More is Less

A recent post to an agricultural listserve (Practical Farmers of Iowa) included a link to a scholarly literature review article with respect to the nutritional value of horticultural crops. I am, of course, interested in such things, so I took the link and read the article. Then, I printed the article. And, I read it again.

The thesis of the paper was that the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables have been declining in the United States and United Kingdom since World War II. This marks the time in our agricultural history when we drastically increased the use of chemical fertilizers. In addition, the focus on concentrated production and factory farms with increased automation has really taken hold. In short, we have moved rapidly towards an agricultural model that relies on size of operation, volume of production and uniformity of product for profitability.

It has become common practice to feed the plant rather than feed the soil. As a result, we throw a bunch of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous at our crops in order to receive higher yields per unit. The result? Well, we DO get more production from our crops, in general. However, our fertilization approach actually impacts the nutritional value of the food we grow. For example, extra phosphorous may appear in the plants, but other nutrients are reduced. In other words, by targeting the plant, rather than the soil, for fertility applications, we potentially alter the balance of nutrients in the food we produce.

A second aspect of this reduction in nutrition is a result of our continued hybridization of plants in order to produce larger amounts of uniform fruit that are excellent for shipment, storage and visual appeal. Some studies have shown that there appears to be a reduction in nutrients from cultivars that are bred to produce higher yields. It wouldn't necessarily surprise me if varieties that are selected for visual appeal have less nutrition - after all , they are not selected for taste or levels of vitamin A. But, a natural desire for a producer of food is to try to maximize the output - hence higher yielding cultivars are attractive. Yet, here we are with evidence that we can go too far down this path.

The author points out correctly that there needs to be a great deal of research done in this area before too much can be said. However, who is going to sponsor this research and where is the motivation to do it? If there is research on this, it is typically used to sponsor hybridization projects in an effort to create a crop that produces fruit with some specific 'healthful' quality. Very little money is spent to sponsor research that looks to older varieties to determine if we ALREADY HAVE cultivars that will do what we want.

Give me a Jimmy Nardello's Frying Pepper, Italian Heirloom tomato or Marina di Chioggia squash any day.

PFI Cooperators

Tammy and Rob both attended this year's Practical Farmer's of Iowa Cooperator's Meeting in Ames. One of PFI's strengths is how they encourage their farming members to participate in research projects. In fact, they support projects in grazing, niche pork, horticulture, ridge tilling, cover crops and everything in between. Last year, we participated in a tomato trellising trial and helped to work with the resulting data.

This year, we had the opportunity to attend two sections (horticulture and poultry) since there were two of us attending. The horticulture group expanded dramatically last year and maintained strong interest this year. The poultry group is new and had a small group of participators. We attribute that partly to the fact that many in the horticulture group are the same people who might also be interested in the poutlry group. If there is one person attending, you simply have to choose.

Poultry Group

The poultry group's top priority focused on the dearth of processors available in the state of Iowa. If we want to have a strong local supply of sustainably raised chickens, turkeys, ducks and other birds, we have to have processors that have state or federal inspection capabililities. One of the problems with this is that regulations have been fashioned for large processing facilities that will not work with amounts less than 1000 birds at a time.

The second priority had to do with identifying viable breeds for meat chickens in the state of Iowa that are alternatives to the prevalent Cornish X (Cross). The Cornish X birds are bred simply to eat and grow. They are dumb, they don't move around well, they tend to have leg and heart problem and they have a rather bland taste. Before you think we're simply saying this because we don't like what they stand for - we have raised these birds in the past and those were our observations even before we started doing more research.

Horticulture Group

The hort group identified dealing with weeds, pests and season extension as their top three priorities. As a large group, we were able to come up with our top priorities, but we had not yet identified specific projects to sponsor for the year. In addition to these priorities, we identified outreach to new growers, gardeners, etc as another goal. We will share more on this once we receive the report from PFI.

At present, there are numerous season extension projects being supported by PFI. It will be very interesting to see what they learn from these and we may attempt to get involved in future iterations.

Poultry Preview

We are considering our options prior to ordering chicks for the spring batch. Read and give us your feedback.

Meat chickens: we are considering expanding from 100 to 200 broilers in the spring batch. There is a possibility that we will be part of a PFI study for broiler breeds - which means we may have four different types. If you have any suggestions, now is the time to make them.

Turkeys: we have raised Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys successfully for the last couple of years. We are considering raising some Bourbon Red (a heirloom breed). Some have argued that these birds have a superior flavor. The difficulty is that these birds will cost us more per chick and will likely be smaller, resulting in a higher price per pound. However, if there is demand for these birds, we will give them a try.

Ducks: we will be doing more with ducks in 2009. We are still uncertain about the flock size or how many batches we will do in a season. However, ducklings cost more, as does the processing. We are guessing at this time that prices from $5 to $6 per pound are not unreasonable. One interesting variety is Rouen - we have yet to determine what is available to us at this time.

Coop Beef Buy Full

We have enough people for a beef buy and we will be contacting Craig Claussing to see what he can do for us. We will do what we can to make this happen. Those who submitted interest should expect some sort of response from us by February 13 (Friday). If you hear nothing, you should assume that something happened in transit between us and you should recontact us.

Book Orders

We need more interest both books to make a bulk buy of each book worthwhile. Please let us know soon since the conference is coming up at the end of the month.

The A to Z Cookbooks were a big hit last season and we are wondering if there are more persons interested in these books this year? We suspect that we will be able to pick up another bulk box at the MOSES conference this Spring just as we did last Spring. However, we don't want to throw money at a box of books if no one wants them. For those who are willing, please let us know how good (or bad) you think this purcahse was for you - we will summarize comments on our blog (with no identifying information).

The Busy Person's Guide to Preserving Food by Janet Chadwick was reviewed in last month's newsletter. We have heard from the publisher and we can execute a bulk order with them. The price will be very reasonable (under $15) making this an excellent buy.

The conference is Feb 26-28, so we will need to know of your interest in these books prior to that time. If we do not get sufficient response, we will not pick up these books.

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Go Green Fair

Tammy and I did maintain a table at the Go Green Fair and enjoyed talking with a variety of people about our farm and various issues related to the topics of the fair. As a result of the fair, we were asked what sorts of things we do on the farm to 'be green.' We thought it might be interesting to put them in our newsletter as well.

First, we must start with the caveat that we are still learning and working to improve. We also believe that there are many people who do far better than we do. But, perhaps a short list will encourage others to consider other options.

1. Organically certified production of vegetables - many organic practices are, by nature, more sustainable.
2. Local sales of our product - we target a market within a fifty mile radius of our farm.
3. Increased and smarter use of hand tools over gas powered engine base tools. We are learning how to use the tools we have better and in a timely fashion that optimizes their use and our time.
4. Companion planting - using natural plant companions (such as beans with potatoes, basil with tomatoes, etc) to promote healthier soil, reduce pests and suppress weeds.
5. Cover crops to maintain soil health, provide a chance for natural balances to do their work for us.
6. Diversity. We grow a wide diversity of crops, cover crops, flowers, bushes, etc. We include chickens, ducks and turkeys on the farm to help round out a diverse system.
7. No synthetically created fertilizers or sprays.
8. Education
9. Buy local. We try to patronize and promote other local businesses.
10. Use open pollinated and heirloom cultivars (varieties) for our produce we grow.

Festival and Tom Sawyer Day Schedules

We have set the dates for this year's GFF Festivals AND our Tom Sawyer Days! Please take the links and mark these dates on your calendar. Certainly you are not required to attend - but we would like to give each of our CSA members (as well as "honorary" members) the opportunity to participate at some point during the summer. We feel that early notification of the planned dates gives everyone a chance to decide when and if they might like to be involved. It also provides us with a framework for the summer schedule.

If you have questions or see errors, we would appreciate your comments.

Coop Pork Buy Full - but maybe more?

The Berlage family have let us know that there are piggies available for a cooperative buy. At present, we have enough people to purchase the three hogs we reserved, we may be able to reserve more than that if enough people contact us. Talk it over and get to us with your interest as soon as possible. Please tell us how much (in 1/8 increments) you want in your portion. For more details on how cooperative buys work, please go here.

Vol 5 Issue 2 - February 2009

Weather Watch

Ever since Tammy and I made the farm business 'official' we've become so much more sensitive to the weather and changing of the seasons. Of course, much of this is because weather can certainly impact our harvest. Just as importantly, the weather is going to have something to say about how we do things and when we do them on the farm. After all, if you're going to be out in the weather, you need to be prepared to respond to it.

Dr. Elwynn Taylor, Iowa State Climatologist is well known for his ability to put a wide range of facts together in order to make reasonably accurate seasonal predictions. Many persons in agriculture anxiously await his predictions for the growing season. Last January, Dr. Taylor suggested the possibility of a late season draught. While that may not have come true, he was correct with regards to a prediction for a cool and wet spring/early summer.

One thing that interested me in particular was a description of the growing degree days for last summer. We ran a significant deficit for growing degree days through the season. We're not talking about a few degrees below average. Instead, we are talking about (in my mind) the equivalent difference between a dry summer and a draught summer. We were WAY behind. Yet another way to explain why everything was several weeks late last year!

The factors mentioned by Dr. Taylor for draught may still apply for late in 2009. However, the Palmer Drought Outlooks for Iowa favors wetter conditions through May.

From Iowa State Extension Notes, Taylor states:

"The La Nina is still waffling.... we need to keep close track on it. Also we begin watching Arkansas precipitation starting the 15 of Feb (if the next 45 days average on the wet side there is an 80%+ chance our
planting season will be wet too, and vice-versa)."

Wanted

• Twenty to forty more CSA members for 2009
• Orders for A to Z Cookbooks
• Orders for Guide to Preserving Food

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Featured Variety: Moon & Stars

The Moon and Stars (Van Doren strain) watermelon has been a cultivar we have grown since our first year on the farm. From a plant perspective, these are just fun to grow. The leaves are also covered with yellow spots, which can be a little unnerving until you realize that this is how they are supposed to look. Fruit tend towards the round side and taste tends to be a bit "fruitier" than others varieties.

LaCrosse Organic Conference

We will be attending the Organic Conference sponsored by MOSES again at the end of this month. Last year was our first year to attend this conference and we were suitably impressed with the venue, the number of participants and the opportunities for us to learn.

This year we will head to the conference with more specific learning goals and tasks. For example, Rob will be attending a day long class on organic beekeeping. Tammy will look for some answers with respect to our poultry production questions. If there is something you would like us to look for at the conference, please feel free to let us know.

Important Dates

• February - Seed Orders in - Start Leeks, onions, spices.
• February 5-6 - PFI Cooperators Meeting (Ames)
• February 7 - bills for CSA balances sent out
• February 24 - R & T speak at SADD mtg in Tripoli Schools
• February 26-28 - Organics Conference - LaCrosse
• March - Start tomatoes, flowers
• March (late) - start peppers, eggplants
• April 1 - CSA payment in full deadline

Vol 5 Issue 2 - February 2009

News Shorts

Christmas Light Recycling

This got buried in a pile on Rob's desk (or his email inbox - or both) and didn't get posted in time to be seasonal. However - the Christmas Light Source is continuing to honor the Christmas light recycling program. The whole thing is TRIPLY cool since they will donate proceeds to Toys for Tots AND you can get a discount on a future purchase of LED lights (much more energy friendly).

Better World Shopper

There is an interesting site that represents a serious effort to gauge the social and environmental responsibility level of companies that produce consumer goods. Dr. Ellis Jones is the author of the Better World Shopping Guide, which is the 'book version' of this site. If you treat the site as a surface level source, you might want to consider that many rankings are made from partial data. But, for some categories, you can take 'the research' link and get more detail as to what lead to the 'grade level' assigned for a given company.

Organic Not Necessarily More Expensive

While the research is not conclusive, the results from this study by Local Harvest show that you cannot assume organic to be more expensive than non-organic produce.

More Diversity in Agriculture

The USDA performs an agriculture census (which we participated in last year) and reports that the number of small diverse farms are increasing. According to the report,

"Nearly 300,000 new farms have begun operation since the last census in 2002. Compared to all farms nationwide, these new farms tend to have more diversified production, fewer acres, lower sales and younger operators who also work off-farm."

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Vermont Compost Company fights state of Vermont

Vermont Compost Company is well known for producing excellent organically certified compost. However, there appears to be some sort of problem between VCC and the state of Vermont. Evidently, some sort of partial agreement is being worked out - but this is a reminder that food production encompasses more than just a set of growers.

Review: Green Prints

Green Prints "The Weeder's Digest"

Most of our reviews have pertained to books of various sorts. In this case, we are reviewing a periodical that is published quarterly. Before you think that quarterly seems a little too infrequent, consider what you are asking for. A magazine overrun with ads to publish more frequently with less content? In this case, each publication has a sizable number of articles and a minimal number of advertisements. That, in our mind, is a refreshing change.

Admittedly, the content may not be of interest to all readers. Tammy and I both go through periods where we enjoy reading it and other times when we really don't want to. However, there is no denying that gardeners of all sorts will appreciate the stories, poems, artwork and insights that appear in the pages of Green Prints. There are stories by people who claim to be anything from experienced gardeners to wannabe gardeners to those who simply appreciate a garden.

You will not find a great deal of material that tells you how to garden, unless you find them couched in a bit of prose or poetry. The skill levels of the writers vary, but the editor maintains a level of quality throughout. As a result, you can enjoy the read without judging the skill of the writer.

Check out their website and order a subscription to place on your nightstand. The tone of the work is relaxing and positive.

For other recommendations from GFF, visit our library.

Vol 5 Issue 2 - February 2009

CSA Billing

Rob and Tammy completed the billing process and you should be receiving something from us in the mail within the next few days (went into the mail on Feb 7). Included in the mailing should be a slip of paper showing you your pickup location and date, your reserved share size and your balance.

If you wish to change the reserved share size - please write the change on your bill and adjust the payment as needed. If you need to work with us on a payment plan, please include a request with a first payment. If you have already arranged a plan, please confirm your understanding of what we are doing by writing it on the bill and making a first payment.

This was our first run with a new spreadsheet tool to help us with this process. If you find any errors in name, address or other pertinent information, please bring them to our attention.

Payments are due by April 1 unless some other arrangements have been made.

Finding CSAs

There are a number of persons who receive the newsletter notice on a monthly basis from us, even though they do not live close enough to participate in our CSA. Similarly, we have had people move from our area - with regrets that they may not be able to find a CSA in their new location. The good news is that there are now several tools on the internet to help persons locate CSA's or farm share programs in their area.

We are aware of the following resources for locating CSA's:

• The New Farm locator - Rodale Institute
• Green People locator
• Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association locator

We know of others as well - but feel free to send us links as you find them.

Welcome to the 2009 CSA

Welcome to 2009 share holders who are new this year and to those that are returning from prior years! All members who have signed up for 2009 will be placed on our CSA distribution list. Until the season starts, emails will consist largely of announcments regarding our newsletter.

Take some time and explore our CSA tutorial. Perhaps check out our new blog. Or just explore our site and look at some of the tomato varieties we will grow in 2009!

As always, feel free to contact us with questions and we will do our best to answer!

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Signup Now for 2009

Currently, we have 88 spots reserved for next year - so there is still room! If you need convincing, we can connect you with persons who have experience with our CSA in prior years. Why should you join us? Go here and see ten reasons.

We are considering a cap at 100 for this year, with the possibility of expanding further if circumstances allow us to do so.

Now that we are in 2009, we will be happy to receive either a deposit ($25) to hold a spot, or you may make payment in full for you share. For more information, please go here on our web site.

GFF Stories : Meow?

Tammy and I have been fortunate to be the humans for two indoor cats for most of our married lives. Stryder, unfortunately, did not make it through last winter, but Eowyn continues to make sure the household runs to her specifications.

A recent epidsode where I watched someone struggle to close a cardboard box reminded me of how difficult it was to get the two kittens INTO a box for the travel to their new home. There was plenty of room for the kittens, but it was almost as if it were packed full of felines! One cat would get pushed back into the box and the other one wold pop up. It was a little like the hammer and gopher game - without the violent part.

We knew we had some 'special' cats. Eowyn noted a spot on the refrigerator that was three or four feet from the floor. She spent hours repeatedly jumping at that spot trying to catch it. Stryder learned how to purr and then became concerned when he found he didn't know how to TURN IT OFF. Along the same lines, Eowyn learned how to make her fur stand on end (POUFF!), but found it difficult to figure out how to undo that condition. As I recall, some amount of brushing was used to help with the process.

Cats, on the other hand, have completely different ideas than the humans when it comes to gardening. Various houseplants have been 'pruned' by the feline inspectors, leaving the plant a difficult road to return to full health. Or if still healthy - a long road to looking less like someone had trimmed half the plant with a dull hedge trimmer.

Our "supervisor" cat, Stryder, thoroughly disliked the beginning of gardening season. It meant the humans he had to supervise were out of his reach. Nonetheless, he made his presence felt by sitting in a window that faced the garden and 'meowing' continuously until we came back in. He was usually pitiful for some time after the first long gardening day since his voice was hoarse after this episode. Later admonishions were given only AFTER the humans returned to the house.

Eowyn, on the other hand, likes the beginning of gardening season. No interruptions for her daytime nap(s). Then she can be certain to keep the humans alert at...ya.... 4 am.