Richert/Phillips Farms

   It is funny to us how people react to farming--each group has about the same reaction with in that group to most things that happen on the land--there is the group that grew up and lived on the farm and then the group that moved to the farm(nostalgia is always with the ones who moved). The ones that grew up and lived on the farm has the attitude--things happen fix it move on or let it go it is not a problem.

   Today we finished setting the taps for sugarin. The wind was fast with gust up to 44 miles/hour all the trees where cracking and moaning--a bit hair raising out there, many large limbs fell. During our time in the woods a neighbor came over with quit a few comments on how we should not be out there it was o to dangerous. He was so nervous/jittery I thought his heart was going to give out, but we told him that with the temp. change there will be a good run tonight and into Sunday--there is no choice these taps have to go out, all of them. Fear got the best of him and he left--this man is a great orchardman moved out here over 30 years ago, but still never really left from whence he came--a good friend. He likes us but when we are working to get the job done to move on to the next task he say,"we are to dangerous--taking to many risk." and we say,"get er done--who needs a screw driver when there is a butter knife in the lunch pail."

   After the work of tapping was done we had to go and put the lids back on that blew off and weigh all the tops down so not to loss any sap from hoses blown out of the buckets. 

   He waved with a sigh of relief when we finally left.

God bless 

   CSAs are almost filled for the season--we thank those that have signed up already. For those that are thinking about signing up for our CSA we recommend to do so in the next few weeks, for we will not be adding any new slots for this season.

   Our farm though just the right size for us to handle can't provide for extra CSAs this season--but there is enough out there for the next few weeks, we feel...if you can not sign right away.

   We are working hard to get things ready for the season--cleaning and fixing the greenhouse, checking the equipment, going through the seeds(making sure none was missed during ordering) and sugaring season will start this week.

   This year is adding up to be a great year, there is just a feeling in the air...quite excited about the coming season. My bones are telling me there will be problems with the weather that will not add up to much, the birds along with the deer are saying its going to be a dry year for the most part, and the ground hogs are saying watch out we be hungry for some fresh plants time you get out here to put em in the ground.

God Bless 

   Amazing at how many people we recognized and recognized us after so many years. One grandpa always walked through with his wife and grand daughter was there, his wife was absent(we didn't ask why) but his grand daughter was all grown up, graduated, and working full time--last time we seen her she was a scrawny pig-tailed little girl. There where many others as well--when did they get so old?

   There was a great response to our CSA offer--CSAs should do rely good in the South Bend market. Not only did the old customers remember us but so did some of the other vendors, it was fun reminiscing. Some faces where new-- why there was even a man making chocolate--he takes the raw cocoa bean grinds, roast and mixes--the whole process is accomplished by him except for growing and harvesting the cocoa.

   Our CSAs are almost filled for the season, so if you are thinking about membership from us contact us soon--for we will not be adding anymore spaces for this season.

God bless 

   When Daniel came to the farm we started a truck patch and the very first market we sold at was the South Bend Farmers Market. I remember at the end of the day holding all the sales cash in my hands while both Daniel and I starred in amazement how much we made($200.00). Now that was 14-15 years ago I have post a few pictures to our main page here-- check them out.  At that market we sold there for two years give or take a few months and then started selling in Indianapolis and the suburbs of Chicago have--not been back to our home town market in 12 or 13 years, but that will change tomorrow we are going back to South Bend Farmers Market. Are CSA's' will be available along with all the certified organic vegetables we grow when in season.

   After all these years not being there vendors still consider us friends and I am sure some of our customers will be surprised, can not wait to get set up!

   Hadn't a clue what we were doing or for that matter what was going on--pricing, signs, displaying, etc.--completely lost(I was a hog farmer, mainly--selling live weight and taking what ever they gave me). But the market was so different, exciting/terrifying..NEW.  Now we both are expert produce farmers and marketeers even speaking and training others wanting to do this stuff--who know! 

  I'll let you all know how it goes and remember check out the pictures on our page

God Bless 

   Going to markets as a vendor is one thing and being a market master another. The markets we attend are ran by others and we go to pebble our produce and products grown and made by us--sell what we have pack up, go home and prepare for the next week. But as a market master I must make and enforce rules--we keep it grower only, that allows for more farmers to be on the market. 

    Market managers tend to the every day grime--and one of those grimes is dealing with unruly customers. As a farmer, marketeer(a farmer selling at a market), and a market master I found that customers can often be wrong--given wrong info through magazines, by others, by the news, books, etc..But so often both parties can take something the wrong way turning into an unpleasant moment's'. I often tell the managers not to take sides and have the customer move on until the problem can be resolved later(this tactic works well and the problem is almost always taken care of to the satisfaction of both parties), but one time(once in 15 years) the customer kept coming back causing problems. The farmer in question had enough and went after this unruly person, luckily the manager had decide to stay near this farmers booth space for this very reason and got between them--after that the police was called and the customer was arrested.

   These instances rarely happen but must be prepared for--in the end when things cooled down everyone had a good laugh and reminds us that when bad things happen get past it and laugh too.

God bless 

   Nearly all our seed orders and supplies are in and now we will clean and disinfect the greenhouse, plug chamber, and planting tables. Things are coming along well, we feel this coming year willbe exceptional.

   Wishing for a long freeze with out snow so to plow the fields before spring--that will be nice.

   With the wind storm we lost many trees, most of this week and part of next will be put to cutting firewood  and separating larger logs for milling. It is a shame to see these new land owners around use just pushing their fallen trees into piles and burning them--nice log trees, but it does not matter to them.

Hope Christmas was fine--God bless! 

Hey,

   We are in Grand Rapids Michigan at a produce event. The trade show is very large and the seminars informative, this will be the 15th year of are attendance here.

   It is also used as a mini vacation--we meet old friends and make new ones.  At times it is tiring(like sitting in a college class again only about two hours longer) we meet after words with friends and talk through the lessons to extract what best suits our production best and weed out what does not apply to us...this is about the only time we get to stay in a high rise. This year the room is on the twenty second floor--nice view

Got to get back God bless 

   Well, we got through another year. Winter market starts in Palatine next week and this year it will be every other week(1st. and 3rd. Saturdays of each month). The greenhouse is not normally running until the end of February but it is full of greens, lettuces, radishes and such for the winter markets.

   Our CSA discount has ended with most of last years participants resigning...thank you!

   Next year we will be selling very little fruit at our markets if any--the only way for our customers to get fruits and berries will be for them to sign-up for the CSA program. This change was made do to the fact our fruits are between old and new growth.

   Rained all day Saturday(the last market of the main season) and still many of the customers showed up--in the cold and wet weather--what loyalty...thank all of you that came, you made for a good day.

   God bless 

   We have been selling at farmers markets for over 15 years and over 70% of our income comes from these open air markets. We love dealing with most customers, especially the ones that come back year after year. Some of our clients have afforded us to watch their children grow up and go onto college by coming every week and year after year. That is one of many perks being a farmer selling at the markets.

   One little girl drew a picture of Daniel and I at our stand--that drawing hung in our truck all season and then in my office for almost 13 years(till a leaky roof destroyed it). She told us a few weeks a go that it was time for her to graduate college and she was moving out of state. With teary eyes she said the hardest thing was to know she may never see us again.

   Not knowing our influence on people when we give advice, talk, even say hello how are you today, and/or just taking a few moments to lesson sure can come down hard on you (for us a good way) when one of these people says what she said.

   We have done the markets for a long time and hope to continue with them if not for our selves them for others like her

   God bless little one my his hands protect you and free you 

   This year was like all the other years of farming--the weather rules and we adapt. Farming is what we live, like and do-would not know what else to do but this.

   We had more acres this year and planted nearly all of it except the bottom ground(to wet). Harvest was not as steady as most years, but production was up.

   CSA sign-up started for 2016 season and already 50% of this years members have filled out the forms and payed--thank you!

   Next year we are hoping to add a few new items to the CSAs, plus the option of more herbs.

God bless 

   Markets started and are going well--CSA are filling up but there is still a few spots open. Field work and first planting will be complete this week. 

   The greenhouse is packed with seedlings waiting for the field and many more seeds are being planted every day.  Started working the fields, but took some time to repair the disc and order a new muffler for the tractor--we have always used ear plugs since getting the tractor, so getting a new muffler will be the high life of our farm(not having to put ear plugs in every time the tractor is on). 

   Next week peas, radishes, and various greens will be planted in the field--when the season starts in never is a slow transaction, more like a quick moving storm.

God be with you 

   Tomorrow(3/21/15) we will be at the Palatine,IL train station farmers market giving CSA information out. Also, we will be selling organic sprouts, honey, jams, and salsas made from our produce. 

   This season is shaping up and we are looking forward to when the regular markets open. We have been spending more time then previous years looking into more unique produce to grow for the customers--

 God bless

   We started seeding in the greenhouse for spring planting in the field. The cabbages, broccoli, and cauliflower has already started popping their little heads up. Tomatoes need a little more time. This is a good time of year--maple sap is running, greenhouse is going, and our season is nearly planned out. But, the best part is after most days work is done we gather around the cooker and talk--it is like a sauna the steam rolling off the cooking sap and the heat from burners with that sweet maple smell--what a way to end the day. Also, this is really the only time of the year we(us, neighbors, and other farmers) can spend some time together with out being rushed--tall tales and how to have a perfect farm. 

We started getting the sap buckets cleaned up so we can start running taps tomorrow. It looks like it will be a short season this year--hope not. A big part of the snow has melted except in the wood where we will be.

   Our friend has already gotten the cooker cleaned up and in place. This season we are planning to bottle more whole gallons then the previous years.

   The sprouts have done well for us, so we ordered more seeds and are growing them in larger containers--if we keep getting better at them the sprouts will be included in the CSAs. But, we have a ways to go.

God bless