by Ethan
on February 8, 2011
Sometimes I feel like I’m pretty tech savvy farmer who understands the world of social media. Other times I feel like a farmer who kind of understands Blogger, but not much else. Either way … I was excited to see that @chelseagreen (the book publisher) was following me on Twitter. To be completely honest I’m always a bit excited when I have a new follower, but I was especially happy about this one because it lead me to their own Twitter account and quite a few neat links.
One that I found really interesting is a link to an older article from Australia that features Joel Salatin talking about how to have a thriving local food system. Mr. Salatin lists six areas of need for a local food system :: Producer, Young People on the Farm, Accounting, Marketing, Distribution, and a Buyer/Patron. Under each one of those areas he hits a few bullet points in greater detail. Plus if you’re interested there is a link at the bottom of the article for a radio interview.
A few things that stuck in my mind after reading through his talking points were the importance of having “a Jeffersonian intellectual agrarian concept” (I wonder how that played in Australia), that the farm needs a “gregarious story teller,” his break down of the Polyface Farm sales, and of course the importance of the customer. I really appreciate the way that Mr. Salatin likes to pull out things from history so that we can recognize the importance of our past and how things worked out before our agricultural systems started the major changes. Of course I’m not suggesting we make the change back to 18th century agriculture (although it would be right up my alley), but I do think it’s important for us to remember and learn from our history!
{ }
by Ethan
on February 7, 2011
Sometimes you just need to try new things, and right now I’m thinking about trying some new things. I’ve been blogging on this site for nearly four-and-a-half years now and I’ve amassed nearly 750 blog posts in that time and I have gained a lot! I have learned a lot of things from all of the readers and lately I have been encouraged as the farm and I go though some changes. One thing that I’ve always be scared of doing though is throwing a lot of ads up on the site. You may have noticed a few from time to time, but for the most part I figured that I was receiving more than I could ever possibly hope to give just from the comments left by everyone.
Of course all that is just a lot of fancy talk to say that I’m now going to have some advertisements up on the blog 😉 At least I’m going to try some out for now. I’ve added some ads and I’m going to try it for a while. I’m also going to be adding some Amazon advertisements (mostly for the books that I really appreciate and talk about). They way the Amazon deal works is that the blog gets a cut if you click through and make your purchases by going through the links on my site.
Which brings me to one other thing that I’m trying right now. If you are a Kindle user (which I’m not … yet … I think they are pretty neat though and with my book obsession one might come in handy) you can now subscribe to
The Beginning Farmer blog for a monthly rate and have each post delivered directly to your Kindle. It may seem like a frivolous thing, but I’m just throwing it out there for anyone that wants to keep up-to-date on the blog.
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts lately I’ve mentioned trying to think outside of the box and come up with ways to work more creatively and at the same time in my areas of passion. Besides farming itself one of the things that I’m passionate about is sharing my farm story and encouraging and helping others along a similar path. As I try to think of these outside of the box ideas I keep coming back in my mind to
“The Contrary Farmer” by Gene Logsdon
. He wrote about the diverse farm that not only had a large variety of farm income sources (livestock, produce, etc.), but also other ways of making income (repair, wood sales, anything along those lines). I love that idea!
{ }
by Ethan
on February 4, 2011
The second chapter of Joel Salatin’s latest book is titled, “Grass Farmer” and it is another one of those passion topics for him. It’s easy to understand why because the soil and the grass (and the sun) are the basis of any farm like Mr. Salatin’s. In this chapter he gives a great overview of the importance of grass and the basics of grass farming. You can tell that he has changed his grazing management over time and has now moved to more of tall grass mob grazing system as opposed to the managed intensive grazing he practiced when he wrote “Salad Bar Beef”. Of course it’s all some sort of managed grazing.
If you’ve read anything on the subject of mob grazing before he hits all the main points in an overview sort of way … grass being a mirror image above and below ground, the use of grazing management that mimics nature, the importance of keeping your nutrients and water on your farm, and things like that. But, the thing that I really took away from this chapter is fact that I love the location of my house.
I used to drive around the Iowa countryside and wonder what exactly got into a person’s head that they decided to build a nice house in the middle of a corn field … with no trees in sight. It just seemed like it would be so awful to live out in the middle of the corn field with nothing exciting to look at except for the dirt and the corn/soybeans. I just thought it seemed weird to have a beautiful and expensive new house in the middle of nothing.
Then of course I chose the top of a hill with no trees for the location for my house! When the house was being built I always envisioned where the trees would be and what they would look like when the were mature shade trees all around the house and barnyard. Then I lived here for awhile and something crazy happened … I decided I wasn’t crazy about a ton of trees. In fact I really liked not having them blocking my view of the pasture! There was just something beautiful about looking out at the grass and the livestock doing their thing.
As I said yesterday my soil is not where I want it to be or need it to be and my grass is the same way. But, this encourages me. It encourages me that eventually I’ll be able to look out (with a couple trees around the yard … not blocking my view) to a grass land that sustains a variety of livestock and wildlife … just like a few hundred years ago in this same location.
{ }
by Ethan
on February 3, 2011
It’s been awhile since I’ve taken the time to do a book report, but I’ve been wanting to make the time as I pick my way through Joel Salatin’s latest book, “The Sheer Ecstasy of Being a Lunatic Farmer”. I know that you’re not supposed to judge a book by the cover (or the title in this case), but if you were going to do that I think the title alone would be enough to interest you in this book. Really … who wouldn’t want to enjoy the life of a “Lunatic Farmer”!
Before I get to the first chapter let me just quickly mention something from the introduction. Mr. Salatin shares a little story about a time where he was trying to get a load of sawdust for the farm. He relates that all was well until the man delivering the load realized just who he would be delivering to and then he backed out because he said that Polyface Farm was cruel to it’s animals by not giving hormones or grain and making them live outside. I have no reason to doubt this really happened and all I can say is … WOW!!! Now, one to chapter one …
The first chapter of this book is titled, “Growing Soil”. If you have read any other books by Mr. Salatin you will recognize some of the same stories, but I think there is a reason for this. He is passionate about the soil being the basis for all that a farm is and can be so we expresses that every chance he gets. At least that is what I take away from it.
It’s always encouraging for me to read success stories like this when it comes to rehabilitating the ground. From the stories Mr. Salatin relates his ground was very bad when the family purchased it and now it is like a completely different farm. I don’t think my farm is anywhere near what he had to deal with (and that’s good because he had a head start from the help of his dad’s farming practices), but I know that my soil is not where I want it to be so it is always good to read about the possibilities.
As always his keys are adding carbons to your soil, keeping your nutrients (manure) on your farm, letting the animals work for you, using perennials to grow soil health, and recognizing what soil really is. Healthy soil is packed full of living and moving and breathing organisms that all play a part in creating a healthy farm. If we take the time to key in on the importance of this then we will understand just how important a farm full of living and breathing dirt really is!
{ }
by Ethan
on February 2, 2011
The Iowa Network for Community Agriculture (INCA) is an organization that honestly I didn’t know much about until recently. But, it is an organization that I should know more about … especially after I realized that three of the members on the leadership are (somewhat) neighbors or people that I have had a chance to meet quite a few times. After bumping around their website a little I think it sounds like a pretty cool organization with goals and values that are very similar to mine. I encourage you to check out their website and see what they are all about (even if you’re not from Iowa).
But, the real reason I’m brining up INCA today is because on Saturday, March 5th I’ll have the opportunity to share at one of their afternoon workshops. The workshop that I will be a part of (along with an organic grain/meat goat farmer) will be about marketing and the various venues that you can seek out to market your products. I’m always excited about opportunities like this because I love to talk about the farm, but more importantly because I always seem to learn so much through the connections that I make at these events.
All to often I find myself isolating myself from others that can help me shape my vision and goals for the farm and it takes things like this for me to break out of my shell and get plugged in. If you’re farming now (or interested in farming in the future) I really want to encourage you to attend as many conferences, field days, meetings, or other gatherings of farmers that you can. It’s opportunities like those where you can really learn and be encouraged. I know I need it as often as I can get it!
{ }
by Ethan
on February 1, 2011
The name “Crooked Gap Farm” comes from the fact that the farm is located just off the “Crooked Road to Melcher”. Unless you live in my area or have traveled this slightly winding road though the idea of the “Crooked Road to Melcher” is pretty much meaningless … although I do think it helps create a great farm name! One thing that I think we can all relate to though is the fact that life sometimes is a “crooked road”. Like traveling on a crooked road … we can’t always see what is coming ahead of us or even what is around the next bend.
Life is full of bends and turns on the crooked road and my life has been no exception. Just recently I found myself no longer working at the church where I have served for the last six plus years. It was one of those crooked road moments where they road in front of me just took a big swinging bend and I was faced with a new road ahead. I know that the road ahead has something laid out for me though and I’m impatiently nervous to see what is ahead.
Of course one big question floating around in my head right now is how the farm will fit into this new section of road that lays before me. I think beginning a farm enterprise (or any business for that matter) from scratch will always have a large uphill climb at the beginning, but that at some point you will feel like you are starting to climb and make progress. While I don’t feel like I had completely made it up this first hill yet I do think that farm was and is just starting to take off. I feel like I’m starting to gain on the learning curve a little, that some of the marketing things are coming together, and that I see that success is possible for this farm and this place.
One thing I do know is that I’m passionate about the farm. Even though sometimes I feel like there have been more trials than success stories in the beginning I am excited about the possibilities of creating a farm that can provide a great product to the surrounding communities and a sustainable living. I love working with the customers … I love seeing the animals do their thing out on pasture … I love being part of the farm and I think that Crooked Gap Farm can work!
But, there is always a but … But, I can only continue the farm here (and in some ways I feel like I can only continue it here or no where else) if I can figure out a work situation that allows me to get the farm going the rest of the way. The reality is that it takes quite a bit to start from nothing and build it to something … especially when there is a mortgage and other start up costs involved. And, I haven’t quite reached the point yet where the farm is supporting itself all the way and helping pay for the farm.
So, that is where the crooked road is leading right now. I’m working to keep my chin up and figure out ways that the farm can continue on. I’m searching for jobs around the area that would allow me to keep it all together, and I’m really trying to come up with those outside of the box ideas that will really allow me to throw myself into the farm!
**Insert Awkwardness Here** I know that there are quite a few readers of this blog and I’m always surprised by the number of people that pop in from time to time. I also know that I’ve been blessed by so many of the suggestions, comments, and encouragements posted on the blog or e-mailed to me. Right now though the farm is kind of in a tight spot as I look to find the next move on the road ahead. If you would have any job suggestions (creative or mundane) I would be truly grateful. And, I’ll do my best to keep everyone updated with the farm in the meantime …
{ }
by Ethan
on January 18, 2011
I’ve been thinking a lot about the cost of farming lately. Today it was on the front of my mind because I placed another feed order and picked up some cracked corn while I was there … a 50 lb bag of cracked corn is now up to $6.30. That is a considerable amount more than the $4.25 or so that I was paying the the middle of 2010. Of course that is only one part of the cost of farming. Besides feed there is water, electricity, mineral or other supplements, and on and on and on!
But, the costs don’t stop with just the livestock care on the farm. It seems like everywhere I turn I am buying something. Part of that is because everything on my farm is here for the very first time … that means that I have a lot of first time expenses. For example I just went and purchased a bunch of heat lamps. There will be times that I need to replace one or two at a time in the future, but I won’t need to buy a bunch at once until I expand or add to the farm in some way. The reality of it is though that having a farm means having an inventory of certain things on the farm … no matter how low input your farm is. You’ll always need bolts, nuts, screws, nails, fence staples, tools, wire, twine, water tank plugs, hoses, extension cords, and of course the list is endless!
The one cost though that I’ve been thinking about the most though lately is the intangiable cost of my labor. Running a farm, beginning a farm, or just working on someone else’s farm can be mentally and emotionally exhausting (as can about any other job). But, when I combine my farm work with 60 hours (or more usually) in town and special weekend youth events that pop up fairly regularly my time becomes more precious.
It’s the intangiable’s like time and when that time takes place (meaning I do a lot of work after 10:00 PM that really starts to add up. But, I’m committed to the farm. I’m committed to the idea that something special can happen on 40 acres … I think that I can work out a system that produces great meat and restores the pastures and the soils … I think that it will work. But, there is and will always be a lot of “costs” associated with farming.
If I ever wrote a book for beginning farmers I think some of the “costs” is something I would cover. What are some of the “costs” you experience that sometimes get overlooked?
{ }
by Ethan
on January 10, 2011
It has been a little crazy on the farm lately and it doesn’t seem like it will be slowing down much this week. In fact I would say that it has even been crazier than normal (if there is a normal). Because of that I haven’t had a time to sit down and update the blog much lately, so I thought I would just hit some bullet points of farm happenings …
- Since I need to keep my chin up I just thought I would be positive and mention that I’m really loving the sheep. They are all staying in their home now and they are a nice hardy flock willing to eat whatever hay I give them and do well on it! This past week I put two big bales in on the same day and all the cows and sheep attacked one bale until it was gone. The cows wouldn’t go over to the other, but the sheep were going to town on it. I put a new bale in for the cows and the sheep still kept working on the other bale … I love the sheep now!
- It seems like winter has really set in now. We don’t have much snow (yet), but the ground is frozen pretty solid and I was having a hard time putting in steel posts this past week (see next point on why I was doing that).
- About two weeks ago now I was able to find some bred sows for sale. That was just the motivation I needed to finish up the different pig areas and clean out the lean-to in order to use it for farrowing. Needless to say I needed to pound in some posts … see the post above for how well that worked …
- I realized I would like to drive in about 20 more posts. I’m not so sure it will happen (see previous two points).
- I picked up two Tamworth sows and two Berkshire sows. They are all bred to a Tamworth boar and should be farrowing soon. By that I mean the three others that didn’t farrow in the trailer will be farrowing soon! Yes … that’s right … my pigs farrow in the trailer … I guess I should try to figure out a better system than that! So far it is working out though and she has eight pigs. The funny thing though is that since there were four sows in there I had to figure out exactly which one the pigs belonged to. There were no visible signs, so I did the next best thing … I milked all four of them and only found one that would give any milk. That’s who the pigs are with now …
- Oh … and tomorrow I’m hiring one of my past youth group kids to build some hog huts with me … outside in the cold … late into the night. It’s okay though, he is a tough kid!
{ }
by Ethan
on January 5, 2011
I’ve decided that for the time being I’m going to call myself a second shift farmer. Although lately things have be running dangerously close (and fully into) the third shift. But, I will feel better about myself if I just keep thinking that I get it all done in the second shift 😉 Of course I realize there are many second shift farmers out there, but it does really become more noticeable in the winter because of the … DARKNESS!
This week I’ve been using my late nights to work on winter farrowing set up for some sows. I was able to use the tractor the past couple of nights to clean out the old deep bedding from the shed. Then I put up some panels in front of my hay feeder for the cattle (I’m feeding all round bales this year so it wasn’t being used). I did this because I didn’t want them crawling in there getting stuck. I will say though, that the most fun part of the project was pounding in some posts into the frozen ground … but, it needed to be done.
Once I had that all done I spread an entire straw round bale around in the area and took in my first a-frame hut. The idea is to have the huts lined up against one wall with deep bedding in them and around them. With this set up I’ll be able to put a heat lamp in each hut and with the deep bedding I think it will provide a nice farrowing environment for the sows. I know one thing for sure … it will be better than they’ve had the past couple winters here!
I work about the same amount of time outside each night, but tonight was one of those nights were I could look out and see my accomplishment. Those kind of nights don’t happen very often, but I’m always glad when they do.
{ }
by Ethan
on January 3, 2011
Dear Diary,
Today was not so bad outside. The sun was shining for the most part and although there was a little more wind than I would say is ideal the temperature was nicely hovering around the freezing mark. I am glad to report that today … finally … just in time I’m sure … I moved the pigs outside to their new hut and winter area. Plus, I filled up that new house on skids with lots and lots of fluffy straw so they could burrow in for a nice winter sleep. Now … if I could just get a good water solution figured out …
Yep, that’s what I did this afternoon. The grower pigs are moved outside and the shed lean-to is ready to be cleaned out … hopefully with the skid loader from work. As I said not everything is done. I still need to get a better water system figured out and I want to make a platform for the bulk feeder, but it is a start … a much needed start! Hopefully this week I can bring home a couple 4×6’s and build my platform to put the feeder on. Having the feeder on skids means that I will be able to drag it around easily and the area right around the feeder won’t get bombed out. I’m not exactly sure if I need it or if it will work, but I want to give it a try.
One thing I did notice tonight as I surveyed the farm while draining the hose is just how portable my farm is. I have four permanent structures on the farm :: the house, the perimeter fence, the shed, and my loading corral. I will say though that my loading corral could easily be dismantled with the tractor and loader so I’m not sure if I would count that one. I like the ability to move and change things as the farm grows or changes. Of course there will always be a need for larger structures (like the shed), but the ability to move things around sure is nice.
Right now I’m trying to figure out how to make a movable brooding house. I’m thinking of doing something along the lines of my hog shed on skids except that I would put in a plywood floor in the brooder. Does anyone have any thoughts on the brooder? Should I think about insulating the floor and possibly the the whole thing? Lots to think about these days …
{ }
Join the Community