth. Even the grasshoppers, the butterflies, and the mourning doves know it. Even the fungus on the squash leaves, the disease on the tomatoes. Everything alive quickens its pace, soaking up every ounce of a sunny day, holding on through the chilly nights, the inevitable slowing toward winter. Last chance, its now or never. And now: it's tomatoes!</div>
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We pick as fast as possible. The bins of food we harvest get heavier and heavier. September makes my back ache. </div>
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We strategize. We pick almost every day now.</div>
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We haul loaded wagons of veggies in the from the fields.</div>
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We wash in tubs of cold water that make our fingers numb.</div>
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The Native Americans have called this time the "Corn Moon" as well, so I guess it's appropriate that we had such a great run of sweet corn this month! We were able to give a solid two weeks of delicious organic ears of sweet corn to our CSA members, and even have a little "bonus" pick this week too. So tasty! I like to snack on it raw in the fields of course.</div>
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As I cultivated the fall lettuce, carrots, and beets, I had an almost bittersweet feeling that it was the last time we'd be doing it this season! Oh, how I do love when the soil is at the right moisture, and it just crumbles and flows through the cultivators. Like the satisfaction of brushing your hair, or maybe a big Zen garden, full of carrots and sunlight and life.</div>
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The bittersweet feeling of fall is that much more poignant right now because we are leaving these fields. Five years of growing vegetables and flowers and cover crops on this soil. Five summers of plowing, planting, weeding, irrigating, and harvesting. We will mourn for the loss of this place and be grateful for the years we spent there. But saying goodbye to things is natural, just like the frost takes the summer crops back every year, and the snow blankets the land, clearing the slate for next year.</div>
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But the green and the warmth always comes back in the spring!</div>
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And we've found a new place to farm! Just five minutes up the hill. A very special place.</div>
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We will be right down the road from <a href="http://www.ganondagan.org/aboutganondagan.html">Ganondagon</a>, the historic site of a flourishing Native American community. I believe this is a really good sign, because the Native Americans cultivated lots of corn and other crops to sustain themselves, possibly in the very fields we will be working! We are also right around the corner from <a href="https://www.thevictorapplefarm.com/">The Apple Farm</a>, a great U-Pick family operation, stop by for hot cider and donuts this fall! Our new landlord has been a CSA member for years, and is really wonderful! What amazing luck.</div>
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The soil on our new fields is a rich silt loam, with small rolling hills throughout. It is more quiet and surrounded by more farms than developments. It will take a lot of work to move the farm, and we hope to get a lot done this fall. Can't wait to get started.</div>
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A new beginning. We will be asking for help!</div>
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erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-87128060696669743322013-08-04T16:36:00.000-07:002013-08-11T13:29:54.080-07:00Bounty and Weeds<br />
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Hi folks, Farmer Ruth here. We've been enjoying some beautiful weather at the farm lately. The intense heat has broken, so all the harvesting has been very pleasant. Last Thursday was absolutely perfect, it rained all morning so harvest went nicely and we didn't have to worry about wilting, and then it became sunny and beautiful for distribution! That never happens! I'm kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop, but we are all enjoying it. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(She's enjoying it too)</td></tr>
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As the season has gone on, I've been running more distributions, and I have to say, it's one of my favorite parts of the week. After all the hard work, its great to see all of that bounty laid out on the table, and to hand it to people who are just as enthusiastic about vegetables as I am.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGA0LFXQmLvg6ZA5qZx15zb0fD7PPskHCktKyM9Kx7CTvCl9np_wHIskBLu92B5IVT_prAutqnxjRsAL-ibnHHoGpWHsEUyNnBB3LsWSa-yPypQWE90MinlNORURsPeThhehYui4ymeIYO/s1600/bounty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGA0LFXQmLvg6ZA5qZx15zb0fD7PPskHCktKyM9Kx7CTvCl9np_wHIskBLu92B5IVT_prAutqnxjRsAL-ibnHHoGpWHsEUyNnBB3LsWSa-yPypQWE90MinlNORURsPeThhehYui4ymeIYO/s400/bounty.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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I love talking recipes with people, there are so many different great ideas in the member pool that I'm starting to think we should have a Mud Creek Cookbook. </div>
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I also love seeing all the little kids at the farm, and watching parents use every opportunity to teach, whether it be counting cucumbers, reading signs, weighing out two pounds of roots, or knowing what a kohlrabi is (consensus is that it's an alien head). Its also great to see so many kids excited to go pick vegetables in the you-pick garden. I know for a fact that veggies taste way better when you get to pick them yourself!</div>
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The pick-your-own garden has been looking a little weedy lately, and this Friday was a little rainy; perfect time to weed. Jonny, Josh, Betsy and I all spent most of the day pulling weeds, and it made me feel so much better. It's immensely satisfying to make it beautiful out there for people to enjoy what we get to enjoy every day. And, as it turns out, Jonny's pigs love <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portulaca_oleracea">purslane</a>, which is the particular weed choking most of the you-pick section. I love it too, and I suppose its really only a weed when it's growing where you don't want it. </div>
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We did keep one weed, though. It's our pet amaranth. Erin grew <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranth">amaranth</a> as an experiment a few years ago, and now they pop up here and there. It looks like a tree growing out of the beans, and it's so big and impressive, we would hate to pull it up. (Besides, if we did pull it up it would probably take about 6 bean plants with it.) Betsy calls it "Queen of the Weeds."</div>
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Weeding the you-pick garden the day after a fantastic distribution day reminds me why I want to farm this way. I love the connectedness of this little oasis we've created. Thursday in the distribution shed, I looked out in the parking lot and saw lots of cars, but no one was around. I looked out in the field, and there they all were, talking, picking, laughing, little kids running around and asking questions. One of the members was walking back towards me, her arms full of bright flowers and beans. "I just have to tell you," she said, "it's so wonderful out there." She looked the way I feel after a good day; tired, happy, and fulfilled. Why would I possibly want to farm any other way? I get to feed people food. But I also get to feed people a field of flowers to stand in, where children are laughing, and no one is telling you they need that progress report and you can just stand there, eat a bean or two, smell the lemon basil, and listen to the birds.</div>
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<br />Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027727423986348232noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-55058701361890918242013-07-18T03:35:00.001-07:002013-07-18T03:35:14.175-07:00Sweat, garlic, and pigs<div style="text-align: center;">
Mid-July means harvest harvest harvest, sweat sweat sweat!</div>
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As more of the fruits of our labor ripen, we bend our backs to bring them in from the field. </div>
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Bee stings, horse flies, mosquitoes, gnats, all sorts of insects bother us while we harvest. We concentrate on performing the task at hand, as the sun beams its brutal rays down on us.</div>
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Sweat soaks our shirts, and lately I've been enjoying a peculiar "waterfall" experience happening on my face, starting at around 8am, and ending whenever I decide we should stop working to avoid collapse. I place zucchinis into bins, watching drops of sweat fall from my brow fall onto them, pre-salting people's dinners! I decide to stop when I can't do two simple things very well: catch flying zucchinis tossed at me, and keep count. The heat turns your brain into mush.</div>
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I've been appreciating the existence of facial hair -- eyebrows exist to keep sweat from running right into your eyes. My female version of a mustache and beard hold beads of sweat as well, and I struggle to find a clean place on my shirt to wipe my face, something not already covered in dirt and sweat. This must be detoxifying, right?</div>
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At least we've been staying well-fed! We have been blessed with a few kind CSA members and neighbors who've brought us lunch, so that when we collapse onto the picnic tables, we have some kind of calories to power us through another afternoon of work.</div>
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We decided to harvest our garlic in the hottest weather yet - over ninety and SUPER muggy.</div>
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We grew a record number of garlic bulbs this year -- over 7,000! We dug them with a chisel plow, to save our backs (last year we used digging forks by hand!)... working smarter, not harder.</div>
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Another smart thing we did was clean and bunch them in the shade. </div>
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Even the dog got exhausted! </div>
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Luckily, we had the help of a few volunteers, and that made it go a bit faster.</div>
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We took the bunches of garlic to Jack's barn loft to hang. </div>
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Boy, it looks nice up there! Now we wait 2 or 3 weeks or so until the garlic "cures", or dries down. We have put a bunch of box fans up there to speed the drying process.</div>
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Also, Jonny got his pigs! They are in the far back field, next to where we just pulled the garlic. They are really cute, and look really happy in their jungle of weeds. And they're growing fast!</div>
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erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-41733428614630815322013-07-06T06:57:00.001-07:002013-07-06T06:57:33.023-07:00A dry window
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Farmer Ruth
here!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, the weather finally
dried up for a few days, and so we had a very busy time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of plants were patiently waiting in their pots to be
put in the ground, as well as a lot of seeds. </div>
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The first piece of
ground to dry out was the beautifully sandy potato field we are using 10 miles
down the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We made the trek
over there, added a little of what is called “green potash” to amend the soil
for some of the fertility that’s missing in that field, and then Josh and I
hilled the potatoes twice over the next two days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are looking very healthy, and hopefully the
slightly late hilling won’t reduce our harvest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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The next thing to
happen, once some of our other fields dried a little more, was some serious
weed control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We basically
cultivated everything on the farm that wasn’t too tall to drive a tractor
over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The little Farmall Cub is
used for most of the cultivation, but we’ve also been using our electric Alis
Chalmers G cultivating tractor to cultivate the smaller crops, and it’s nice to
have two people cultivating at once, especially when you’re afraid the rain
could come back at any minute!</div>
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After cultivating the
entire earth, our next focus was to till up some empty beds and get things into
the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We planted a lot this
past week, and I can’t even remember all of it, but some of the things we got
in the ground were the last succession of tomatoes; the final melons; some more
sweet corn; some more winter squash (since a lot of what we planted before was
a duck pond for a while, and may not come up); some more beans, herbs,
scallions, and flowers; lettuce… and that’s all I can remember right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all a blur!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the tomatoes were planted, we had
to figure out some mulching solutions, because our local source for mulch hay
has run out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We mulch around all
the tomatoes for two reasons; one is that it keeps down weeds in a bed we can’t
mechanically cultivate, because of all the tomato stakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And secondly, tomatoes are susceptible
to two kind of blight that are more easily transferred to the plant if rain
splashes dirt onto the lower leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Erin had the idea of raking up the dried cover crop of rye that we mowed
a while ago, and it worked out perfectly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was surprisingly dry and fluffy, even after sitting in all that wet
for days on end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s to a
hopefully great tomato year!<br /></div>
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While raking up all
the mulch rye, the crew got distracted by the enormous cherry tree at the top
of the field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After picking all
the reachable cherries, we were taunted by giant ripe clusters higher up, and
decided it was time play for keeps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We piled a bunch of empty quart containers in the tractor bucket, and
lifted it into the cherry filled canopy, with a couple passengers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was delicious up there.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkqzgJ20Q6BS2EtfwCk9ad5sFpTsjqKfa-CGNxodphh3qtwmGWNenWiVFt_NugT0VG-IRAT9ABbXXjx7gW9scydfN4waeAgKhiRmkbXuqShZcqZkj8Yt0Z5Imcx7jvU4tjVdFT2JJSbc/s1600/IMG_4336.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkqzgJ20Q6BS2EtfwCk9ad5sFpTsjqKfa-CGNxodphh3qtwmGWNenWiVFt_NugT0VG-IRAT9ABbXXjx7gW9scydfN4waeAgKhiRmkbXuqShZcqZkj8Yt0Z5Imcx7jvU4tjVdFT2JJSbc/s320/IMG_4336.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The wild black raspberries are starting to ripen, too! </div>
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It’s been a pleasure
to distribute the CSA shares like normal again, instead of pre-bagging shares and
handing them out on the street, like we had to a few weeks ago. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYT3Hv1Qn8Yxcg5P6EuTDU5LjAqwWq_VCRJgqAWJfwRzfsBbYEtYBSXfpaxlxmL3v6kKVzx47t21BRBjY49S4VIcVYVlUTO59iQQWNjiXrS09RluTUFeqWs0nyG8GtCm5QJAUfgKxXtA/s1600/IMG_4180.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYT3Hv1Qn8Yxcg5P6EuTDU5LjAqwWq_VCRJgqAWJfwRzfsBbYEtYBSXfpaxlxmL3v6kKVzx47t21BRBjY49S4VIcVYVlUTO59iQQWNjiXrS09RluTUFeqWs0nyG8GtCm5QJAUfgKxXtA/s320/IMG_4180.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I much prefer being able to talk to
people, to answer questions, trade recipes, and have people be able to choose
between different veggies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
Thursday, right as distribution began, it started to rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this time, it was a light, gentle
rain, it was still warm out, and I felt good knowing we had everything in the
ground, ready to soak up the water and thrive.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizt1pEMQWMNNeN2F9aK0LxZ5io6VyfTf8PtX_q23u2iH8flLzVJDBeBWovwS1OdcrvhyJAC3pB8fuPdiz52YCyjuzx5h-svvzZuz3BsMmcAXZ_PAgNwRVu7Geu_AtegH8vyGfjBJTMGuI/s1600/IMG_4350.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizt1pEMQWMNNeN2F9aK0LxZ5io6VyfTf8PtX_q23u2iH8flLzVJDBeBWovwS1OdcrvhyJAC3pB8fuPdiz52YCyjuzx5h-svvzZuz3BsMmcAXZ_PAgNwRVu7Geu_AtegH8vyGfjBJTMGuI/s320/IMG_4350.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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And the harvest has been awesome. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DN_bOPJx4pI_ruh56blnmmaTBTSmJuZ6n0G-_edfLn09edz33eH951zWaWTqayB9jvwYsfwKHiiJJ1x5UR0pW991sDA2HfYWarvpuXFa9KGapA546cNC2wOsbCnYPqHxxgp7Hp4fxS0/s1600/IMG_4329.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DN_bOPJx4pI_ruh56blnmmaTBTSmJuZ6n0G-_edfLn09edz33eH951zWaWTqayB9jvwYsfwKHiiJJ1x5UR0pW991sDA2HfYWarvpuXFa9KGapA546cNC2wOsbCnYPqHxxgp7Hp4fxS0/s320/IMG_4329.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-978189904244130705.post-88217776328524679532013-06-17T07:24:00.001-07:002013-06-17T07:24:50.601-07:00Too much water!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtYsm7EPWFt0zr2GOAC2CUjZ7r1hdRpHlVYsdV6sXmzc-ExKew2BE7o4ZbXjtWooWS7AQX7sm1ItF9i944Vi1TzxqG9eLMC35k1VgfrvRvu_5d__fLhY7HkpCM7t9wVmtyAh-ZzyzkXA/s1600/IMG_4113.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtYsm7EPWFt0zr2GOAC2CUjZ7r1hdRpHlVYsdV6sXmzc-ExKew2BE7o4ZbXjtWooWS7AQX7sm1ItF9i944Vi1TzxqG9eLMC35k1VgfrvRvu_5d__fLhY7HkpCM7t9wVmtyAh-ZzyzkXA/s320/IMG_4113.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouU2NU_0XNgTZKT-pVZO2sTl0QhfLOMCbkw-Xe9GnaBdYHib65MEiXw0medeSlpTgSdKLokzzahi9btv2E3i1bSeU8fJh_o80Lms5YPHFROoVBRS36_Y55nU1_F-l5H0NyphJlba5l9I/s1600/IMG_4046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouU2NU_0XNgTZKT-pVZO2sTl0QhfLOMCbkw-Xe9GnaBdYHib65MEiXw0medeSlpTgSdKLokzzahi9btv2E3i1bSeU8fJh_o80Lms5YPHFROoVBRS36_Y55nU1_F-l5H0NyphJlba5l9I/s320/IMG_4046.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbuxe3Nq6lt1uZGTGXTvZr6_51a5J_EpLHJ_vFxG7tTVL8nPUAlLLAV0Z0FhthCzGR1GHObDEISOch5vZlnyqVLtxlpjpVzZ4LJ9-8FIyKzu_TMJlLEfYvqNckyLpeD5l4onwZYY7L_8/s1600/IMG_3988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<style type="text/css">P { margin-bottom: 0.08in;</style>Boy, has it been wet! We got more rain
in the past week (over six inches) than we did during most of last
summer.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQBSn0JQhuqM9wZle_7lcLcvcYMs3Jlw3oiesG-6Oi-SZIoYFcurdGY4AeS6voQFIaCmCzEF1WceN43U-gb6H8plBYQOtoDXqe9yXWSYJnFvZA8fjy0SKc4k-3hw-O5HuskqXEQyoj80/s1600/IMG_4023.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQBSn0JQhuqM9wZle_7lcLcvcYMs3Jlw3oiesG-6Oi-SZIoYFcurdGY4AeS6voQFIaCmCzEF1WceN43U-gb6H8plBYQOtoDXqe9yXWSYJnFvZA8fjy0SKc4k-3hw-O5HuskqXEQyoj80/s320/IMG_4023.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEdUXZZ6jrKEzdAsI0rq34idbUYg8xaShOFmFYmSWpnxkPMlq5DrDIsKa4O3NGiAx1Lq9aw5dJRhItRIi1yyzyYEGe1_9_MW-paBtd10I9VfWz-y7PJqXXDcy0IYoFXrHA11eMg4tPR4/s1600/IMG_4029.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEdUXZZ6jrKEzdAsI0rq34idbUYg8xaShOFmFYmSWpnxkPMlq5DrDIsKa4O3NGiAx1Lq9aw5dJRhItRIi1yyzyYEGe1_9_MW-paBtd10I9VfWz-y7PJqXXDcy0IYoFXrHA11eMg4tPR4/s320/IMG_4029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJF3mPdcLS5r0-O-__NlGZBAHaKN-U6nq870lWyW_hdhGdI5_kB9ImybBtWk-7efKJMniVYydbbL5Fl5vmNn3Mpl7ZJ4vdhSfRiRQA9AtShgjqU4_bTs2_cZX6xfjfne9Mvn1XUToOAg/s1600/IMG_4032.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJF3mPdcLS5r0-O-__NlGZBAHaKN-U6nq870lWyW_hdhGdI5_kB9ImybBtWk-7efKJMniVYydbbL5Fl5vmNn3Mpl7ZJ4vdhSfRiRQA9AtShgjqU4_bTs2_cZX6xfjfne9Mvn1XUToOAg/s320/IMG_4032.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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Even though most of our fields are
really well-drained, there is standing water in many areas after the
most recent deluge.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvN2jIsH5uzs3KHphbfqcrQICLE4k71ADsR4lg9szafchc_S8mwNm5vEJON7yiKPBrcDkM4FwgDmFF19HLPkyutM3Xnxtdf2_EO25MO6hyu5gqRAq4YmBsLu-BTIy0Z9RcaVeJLW7HRQ/s1600/IMG_4111.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvN2jIsH5uzs3KHphbfqcrQICLE4k71ADsR4lg9szafchc_S8mwNm5vEJON7yiKPBrcDkM4FwgDmFF19HLPkyutM3Xnxtdf2_EO25MO6hyu5gqRAq4YmBsLu-BTIy0Z9RcaVeJLW7HRQ/s320/IMG_4111.JPG" width="320" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBM7PTQzb12ZLnkzyWOKb4N8XKsQ-joM_KMJFDRobWE3xrtWvpqYTEE8iDo7Kt0f9YmbWgzS19-dnZCYUWxgUbnFM4VVpo1UeQQE4mr9Rsoa7HLmg0-S2JRyAQCYvlYdR0m6uxGiKQ6N0/s1600/IMG_4112.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBM7PTQzb12ZLnkzyWOKb4N8XKsQ-joM_KMJFDRobWE3xrtWvpqYTEE8iDo7Kt0f9YmbWgzS19-dnZCYUWxgUbnFM4VVpo1UeQQE4mr9Rsoa7HLmg0-S2JRyAQCYvlYdR0m6uxGiKQ6N0/s320/IMG_4112.JPG" width="320" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM45b40kqiNcYYtDQMzCT92Ok2grhnKbDkc5V1tqJRmpxOwMnuFL5dyksmaVeGp7sGnX6ergRdvgP40TSXJQZYocEK1hWUjAgKst7ghQkccfrhekOSkIhJpO-xMgjSXWUG6Jg1ZD0Z7kY/s1600/IMG_4114.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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The current joke that I've heard too many times is "Growin' rice this year?" </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmEwW-g1eHr_bl97-AWSd_cfNbv2HskFSV-92bs3uiQ5IXHOf_sHfjXygiNN17lWlG8Yf4blfNjnn7a4kQec68cXM7I-QOx0u4HdQ4IGee-r8tFwWuuA7UirM2arTRHkuvw7cY30tr-k/s1600/IMG_4108.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmEwW-g1eHr_bl97-AWSd_cfNbv2HskFSV-92bs3uiQ5IXHOf_sHfjXygiNN17lWlG8Yf4blfNjnn7a4kQec68cXM7I-QOx0u4HdQ4IGee-r8tFwWuuA7UirM2arTRHkuvw7cY30tr-k/s320/IMG_4108.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Our irrigation lines lay useless in the swampy muck, waiting for perhaps a late summer drought? I continue to hold on to the hope that the sun <i>will</i> come out tomorrow. The rain is great. Just a bit less please.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54XpaOCAoSfOCWFCAV4IFlMhYGDYWiQOLOlh61qzVFODHDNron_mnD2e0c8PQqXDYRClXK1qQCNr_ibslXDD3EMqJFQKCMnTLmv43aqV268ezk1G75_CX0AY9UJE_VhXx9RT4bLCLGCU/s1600/IMG_4106.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54XpaOCAoSfOCWFCAV4IFlMhYGDYWiQOLOlh61qzVFODHDNron_mnD2e0c8PQqXDYRClXK1qQCNr_ibslXDD3EMqJFQKCMnTLmv43aqV268ezk1G75_CX0AY9UJE_VhXx9RT4bLCLGCU/s320/IMG_4106.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
At least we have designed our fields to be surrounded with grass strips, that keep that good soil from washing away. Plant roots are key to helping control erosion. Sometimes you'll see farms where they've plowed "fence-row to fence-row"... and this quickly turns creeks very muddy. Along with good soil, storm runoff from agricultural fields includes whatever yucky pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers that have been applied to the fields. And those creeks that take the runoff eventually flow into our drinking water sources. Something to think about next time it pours and the muddy creeks rise.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3PS9FU3W0ZF_d5JLLOLHxOHohEn_izjmOu4o_tuEQd3eagZ6OEHQjfT_iGvH5u8u1IXzYpqdIRI2fpvp8x87BsbZLlZVFeVyJSoH7qvv9VSuLRHxx6YOUvZljhH1WHlQSnSi_u1ZnmY/s1600/IMG_4107.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3PS9FU3W0ZF_d5JLLOLHxOHohEn_izjmOu4o_tuEQd3eagZ6OEHQjfT_iGvH5u8u1IXzYpqdIRI2fpvp8x87BsbZLlZVFeVyJSoH7qvv9VSuLRHxx6YOUvZljhH1WHlQSnSi_u1ZnmY/s320/IMG_4107.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjingKEafehQ5bd31ttea8r-D0-Vd1eDHB3AyLyAZtner7KVzT6Li7szrhX_AicXLmCINomaDhzSebBKxS6GBuOynE0Yl8jbRxEbSpFjEtJCgqqB4ZgBUNHH-J8BgxJmuUMVndb-VXAI8s/s1600/IMG_4105.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjingKEafehQ5bd31ttea8r-D0-Vd1eDHB3AyLyAZtner7KVzT6Li7szrhX_AicXLmCINomaDhzSebBKxS6GBuOynE0Yl8jbRxEbSpFjEtJCgqqB4ZgBUNHH-J8BgxJmuUMVndb-VXAI8s/s320/IMG_4105.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCXK86uFYiGw9hmlVo1tOvFYgMiMrxB-s1F3zeqWLpwnxAn33pPq0NKkkr_GJWCYZnOG50D5297Ym9zP06WxrsdfwzeAjKhbLZMVh_ySbEnkzQnSEqrKflf9-GTLZ-l2CYIa9-H76WxQ/s1600/IMG_4110.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvW_B_mAXPVqekUQpvYfKitj2p0rKu1KAju8IDt1gtOKJXKWaf3rbY_S9JKQ_bie_6l98d-jnC_OY_6vdnDl3oxgRxGg5pwjq60eNAl595lB6a1qqzjSxis9Q-dW5qtNovcsvr2FdDZSg/s1600/IMG_4109.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvW_B_mAXPVqekUQpvYfKitj2p0rKu1KAju8IDt1gtOKJXKWaf3rbY_S9JKQ_bie_6l98d-jnC_OY_6vdnDl3oxgRxGg5pwjq60eNAl595lB6a1qqzjSxis9Q-dW5qtNovcsvr2FdDZSg/s320/IMG_4109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Soil is like a sponge, with lots of air
pockets that help plant roots and earthworms breathe. The roots of
the plants require oxygen to help them take up other nutrients from
the soil. The ground was already pretty saturated before this last storm, and now it's
submerged! Imagine taking a tractor onto a soaked sponge: you would
just flatten it. But unlike a sponge, it wouldn't bounce back into
shape, but stay compacted.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCXK86uFYiGw9hmlVo1tOvFYgMiMrxB-s1F3zeqWLpwnxAn33pPq0NKkkr_GJWCYZnOG50D5297Ym9zP06WxrsdfwzeAjKhbLZMVh_ySbEnkzQnSEqrKflf9-GTLZ-l2CYIa9-H76WxQ/s1600/IMG_4110.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCXK86uFYiGw9hmlVo1tOvFYgMiMrxB-s1F3zeqWLpwnxAn33pPq0NKkkr_GJWCYZnOG50D5297Ym9zP06WxrsdfwzeAjKhbLZMVh_ySbEnkzQnSEqrKflf9-GTLZ-l2CYIa9-H76WxQ/s320/IMG_4110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So we are a bit behind on the things requiring a tractor: cultivation (weeding), planting, plowing. </div>
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But we can still harvest! What a first harvest week it's been.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4YSJd4wA_fI51Vr75F_YaAwVGIeGMpt0Ugdl1GpAdTynsdczUqN_oUi1Icwn6vxYukotxErl1DrZg45sNviOVZSJoSiYCKdvjlWsIzr7fjz19RyTYnVl9NwTAqIrwNIqpDDKPHSasrs/s1600/IMG_4039.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4YSJd4wA_fI51Vr75F_YaAwVGIeGMpt0Ugdl1GpAdTynsdczUqN_oUi1Icwn6vxYukotxErl1DrZg45sNviOVZSJoSiYCKdvjlWsIzr7fjz19RyTYnVl9NwTAqIrwNIqpDDKPHSasrs/s320/IMG_4039.JPG" width="320" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDBeihrBwwUDKvr_RRT1yX0Pb64E5VSUBK_0ScRyR4n_zCGVkTBUScuoAimg2C7imi3kBoUn8BbP0BgFIdeyXhRppY6pjXoKVx9pVgS0b_0V3X_-vd6GSyCcPTvhMe4rUO0rYIZIF2Aw/s1600/IMG_4003.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDBeihrBwwUDKvr_RRT1yX0Pb64E5VSUBK_0ScRyR4n_zCGVkTBUScuoAimg2C7imi3kBoUn8BbP0BgFIdeyXhRppY6pjXoKVx9pVgS0b_0V3X_-vd6GSyCcPTvhMe4rUO0rYIZIF2Aw/s320/IMG_4003.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSCUR6L3CCbcdYrPFpNuQuHc5JYvijItxAvr1o4GNeY9n8cKASQ0MO7BtNiCJoV2s1QVwY9UiJbecW1i-s2Y6OtFv4Hy4soQ2KGI9kI4h16N5gJwNwo41T9BXVMqC0G2TSgivbDYCNbM/s1600/IMG_4002.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSCUR6L3CCbcdYrPFpNuQuHc5JYvijItxAvr1o4GNeY9n8cKASQ0MO7BtNiCJoV2s1QVwY9UiJbecW1i-s2Y6OtFv4Hy4soQ2KGI9kI4h16N5gJwNwo41T9BXVMqC0G2TSgivbDYCNbM/s320/IMG_4002.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHhZRs3-eianaG5Eo_L0XupiVmDhg1_lyrkqvETMln2P5txd7ZH6Lbt8R1tSDaPSMSBywqRVncYoI928pEJSCZh810UtfAs9lMTvHRtDf2iZ6cdTtTMjl0W79kJdcGpIjnJwJDMrSESg/s1600/IMG_3999.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHhZRs3-eianaG5Eo_L0XupiVmDhg1_lyrkqvETMln2P5txd7ZH6Lbt8R1tSDaPSMSBywqRVncYoI928pEJSCZh810UtfAs9lMTvHRtDf2iZ6cdTtTMjl0W79kJdcGpIjnJwJDMrSESg/s320/IMG_3999.JPG" width="320" /></a>
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CROP REPORT:</div>
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<br />
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The greens are growing so fast you can
almost watch them grow. Lots of lettuce, spinach, chard, and
cabbages!</div>
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<br />
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Spring broccoli is hit-and-miss, some
of it looks like it will come in really well, some is making
irregular heads due to the crazy cold/heat/wet/dry conditions we've
had this spring. It's so picky.</div>
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Peppers, tomatoes, summer squash,
melons, and cucumbers, are growing really slowly due to the lack of
sun and heat. There may be smaller shares as the spring greens end
and before the summer crops come in.</div>
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The onions and potatoes (on really
sandy ground) are really happy! Let's hope these staples pull
through for us this year.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzvYlDD1nUTFojtwodleK07BotNKaO5xscy2hHJXJv8l52jhQJEFBIAg2JhTL5mEadC-ajQdNfBkCldGeetTz0Xpa87PqyzSffNt-kdSytESLPokK8utOtOUPr5fXin2vs3uFpKuLi1Q/s1600/IMG_4116.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzvYlDD1nUTFojtwodleK07BotNKaO5xscy2hHJXJv8l52jhQJEFBIAg2JhTL5mEadC-ajQdNfBkCldGeetTz0Xpa87PqyzSffNt-kdSytESLPokK8utOtOUPr5fXin2vs3uFpKuLi1Q/s320/IMG_4116.JPG" width="320" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yZ4spnC-lv8zeFtmLNa_kC_XLUG1GbMfn5eUBnHDMMgVZ3YUhUPJpvZkcfxeFw35H2BK_vZCtSgCvN7xxYaKzKEhBIxaaC0dO-x6tsAcBP1XrSkCv_ARR4sRriKOYFwvvMDdPRMcsjY/s1600/IMG_4115.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yZ4spnC-lv8zeFtmLNa_kC_XLUG1GbMfn5eUBnHDMMgVZ3YUhUPJpvZkcfxeFw35H2BK_vZCtSgCvN7xxYaKzKEhBIxaaC0dO-x6tsAcBP1XrSkCv_ARR4sRriKOYFwvvMDdPRMcsjY/s320/IMG_4115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our winter squash field is half under
water. We will try to plant again when the soil dries out, but that
squash will come in really late. We may have a small harvest this
year, sadly!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM45b40kqiNcYYtDQMzCT92Ok2grhnKbDkc5V1tqJRmpxOwMnuFL5dyksmaVeGp7sGnX6ergRdvgP40TSXJQZYocEK1hWUjAgKst7ghQkccfrhekOSkIhJpO-xMgjSXWUG6Jg1ZD0Z7kY/s1600/IMG_4114.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM45b40kqiNcYYtDQMzCT92Ok2grhnKbDkc5V1tqJRmpxOwMnuFL5dyksmaVeGp7sGnX6ergRdvgP40TSXJQZYocEK1hWUjAgKst7ghQkccfrhekOSkIhJpO-xMgjSXWUG6Jg1ZD0Z7kY/s320/IMG_4114.JPG" width="320" /></a>
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Some carrots, beets, and lettuce are
really soggy, and we'll see if they're tough enough to push through.</div>
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The garlic is bulbing up, faster now that we just removed the "scapes" (flower buds), and looks
like it will be another great crop! Harvest starts in July.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupHfmqkhXiDXt-XY5fGWyz_qeRTsuU0Erm5z3vXY7BBTlyGx5jxTGteH7gC6VHC4P72UaTfdQCRnUtIwOYOYPh2qum-EIv_4uHMxnl63Ta8i1JIrp0yb_3GJ6rHtKNaSa32Fly2TMzuk/s1600/IMG_4005.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupHfmqkhXiDXt-XY5fGWyz_qeRTsuU0Erm5z3vXY7BBTlyGx5jxTGteH7gC6VHC4P72UaTfdQCRnUtIwOYOYPh2qum-EIv_4uHMxnl63Ta8i1JIrp0yb_3GJ6rHtKNaSa32Fly2TMzuk/s320/IMG_4005.JPG" width="320" /></a>
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We are late on a bunch of succession
plantings (squash, lettuce, carrots, beets, beans), so there may be a gap in the harvest.<br /><br />
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The U-Pick garden looks great. Herbs
and flowers are coming in quickly.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgfC55tMuwck8oLssvqo19lH5kohcqvFE9uffpFEgCV-OGLdv_FZii6v4qQN9K2Lan0MwanVl6QFfN2M85DLZVbjQQXsTPQ1JwcU92NoJ8BgoiDKHnqBSSTdlRnojiMN8MVTxnzBSwBg/s1600/IMG_4104.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgfC55tMuwck8oLssvqo19lH5kohcqvFE9uffpFEgCV-OGLdv_FZii6v4qQN9K2Lan0MwanVl6QFfN2M85DLZVbjQQXsTPQ1JwcU92NoJ8BgoiDKHnqBSSTdlRnojiMN8MVTxnzBSwBg/s320/IMG_4104.JPG" width="320" /></a>
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I just saw a Mexican bean beetle on the
green beans, which is bad news for green beans. I will try planting
some of the later U-Pick green bean successions across the street, to
get away from the beetles.</div>
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Wild field greens are doing great with
all this rain! These are the more nutritious “weeds” that grow
on the edges of the fields... I prefer these to any of our
cultivated greens actually. Purslane, lambsquarter, dandelion.
These are packed with minerals and nutrients, and purslane is high in
omega-3s. I added chopped dandelion to egg salad last week, with a
garlic scape added in for some zest!</div>
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Besides the vegetables, most of which
will make it through this crazy weather alright, our parking lot has
really taken a beating. We had to distribute bags of vegetables on
the road on Thursday! Hopefully after a week or two of sun, we can
start using our grass parking lot again. Someday (hopefully soon!)
when we are on more permanent land, we can invest in a nice gravel
lot. We are looking for a spot off-site to distribute when the lot
is too muddy.</div>
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It's a big bummer for me to have to bag
up people's shares and hand them out off-site, because I think
picking up on the farm is so much a part of the experience. The
U-Pick fields are very muddy right now.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWFsz2CbXRUWx-N4286LLCZE1_WAHkAJoZTaDhyphenhyphen8NMtOMnDSixvKp-lAPwHIrYgSLYUqlVlF3GDrI9iNRYm1JiQpCV9wDSJI3CW7rc9-Kfu-kC20nOU_bNa5Zp9O0KpmZrKox7wZWJHE/s1600/IMG_4049.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWFsz2CbXRUWx-N4286LLCZE1_WAHkAJoZTaDhyphenhyphen8NMtOMnDSixvKp-lAPwHIrYgSLYUqlVlF3GDrI9iNRYm1JiQpCV9wDSJI3CW7rc9-Kfu-kC20nOU_bNa5Zp9O0KpmZrKox7wZWJHE/s320/IMG_4049.JPG" width="320" /></a>
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Coming soon to U-Pick: the first flowers! </div>
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erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08223769204561599919noreply@blogger.com0