Agropraxis Farm

At this time a year ago I dug a hand into the field that became our vegetable plot. I knew the field had been in conventional grain and dairy production for decades, but the last 8+ years was in rotational pasture. A new place to farm presents many potential issues. From depleted soil and persistent weeds to low microbial activity. As we approach seasons end a review of production and some observations is appropriate. 

Curiosity had me check the USGS info available at the library and online. It described a level field with sandy-loam topsoil. It also had a deep sandy subsoil that provides excellent drainage.  In this area many fields are left bare for the majority of the year. With such light soils, erosion has left little topsoil. Many farm the remaining sandy subsoil. Conventional tillage with little returned to the soil in the form of cover cropping or composts leaves organic matter often below 2%. My first handful of soil revealed a medium brown color, indicating moderate organic matter, a pleasant smell and nice friable texture. A nice first impression.

A common tool for soil evaluation is a soil sample test. This scientific method test looks at macro/micro-nutrients levels. A broad range of tests can be paid for from $15.-300.00+ per sample. An alternative for intensive vegetable farmers is close evaluation and observation. By looking at what is growing on the land a fair review can be made that is as accurate as many a soil sample test. Our field showed a broad range of pasture plants that were evenly distributed throughout the field. No areas were infested with invasive pest species. The mix of forages included legumes, grasses and other perennials that were vigorous and healthy.  This indicated good fertility, high microbial activity and a fairly uniform soil type throughout the field. 

The use of soil building, organic farming methods is a key to maintaining and improving fertility. We compost all farm waste and return it to the land. We utilize cover crops, mulch and continuously add carbon rich material to the soil to feed the soil food web. The foundation of farming practices is supplemented with compost teas and mineral fertilization. Attention and effort is also made for even minor improvements. The sum of 1% improvements may seem insignificant, but the cumulative impact of a series of 1% measures becomes significant over time. 

Early in the year the land was plowed with oxen and horses. This turned under the thick pasture. Newly plowed land often exhibits excellent fertility as a mass extinction of soil microbes releases masses of nutrients. Farming practices have to work with this understanding and plan for a drop in fertility if supportive measures aren't in place. As the year has progressed, the initial positive first impression have been supported by excellent production. 

Next week a review of field production and some observations...

Farmer Pete 

Recently the family was eating. Our family now includes a German Exchange student. She was commenting about the director of the fall drama that she is a cast member of, "He is such a Man!" I casually asked what she meant by that...and we learned that in her understanding of the sexes, men are unorganized and lack attention to details. Hmmmm,....as Artie Johnson always responded on Laugh-In, "Interesting".

The irony didn't escape me.  She had earlier commented about how delicious all the food was. The food was typical of early fall suppers. It was composed of things from our efforts on the farm. Things that took months from planning, planting, tending, tilling to harvesting. Then the prep and cooking of dinner. Several wonderfully delicious dishes. The plate was cleaned and seconds added...mmmmmgood! Hey, weren't these all done by a....MAN? How could it be? Unorganized and lacking attention to details? I see we have some work to do with people making generalizations. Good for an inner chuckle!!!

On the farm I revel as the seasons change. BIrds are flocking, colors beginning to change, and the cool weather ends the bounty of hot weather crops. The birds wear their their fall plumage. A second look is often needed to tell which type of bird is feasting on late season bugs in the garden. The sparrows have been joined by finches and bluebirds. All are welcome. The recently sown cover crops have pushed out of the ground and look like a green haze over the field, or a green shadow.  A brief void is now filled, just as nature would do. Debris is removed from other beds and compost added in the ever revolving cycle of plant-reap-renew! Soon the season will swing to the quiet of the cold season. Time to prepare for what follows.

Farmer Pete 

It's here...today! Hooray! http://www.fairfoodmatters.org/harvestfest/  What a thrill to be part of this wonderful SW Michigan event. It's at Tiller's International main grounds. Just a spit from the fields we grow on at Tiller's. So many great memories from past years that I always look forward to the upcoming one. I've met some great people, Will Allen, Richard Heinberg, and lots of local activists and farmers. I'll be promoting the farm and our CSA for next year. Stop and say hey!

On the farm the season shift is noted. The summer squash are nearly done. Cukes were pulled out and added to the mulch pile. The last melons ripened but were tasteless and also added to the eventual compost. Tomatoes are struggling to ripen a load of green fruits. However, the brassicas are rebounding. I cut some exceptional cauliflower the other day and the kale is growing so fast and full of great taste that it is selling out at market.  The winter squashes have been slow to mature. Many years we have them by now. Because of the drought it seems the plants held off flowering till conditions improved and now with shorter days and cool weather they are maturing late. The few we've sampled have been bland and could use a few more weeks. The quantity of fruits is down. Each plant has 2-4 at most. The size is good though. A few butternuts and Pink Bananas are whoppers. 

As the season shifts the planning and work for next year becomes the dominate effort. Beds are cleared and amended for next years crops. Cover crops are seeded into appropriate beds. The buckwheat is in early flower and oats will go into all the beds that will receive transplants next spring. I find the fall seeded oat cover crop does a nice job of maintaining the bed through the winter and with its die back, leaves a great mulch for transplanting through in spring. No tilling-no carbon fuels. I received my seed garlic a few weeks ago and that is usually the last field work done in fall. By then the tomato T-Posts and trellis will have been removed, posts to the barn and debris to the compost pile. The flow of seasons for the vegetable farmer are such a pleasure and always welcome. 

Farmer Pete 

I use a warm and welcoming pitch when new shoppers stop at my booth. "Everything on the table was raised and harvested by us. Our farm is at Tiller's International, and we use organic methods. Nothing on your produce than what is naturally occurring". Some people shrug and say, "Oh" then move on. Others give us a good look and take home some for their table. My conversation starter sometimes brings out interesting comments. Like the woman that shared that her grandma raised tons of produce with what we now call organic methods long ago. Yes, nothing new with organic. For centuries man raised food without chemicals. Just in the last 100 years some farmers changed paths to disrupt nature rather than work with nature. 

The Stanford study was mentioned by a fellow this week. You probably heard. The study was a study of other studies (seriously!) that analyzed nutrition. Nutritionally a bunch of broccoli was similar whether organic or conventional. Outstanding study! Mind blowing conclusion! The Major papers covered it. The organic pundits had fun responding. All because when something like broccoli is grown it is still broccoli regardless of the growing method. No magical transformation with organic to a super-power-food. No degradation when raised conventional to toxic slime. Of course broccoli is going to be similar. Consumers need to know this! Thank goodness the researchers made this clear.

What they fail to tell you is what I say with my market chatter. "Nothing on the produce than what is naturally occurring."  Residues of synthetic compounds used to control nature can be on conventional produce. The subtle difference in building healthy soil for healthy plants is a key for organic farmers. We work with nature. The impacts are many fold. The study did a disservice to consumers in not looking further than simply nutrition with organic foods. 

I suggested the gentleman question the study. We'd all be a bit better off if we viewed our news critically rather than accepting it. Broccoli is still broccoli...

Farmer Pete 

I stepped into the local Ag retail store and saw a face on the cover of the promo magazine on display that I recognized. I was on an errand for dog food, motor oil,...and at first I just smiled but as the contradiction sunk in I laughed. Let me explain!

The cover and story can be viewed: 

http://www.tractorsupply.com/content/magazine/current/current

 The man pictured was a consultant for a farm start-up I was part of. I committed to memory a quote of his, "I don't farm, I hire farmers in my position." He works as a land manager and planner. He happens to be part of the farm profiled in the magazine. Slick branding and self-promotion! I have nothing against the diligent efforts to preserve some of our historic past and it's ties to rural roots. The reason for my mirth is the inclusion of a consultant/planner that works with millions of donation dollars and "hires farmers". The Ag retailer is clearly trying to promote a seemingly wonderful farm rebirth and success story. I'd rather see a real farmer! 

We have such a broad based bounty on the farm right now. At market it was so easy to fly through all of our produce because the quality was visually apparent. Broccoli heads as broad as a dinner plate, savoy cabbages with heft and size, heirloom tomatoes that were hard to not heft and squeeze and turnips that were astounding. The effort to get them in and to market was hard, hot work. The bounty reaches our dinner table. We have really enjoyed the variety of this time of year. Edemame for snacks, pesto as a condiment, lima beans and squash, tomato for any use and cool weather late season crops beginning to return. As my wife and kids exclaim, "We wish we could eat like this all year!" Me too!

 Happy Labor Day!!!

Farmer Pete 

A fertile soil is the goal. High organic matter and readily available macro and micro-nutrients. The fertility is provided by a complex, viable soil biology. A soil guru explained that there is much more going on (i.e. microbial life) at the surface of the soil and a few inches below it than above it. I fall in with the crowd that identifies with Eliot Coleman and the work to create a viable soil. The constant toil to improve. Even a 1% effort has a cumulative impact.

I have worked a variety of soil types and in different states of biologic activity. The most challenging was a compacted loam with low biological activity, imbalanced nutrients and very low organic matter. The effort to begin restoration of the soil, as expected, yielded few immediate results. The organic matter was below 2%. Using an acre furrow slice weight of         2, 000,000lbs. that would be 40,000lbs. existing organic matter per acre. Raising it to recommended 5% levels for vegetable crop production required 60,000lbs/acre. 30 tons is a lot to add, not to mention the cost. So the efforts focused on the cumulative 1%'s. Compost, cover crops, mulches.... Eventually the the soil began to show some early signs of returning to fertility. The scientists look at the numbers and calculate...we farmers look at the what we need and what is sustainable and begin. Even if it is just a 1% impact. 

This season has presented challenging weather. A fertile soil and good practices should permit a farmer to produce acceptable vegetables under these conditions. At Tiller's International I have enjoyed working in a soil that has adequate fertility, organic matter and soil biology. Production has exceeded expectations. I have happy customers and feel a sense of satisfaction in dealing with challenging conditions. The toil for better soil continues. To sustain production and improve the farm will be a constant effort.

 This past week I worked a new section of the field. Cleared the cover crop, spread composted horse manure, added a smidgen of lime, and sowed a late crop of buckwheat. I really like the impact buckwheat has on the soil. My understanding is that the secretions from the roots boosts soil microbes. In the past the crops that followed the buckwheat always did well. Even if it is just 1%, the cumulative impact will benefit the farm! 

--The harvest this past week included a variety of wonders. Late summer radishes, terrific tomatoes, bountiful basil, crunchy carrots, stupendous baby squash...We like to enjoy these great foods as unaltered as possible. So they are prepped, artfully placed on a platter and topped with a basil pesto. Thanks to Deborah Madison for the inspiration in her Local Harvest cookbook!

 Farmer Pete 

The heat seems to have left us for a spell. After weeks of upper 80's and 90's we now have almost fall like weather. 50's at night and upper 60's and 70's for the day time. Oh,...and plenty of rainfall. The fall crops and new plantings are doing well. The rain was needed and sometimes we forget even the most mundane place like the compost pile need adequate moisture to do their best. The crew at Tiller's mucked a barn last week and dumped next to the compost pile. As I forked and mixed the components of next years compost the rain had the pile steaming and cooking just as you'd hope. Browns layered with greens and some soil...beautiful compost in the making!

 The harvest last week comprised a list of 14 must harvest crops and a few more that should be harvested if time allows.  In the heat we'd run out of time and end up leaving a few things. Not this week! With the cooler temperatures we are able to work faster and more comfortably. No stopping at the wash pail to soak my hat for a bit of cooling relief. Or submerging my arms in the cool water, like a field version of climate control... No, with my able assistant (my darling wife) we harvested all with time to spare. I have to admit that with one of our crops I had a mental burp. I neglected to harvest the edemame. The sample I took home was the best of the last few years. Back on the list for next week!

The tomatoes had been outstanding in the heat and dry weather. With rain came bigger size, the occasional splits, and diluted flavor. Weather had a negative impact on the tomatoes. The plants started to show a few leaf diseases. With the overall vigor of the plants being exceptional I'll tolerate the few minor problems and expect to see the plants grow through the rainy, damp spell and thrive again in short time. 

The sweet red peppers are ready. My gosh are they good. I cut up one of our July meat birds and added rice, onions and peppers to the pot. The sweet pepper added the little extra that is sometimes missing with chicken and rice. Wow! We'll have nice peppers for a few weeks so if you get a chance pick up a few!!

Farmer Pete 

This growing season, with a long dry spell and high temperatures, favored some vegetable crops and stressed others. The dry spell clearly favored tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and their close relatives. During a break for a field visit by relatives recently,  I sliced a Charentais Melon. "Wow!", they said. It was as if something special had happened to the melon. The flavor and fragrance had been magnified to perfection. 

All of us that enjoyed the slice of melon knew it was different. If pressured to say how it was different befuddlement would likely set in."It's just better", would be a likely response. Science often tries to step in and quantify the differences. But the subtleties that science tries to observe are ones that we, with our senses and complex mental faculties, have already made note of. When it comes to noting differences, we all seem acutely capable and I think science less. Somewhere in our genetics and abilities we observe the differences automatically.  

 A couple stopped at the farm stand and shared that they had been watching the farm progress. They were so thrilled that they would be able to enjoy from our efforts and labor. Other farm stands dot our countryside and offer the same as we do. So why us? Because they could observe that we were different and that was enough for them to stop!!!

Farmer Pete