March 15, 2014

We had a very special visitor to our farm to close out 2013.  The deputy secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, Krysta Harden, came to tour the farm.  She is pictured above to my right  in the black coat.  She flew up directly from the Christmas tree lighting at the White House!  Pictured above,  along with her,  are the heads of the Farm Service Agency, National Resource Conservation Services, and Soil And Water Conservation Services.  It was such an honor having her visit us.  I had the wonderful opportunity to discuss with her some of the issues small farmers face.  She was currently working on the new Farm Bill.  We now have a Farm Bill and I am very optimistic for agriculture in our country!

I had another opportunity to discuss the importance of organic agriculture to start the year, in January:  I was invited to serve as a panelist for the Food for Thought  series at The Linda, WAMC’s theatre in Albany.   The film was called Symphony of the Soil.  It was a beautiful film about the importance of organic farming.  It spanned the globe, showing farms from all over the world including Whales, India and the United States.  Farmers showed how caring for the integrity of the soil can produce an abundance of healthy food, while building soil and reversing environmental damage.  Scientists from the Rodale Institute, and many universities were interviewed in the film and discussed the science behind what the organic farmers are doing.  It is worth viewing and can be ordered on Netflix!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snuggling

 

It finally feels like spring may get here!  It has been a very cold winter.  Our animals have been braving the cold with the help of lots of extra hay to eat and to bed in.  I have been consoling myself with the hopes that this extreme cold will help make a very successful growing season by helping the bugs  be at a minimum due to the cold as many of them overwinter and come back with a vengeance in the spring.  The past two winters had been very mild and we had strong pressure from many insects that had overwintered in the soil and brush and then ravaged the early greens.  We also went into the past two springs at a water deficit but we shouldn’t have that problem this spring due to all of the snow!  And of course, the snow makes everything look so beautiful!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eight Mile Creek Farmhouse Winter 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mother Cows on a Cold Winter Morning

Olivia and Doc are expecting their second litter of piglets any day now.  Olivia is now resting comfortably in the “maternity suite” of the old hay barn.  We are very excited!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doc and Olivia

The high tunnel is starting to show some growth and soon we will be harvesting fresh cold hardy greens.  The greenhouse is full with seedlings:  onions, broccoli, early tomatoes, leeks, cabbage, rutabaga, flowers, herbs, lettuce,  escarole…….

We have been receiving CSA contracts and we are so thankful for all of your support.  We are very excited about 2014!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jenny Herding the Cows