Comments for Freshman Farmer - New Organic Farms Set Roots http://freshmanfarmer.com/ en kathryn@hrdndog.com Copyright 2013 2013-02-27T06:05:26+00:00 <![CDATA[Comment on I Love Tomatillos by richard washburn]]> http://freshmanfarmer.com/freshman-farmer/i-love-tomatillos richard washburn http://freshmanfarmer.com/freshman-farmer/i-love-tomatillos#When:10:59:24Z You should try fermenting tormtillos with a bit of onion and garlic, and the spices that you enjoy.

They are great, and remind me a little of olives!

Richard

]]> You should try fermenting tormtillos with a bit of onion and garlic, and the spices that you enjoy.

They are great, and remind me a little of olives!

Richard

]]> 2012-12-16T10:59:24-08:00 <![CDATA[Comment on First Rain of the Season by buttons]]> http://freshmanfarmer.com/freshman-farmer/first-rain-of-the-season buttons http://freshmanfarmer.com/freshman-farmer/first-rain-of-the-season#When:11:32:17Z Oh I understand this need we have just went through a drought on our farm and had to sell off more than half our cattle. I hope your rain continues to fall. B

]]> Oh I understand this need we have just went through a drought on our farm and had to sell off more than half our cattle. I hope your rain continues to fall. B

]]> 2012-11-01T11:32:17-08:00 <![CDATA[Comment on Natural Weed Eaters by gail bickett]]> http://freshmanfarmer.com/freshman-farmer/natural-weed-eaters gail bickett http://freshmanfarmer.com/freshman-farmer/natural-weed-eaters#When:11:10:36Z I saw the pic of your weed free beds but cound not see what cleared the weed seeds, was it chickens? I need to make a cover like you made to keep my chickens out of my raised beds, well they can have one as they love burrying and dusting in these gardens. I would not want to take that from them. Did you use pvc pipe and is it that bendable? Love what U R doing. I did have goats many moons ago and miss them but not chasing them out of my garder, car roof like that. My neighbor has 3 Jacob sheep girls. They are beautiful pets. R they the sheep whose wool one can weave? Thanks, Gail

]]> I saw the pic of your weed free beds but cound not see what cleared the weed seeds, was it chickens? I need to make a cover like you made to keep my chickens out of my raised beds, well they can have one as they love burrying and dusting in these gardens. I would not want to take that from them. Did you use pvc pipe and is it that bendable? Love what U R doing. I did have goats many moons ago and miss them but not chasing them out of my garder, car roof like that. My neighbor has 3 Jacob sheep girls. They are beautiful pets. R they the sheep whose wool one can weave? Thanks, Gail

]]> 2012-10-29T11:10:36-08:00 <![CDATA[Comment on Value-added... by "Farmer Terry" Bowen]]> http://freshmanfarmer.com/freshman-farmer/value-added "Farmer Terry" Bowen http://freshmanfarmer.com/freshman-farmer/value-added#When:20:08:30Z I’m learning a new application of the term, “Value added” i.e. diversifying, etc.  I learned at the ag school at Santa Rosa JC that “value added” was the value added to taking the raw produce and packaging it: the trend was to package as trim or in the case of packing mesclun which while adds labor of washing and operating packing operation the value is added by its “ready to go” pack.  The breakthrough in plastic technology that “breathes” has made the “value added” line of fresh salad mix a great success.  I found that if an ag student—whether pursuing an organic or conventional food production career—who does not wish a career in “Big Ag” or mainstream agribusiness and prefers to self-farm then the only direction a small, single-proprietor/family farmer can go these days (unless said farmer works on his/her’s producing family farm) is to look to filling niches of speciality produce, with a direction always in mind to “value added.” In other words, what can you make with your crop? Dried; jarred; mixed; pureed; sell at a Farmers Market or speciality shelves at stores. My schtick was (and hope to be again) is Early Girl small halves (about 1/3 EG crop are medium-smalls, consistently) with tender lemon cukes in an herbal vinaigrette. Alas, for the small-time niche effort capital is always an important problemo.

]]> I’m learning a new application of the term, “Value added” i.e. diversifying, etc.  I learned at the ag school at Santa Rosa JC that “value added” was the value added to taking the raw produce and packaging it: the trend was to package as trim or in the case of packing mesclun which while adds labor of washing and operating packing operation the value is added by its “ready to go” pack.  The breakthrough in plastic technology that “breathes” has made the “value added” line of fresh salad mix a great success.  I found that if an ag student—whether pursuing an organic or conventional food production career—who does not wish a career in “Big Ag” or mainstream agribusiness and prefers to self-farm then the only direction a small, single-proprietor/family farmer can go these days (unless said farmer works on his/her’s producing family farm) is to look to filling niches of speciality produce, with a direction always in mind to “value added.” In other words, what can you make with your crop? Dried; jarred; mixed; pureed; sell at a Farmers Market or speciality shelves at stores. My schtick was (and hope to be again) is Early Girl small halves (about 1/3 EG crop are medium-smalls, consistently) with tender lemon cukes in an herbal vinaigrette. Alas, for the small-time niche effort capital is always an important problemo.

]]> 2012-10-19T20:08:30-08:00 <![CDATA[Comment on Why I Farm by Rosiene]]> http://freshmanfarmer.com/freshman-farmer/why-i-farm Rosiene http://freshmanfarmer.com/freshman-farmer/why-i-farm#When:23:56:38Z I think you’ve done a nice job on this, Amanda, particularly in kepeing it realistic .  As a small farmer with just a pair of milk cows, many of the issues you address in this document regarding GMOs, forage feeding, and cleanliness really hit home. Thank you for pointing out to raw milk buyers the sorts of problems tiny producers are up against.The one issue I disagree on (not w/you but the production guide) is the non absorbent floor in the milking parlor. I believe this creates a waste water nightmare. I have a clay floor in my milking parlor (a traditional barn floor material) that rapidly neutralizes any pathogens.  I milk into an open pail and filter in the house, chill in the back of the fridge. The only time I’ve had contamination issues is when a jar is not clean enough, a cow has an undetected high SCC, or I spill the entire batch of cheese curds on my tiled kitchen floor. The latter is proof (in my mind) that pathogens thrive on non absorbent concrete-like material.My milk typically keeps for weeks in the fridge w/a canning lid applied right after filtering. It has been reported to keep fresh in the fridge for as long as a month.Thanks for producing a comprehensive and REASONABLE document.

]]> I think you’ve done a nice job on this, Amanda, particularly in kepeing it realistic .  As a small farmer with just a pair of milk cows, many of the issues you address in this document regarding GMOs, forage feeding, and cleanliness really hit home. Thank you for pointing out to raw milk buyers the sorts of problems tiny producers are up against.The one issue I disagree on (not w/you but the production guide) is the non absorbent floor in the milking parlor. I believe this creates a waste water nightmare. I have a clay floor in my milking parlor (a traditional barn floor material) that rapidly neutralizes any pathogens.  I milk into an open pail and filter in the house, chill in the back of the fridge. The only time I’ve had contamination issues is when a jar is not clean enough, a cow has an undetected high SCC, or I spill the entire batch of cheese curds on my tiled kitchen floor. The latter is proof (in my mind) that pathogens thrive on non absorbent concrete-like material.My milk typically keeps for weeks in the fridge w/a canning lid applied right after filtering. It has been reported to keep fresh in the fridge for as long as a month.Thanks for producing a comprehensive and REASONABLE document.

]]> 2012-06-12T23:56:38-08:00 <![CDATA[Comment on 2012 Freshman Class Application by Steve Baldwin, Bishop Creek Farms]]> http://freshmanfarmer.com/freshman-farmer/2012-freshman-class-application Steve Baldwin, Bishop Creek Farms http://freshmanfarmer.com/freshman-farmer/2012-freshman-class-application#When:11:13:29Z Hi, eagerly awaiting the results of this year’s selection for the Freshman Farmer Program. We have applied and would love to know that we’ve been selected as we have a huge seed order all set in our wishlist. Can you tell me how soon the results will be made known? Thanks, Steve,,,,,,

]]> Hi, eagerly awaiting the results of this year’s selection for the Freshman Farmer Program. We have applied and would love to know that we’ve been selected as we have a huge seed order all set in our wishlist. Can you tell me how soon the results will be made known? Thanks, Steve,,,,,,

]]> 2012-02-28T11:13:29-08:00 <![CDATA[Comment on 2012 Freshman Class Application by Maryalyce]]> http://freshmanfarmer.com/freshman-farmer/2012-freshman-class-application Maryalyce http://freshmanfarmer.com/freshman-farmer/2012-freshman-class-application#When:11:55:04Z I also just found your website today.  I wish we had been a month sooner.  We would like to start a small farm on our property & I was unaware of this website or this program until a few hours ago. :(

]]> I also just found your website today.  I wish we had been a month sooner.  We would like to start a small farm on our property & I was unaware of this website or this program until a few hours ago. :(

]]> 2012-02-24T11:55:04-08:00 <![CDATA[Comment on 2012 Freshman Class Application by Bruce willey]]> http://freshmanfarmer.com/freshman-farmer/2012-freshman-class-application Bruce willey http://freshmanfarmer.com/freshman-farmer/2012-freshman-class-application#When:18:30:26Z Have you chosen the farms for the 2012 Freshman Farmers program?

]]> Have you chosen the farms for the 2012 Freshman Farmers program?

]]> 2012-02-18T18:30:26-08:00 <![CDATA[Comment on 2012 Freshman Class Application by Charlotte]]> http://freshmanfarmer.com/freshman-farmer/2012-freshman-class-application Charlotte http://freshmanfarmer.com/freshman-farmer/2012-freshman-class-application#When:15:28:49Z Damien, Yes, the deadline was January 31st. We do have a Farmer Discount program that is available to all farmers though. See if that is interesting to you http://www.groworganic.com/discount.html

]]> Damien, Yes, the deadline was January 31st. We do have a Farmer Discount program that is available to all farmers though. See if that is interesting to you http://www.groworganic.com/discount.html

]]> 2012-02-14T15:28:49-08:00 <![CDATA[Comment on 2012 Freshman Class Application by Damien Taylor]]> http://freshmanfarmer.com/freshman-farmer/2012-freshman-class-application Damien Taylor http://freshmanfarmer.com/freshman-farmer/2012-freshman-class-application#When:10:05:46Z Is it too late to sign up for this?  I just found it today.

]]> Is it too late to sign up for this?  I just found it today.

]]> 2012-02-07T10:05:46-08:00