Miolea Organic Farm

In one of the first books I read about farming the writer explained how to assimilate into your new farming community. He gave multiple examples of how, when and where (networking in essence) to get yourself ingratiated into the local farming community. Being from the city this was especially worthwhile advice.

We are specialty crop centric farm, which has its pluses and minuses. We did not have as much opportunity to expose ourselves to other local farmers because we are one of only a few organic farms in our town. A couple of suggestions from the book were to go to auctions in the area. Find a group of men talking and just walk up and listen. Do not talk. Just listen. The other suggestion was to join local farm groups and associations.

We took the advice and did just that. Pretty soon we were learning names but more importantly we were learning about local farmers, farming techniques and farm common sense. This led to contacts at local stores and restaurants.

We get manure from a local farm. When we first started getting loads we paid the farmer. As time went by we got to know each other, he is conventional and was leery about us and our growing views. We discussed GMO’s one time early on and have not discussed it since. He rents some of our land so we work closely when he plants his GMO-Corn. I have to make sure our corn pollinates before his does or run the risk of GMO contamination. Sweet corn matures faster than dent (field) corn so we have windows when his corn is in pollination and ours is not.

Recently, we got a load of manure. The farmer brought his truck up and dumped the load. When he got out of the truck I asked how much. His answered surprised, “Nah, that’s okay, consider this a gift,” I said “Thanks, but what does this mean for our relationship?” He looked at me quizzically yet annoyed. Okay lets go back fifteen seconds; When he said gift, my thought was wow, I have never been given manure as a gift before. When I lived in the city, gifts were usually wrapped and rarely measured in cubic yards,” does this mean our relationship was starting to bud? My next thought was what does it mean when someone gives you a load of crap for free? This crap is not cheap, it is not the kind you get from your boss or from others, and this stuff is brown gold. I just meant the statement as a joke.

With all those thoughts swirling around I just stated it was a joke and did not even try to explain. If you have to explain a joke, a.) Do not explain it and b.) Let it die a quick death. You look better that way. However, inside I felt kind of proud, I did thank him profusely and he drove off. I just could not help but think There is nothing like a pile of crap to make you feel like you are part of the farming community.

Buy Local: It is one of the ways to send a message to the powers that be who profit from the degradation of the environement.