Richert/Phillips Farms

The sap is running strong right now. I have taken a load of sap to Leon's nearly every day. For two days straight we had to check our buckets twice, so not to have them over flow. With the new pan the syrup looks much better...a nice golden brown.

   There are a lot more eggs this week we're needing to find another store to sell to. When of the simple joys of farming is watching the hens peck around the ground, scratching and cackling--what a joy. This year if we can afford it, I think the hen house will be put on wheels. That way they can be moved quicker and further if need be. Our hens are given pasture, we insist they go on pasture even if they fuss.

This winter has had some sad times in it. Both Rock and Scat our oxen were lost, died in January. There was a lot of ice on the ground and they both at different times slipped--breaking their hips. We used them often and looked forward to working them on the sapping line. Not having 'em this year will put a damper on many chores around here. Work animals are greatly appreciated, but when their gone it is like a friend has been lost.

   We had them for six years. The first few years was training and the last years was working them. They were purchased in late fall a few weeks old and we bedded them down with mounds of straw, but the two of them refused to go in. Dan and I tried nearly everything to make 'em go in. While trying to figure out what the problem was we heard a bark and alot of growling-- Old Bones, a very old beagle, had buried himself in the straw to the point his nose was the only part sticking out, he had to be picked up and carried out so the boys could go in to rest. Old Bones was a fine dog that lived with us for nearly ten years, never a problem. By the grace of God and our Lord Jesus Christ will we some day be rewarded with some more fine work animals...perhaps a mule.

Jesus loves

   Well, I took the first run of sap over to Leon's so to cook it down. He showed me the new pan(new to us) he bought--yipe,  it is something, that's for shur. Last year we used a huge flat pan this year we're cooking with an older syrup pan with bevels. It will evaporate the water much faster, give a better looking syrup, and allow for more trees to be tapped. But that pan is ugly, that is before he put a lot of work in fixing it up--filling the holes, sanding it down, and resoldering. The sap was running great until the snows came and ended the short run--it will start up again.

   The hens really been giving up the eggs this past week. They also have become more active. Their is two that are brooder hens and always have an attitude toward us when we go to get the eggs. I think for fun we'll give them fertile eggs after moving them to a pen of their own and let those two hatch a handful of little ones.

   The markets are starting to applications out. Palatine, IL app. just came in the mail. Carmel, IN sent us an invitation for their market--haven't heard from Geist, but it should be coming. Have been sending a lot of CSA apps out as well. It appears that this year is shaping up to be quit a busy one. Last year we had a drought, the year before that there was to much cold weather, and the year before that was very wet------can't wait to see what come around this time, not knowing is part of the fun of farming.

Jesus loves you

Most of the winter was spent running around to seminars, trade shows, and auctions. But now that the snows are melting we are really hitting the work hard. Maple sap will start running soon and we got a woods were the sap has to be pumped out every day...this will be are first time of pumping such a long distance (1000+ feet)...we'll see. Last year was our first time back in a multitude of years sapping and it proven to be an asset on the farm with the customers. We sold out of maple juice(syrup) by June.

   The layers made it trough the hard winter, only lost one, and they managed to keep giving up them eggs. This year we plan to have the hens huts on wagons so to move them easier from one pasture to the next. These hens sure do make a lot of noise...cackling constantly and foraging as if at play. Our meat chickens done very well also--but it takes longer to cook them then other hens. Chicken dinners take longer to prepare then normal and the first few times of cooking these birds really gave us late meals until we got use to preparing them. 

   CSAs are doing well, most of our customers have been a joy to deal with. Some we never even met they had us drop and go--never seen them...that's fine a bit strange. Other customers grabbed and ran, while others stayed and talked. Every one was happy that we know off. But the two that complained called and signed up again...I just don't get people. We had fun

   Jesus loves

We are happy winter is nearly over and the growing season is near. The extra snow has slowed our work down quite a bit, but we still managed to get by. Staying in touch with other farmers that have become our friends has proven to be an enjoyment--talking with them about our industry and their ideas really helps each of us to become united as one. The customers are also nice to talk with but those conversations is usually explaining how things are and how they are done.

   Conventional farms and organizations are getting ready discredit organic farmers in order to promote their products. If you are for organic be-prepared for a big battle between the different types of farming out there. I find that people do not want the whole truth--only to keep what knowledge they have on a topic narrow and tight. Perhaps, consumers need to go though all legitimate research and then make a buyers opinion in how they purchase farm goods.

Jesus loves 

   We are almost at full swing for farming this season. Our markets are opening early--first week of May. The strawberries are blooming, but it is to early so we been knocking some of the flowers off. In all produce growing areas that I know there is always competition to be the first to have stuff at the buying station and to have the largest of some items for the year. We play that part very well--I have a secret garden hidden from the eyes of the other produce growers and that garden will produce the largest watermelon any of them have ever seen. As for earliness we will not play that part for seeds are to expensive to loss in the early unpredictable weather--that's not true we are going to smoke them on early beets and beans. But if by chance we do get a first then that product will take a journey to show off and let everyone know who has out done them. It is all in good fun. Have church tonight so God bless and read your Bible

       Jesus loves

   It has been getting busy--just before the rain this week we disc-ed nearly the entire field and planted a few pounds of peas, beets and radishes. If the rains hold off for another week or so we can prep all the fields. Tomorrow an organic company will have a rep in the area...we're going to listen and there is going to be some donuts too. Maple trees are not giving much sap, so the taps will be polled, maybe next week--it has been a slow run this year. After meeting with the rep straw needs to be picked-up for the berries.

   Chicken order needs to be in tomorrow as well--maybe 100 turkeys, 100 layers(Rhode island reds, buff orphingtons, Plymouth barred rocks) and 300 butchers (butchers are ordered,on a normal year three times--900 birds for the season). they will be raised organically, but because the butcher plant is not certified organic we can only label them raised organically. I like the traditional breeds myself. Some time in the summer we hope to pick-up a few hogs also. I do not mind certified organics and know if there was not regulations some people would take advantage, but the fees with the added cost of organics is very costly. Although organic products seem to work better for the plants--the nutrients are more readily available to the plants then conventional. 

   Jesus loves, look-up for He will return

   Well, we are cleaning the equipment for work in the fields and this week we will check on the bee hives. If the hives are lite they will get some sugar water as feed, but if their heavy they will be left alone. The hives are new to our farm(last year was the first year we've had them), Dan and I are learning bee work as we go.

   Maple sap is slowing down and changing color, maybe another week of flow then it will-be over for the year. Pricing is one of the hardest things to determine on our products. We like volume pricing so we can move a lot of product fast, so if that product is sold off the farm then we will not get the low pricing that the auction offers. Farmers markets applications have been coming in--two of the markets are pleasant to be in and two is nothing but a battle. A pleasant one is where the farmers all get along, sell their stuff, share ideas, and help one another. A bad market is where the supposed farmers complain about the farmers(complains about what their selling and pricing, etc.). Of the past nine years one particular person has always broken the rules of the market for his favor and complained when others shown the slightest bit of competition on his product. The best part in this whole story is he has lost customers to us and the other farmer year after year because of his attitude. CSAs applications are slowing down, but still coming in.

   A young potential farmer has asked if he could work for us this year to learn the business of farming our style--we look forward to having around

   Till next week Jesus loves

   We have had a busy week--our season has began. Maple trees are running(giving sap) and we have been setting new taps while collecting sap from already set trees. Most of the time sap is collected once a day but today we had to go out twice, that is perfectly fine. Leon will be cooking and bottling it for us, so everyday(except Sundays) I deliver to him. Leon is a good man and farmer(small produce and livestockman). With his young family he has hard times, yet smiles a lot with a good story from time to time.

   Daniel and I finally got the floor done in the greenhouse with other work like building a propagation chamber(an inclosed selving system well insulated with watertables to start seeds). Monday we will start seeds for the field.

   Finding straw for the berries and asparagus has been difficult--there is a lead that will be fallowed up on Tuesday. As long as the snows do not melt the strawberries will-be fine, but if it rains Saturday night(like the landlord says) all the snow will melt and the berries will need covered.

   Chickens have been ordered and will be coming soon. We are going to order a few ducks for some customers who like there eggs over chicken eggs--we will see if it works out.

   Well, I have to go and study my lesson for Sunday school I am the teacher for mens class for a few months--

   Jesus love

   Earlier this week I was driving a friend around on his egg delivery. On the way to the second stop we past a shop selling tools, so we pulled in. There was a gas powered drill the he was interested in but it was to much; instead Leon bought a regular electric drill and we were on our way. Before the next stop the conversation was about why a gas drill. Well, there are several people in his area that makes maple syrup and a drill like that comes in handy out in the woods for setting taps. Daniel and I use to do maple syrup on our farm--haven't in a long time, but Leon and I decided that if Daniel and I tap he will cook down the sap into syrup and split it fifty fifty.    So we left to deliver eggs stopped at a shop ended up making maple syrup...what a day!

   On other news our CSAs are selling well and once the snow melts we will be on the ground. We are almost done with the floor of the green house and once that is in we will start planting seeds.

   We are starting to get CSA applications in. It feels good that most of last years members have already sent them in.

   On our produce farm there is only 12-18 weeks we are making money--the rest of the time is preparing for the season and waiting for the markets to open. Taking CSAs really helps us out by have funding early on, but the responsibility and concern for our customers can weigh heavy at times. Not knowing the weather is always a concern, yet there is no better life then a small farmer. The best part is the worst part--not knowing the future weather paterns, etc. keeps us on our toes. Pushing forward dispite uncertainty is a factor that makes the good times so much better(the good times makes one laugh at what it took to get there)

   Farming is not always easy, there are a lot of pit falls in this industry. We are going to raise livestock this year to help off set not having income during most of the year. In fresh pick produce there is only about 12 to 18 weeks of making cash sales the rest of the time is preparing for the season. This window of opportunity is not bad if not to many things go wrong. But if there is major set backs(weather, money, new regulations, etc.) then that window may close, not to open for another year. A person must be commited to farming if they plan to make it. In the type of agriculture we serve there is no set time when to begin and end the day--work till the work is done...rest will come sometime in November if it is a tough year. Sunday is the day of rest, Church is rewarding, yet on some days it is hard to get up early and make it on time. Don't get me wrong I love Christ and our life style and it isn't always back breaking work--there is a lot of fun to, but one must be commited or everything can be lost with one big mistake or bad season.

   Like right now I am enjoying the snow fall that is said by the news to be a snow storm.

   The weather warmed up for a day and the rains fell then to melting the snow. Know we are hoping freezing weather will follow for at least 10 days to freeze the ground. Snow acts like an insulater and if the ground is not frozen when it is covered then it will not freeze until it is uncovered.

   Cleaning up is our main goal right now--that seems like a never ending event. Besides cleaning and ordering supplies for the coming season we go to church. We are members of a Menninite concervative church--by choice not birth. Of all the church groups we visited they are the most loving and biblically sound Christian Church. That is if it is in the New Testiment they fallow it as best they can with no excuse of there is another way--the only way to find God is the way He says!

   Farming keeps us respectful to the world and gives us peace of mind knowing we have most days there is work to be done.

   We are waiting for the snows to melt so to get into the field to plow. But until then we will continue to run our trap lines and send our seed orders in. The temp. is warming up and soon the maple syrup will start to run--here in Northern Indiana that is sometime in mid February.

   Daniel and I work our farm together--I was tought the old ways of farming. That is if it is of the land then it is useful in some way. We trap during the season so to control problem animals and I like to. It is better to sell the fur on the market or use the pelt then to completely waste the animal for being a problem. After trapping is over the greenhouse is opened and we start to plant vegetable seeds for the garden. We are selling CSAs for the second time.

    Last year was our first season with CSAs and it worked allright. We like the fact that if enough sell then we do not have to try for a farm loan. Either way loan or CSAs the land is part of us.