Monthly Archives: February 2013

2007—Our Fourth CSA Season

February 28, 2013calabria, cauliflower, community supported agriculture, core group, csa, easter freeze, fair share farm, missouri state fair, persephone, row cover, strawberriesFarmer Rebecca

In 2007 we reached our 5-year goal of 100 members. It was an accomplishment we were proud of, and it established a good economic base for the future. The next step…was figuring out the next step.

A rare chance to skate on the old pond in February

Exterior work on the farmhouse before the season starts

Pre-season Core Goup meeting at Kelly and Rick’s

We decided to approach the season as if we were starting fresh. We pretended that all the work in the previous years had been done by a different couple we called Rachel (a common misnomer for Rebecca) and Joseph (my middle name). For all the good things we saw on the farm we thanked them, and for all the things that broke or had to be redone we sighed and assigned them the blame.

St. Patricks Day was spent working on the barn, fixing the east loafing shed roof and walls with the help of fellow farmer Tom Parker and members Jim Markley and Victoria Wert. Working on a barn with the farm community is always fun.

Jim Markley, Tom Parker and Rebecca

Weather again played a unique role in the season, as it was the year of the “Easter freeze.” After the third warmest March on record with literally everything blooming, the buds of Spring were killed off by two overnights of record low temperatures in the upper teens.

We fulfilled our contractual obligation to the CSA, doing everything in our power to protect the many beds of plants we had out in the fields by covering them with up to 3 layers of row cover. All the while we were battling high winds and the urge to take a shortcut or two. Our efforts paid off, as by June much of the broccoli we had protected headed up beautifully.

Row cover mid-April

Spring broccoli

The combination of high winds and temperatures in the teens made keeping the row cover on a never-ending chore for us and Libby Negus, who started her apprenticeship with us that week. Working hard at the farm, moonlighting at Green Acres Market, and going to school to become a Montessori teacher kept her busy that year.

Picking peas with Libby (photo by Lorne Carroll)

April was also when we planted the strawberry patch. Members had voiced their opinion in our yearly survey that they wanted us to add berries to the shares. We felt that strawberries were the best choice, as they are sturdier than bramble fruit and, based on earlier trials, seemed to grow well here.

Strawberry patch humble beginnings 4/19/07

In general, 2007 was a good year for the crops. The tomato harvest topped 5,000 lbs and we picked over 5,000 individual summer squash. We planted some of the potatoes where we had run the chickens the year before and had our best yields to date. Beans, carrots, and the Fall brassicas were standouts.

Happy lettuce harvest led by 2013 apprentice-to-be Lorne Carroll and long-time member Betty Marcus

Picking summer squash

Members with the harvest

Thanks to the scarcity of wild fruit after the Easter freeze, the raccoons and opossums feasted on our successes in the field. We used a live trap to catch more than 30 racoons that summer, sometimes catching two at a time. They seem cute, but I will tell you that picking up a metal cage with a snarling wild animal in it at sunrise wakes you up for the day, and gets you thinking of alternative methods of predator control.

One of many

In June my Mother passed away. She was a grand lady, the source of my German blood, and a role model like no other. I’m glad Rebecca had a chance to make her aquaintance.

Mom would have been thrilled that August, as we were honored as the Clay County Farm Family of the Year. We have the local University of Missouri Extension Council to thank for nominating us for the award, and recogznizing a sustainable farming operation for the honor. They won us a free trip to the State Fair to pick up the award, where the orators noted that “farmers are the backbone of democracy.” That’s us! Love that quote.

We had a great Fall harvest with little to no frost until late in November.

Fall cauliflower

The year ended with more home remodeling before heading to Italy in December. We visited Rome, then took the train to the southern tip of the continent, Calabria, the ancestral home of the Ruggieri’s.

Working on the back porch

In Calabria…the land of Persephone

Next up…electrifying the G, strawberry bonanza, Rocky, solar irrigation, adding mulch, and toooooo wettttt!

2006—Our Third CSA Season

February 27, 2013100 mile diet, chickens, community supported agriculture, csa, fair share farm, farm apprentice, tote bagsFarmer Rebecca

By 2006 Fair Share Farm and its CSA were here to stay. We continued to work on making our farming operation viable well into the future. Certain things we could control, like how and what we fed our soil, what we planted and when, and how we integrated the farm into the lives and health of our membership.

The fields at rest

What we can never seem to control is the weather. January 2006 was the warmest on record, February the driest, and April the third warmest. A good reminder that our job is to be ready for whatever weather comes our way. Wet, dry, hot, or cold, we cannot act like we are suprised by anything. The conditions in 2006 required us to start irrigating in April, something we had never had to do before. What ever happened to April showers bring May flowers?

By 2006 it was becoming clear that the climate was (and still is) changing. For me, 20 years of work in industry and environmental engineering, coupled with over 10 years as an farmer, and the on-line availability of raw data showing such things as higher than ever-recorded atmospheric CO2 levels and a polar ice cap that is losing both area and volume every year, is enough to cause concern.

From Fox 4 WDAF (click to enlarge)

While these conditions caused some problems, they were also quite beneficial to certain crops. Warm, dry weather is what tomato, pepper and eggplant thrive in, as fungal diseases don’t get established. We also had one of our best harvests of winter squash.

Carnival winter squash

In scrolling through these old photographs we are reminded of how far we had to come. The infrastructure still left much to be desired, especially when it came to good ergonomics in washing and packing. CSA members from this time period will remember squatting in the grass hosing off vegetables.

Cleaning beets on a CSA morning

Rattlesnake beans

Distribution at the new 39th Street Market

2006 was also the year of the pond. In February, Graff Properties hired local expert Howerton Ditching to turn a gully into an irrigation pond. The pond drains a rather large area (10+ acres) and even with limited rainfall it filled up by April. We hope this tendency repeats itself this Spring, as the pond is down by about 50% right now.

Pond outlet structure

Finished pond—February 27, 2006

Filling pond—April 30

Among the visitors to the farm that Spring were Mary Meyer and Richard Cartwright from Michaela Farm. We worked with the two of them when we apprenticed, and learned much about biodiversity and sustainability. I always remember Richard noting that everyday he touchs the earth with his bare feet. Even in shoes, it is a good habit to get into.

Rebecca, Mary and Richard

Once again, we were fortunate to have lots of help through our full-time and volunteer apprentice program. The full-time apprentice position was split between Brenda Raygor and Lindsay Medoff (the latter of Fair Share Farm tote bag fame). 2007 apprentice Libby Negus, Peas on Earth farmer Julie Coon, neighbor Jen Basuel and farm-girl Kathy Plant filled out the crew. Bad Seed mistress Brooke Salvaggio also helped out on her way to loads of her own fun.

Brenda, Jen, Libby, Julie and Kathy, a great crew

Planting garlic with Farmer Brooke, before Bad Seed, Dan, Percy or Urbavore

Lindsay’s wonderful tote bags

This was also to be the first year that we integrated animals into our farm operation. Previously unknown Liz Elmore moved back to KC from Pennsylvania and gave us a call inquiring about raising broiler chickens on our land. The plan was for it to be Liz’s business operation and we would provide the land and some labor. In return we got a few chickens, the fun of farm animals and lots of chicken poop.

Chicks in the brooder

Chickens in their movable pen

Long story short, the soil made out the best in this venture. As this was before Rocky, the racoons were a major problem, and the 95 to 100+ F degree summer was not conducive to fattening up chickens. The next animal operation at the farm would have to wait until 2009.

2006 was also the year of The 100-Mile Diet. A term you may be familiar with, it became especially popular in 2006 as people across the country began focusing on eating meals with ingredients grown and raise in their immediate locale. In KC we helped spearhead a group of 8 to 10 folks who wrote a series of article on the experience in Present Magazine. This on-line publication was the brainchild of friend Pete Dulin. His 2005 article on the farm is still our favorite look at what we do. Our fun culminated in a CD with copies of the articles, our favorite recipes, and resources for buying local.

The year ended with what has become our favorite mode of transportation—Amtrak. It had been 5 years since Rebecca and I met, and I left Rochester after 20 years of living there. It was nice to get caught up with friends and with the farmers at Peacework. We then hopped the train downstate to stay with my brother and his family in Brooklyn.

Rebecca NYC

When we returned, we found our 1947 Allis Chalmers G tractor. While it looks like a feather-weight, it is best tractor on the planet for smaller, organic vegetable farms like ours.

Arrival of the G

And next year…growing for 100, Easter freeze, starting the strawberry patch, and steady as she goes.

2005—Our Second Season

February 23, 2013csa, deer fence, fair share farm, farm apprentice, ten year anniversary, vegetablesFarmer Rebecca

In the beginning, our goal for Fair Share Farm was to have a 100 member CSA. It was our belief that a CSA of that size would sustain us economically as well as nourish us (we now know that number was a little low).

Ice storm—first week of January

Our second season was planned as another incremental step towards that 100 member goal. We were able to grow our CSA membership to 50, and were planting enough in the fields for 75. This approach allowed us a cushion to make sure we could provide for our members, and would leave us a surplus that we could sell at the Crossroads Farmers Market (our city distribution point).

CSA distribution table

Market table

The season was a good one. It started out slow, but we did have some excellent crops that year, including tomatoes, potatoes, beans and broccoli. We think that we may have been showing people that we at least knew something about vegetable production, and when we were on, things were as good as you could get.

Spring broccoli

Heirloom tomatoes

A wonderful crudite of June vegetables

Part of the reason for our success was the extra hands we had to help us. In 2004 Bill McKelvey earned the right to be called our first apprentice (once a week volunteer). While we were doing more learning than teaching back then, it was nonetheless instructive and proved to be the beginning of a wonderful friendship.

Another friend-to-be, Lori Watley began volunteering with us too. She helped us begin the orchard, and later returned as a full-time apprentice in 2009. The title of first FSF full-time apprentice goes to Amy Bousman. Currently a Kansas farmer and dairy maiden, we are happy to have been a help during her earlier years.

Bill helping sort potatoes for the Fall root cellar

Rebecca and Lori planting a fruit tree

Amy washing Chinese cabbage

Then there was the farm infrastructure. Afterall, what’s a farm without fences and a barn with a good roof. We had neither at the start of the year. Our landlord, Graff Properties, hired out a re-roofing of the barn and the work was completed in time for the season.

Roof work in the Spring

Packing room ready to go for the year

The fencing that I was referring to was the 3,750 linear feet of deer fence. After two years of electric fencing, hair bags, bobcat urine and Irish Spring soap, it was apparent that an 8 foot high physical barrier was the only thing that would keep the deer out of our fields.

The planning began in January, and in March we were cutting the black locust trees that would become the fence posts. Throughout the year we picked away at the project—laying out the fence, digging post holes every 25 feet, setting the posts with the members’ help, building gates, and finally hanging the fence. We could not farm without it.

Member Mark Flynn and brother-in-law Jeff Wilson working on posts—
Thanks for the help

Setting the posts with the members’ help

John and his deer fence spool

Among the other highlights of the year were the arrival of our two cats Momma and Sunny. The kitten Sunny arrived on Amy’s doorstep (RV step actually) and his constant meowing was soon met by that of his mom. We offered them some food, and they never left. They were a welcome addition to the farm, as Rebecca’s cat Luna had been laid to rest in February, and we were happy to have another mouser or two on the farm.

Sunny and Momma

We were able to take a real vacation that year, traveling to one of Rebecca’s favorite haunts—Mexico. Oaxaca City, Puerto Escondido, and Mexico City were our stops…the land of local coffee, chocolate and bananas. The people, countryside, food and culture were a wonderful retreat after three solid years of work.

Saturday wedding at Santo Domingo, Oaxaca City

Farm-raised Xmas gifts

Next up…abnormal weather, a growing CSA, a year of chickens and a new pond.

2004—Our First CSA Season

February 22, 2013csa, fair share farm, sugar snap peas, ten year anniversaryFarmer Rebecca

Since Fair Share Farm was first conceived it was always going to be a CSA farm. The concept of Community Supported Agriculture, and our experiences as both CSA members and apprentices had sealed the deal a long time previous. So 2004 was to be the year we would take on the responsibility of growing food for a community of local folks.

Step one was to generate membership. Through marketing the previous year at farmers markets, an article in the Kearney Courier, the KC Food Circle Expo, and word of mouth we were able to build a membership of 25 (our goal was 30). We held our first Core Group meeting at Fred and Carol Barth’s house along with member Kirk Day.

At the KC Food Circle Expo

Along with the vegetable growing, the infrastructure work continued. Our current packing room took shape as the barn received a makeover. The less than vertical north foundation wall was expertly replaced by a Menonite crew from Jamesport. John deftly felled the tree growing up the south side of the barn, and Rebecca and I re-built the lower barn so that it could house our cooler and wash area.

John dropping a tree

New wash area and packing room

The season started later than it does now, with the first share being handed out on Wednesday May 25, 2004. You can read all about it in our first Fair Share Farm CSA Newsletter. If you were around then you were lucky enough to get 2 pounds of sugar snap peas in your first share.

The first CSA farm work day

Our first distribution at the Crossroads Farmers Market

That bounty lightened up a bit as the season went on, however, as we learned just how wet and boggy some areas of our fields could get. The biggest loss of the season were the tomatoes and potatoes. Waterlogged from the start, and then eaten by the deer, the crop was meager. It is a tribute to those members who stuck with us after such disappointment, showing what supporting local agriculture means.

Soggy beds

Rain brings rainbows

Carrots have always seemed to thrive here

Late September share

We still had lots of ground to break in those days, and were still learning the craft of biological farming. We had yet to plant in the field up by the house. John had advised against it, as it was full of morning glory and cockelbur weeds. But we seeded brome grass and clover, and the wet summer helped this base vegetation flourish. We then started cutting beds and cover cropping with buckwheat.

The beds without the cover crop were lush too, with cockelbur weeds. We eventually got rid of them, without the use of herbicides, by balancing the mineral content of the soil and sticking with our cover cropping game plan. Today there is nary a cockel or a bur in that field.

Buckwheat flowering in distance and cockelbur crop in foreground

The winter was spent focusing on the house and more planning. These photos remind us that apparently we started our bathroom remodeling (yeeck!). It was finished by the following Spring.

Nothing but a memory now (yeah!)

With members Jessica and James—rounding up 2005 members in the Crossroads

So we worked and plotted our jump to 50 CSA members and enjoyed another winter on the farm. Next up—deer fences and full-time apprentices.

2003 – Beginning Farmers

February 20, 2013UncategorizedFarmer Rebecca

It was November 2002 when Rebecca and I landed at the farm for good. Before we came back we drove out to SF to pick up the last of her stuff there. The trip included a wonderful tour of the Southwest and many of our National Parks.

Monument Valley campsite: butte-i-ful

When we arrived, the farm looked much different than it is today. The barn was precariously leaning south, with one of it’s main attributes being a tree that was keeping it from toppling. Years of debris were accumulated inside.

The house had a way to go to be the comfortable abode we now live in. We had electricity and an indoor toilet. Some other amenities took awhile to build reliability into, such as water. Suffice it to say that, as of today, we have pretty much removed every bit of carpet, plaster, lath, plumbing, doors, windows and wiring that was in the house when we moved in.

The house when we moved in

Farming wise we had two main pieces of infrastructure to put in place—a greenhouse and a cooler. With the help of Rebecca’s father John, we broke ground for the greenhouse in late January 2003. Since that day John’s help, support and experienced voice he provided has been immeasurable. We surely would not be where we are today without his energy and Clay County wisdom. Thanks John.

Building the greenhouse

The greenhouse was not yet complete when it came time to start seeds that first year, so our house temporarily filled that niche. I shudder sometimes when I see pictures like this and think about the remodeling that was yet to be started back then.

Seedlings and house construction

In April my Mom visited the farm. Having left the corporate world and (what could be perceived as) thrown away 2 college degrees, she could have been quite anxious at the path her son was taking. But, as was her nature, she could see only the best in all we were doing and by the time she died in 2007 knew that Rebecca and I were happy, healthy and legitimately following our dreams. Her gift to us in 2003 was our spader, a key component to the health of our farm’s soil. Thanks Mom.

Tom, Mom, spader and Rebecca’s family tractor (aka Grandpa)

In the fields we took advantage of a Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Award grant of $3,000 to begin our biological farming practices. This included buying a manure spreader, putting down gypsum on all the fields to increase calcium levels in the soil and help balance the pH, and initiating our cover cropping system. Thanks State of Missouri. Don’t know why you had to cancel a program that helps small farms establish themselves and provide for the community.

Spreading gypsum

While it was hot and dry that year, we did not know just how droughty it was. It was a good lesson though, as we came to expect such hot, dry weather as the norm. As the crops grew and we harvested them, we went to two markets: Liberty Farmers Market and the River Market Organic Market.

The fields, June of our first year

It was at these locations that we established a name, and convinced people that they should sign up for our CSA the following year. Little did we know when we met the Barths, the Flynns, Stacey Cook, Rick Robson, and Kelly Parker that we would get to experience the last 10 years together. Happy Anniversary guys.

From our photo album—our first harvests

We finished the season with the 2004 CSA in mind. Lots of planning, infrastructure improvements and home remodeling filled the rest of the year. We were on our way, ready to grow.

Back to the Beginnings of Fair Share Farm 2000-2002

February 16, 2013UncategorizedFarmer Rebecca

As we start our 10th CSA season we are in the mood to celebrate and look back. In this post we remember those days of 2000 and 2001 when Rebecca and I were headed on a collision course with each other and the farm.

The Fall of 2000 found Rebecca in San Francisco, working for the Housing Rights Committee of SF, while figuring out a way to get back to the Graff family farm. Her household was a member of the Terra Firma CSA, and as she learned more about CSA farming she found that a farm focused on sustainable agricultural practices and community could also provide and economically viable profession.

Rebecca pre-millenium in SF

At the same time I was living in Rochester, NY and had just quit my job for good as an environmental engineer/health and safety professional. I was in the midst of figuring out how I could make a living working with my hands instead of sitting in an office. My main focus was art—printing and hand-coloring black and white photos.

Pompei

Among the cathartic steps I took was to travel to Italy to visit the hometowns of my father’s parents. It included a wonderful time connecting with the Fazio clan in Ferroleto Antico in Calabria.

In Calabria 2000 visiting my Grandmother’s side of the family,
with cousin Frank and my friend John

In the Spring of 2001, Rebecca took a position as an apprentice at Peacework Organic Farm in Newark, NY. This was to be step one in coming back to the farm and starting her own CSA operation. As it turns out I was a member of the Genesee Valley Organic CSA, and we got our produce from Peacework. So on May 20, 2001 I went to do my farm work shift and we met.

That summer we spent a lot of time together, as we got to know each other and I worked on a photo essay of the farm. By August we had decided to hitch our wagons. The next month we witnessed the tragedy of September 11th together. I joined the Peacework farm crew in November and we apprencticed together for a month before moving to Missouri for the winter.

CSA members cleaning garlic at Peacework Farm, 2001

Bean pick with farmers Liz Henderson and Greg Palmer (on left)

Rebecca and Sweet Pea

By then we had secured a pair of apprenticeship positions at Michaela Farm in Oldenburg, Indiana for the 2002 season. That winter we began cleaning up the farm in preparation for living and farming here. From March through September we worked at Michaela and learned much about midwestern soils and weather, tractors, farming equipment, chickens and cattle.

With the farm crew at Michaela Farm

Apprentices at work

So what happened next? Stay tuned.

Chicken Trailer Construction

February 9, 2013UncategorizedFarmer Rebecca

It is a year of expansion at Fair Share Farm. One biggie will be the addition of some laying hens at the end of the month. To get ready for them, and future flocks, we have built a movable chicken trailer.

The video below is a stop action of its construction to date. We are lucky to have had the mild weather needed to comfortably build it, and Luke’s construction skill.

Yesterday we took it for a test ride. It was quite solid and we are pleased so far. Our initial flock will be an adoption and will arrive at the end of the month. We plan on adding about 25 chicks in the Fall and maintain about 50 birds. We are looking forward to farm fresh eggs and the fertility that only chickens can provide.