Thursday, February 11,2010:
Good news everyone! Our first meat chicks arrived today! As we speak, they are healthy and peeping away in their brooder. We order our chicks directly from a hatchery in Fresno. They are shipped out immediately after hatching and arrive at our local post office the next day. We got a call first thing this morning from the post office and went to pick them up, which is always fun because people give us some interesting looks when we announce that we're there to pick up our chicks and the postal service worker goes to the back and returns with a vigorously peeping box. The baby chicks, or Little Peepers as I like to call them, will hang out in a nice, warm brooder for the next few weeks until they're big enough to go out in their movable pen. Don't worry, they always eat 100% organic/non-GMO food and we're giving them bits of grass, scraps, and bugs as soon as they're old enough. These chicks will live quite a ritzy chicken life while they become delicious chicken dinners over the next 8 weeks.
We ordered these chicks earlier in the year than we have in the past, so we will doubtlessly have to take extra measures to keep them warm, dry, and healthy. I think we're going to do just fine though. Jeff is a wonderful caretaker and spends a lot of time checking on them. He's probably already figured out who's who and named half of them. You've gotta love that guy...I know I do.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Moo, Don't Mow!
Monday, February 8, 2010:
I'd like to share a couple paragraphs of a well-written essay that I found on the Westin A. Price Foundation website (wwww.westinaprice.org). The essay is titled, "Agribusiness and the Fall of Rome," and it was written by John Moody.
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"When we encourage people to buy local and regional real foods and grass based animal products raised by real people who receive just wages in exchange for their work and stewardship of the land, we are not only encouraging them to protect and contribute to their own health and the vibrant health of their children, we are encouraging them to protect and contribute to the health of our nation and the health of the entire world. We are asking them to take tangible, sustainable steps to reduce poverty, pollution, economic injustice and world hunger. We are asking them to help heal some of the sickness of our society. We don’t need a dictator to undo the damaging effects of agribusiness in our nation and world. We do need tens of thousands of average citizens like the Gracchi, citizens willing to make sacrifices for the sake of our nation’s small farmers and others.
Personal, family, community and national health start with our decision to buy local and put nutrient-dense real food on our dinner plates. Let each of us choose wisely and encourage others to do the same."
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I recommend that anyone with a few free minutes read the entirety of this essay (http://www.westonaprice.org/Agribusiness-and-the-Fall-of-Rome.html). As a society, we can't really afford to continue on our current path. The consequences are greater than a depressed economy and high unemployment. I'm not usually prone to apocalyptic worries, but I really do feel that we have become far too detached from the real things in life and I worry what the end result will be if we keep acting with instant gratification in mind. I know I'm preaching to the choir and that my audience is already moving in the right direction by supporting local, small(er) scale agriculture. So thank you for all that you already do. Keep up the good work, because you are leading by example.
I'd like to share a couple paragraphs of a well-written essay that I found on the Westin A. Price Foundation website (wwww.westinaprice.org). The essay is titled, "Agribusiness and the Fall of Rome," and it was written by John Moody.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"When we encourage people to buy local and regional real foods and grass based animal products raised by real people who receive just wages in exchange for their work and stewardship of the land, we are not only encouraging them to protect and contribute to their own health and the vibrant health of their children, we are encouraging them to protect and contribute to the health of our nation and the health of the entire world. We are asking them to take tangible, sustainable steps to reduce poverty, pollution, economic injustice and world hunger. We are asking them to help heal some of the sickness of our society. We don’t need a dictator to undo the damaging effects of agribusiness in our nation and world. We do need tens of thousands of average citizens like the Gracchi, citizens willing to make sacrifices for the sake of our nation’s small farmers and others.
Personal, family, community and national health start with our decision to buy local and put nutrient-dense real food on our dinner plates. Let each of us choose wisely and encourage others to do the same."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I recommend that anyone with a few free minutes read the entirety of this essay (http://www.westonaprice.org/Agribusiness-and-the-Fall-of-Rome.html). As a society, we can't really afford to continue on our current path. The consequences are greater than a depressed economy and high unemployment. I'm not usually prone to apocalyptic worries, but I really do feel that we have become far too detached from the real things in life and I worry what the end result will be if we keep acting with instant gratification in mind. I know I'm preaching to the choir and that my audience is already moving in the right direction by supporting local, small(er) scale agriculture. So thank you for all that you already do. Keep up the good work, because you are leading by example.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Wild Rincon Valley
Sunday, February 7, 2010:
Today was another crazy day in Rincon Valley. Even though I really like the rain, I felt relieved and happy to wake up this morning to a beautiful sunny day. I loved the sun, but I think I needed to feel the warmth more than anything. After a great run in a muddy Annadel, I did a nice, healthy stint of manual labor. The recent rains helped a frighteningly vigorous bloom of weeds in the onions, so I set out to fight back in favor of the alliums. So there I was, hoeing away on the side of the road. I could hear and see a rowdy Fijian party across the street. I could hear kids playing in the neighborhood below us and a couple other Superbowl parties somewhere nearby. I heard a siren and a police officer went roaring by. Then I saw something in my peripheral vision and I looked up, expecting to see one of the cats that hang around. But what to my delight did I look up to find? A big 'ol red fox, that's what! He or she went trotting through the farm about thirty feet away from where I was working. How cool is that? Only in Rincon Valley do we get multicultural American sports holiday celebrations AND rare wild animals!
Today was another crazy day in Rincon Valley. Even though I really like the rain, I felt relieved and happy to wake up this morning to a beautiful sunny day. I loved the sun, but I think I needed to feel the warmth more than anything. After a great run in a muddy Annadel, I did a nice, healthy stint of manual labor. The recent rains helped a frighteningly vigorous bloom of weeds in the onions, so I set out to fight back in favor of the alliums. So there I was, hoeing away on the side of the road. I could hear and see a rowdy Fijian party across the street. I could hear kids playing in the neighborhood below us and a couple other Superbowl parties somewhere nearby. I heard a siren and a police officer went roaring by. Then I saw something in my peripheral vision and I looked up, expecting to see one of the cats that hang around. But what to my delight did I look up to find? A big 'ol red fox, that's what! He or she went trotting through the farm about thirty feet away from where I was working. How cool is that? Only in Rincon Valley do we get multicultural American sports holiday celebrations AND rare wild animals!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Goat Wrestling
Thursday, February 4, 2010:Those of you are already familiar with our farm have probably heard all about "The Girls." Our two Nubian goats, Shoshanna and Isabella, were Jeff's gift to me on my birthday this past June. I have what I consider to be a very healthy appreciation for the goats. I like them, I think they're cute, funny, and I definitely think they add an authenticity to our farm that only farm animals can. But when the goats are yelling in the middle of the night or when they start eating the crops, I see them for what they are - goats.
Jeff, however, is a very proud Papa. Since the day he got them, he's been over the moon for his girls. The goats' first night at the farm was undoubtedly unnerving for them and they, like most babies, expressed their fear by making A LOT of noise ALL NIGHT LONG. Jeff decided that it would be best for us to sleep in their barn with them...on the floor. Despite our presence, the goats still cried. Jeff's patience was unfailing until they went to the bathroom...on him. I think he started understanding the limited intelligence that accompanies that sweet and goofy demeanor of goats. Since then, we've developed wonderful relationships with the goats. They are treated like princesses. They play, eat, jump, and have the run of the place.
Today, however, they had to get their hooves trimmed - a necessary, but rather awkward exercise. First, we bribed them with grain laden with molasses and other goodies. Then we tried to get them to calmly stand still so that Jeff could trim their hooves. But despite my petting and coaxing and Jeff's gentle touch, the goats did not want to be messed with. I don't think I can describe how strong a full grown goat is. When a goat wants to move, it moves - even if there's a full sized human trying to hold her. In the end, I used my weight to bear hug the goats into submission and Jeff laid on the barn floor trying to get an angle from which he could work.
Even though the goats acted like we were trying to kill them, once we were done, they were happy and seemed to have forgotten the whole ordeal. Goats are clearly masters of forgetting and forgiving. And therein lies the moral of today's story: no matter what uncomfortable ordeals we must face, once we make it through them, make like a goat and just forget it ever happened.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Website and Hoes
Monday, February 1, 2010:
Nope, you're eyes don't deceive you...I really am posting two days in a row. I'm trying to write a bit each day so that everyone out there in reader land can understand what we do as modern day urban farmers.
So, on to the days happenings. This winter, I've been determined to be more organized and on top of things. Deciding to be more administratively thoughtful when in the midst of picking 8 hours a day and then planting and selling to boot doesn't work well at all. This winter has been my time to get stuff straight - we have calendars, files, post its, envelopes, and fliers everywhere.
Also on my list was to finally build a website. This blog was a start, but we really need a website to make our business more efficient and visible. So, I put on my computer pro hat and built us a website! It's nothing fancy, mind you, but it gets the job done for now. It will undoubtedly grow as the season progresses, so look for amazing things to come. The address is www.redwoodempirefarm.com. Catchy, right? Well, today I worked out some website kinks and put it up in its most complete form yet.
The other item on my agenda was to order myself a new hoe. This time of year it is a constant battle to protect the onions and garlic that are growing from the weeds. I've been using an ancient hula hoe, but it's heavy, unwieldy, and I find it to be incredibly awkward to handle. So, I bought myself a fancy little hand hoe doodad that they claim is like an "extension of your own finger nail." That sounds like a good deal to me! Because right now, I'm so dissatisfied with my hoeing performance that I usually end up using my real fingernails to dig the weeds out of the dirt.
Nope, you're eyes don't deceive you...I really am posting two days in a row. I'm trying to write a bit each day so that everyone out there in reader land can understand what we do as modern day urban farmers.
So, on to the days happenings. This winter, I've been determined to be more organized and on top of things. Deciding to be more administratively thoughtful when in the midst of picking 8 hours a day and then planting and selling to boot doesn't work well at all. This winter has been my time to get stuff straight - we have calendars, files, post its, envelopes, and fliers everywhere.
Also on my list was to finally build a website. This blog was a start, but we really need a website to make our business more efficient and visible. So, I put on my computer pro hat and built us a website! It's nothing fancy, mind you, but it gets the job done for now. It will undoubtedly grow as the season progresses, so look for amazing things to come. The address is www.redwoodempirefarm.com. Catchy, right? Well, today I worked out some website kinks and put it up in its most complete form yet.
The other item on my agenda was to order myself a new hoe. This time of year it is a constant battle to protect the onions and garlic that are growing from the weeds. I've been using an ancient hula hoe, but it's heavy, unwieldy, and I find it to be incredibly awkward to handle. So, I bought myself a fancy little hand hoe doodad that they claim is like an "extension of your own finger nail." That sounds like a good deal to me! Because right now, I'm so dissatisfied with my hoeing performance that I usually end up using my real fingernails to dig the weeds out of the dirt.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Only in Sonoma County...
Sunday, January 31, 2010:
One of the reasons that Jeff and I get along so well is that we both like to go on adventures. He does the driving, I do the navigating, and off we go. Today we decided to take advantage of the sunshine and head a little north to Lake Sonoma. Lake Sonoma is one of our favorite spots to visit, regardless of the season. Although it's not too far away from Santa Rosa, it seems wild, uninhabited, and man, is it beautiful!
Today we were interested in visiting the fish hatchery to see how many fish have returned to the hatchery so far this year. If you haven't visited the hatchery, you should definitely check it out. The Lake Sonoma Visitor's Center is full of interesting history/information about the area and, the fish hatchery is a great way to learn more about the lifecycle of the fish that spawn here in Sonoma County.
All the rain we've had did wonders for the creeks and rivers, so the fish are having a ball running inland. Even though the water was murky, we still saw numerous Steelhead jumping up the fish ladders and spawning in the creek at the hatchery. Watching fish spawn in a natural habitat is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. It's like seeing something from the Discovery Channel or National Geographic happening right in front of you in your own backyard. Steelhead are BIG fish and they look somewhat out of place in our relatively small streams. Then they start doing their spawning dance, which is awesome! I don't know if it makes me strange or not, but there is something definitely seductive about the way that the males and females introduce themselves, line up side by side, and then, in perfect time, propagate.
Fish watching is another activity that Jeff and I share. He took me to see spawning Steelhead in a very local and secret creek on Valentine's Day when we had just started dating. (I know, it was very romantic. He's a regular Don Juan!) The creek is somewhere I had been many, many times, and yet I had never even thought to look for fish. I had always assumed there was nothing in the water to look for, fish or otherwise. But Jeff merely had to point out the first fish and, suddenly, they became clear to me, like a lense on my world had been changed and now there were fish in my creeks! Seeing the fish and understanding how they live, what they do, and why they are such an important indicator of the overall health of the earth, made my understanding of nature much more complete.
Wow, that was quite a fish tangent. Hopefully my passion will be a nudge to go see the fish for yourselves. If you have kids, visit a farm and see the animals and then go see the fish - I'd bet that your tykes will be eager to be outside for at least a while afterwards.
Back to our day's adventure...
After the hatchery, we drove out one of the roads by the lake. The weather was great, there was sun and some big, puffy clouds cruising by. But to make everything better, we came around a bend and there were a big herd of wild pigs! There were big ones and little ones, brown and black ones, spotted and solid ones. Jeff wanted to "capture" one, but I talked him down and the piggies escaped to face him another day.
One of the reasons that Jeff and I get along so well is that we both like to go on adventures. He does the driving, I do the navigating, and off we go. Today we decided to take advantage of the sunshine and head a little north to Lake Sonoma. Lake Sonoma is one of our favorite spots to visit, regardless of the season. Although it's not too far away from Santa Rosa, it seems wild, uninhabited, and man, is it beautiful!
Today we were interested in visiting the fish hatchery to see how many fish have returned to the hatchery so far this year. If you haven't visited the hatchery, you should definitely check it out. The Lake Sonoma Visitor's Center is full of interesting history/information about the area and, the fish hatchery is a great way to learn more about the lifecycle of the fish that spawn here in Sonoma County.
All the rain we've had did wonders for the creeks and rivers, so the fish are having a ball running inland. Even though the water was murky, we still saw numerous Steelhead jumping up the fish ladders and spawning in the creek at the hatchery. Watching fish spawn in a natural habitat is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. It's like seeing something from the Discovery Channel or National Geographic happening right in front of you in your own backyard. Steelhead are BIG fish and they look somewhat out of place in our relatively small streams. Then they start doing their spawning dance, which is awesome! I don't know if it makes me strange or not, but there is something definitely seductive about the way that the males and females introduce themselves, line up side by side, and then, in perfect time, propagate.
Fish watching is another activity that Jeff and I share. He took me to see spawning Steelhead in a very local and secret creek on Valentine's Day when we had just started dating. (I know, it was very romantic. He's a regular Don Juan!) The creek is somewhere I had been many, many times, and yet I had never even thought to look for fish. I had always assumed there was nothing in the water to look for, fish or otherwise. But Jeff merely had to point out the first fish and, suddenly, they became clear to me, like a lense on my world had been changed and now there were fish in my creeks! Seeing the fish and understanding how they live, what they do, and why they are such an important indicator of the overall health of the earth, made my understanding of nature much more complete.
Wow, that was quite a fish tangent. Hopefully my passion will be a nudge to go see the fish for yourselves. If you have kids, visit a farm and see the animals and then go see the fish - I'd bet that your tykes will be eager to be outside for at least a while afterwards.
Back to our day's adventure...
After the hatchery, we drove out one of the roads by the lake. The weather was great, there was sun and some big, puffy clouds cruising by. But to make everything better, we came around a bend and there were a big herd of wild pigs! There were big ones and little ones, brown and black ones, spotted and solid ones. Jeff wanted to "capture" one, but I talked him down and the piggies escaped to face him another day.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
A Picture Speaks A Thousand Words...
This is a picture of our bottom pasture where we raised the last batch of chickens. In the background is our movable chicken pen and in front of it is the strip of ground over which the pen moved while it was inhabited by chickens. I think it is so cool that you can actually see the fertilizing power of the chickens. This is why we want to raise more chickens! Not only are they responsibly raised, but they taste delicious and move our farm one more step toward complete sustainability!
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