What's New on the Farm?

 

Just thought I'd send out an update on farm life since it's all been about the disappointment of the City's dismal failure to do what the community asked and approve our re-zoning. 

Life does go on, as it has to. 

While our CSA enrollment is way down this year, likely due to all of the drama and uncertainty on top of a less than stellar summer growing season, is my guess, I'm still growing food. I've got a lovely younger farmer here helping me now, as well,  she is growing her own crops for her own uses, as she learns working with me. I've been teaching her to drive the tractor, use drip tapes for irrigation and succession planting. 

It's what I envisioned to a large degree going forward. Passing on the knowledge and experiences I have been fortunate enough to acquire over my lifetime. We have some pretty fun conversations - she seems to laugh a lot - maybe I should look into stand up and simply describe various life events? 

I guess you could say my journey has been anything but ordinary. I mean I started out like any normal kid, I guess. Then, I moved pretty far from home, which was the first out of ordinary thing I did. But I was not in love with winter weather and I was ready to move to a warmer place. 

Down here, I ended up finding the cutest little "house in the woods" of south east Dallas, where I spent many years and held many different jobs. Eventually, I ended up here where I am now, and farming, and of course that's what the majority of our chats are about. 

How I never intended to become a farmer. That all was unplanned. But, as I've said many times, it's been the most gratifying "job" I've held. And if my school of hard knocks lessons can help someone else, it's worth all of the messes, cuts and bruises, miscalculations and mistakes. 

Buying this land was just meant to be an investment during a time when I was preparing for my eventual retirement.  I never dreamed how attached to the place I'd end up becoming. Nor, that I'd end up living here. But here we are! It's made for some interesting chats. 

So this week while planting and watering and weeding, among other things, we've been talking about how cool it would be if a non-profit organization could take over the place and create a permanent base for several local food-oriented groups. That would mean selling to them, instead of some commercial developer sure not to take as much care about the trees, the land and the natural environment. 

I hear all of the time about different groups that have to pull up stakes and move their operations - over and over again. It's not only expensive, but it's disheartening to watch all of the work put into a place left behind. Community gardens, the infrastructure that can't be moved, and all of the work put into the soil of growing and livestock operations. It's not at all like packing up some office into boxes. 

So how much better would it be for each of say, two or three groups to come together with their missions and divvy up the place - under one parent organization that could act as a sort of property manager for them? They'd have a board made up of some new people, some folks from each of the existing boards and hire an independent director. They'd each pay into the parent organization to fund the (part time, so it's not a drain on the funds), director - maybe a retired and experienced person. 

That would free up the individual directors to run their organizations and not worry about collecting rent from any vendors, paying property taxes and utility bills, etc. They'd handle capital improvements, too. Perimeter fencing, the bones of the farm house restoration like plumbing, windows, exterior, insulation. 

One group could then could finish out the inside and turn the old house into a market store/coffee shop and use it also to hold classes, feature local artists, artisanal foods, etc. Another group that focuses on livestock husbandry could use the vast pasture for small livestock/chickens - and, it would create an opportunity to launch a mobile "processing" facility, too. Small farms need access to small processors. And there's plenty of room for portable office space!

Of course agri-tourism would be a big part of the income - seasonal long table dinners, field trips - both for kids and adults.   Cooking classes, growing classes, and so much more. I used to do much of this when I started out - but you know, it's hard when you're also the only one to plan and execute it all - ON TOP of doing all of the growing. 

So, my advice came with a warning not try to do it all on one's own. I've been a serial entrepreneur I guess you could say, so it never really crossed my mind to become a non-profit. But I can now, looking back, see the benefits of spreading the work out over many people who have a vested interest. 

I've had lots of folks volunteer over the years, that's for sure. But most of the planning and coordinating was on my shoulders. I sometimes wonder how much more good Eden's could have done with a board and team behind it. Now it is time to pass on the baton and I'd love it if it was to someone who dared to see. 

In the mean time, we've planted transplants of collards, cauliflower, broccoli, even a late crop of summer squash, peppers, eggplant and a cucumber plant we hope to get some goodies off of before a hard freeze. We've seeded bush beans, arugula, lettuce, and peas. And our other remote farmer has been working on getting the high tunnel in shape for our winter growing. He's a much more experienced grower and pretty much just does his own thing, but we're glad to have him around when he's here - he uses his BCS to till up land for us when we need it and has been gracious with letting us use some of his supplies. He's like the Batman of small farming - he's got all the cool toys! 

I just popped about 20 eggs into the incubator after discovering a nest that would never have survived the small night time critters that frequent the place. My back yard is a highway for skunk, opossum and raccoons - and this little white hen was RIGHT in their path.  So, I'll help her out and see if we can't hatch them for her inside where it's a lot safer. 

We've got more starts in the little "seed-house" that'll be ready to transplant in a few weeks. I've got some garlic to order from @Texas Tested Seeds, and I got my onion slips pricing in this week, too. 

And then it won't be long before it's time to start tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and artichokes.  The growing cycle continues whether the City Council lets us build starter homes or not. And we have spaces available in our CSA so if you've been thinking about how to help support this little local farm - sponsoring a local family or buying a CSA membership for yourself is a great way to start! 

Badger, our calendar dog, needs to get over his fear of loading up in the truck because he's due to go see the vet. And we have a couple of cats that are due for check ups as well. I wonder if my large animal vet who comes to treat the horses would do all of the animals at once? That would save a lot of anxiety on poor Badger. He wouldn't even climb up in the cab - for a piece of STEAK! 

He got to meet one of my friends the other day and was making silly faces when she was trying to take a selfie with him. He's like the Mrs. Kravitz of the farm you see - he's got to keep an eye on everything all of the time - so he wouldn't focus on the camera lens. hahaha But he's a keeper, just the same. 

So, that's just a little update on what's rattling around my head and been going on here at the farm.  I hope your getting your fall garden in, too. Growing your own is one way to help take the edge off the grocery bill and be assured of how your food is grown.  

 

Eat Your Food - Naturally!

Farmer Marie