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Wednesday! Mar 02 05 // 07:49 pm // permalink Help Wanted: Organic Farmers
“As part of its ongoing effort to educate farmers about the benefits of organic agriculture, Organic Valley Family of Farms, America’s leading organic farmers’ cooperative, today announced it full support for “Help Wanted: Organic Farmers,” a major education campaign just launched by the Midwest Organic Sustainable Education Service Inc. (MOSES).” Wednesday! Mar 02 05 // 07:40 pm // permalink Two ‘buy local’ articles
Vote with your fork: Buying locally means more to the local economy ***** Local food ‘greener than organic’
Tuesday! Mar 01 05 // 05:05 pm // permalink Tillamook dairies uphold hormone ban
The Oregonian “The Tillamook County Creamery Association’s dairy farmers voted Monday to uphold a ban prohibiting them from vaccinating cows with an artificial growth hormone. Monday’s vote of 83-43 appears to conclude a struggle between the association’s board and managers, who supported the ban, and some dairies and Monsanto Co., which opposed it. Monsanto manufactures the genetically engineered growth hormone, designed to cause cows to produce more milk, under the brand name Posilac.” “The board based its decision on increasing inquiries by consumers over the hormone’s use. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has concluded that milk derived from cows treated with the hormone is safe for human consumption, but some consumers worry about potential cancer risks and increased antibiotic use by dairies treating cows for udder infections. Though studies differ, there is evidence to suggest that cows treated with Posilac run increased risks of udder infections and lameness.” “…the next step by the creamery will be to ensure that its suppliers of butter, sour cream, yogurt and cream also are keeping Posilac from being used by their dairies.”
Sunday! Feb 27 05 // 04:44 pm // permalink Endangered by Sprawl: How Runaway Development Threatens America’s Wildlife
Report produced by the National Wildlife Federation, Smart Growth America, and NatureServe. “The rapid consumption of land in the nation’s fastest-growing large metropolitan areas could threaten the survival of nearly one out of every three imperiled species, according to the first study ever to quantify the impact of sprawling development on wildlife nationally. In at least three dozen rapidly-growing counties found mostly in the South and West, open space on non-federal lands is being lost so quickly that essential wildlife habitat will be mostly gone within the next two decades, unless development patterns are altered.” Sunday! Feb 27 05 // 04:35 pm // permalink Piedmont protects 23,790 acres
02/02/2005 “The record-breaking total for 2004 brings the total number of acres protected by easement in the nine counties served by the Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) to almost 215,000 acres.” “[Piedmont Environmental Council’s] Director of Land Conservation, Catherine Scott said, The number of acres preserved last year reflects the growing belief among Piedmont residents that open space is a valuable resource, worthy of protection. In fact, we couldn’t use easements to conserve land if people hadn’t affirmed through their elected officials both at the state level and the local level that rural preservation has real public benefits.” “According to a 2003 study that was done by the American Farmland Trust in Culpeper County, farms and other open lands use only $0.32 in local services for every dollar of taxes paid, while homes require $1.22 for every dollar paid. Land placed under permanent easement also lowers the value used by the state to determine local ability to pay, which results in increased funding from the Commonwealth for schools and other county services.”
Saturday! Feb 26 05 // 11:14 am // permalink Some updates on updates
1. New entry today in the main log (scroll down from here). Saturday! Feb 26 05 // 07:32 am // permalink No rest for the wicked
Time is different on the farm. Saturday mornings I wake up genuinely surprised that the week has passed. It’s nice to be consumed by activity, by work that I love, so entirely. This morning two farm helpers left early, and not only did I miss their send-off but I missed milking. I haven’t milked in like a month because there’s always these guys around to do it with Richard. Since I don’t live in the house, I don’t hear him when he gets up. Most of the time living separate from everyone is a very, very good thing for me. But in this case, I’d like to be a little more connected to the action. I suppose I could just start getting up even earlier and waiting around. Oh goody. I’m supposed to be making pancakes for everyone right now, but nobody is going to be up for forty minutes. Since my last post, I’ve been working exclusively on indoor projects. The map of the farm is completed, as well as individual maps of all the fields. The logo has been chosen. All this week I was in the workshop painting signs for various places around the farm. I’ve fallen in love with high gloss oil paint. I hope to have all the signs done by Tuesday so they can be mounted. Next Sunday we are having a group from Loyola University Chicago come for the week to work with us and other organizations in and around Ann Arbor. After the signs are done, I need to help clean and organize the new house for them to occupy. The other guys around here have been doing a million things at once. So far, the coolest was when they raised the new timber frame distribution shed. It looks beautiful. Also, walls were attached to the packing shed, windows installed, and a 16x20 cooler moved-in, some engines were rebuilt, firewood was cut, hay was transported, and ten or twelve other things I’m sure. We’ve been making the most of our rare moments of down time. Over Super Bowl weekend I traveled to Chicago with another farm worker. Most nights we watch movies and eat ice cream, pudding, or some other incredible and delicious fresh milk product. There’s been a surfing fixation for a while, even going so far as to teach the three year old to say “wicked” and “ripped.” Sledding and cross-country skiing gets squeezed in between projects, and I’ve been able to attend yoga class once a week. My knitting has dropped off considerably and been replaced by paper cutting. Although, I need to start knitting for the layette I’m collaborating on with Christine. Our friend, and former farm worker, is due in May! The last two bits of news are the most exciting, for sure. Thursday I saw the second attempt at breeding the cow (who is now officially named Nutbrown, because none of us really felt like going head-to-head with a three year old). The vet came, put on an arm-length disposable plastic glove, stuck it in the cow along with a wand containing Guernsey semen, and then left. Breeding means more cows! Not quite as graphic, but just as exciting, the first seeds were planted this week. Leeks. They are in flats for now. Seeding means spring! After I make these pancakes, I’ll upload some photos. Full moon sledding, sign painting, my birthday party, the logo, my new tattoo, the timber frame and a few other things. Sunday! Jan 23 05 // 02:00 pm // permalink Other projects. Winter visitors.
There have been many visitors at the farm over the past few weeks. Previous interns passing through to visit and lend a hand. Also a few people who regularly come out during the winter to work. It’s been nice having some new blood around. With no members coming by, and no market, things have been a little lonely. You can come by, too if you want. There’s some great sledding and cross-country skiing to be done. The beefed-up workforce has allowed me the opportunity to slip away from the worksite(s) and work on a few art and organization projects for the farm: -Farm logo. There have been several phases of conceptual discussion, all very productive. The amount of consideration people have given this subject is huge and welcome. Everyone has been open and thoughtful and this has been helpful like you wouldn’t believe. The medium I’ve chosen is paper cutting, something I’ve always felt proficient at. If you’re wondering about what this may look like, check out Nikki McClure. (whose 2005 calendar I am lusting after. Hint-hint: my birfday is Feb 1) -Market Signage. You know, like “Carrots!” and whatnot. They’re small and cute and fun to make. -Road Signs. We’ve been thinking that a “Slow! Children Playing” sign might be a good idea for the summer. There are always members’ kids running around. Also, we need some “Parking” signs. And anyway, there’s no “Welcome to Tantre Farm” sign! Tuesday! Jan 11 05 // 06:39 pm // permalink winter projects
 Happy New Year! This is a picture of me wearing some mittens my friend Christine made for me, and I’m holding a pair she made for the little girl that lives on the farm, Ari. There are more photos of Christine’s and my knitting projects (mostly Christine’s) on the farm photos page. There are also some photos of the farm in winter. The farm has been demanding and hectic since last I wrote. Digging, building, insulating, drywalling, splitting firewood, harvesting carrots, sorting potatoes, and much more. One day last week the pumphouse flooded because of a frozen valve, and I was up till all hours mopping up. This weekend some guests at the neighbor’s house got stranded in the snow. Today we moved firewood for a lot of the day. And through all this, the milking still needed to be done twice a day, every day. As I’ve been saying in my letters to relatives, aaaah, the simple life. |
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R&R Farm sans sheriff archive Weather in Ester, AK |
