Agropraxis Farm

For the longest time I raised food for my family. Then for a growing community that wanted high quality, seasonal foods. Through the whole time I have also fed many a small mammal, insect and broader community that calls the farm ii's home. I welcome the birds and bugs. I love the bees and bumbles...But, when they make a nuisance and take more than their share, bringing friends and family to the feast, I have the choice of acquiescing or becoming the predator. 

I think a healthy ecosystem keeps pests in balance. Our farm has all the habitat needed to encourage broad diversity. When the grasshoppers emerged and began their consumption of foods, the sparrows recognized the easy meal and kept the population at a tolerable level. The brachonid wasps have been helping with the hornworms. A praying mantis ducked under a squash leaf as I walked the rows the other day. An ecosystem encouraging balance. 

Good fences and other methods help discourage meal seekers. Deer, turkeys and small mammals can do a lot of eating. This season has been average for animal pressure until the drought started to limit animal food choices. With a relatively green, growing garden close at hand more and more hungry mammals began to invade. A raccoon or opossum was eating the tomatoes. A woodchuck dug a new den in the potato rows. And, a rabbit left its manure pellets under the squash leaves. 

So I reluctantly become the predator. I live trap the animals. Trying to minimize suffering and killing quickly. I've found that placing the un-baited trap in animal pathways is the quickest way to catch mammals. In some cases the pathway has been so frequented that many different species are trapped over a short period of time. 

It appears that it was a lone woodchuck, and a solitary rabbit. The tomatoes continue to be chomped, but I'm tolerating that at the moment. A good rain has the farm greening up and I hope providing foods for the animals that resorted to the garden for dinner. 

Farmer Pete 

Away from the farm for a short break and I found a form of farm work to keep busy with. Blueberry picking is as much fun as work. My wife and I picked nearly 10 lbs. in just a half hour. The berries are the nicest in several years, large, great flavor and sweet. We ate through 5 lbs. the first day. The kids kept returning for more and everyone was snacking on them. I thought about what made this drought year berries so good. The bushes had been loaded and weighed down with a heavy crop that was easy to pick. Why ....?

 Of course it is a combination of factors. Last year saw a late summer with mild temperatures and above average rainfall. The winter was mild with an early end and a spring that was sunny and pleasant. The blueberries had everything needed to prepare for a big crop. This spring the conditions remained favorable. The great berries were a long time in developing. Our current drought had minimal impact. 

Our annual crops benefited from the conditions of last season and winter. All of our spring and early summer root crops have been outstanding. With good soil moisture to start with, the potatoes, beets, radishes, salad turnips and early carrots have been exceptional. Big yields and fabulous flavor.  Leafy crops have been impacted by the erratic temperature swings. Fruiting crops have just started to be harvested and look promising. Looking forward to what will develop for the coming fall, winter and spring is where concern lies. Work now is focusing on maintaining fertility and preparing for the potential for continued dry conditions. Next seasons bounty is dependent on a lot of factors and can be along time in developing. I'll do what I can to have positive impacts on the coming seasons. 

Farmer Pete 

A super active time of the year on the farm. A cross-section of interesting things to share...

We have had less than an inch of rain since Memorial Day. With excellent fertility the plants have survived and irrigation has helped a few crops do well. Some plant families seem to prefer rain to ground water. The cucurbits are holding but not thriving. Plant size is small and  reproduction minimal. What I really observe is the insect and small mammal pressure is intense.  I set a pail of water down the other day and had a honey bee land on the rim and appear to drink. I'm sure they are suffering. Bees seem to crowd the blossoms in the field. A row of Okra was reduced to stubs by a leaf eating mammal that braved the fence and open field for a snack. I'll try to discourage the muncher with urine soaked horse manure (smelly!) and if that doesn't work I'll have to get more serious...

The insect eating birds are happy. They seem to thrive on the super insect smorgasbord.  Bluebirds, Kingbirds and sparrows wing after all types. The fruit eating waxwings seem to have some trouble. They resorted to the trying the honeysuckle. Maybe they tolerate them...

Market has been slow these past few weeks. Hot weather seems to have impacted the buying patterns of market shoppers. I wonder if people don't feel like cooking much when it is hot. I've also been a bit upset at produce re-marketers. These entrepreneurs buy produce at produce auctions and then sell it at Farmers Markets. They can buy in season produce at really low prices. They often grow nothing themselves, just buy at auction. I've stopped going to a few markets because of the pricing and proliferation of re-marketers.  I really wish market masters would discourage this practice. It makes it so hard for us that grow our own produce to do well. Local melons aren't in season yet but re-marketers have them for a dollar maybe two at market. When my carefully tended melons are ready I'll be lucky to sell at an acceptable price.

I'm taking a few days away from the farm. Each summer I schedule in a few small breaks. This way the physical demands of the farm keep from draining all enjoyment from  me. My stalwart volunteers (Thanks Mom & Dad) will keep on eye on things. But it's just a short 3 day visit to friends on the big lake (Michigan speak for "Lake Michigan", we have thousands of small lakes). This break will be a bit more pleasant. We had over 1/2" of rain on the farm last night. More forecast for the middle of the week. 

 Farmer Pete 

Our oldest child is working at a local farmstand for the summer. The farmstand offers a great variety of local in season produce, bakery items and much more in a friendly and unique setting. I spent time working there for parts of 3 seasons.Having a child there brings back memories and helps me realize that so many people are food illiterate. Food literacy was a part of growing up in my family. With roots that reach back to the farm and a garden part of our seasonal eating, A family that loves to eat good food! 

I have always been happy to inform and educate the many people I meet at market or through CSA. There is an element of satisfaction and enjoyment when a customer encounters a new vegetable, tries it and comes back the next week looking for more. Or asks what else do you  have... During the CSA season, I always liked the shareholders that had favorites and couldn't wait till the harvest season began for that crop. Helping those I encounter improve their food literacy is my guarantee of future success in producing food.

Some in the education world have made an effort to improve food literacy. California has a program that is focused on helping consumers make healthy and sustainable choices. Harvard began a project that looks to make good consumers for heath reasons. Personally, these are great efforts but highlight the domination of our food system by marketing and corporate interests. When food shoppers have the opportunity to shop at Farmers Markets and meet face to face with producers, we are making a step forward in raising our communities food literacy. 

The food literacy instilled in our family life has well prepared our child for the farmstand. Always the go to person when a question arises...helping to improve others food literacy.

 Farmer Pete 

Though a bit short on rainfall, this season has been one for abundant plant growth. Nature's solar collectors, leaves and chlorophyll, have stretched and gathered as much as they can. I'm always amazed at the variety of leaves that food crops have. From the gigantic leaves on squashes or Swiss Chard to the almost feathery leaves on carrots or fennel they are amazing. The world under leaf cover is always interesting and almost fairy tale like. The abundance is noted in the bountiful harvest of early potatoes. Storing the gathered sunshine as carbohydrate starches in the tubers, potatoes are yielding as well as any year I can recall. 

Beets are another example. Beautiful tops with even hefty beet-root. A handful were leftover from market on Friday so they roasted in the oven and were perked up with some balsamic vinegar, olive oil, S & P and feta cheese to make a favorite salad (credit to Deborah Madison in Local Flavors). The variety of veggies for the table at this time of year is such a marvelous dilemma. What to fix? Which favorite to make for dinner, or save for that special holiday meal...

A bit of time has been used to work forward for the upcoming seasons. Strawberry beds have been prepped. They'll be ready for new plants when the time is right. I recall a visit to the Well's Family Farm a few years ago and Mike's work to keep the deer out of his strawberries. Deer and other animals will browse strawberries in the winter and spring resulting in a crop failure and losses. Mike had an 8' fence with electric wire strung outside to deter deer. Even that was not enough. He still occasionally had losses to deer.  Work done this year to make the future possible...

 Farmer Pete 

The spring harvests are coming to an end. The last of the early root crops were harvested, peas still keep producing and flowering but are past peak, and the warm, dry weather has the greens in poor condition.The jump to summer is nearly upon us.

As the spring crops finish, the beds are spread with compost and prepped for another crop. Successions of green beans, squash or cukes often follow. Some get carrots or beets, it depends on the rotations. Always planting, always improving...

 Dry conditions has resulted in wildlife adaptations. With irrigation on the field a lot of visitors use the opportunity to get the moisture they need. Clouds of butterflies drink from the moistened soil. Ground squirrels tunnel into the heavily damp areas to meet their needs. Birds use the overhead lines and the bug bounty to fill-up. I was collecting hose the other day and was stepping through a bed when a happy toad hopped by. A welcome resident going about its life in harmony with the farm. 

 Smiles...Farmer Pete 

The harvests for market are really good. With plentiful sunshine and good growing conditions a wide variety of vegetables are available for market. The big hit this past week were the shelling peas. Shoppers bought them all up in the first hour. I was a bit shocked. One guy commented that he wasn't going to do anything with them than shell and eat fresh. Brought a smile to my face. 

I was taking a moment in the field the other day to try and keep up with my hydration, and a little House Wren flitted to the fence. It sat low over the clover and grass and watched quietly. It's tail held at an improbable angle..then it grabbed something in its beak. As it flew away i saw it held a big insect that was destined for new chicks. It wasn't but a moment and it was back to the fence looking for another morsel. I saw it make three quick trips before I returned to laying mulch. It feels good to know that the farm supports a great diversity of life. 

Work continues on the farm and developments for offering CSA in 2013. Making the early steps in this direction are done carefully. A rush forward with hasty plans is much more troublesome and stressful than the well thought out and measured approach. Having been through this process before makes this farm and prospects so much easier. Time to learn the farm, the people and get all pieces in place before offering CSA makes so much sense. I'm encouraged! 

Farmer Pete 

Intercropping has become an integral part of my farm practices. Sowing legumes in rows of squashes or under corn achieves many goals. This time of year when warm weather crops emerge is time to sow. A few weeds are easily hoed and white clover is broadcast between plants. A light raking settles the seeds. Within a couple of weeks a vigorous mat of clover emerges. It helps suppress weeds, retain moisture, and enrich the soil with nitrogen, carbon, and root secretions, and attract beneficial insects. It can be tilled in at the end of the season or left as a living mulch. In winter squash and pumpkin rows last year white clover was spectacular in suppressing weeds. When harvest comes it is so much easier to work through  a row with low growing white clover than a tangle of lambsquarter, ragweed or pigweed. 

Other crops I prefer to mulch with spent hay or straw. Once solanums and brassicas are established I lay a moisture retaining, weed suppressing mulch. I prefer hay with its higher nutrient values. Straw works and rarely has weed seeds, but is more brown matter. On our sandy soils the mulch works to retain moisture and boost microbe activity at the soil surface. On the tomatoes it goes a long way to suppress soil splash on lower leaves. Quite a bit less disease occurs. As the mulch decomposes it needs to be thickened to maintain benefits. Every 6-8 weeks I add more mulch. Some farmers layer mulch on ultra thick. I suspect that thick mulch works too well and insulates the soil more than needed here.   

These cultural practices contribute to the soil food web, the source of fertility for our crop plants. Along with cover crops for fallow beds, they help prevent the void of barren soil that conventional farming is prone to. having something growing, gather light energy, and forming soil is integral to sustainable farming. These simple practices with low costs in money and time contribute immeasurable benefits to the farm. 

Farmer Pete 

The other day I was harvesting for market. It was a unseasonably cool drizzly day. I have worked through the early efficiency issues and have the harvest down. On a new place it takes time to develop the methods of washing, packing and getting ready for market. Finally this week the job got done well before I needed head for market. So I had time to sit and eat lunch rather than gulp on the go. 

I sat on the van tailgate and looked out over the fields as I ate. Waves of drizzle and light rain floated across the field. The birds were about their feeding so it must have been a high activity time for wildlife. I watched as a female Eastern Bluebird perched on the power line that runs over the field. She was directly over the potato rows and seemed to be watching for something. Then she dropped into the potatoes and was their for a few seconds. She popped up and flew across the road. A few moments later she returned to the perch only to repeat the drop in on the potatoes. Could Eastern Bluebirds raise their young on potato beetles? A welcome ally!!!

I heard the turkeys from the woods and the Sandhill Cranes give their unique chuckle. The Meadowlark was on the wood post in the center of the field. It seems to prefer the wood post to the metal t-posts. Maybe the view is best from that spot. Whatever, the fancy yellow with black dress-up is always fine with me when accompanied by such great song.

The harvest was another good one. Pac choy, salad turnips (tennis ball sized and so good!), radishes, a few oakleaf lettuces and arugula. I brought from home the strawberries and serviceberries that would sell out at market. So nice to sit and eat while keeping an eye on the farm.

Farmer Pete 

I wonder if most would agree that new ventures should start at the beginning. Our results and success driven culture encourages a rush through start-up to pursue the fast track. My experience with Biological-Ecological food production, working within biologic systems and being part of a local ecology, the beginning steps are key in creating the foundation for future production. At the beginning growing food is about developing a viable, diverse soil that supports production of healthy nutrient dense food.

A farmers' most valued resource is fertile, biologically active soil. You can try to build soil with amendments but in rushing to do this you tend to reduce the complexity of biological systems to measurable scientific models. Only when we foster the development and compounding forces of soil biology will the soil sustain continued production. Start at the very beginning.   

Natural systems build soil. Through farming we disrupt natural soil building. Tillage, the use of synthetic inputs, and leaving the soil barren for long periods can accelerate the loss of organic matter and key soil compounds. Conventional farming works to maximize production but leads to net soil losses. To maintain fertility we add compost generated from the farm, utilize cover crops and re-mineralize with needed nutrients.

On farmland that has been in production for decades the remaining dirt no longer resembles soil we need for quality produce. A farmer can build fertility on such land only with time and work. Repairing disturbed land may take from years to a decade to achieve a stable, sustainable level. 

On the farm at Tiller's International I find wonderful basic fertility. Each footstep in the field offers more insight. This contributes to a growing understanding and planning for sustaining the gift of fertile land.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Over the past week an abundance of sunshine and a touch of rain has left us with continued great harvests of early crops. I had a small amount of strawberries for market. As I told a fellow market  vendor, you can tell strawberry season is ending when standing upright no longer takes an effort. I also spent some time collecting Colorado Potato Beetles and crushing egg smears. Early and careful attention makes a huge difference in minimizing losses. And, the warm weather crops were transplanted and tended through the transition to field with great success. 

I used both plug trays and soil blocks for propagating transplants. i really have become a proponent of soil blocks. The minimal disruptions and plant health soil blocks promote results in vigorous plants in the field. I had all my peppers in blocks and the eggplants in cells. The eggplants struggled to handle transition while the peppers took right off. I'll really make an effort in the future to emphasize soil blocks...

 Farmer Pete 

I eased the radish out of the ground and snapped the top off. Gave it a quick rinse and did the final evaluation....Yes!!! It had crunch, wonderful flavor and no unpleasant after taste. I have grown radishes like this for years on all the farms I've worked. The simple delight in producing a near perfect radish is thrilling. Appearance, vigor, and good eating all from a planted seed. A simple delight...

The radishes along with other early crops provided a better than expected first market. Being new at the Vicksburg, MI  Farmers Market I had modest expectations. Other established vendors have regular customers and I needed to meet and make myself known. The produce really helped break the ice. A friendly greeting would get them to look my way then the lure of great produce would complete a new introduction. A quick exchange of where the farm was located and a comment about the great produce to come made for smiling Market goers. 

For the radishes to express genetic potential a lot of  has to be in place. A key variable at Tiller's is the condition of the soil. Factors that impact the crop but the agronomist can't "fix" with recommendations to "add this" and amend with "that". A loose friable soil with nice crumb. Good drainage with excellent moisture holding characteristics. No compacted plow pan. A high level of soil microbe activity and fertility. Happy plants and fantastic results.

 Maintaining fertility is a pleasure. It comes from work, habits and years of experience in growing with Bio-Eco concepts. Looking back the challenges I've had are in dealing with depleted and low biological activity soils. To produce nice crops from them can take years. So it is an absolute delight to be working soil with great characteristics from the beginning. 

Farmer Pete 

Vicksburg (MI) Farmers Market begins this Friday, May 18th from 2:30 pm - 6:30 pm. I've always enjoyed markets both as a customer and as a vendor. Visiting with farmers and making new friends. I'll be offering a nice selection of early season produce: Arugula, Leaf Lettuces, Radishes, Rhubarb, Spring Onions and more...

The weather has favored the greens this past week. I harvested for our own table and can't believe the bounty of spinach. I gave the spinach a fine chopping and steaming then added to a Asiago cheese sauce. Mmmm-mmm-fabuloso!!!! The first strawberries have colored and been devoured. It should be a nice season for them.  When the heat arrives they should color and be ready for the berry crowd.

Last season we dealt with a quick change from cool to hot. Suddenly the days were in the 80's and nights near 60. In a few days rows and rows of immature produce prematurely bolted. When growing for market and CSA you always hope for the best and resign yourself to dealing with whatever comes our way. With a long season and a variety of crops we always have something. This is hoping for more of the great conditions we've had so far this season....

Farmer Pete 

The season has advanced. Warmer weather and some rain has combined for vigorous growth in many early crops. The fencing has been going up around the field at just the right time. What were cabbages and broccoli became leafless shoots as an herbivore, probably one of many woodchucks nearby, enjoyed them. For the moment I have rolled field stone in their burrows and covered with soil hoping to trouble them some. I'll have to trap to bring the population into balance. Other than farmers they have too few predators. More of the valued migratory birds and butterflies are here. I've noticed the Oriole's, Martin's and Kingbirds around the farm. And, the first of the returning Monarch butterflies have passed our way. 

 One thing I sense a lack of progress in has to do with our farming community. Wendell Berry  wrote that we should learn from and use nature as our model on how we farm. Anna Lappe' is a more recent voice that says similar things. As I observe the proliferation of "Organic" and "Sustainable" I sense that the model for farming is industrial agriculture and antiquated science models. How else to explain the growing use of purchased inputs for "Organic". Fertility programs, "OMRI" approved products, mechanical tillage schedules and spraying are now common on most organic farms. Lost are companion plantings. low carbon methods, on farm composting and developing biological diversity. Too many in "Organic" think they are doing right simply by being organic. Maybe it is a step in the right direction but short of doing what's right for our farms and the enviroment. 

I live away from the farm. So at home we keep a kitchen garden. The kids help and it's often the inspiration for a meal. With the weather we've had the kitchen garden  has been bursting with greens. Spinach, kale, tatsoi, and arugula are overflowing the harvest bowl lately. So I cook them and adapted a favorite rice recipe for getting even the fussy eaters to have some:

Italian Rice w/Greens (adapted from, Seductions of Rice, Alford & Duguid)

2 cups medium grain rice (Italian or Mexican)

Pot of water

1 tsp salt

3-4 tbl olive oil 

3-5 cloves garlic

1/4 cup diced onion

5-6 cups of chopped cooking greens 

parmesean cheese

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add salt and rice. Cook the rice as you would pasta! When al dente drain and return to pan. 

For greens: put oil in large saute pan over medium heat. When hot add chopped garlic. When garlic begins to color add onion, and turn heat to med-low. After about 2 minutes add greens. If greens have a lot of moisture just sweat and stir a bit till cooked and tender (3-5 minutes). You may need to add 1/4 of water. 

When rice and greens are done add the greens and all of the oil to the rice and toss. Add ground pepper and parmesean to taste.

 Enjoy!

Farmer Pete 

This growing season began with a positive mental outlook. A fabulous opportunity to begin farming at Tiller's International with support and freedom to develop as needed. Sometimes  people, weather, or other issues wear down even the most optimistic farmer and the frame of mind turns from positive. This past weeks' events just added to the positive foundation. 

A loose plan for marketing the products from the farm was in place. One of the pieces is participating in our local Farmers' Market. The Vicksburg Farmers' Market is a 3 year old market operated by Sue Moore and Nancy Wolf.  Their hard work and determination is part of the reason that the market is growing and has ambitious plans. A meeting of Vendors was held Tues. April 24th. Market rules, changes and details of a new Pavilion were discussed. I'm thrilled to be part of this energetic group. Look for me at the Vicksburg Farmers' Market, Fridays May 18th - October, 2:30 - 6:30 pm. 301 N. Richardson Street.

My daily chores of watering and seeding the transplants is showing results. The tomatoes, peppers and eggplant group is thriving. This year I have paid close attention to the details. From the self-mixed bedding to seed, and using the "Stella Natura" calender to time seeding. Early transplants of onions and leeks are thriving in the field while the early brassicas are poised for growth when temperatures favor it. 

I grow a broad list of field raised tomatoes. From hybrid round red tomatoes (St. Pierre, Bobcat) heirlooms (Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, Paul Robeson, Kellogg's Breakfast, Pineapple, Glacier) paste (Big Pear, Amish Paste, Striped Roma), and cherry tomatoes (Matt's Wild, Sungold, Grape). They range from early like the Glacier to massively prolific like the Matt's Wild. The heirlooms are my favorite for eating (Brandywine or Paul Robeson followed by Kellogg's Breakfast). At market the round red still sells the best...Share your favorites by leaving a comment! 

Farmer Pete