What Yield Data Can Do For You

A few years ago an idea was floated around the Practical Farmers of Iowa Cooperators Meeting within the horticulture group.  Without obscuring the point of this blog with too much detail, suffice it to say that growers and PFI staff recognized that it is NOT easy to get reliable yield numbers for all of the varieties and crops that exist.  This is even more true if you want numbers specific to the state of Iowa.  You could go to resources such as Knott's Handbook for Vegetable Growers to get some ideas about what you should expect to produce for a given hort crop.  But, the numbers there are general guidelines and may not be as useful depending on scale and location.

A Simple Yield Data Collection Tool

PFI has created a Yield Data Collection Site that is fairly simple to use and has the potential to be a useful tool for hort growers in the state.  

If you collect yield information and have records for planting and harvest dates.  If you can calculate the square footage dedicated for a given crop.  If you can answer some simple questions regarding your growing culture - direct seed, transplant, irrigation, under cover, etc.  Then your data could be a part of a useful aggregate that we all can use.

Start With One Crop Type

If you are interested in adding data, I strongly encourage you to do so.  And, if you do, concentrate on one crop first to get used to the tool.

In our case, we had onion yield data readily available for a few recent years.  I simply entered the data for one variety for one of those years, made sure to save it and THEN I used the 'clone crop' function to create a new copy.  I then edited the new crop with the data for another variety for the same year or for another year's results of the same variety.

Take a Moment and See What You Can Learn

Once I had three year's worth of data, for a total of 13 crops, I decided I wanted to learn what I could from my data AND the data provided by other growers in the state.

 

I did a search by crop - in this case - onions.  And I found that there were 48 records in the data base for onions at this time.  Entries came from various parts of the state and included records for growers with small production amounts as well as larger production amounts.  As I reviewed the data, I would say that we were a 'moderate sized' onion grower for those that had shared yield data.  However, I could see that we had the ability, with changes to how we do things, to scale up to onion planting areas that were as big or bigger than other farms that had reported using this tool.  This tells me that there are some potential models of comparison in the data should I wish to go that way.

I was curious what would happen if I wanted to look at a specific variety, so I chose the White Wing variety that we like on our farm.

I found five entries for White Wing.  Most of those were entries for our crops, so it was clear that I wasn't going to learn a whole lot more than I already knew at this point.  But, this illustrates the reason why it would be better if more growers entered their yield data into the site.  The data points are not excessive and the clone crop function reduces the effort significantly.  Did you raise White Wing onions?  Add some data so I can learn more!  Ok... add some data so you can learn more too!

The "export CSV" is an easy to use function that allows you to download the data to a spreadsheet so you can do some comparisons and do any of your own calculations you might like to try.   A snapshot of the data I received when I downloaded the CSV file for White Wing is below.

The data includes information on crop spacing, growing zone, irrigation, plant and harvest dates.  If you happen to see differences in the data from entry to entry, it is possible you might glean some of the reason for those differences based on the cultural information found there. 

I downloaded the CSV for all of the onions.  I then focused on the red onions to see what I could learn.  

The three entries at the bottom come from our farm. 

• Column 3 is square footage for the crop
• Column 4 is total pounds of production
• Column 5 is pounds of production per square foot
• Columns 6 and 7 give the plant spacing and the dates show the date range for harvest

The first thing that jumps out at you would be our harvest for 2018.  Over 1 pound per square foot is a ridiculous number.  But, as far as that year was concerned for our red onions - it WAS a ridiculously good year.  So, we can take that as an example of what might happen if the planets align and everything goes right.  We clearly cannot expect that on a yearly basis.

On the other hand, it seems that numbers from .42 to .69 pounds per square foot are not out of the question in Iowa for red onions.  Based on this information, I might say that a half pound per square foot would be a reasonable goal for a grower in the state.  But, of course, the data set is still small, so you have to be careful about what you conclude.

Other information that might be of use to a grower includes the harvest date range.  You might notice that our harvest dates (again the last 3 entries) are significantly later than other growers.  By the same token, if you were to look at the planting dates, you might also notice that we are slower to get things in the ground as well.  What this data does is give a grower reasonable date ranges to work with and still be able to expect a crop.

You might also notice that the harvest date ranges are small - with a start and end date typically being one or two days apart.  This is no surprise to most growers as they typically harvest all red 'storage' onions at the same time.  Wider harvest ranges indicate crops (like tomatoes, peppers and beans) that are harvested more than once.  In that case, you might get an idea as to what a reasonable harvest window might be.

Take A Moment, Enter A Crop on a Rainy Day

So folks - since Iowa needs rain and some appears to be on the way - use a rainy day to enter some horticulture crop data into this useful tool.  If we can all manage to do a bit of this here and there, we will benefit in the long run.  We will listen to our own recommendation and enter ten entries for green bean data next.

And, before you think I don't understand that this sort of thing can take time - and time is often in short supply for diversified growers - let me assure you that I rarely can get everything done that I think is worth doing.  Despite being a backer of this project for some time, I STILL have trouble finding time to do this.  So, I get it.  And I still say we should all take the time and participate.  Enter one crop for one year today.  Do another one next week.  And one more the week after that.  It's amazing how much can happen with a slow, steady commitment to the process.

Consider how we might benefit from this:

• Beginning farmers could use some baseline numbers as a starting point so they can learn what they should expect and adjust when they fail to reach those expectations.
• Those who are considering crop insurance can have some baseline numbers for Iowa that can be used to support claims during a bad year.
• Growers of all sorts can use each others' experiences to consider varieties to try on their own farms.
• Growers can consider different cultural approaches, such as plant and row spacing, succession timing and irrigation practices by looking at the base data provided in this tool.

But, it only works well if we participate.

It Doesn't Seem Like Much

Any hobby or specialty can seem... well, a bit ridiculous to those who do not already appreciate it.  Do you want to roll your eyes when your second cousin, twice removed, wants to tell you ALL of the details as to their plans for deer hunting this fall - right down to layout of the land around the deer-stand and the contents of the cooler full of food they will take with them?  Or maybe you have a friend who collects decorative plates and she proceeds to tell you why THIS plate is so much better than THAT plate?

Well, prepare to roll your eyes!

Ok.  Ok.  You can just not read this if you don't want to.  Much more freedom here.  And, I will also endeavor to keep it at least mildly interesting...

Here it is - an item that has been in my collection for a while that I think is REALLY cool.  

Now, much of my primary collection consists of envelopes mailed in the 1860s from the United States to other countries.  These envelopes show the use of the 24 cent postage stamp to various destinations.  And, yes - there it is! A 24 cent stamp at the top left of the envelope.  Yay!

Now - an envelope sent to England using a 24 cent stamp at this time is NOT uncommon.  After all, it cost 24 cents to send a letter to England from the US.  So, you would be forgiven if you looked at this and said, "Yeah Rob.  Looks like ALL the other ones you've shown me <roll of eyes>."

You probably won't care that the stamp is a different color than most of this issue and you probably aren't going to be impressed with the Detroit marking at the right either.

What makes it fun is the marking just a bit to the left of center at the top.  If it were perfectly struck it would look like this.

This item becomes cool because there is a story that can be told when we see that one partial marking on the envelope.

The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 ushered in the development of steamship services on the Great Lakes.  By the time we get to 1862, when this letter was mailed, there were numerous steam services that carried passengers and cargo from port to port, including cities like Detroit.  If you would like more information about the maritime history of the Great Lakes, the source linked here is packed with information.  

Passengers on a steamboat could avail themselves of a service rendered by captains of such boats.  The captain could be given a properly paid letter to be mailed at the post office once the boat had landed.  This is not terribly unlike the service many hotels have provided to accept letters from their customers and pass them on to the mail carrier when the mail carrier arrives.  

The ship's captain and the ship itself were NOT part of the US postal service, but they WERE entitled to compensation for their services at this time.  The captain (or his representative) would take the letters given to them by passengers to the post office (in this case, Detroit) and the post office would pay 2 cents per letter to the captain of the ship for this service.  The "Steamboat" marking would be put on each letter received, which told the destination US post office that they should collect 2 cents from the recipient to compensate the post office for money they paid the ship's captain.

In other words, the postage stamp for 24 cents did not cover the 2 cent fee, it only covered the postage needed to mail something from the US to England at the time.  The postal service was 'out' the 2 cents until the recipient of the letter paid the fee.

Now we have a problem.  This letter LEFT the US postal service and was delivered in England.  They weren't going to collect 2 cents and return it to the United States as they had nothing in their postal agreement to do so!  So, the postal service lost the 2 cents given to the captain for this letter.  

You see, most of the old envelopes from this time period that show a 'steamboat' marking like this one were mailed to a US destination, not a foreign destination.  I just happened to be able to get an oddball that did not fit the mechanism to pay a ship's captain for a service. 

And there you are - reasons for you to roll your eyes and for me to be happy.  What more could we ask for?

Miles Gone By

We had just completed the vegetable and poultry drop-offs in Waverly at St Andrew's Church and Yogi Life and we still had a home delivery to make.  We prepared a bag with the veggies that were ordered and made sure we had the eggs ready to go.  Then, we packed up the tables, trays, coolers and remaining veggies so we could make the delivery.

As Tammy popped out of the truck to drop off the produce and eggs - and have a few moments of properly physically distanced chatting - I waited in the truck and happened to glance at the odometer.

Chumley has been a very good truck for us and we still, oddly enough, think of him as a "new truck."  After all, we don't FEEL like we've had this truck all that long.  Never mind that when we purchased the truck, we had every intention of getting it to last at least as long as the last one (we had Grover for ten years after someone else had owned him for about the same period of time).

In any event, I looked at the number on the odometer and saw "102109."  As a person who likes numbers and patterns, I was initially disappointed that I had missed "102102" - though I look forward to "102201."  

Then, I realized that this represents over 100,000 miles of farm activity (ok, there might be some miles on the truck that are not strictly farm, but I think we're pretty safe to say 95% of the miles on the truck were farm related - close enough for the blog -ok?).

Then, this song popped up on the playlist.

It was hardly fair for my truck to remind me of "Days Gone By" as I was reflecting just a bit on how much work we have done using this vehicle since 2012.

Chumley has helped us to make over 1000 (just estimating) deliveries of all sorts.  Sometimes we were delivering CSA shares, at other times we were making larger deliveries to other outlets.  There were times that the back of the truck was packed from front to back, side to side and all the way to the top with coolers, trays and the necessary tables.  In fact, there were too many times that I had to REPACK the truck because I noticed one more container had not gone in and we had to find a place for it.

We've stuffed the back full of square bales of straw.  Chumley has pulled a bin full of 3000 pounds of feed while carrying a bulk bag holding 750 pounds for the laying flock - multiple times every year.  We have packed in an order of supply's from Nolt's consisting of drip tape, starting trays, pots and various irrigation equipment.  We piled in bags of starter soil from another supplier.  There have been trips for lumber, recycling and trash runs and a few memorable trips where we hauled items such as a mulch layer and the farm's lawn tractors.

This doesn't even begin to consider the trips we have made with chickens, turkeys and ducks over the years.  To "the Park," from "the Park."  To "Freezer Camp," from "Freezer Camp."  To customers... ok, there is no 'from' for that one - which is a good thing.  Midnight drives in the middle of a lightning storm on the way back from dropping off the first batch of broilers in Greene... ah... good times.

 I considered pumping the brakes on this trip down memory lane, but I realized that this was a healthy reckoning of a sort.  

You see, I DO appreciate this truck and I DO hope we can continue to rely on it for years to come.  But, this wasn't just about being nostalgic for a truck - it was about the recognition of years (including those prior to Chumley's appearance on the farm) spent doing what we do at the Genuine Faux Farm.  The number of times each of us has climbed into and back out of the back of a truck is a reflection of what it is like to dedicate yourself to a small, diversified farm in northeast Iowa.

And, this is why it can be so hard to try to make a connection with other people when we try to explain what it is like - doing what we do.  How do you get someone to understand our brand of farming until they have climbed into and back out of a pickup truck thousands of times?  How can a person fully appreciate that the continuous motion and low-grade, but continuous, stress that comes with the harvest, clean, pack, load and depart cycle can make it difficult to not want to doze while you drive to your destination?  Can you actually appreciate why I still try not to laugh when I remember the face of one of our outdoor cats that happened to get into the back of the truck and was stuck in there as we started to drive down the road?  Do you really understand why I sigh a little bit when I have to unload the truck back at the farm yet again after another delivery?

Or maybe you can start to understand... even if you do think it a bit odd that the numbers on an odometer can take my mind to all of these places.

Drink Out of the Hose?

 Do you recall when the turkeys looked and sounded like this?

Well, they do not look and sound like that anymore.  The turks are now day-ranging (out on pasture during the day and in a safe room in the Poultry Pavilion by night.  They are slowly learning to go in with less prompting in the evenings, though we doubt they will go in if we aren't around to encourage it.  (Alas)

I have mentioned to people that our turkeys like to drink out of the hose....  So, what was it about drinking out of the hose that was such a big deal for so many kids (and - as I understand - it still is)?  It never really tasted all that good - frankly.  And, if you work on a farm like ours, the appeal isn't as great for all sorts of reasons.

Anyway - getting back on point.  People look doubtful when I tell them the birds like to drink out of the hose. So...

This actually becomes quite an event when I go out to give the turks water in the middle of the day.  They will come running when they see I am about to go about this task.  I take the waterer lids off and put the plugs in place.  Then, I step back so there is some space for them to have a little fun.

For those who think it is just because their waterer was empty, I offer this:

Yes, I just held the hose out there to let it run and these birds thought it was still pretty cool.  In fact, we sometimes just lay the hose on the ground to distract the birds so we can go about doing other things.  It works.  Really.

So, there you have it.  Kids and turkeys.  Do the similarities end at the affinity for drinking out of the hose?  Parents?  What do you think?

Learn Something New (Again)

A week or so ago, we put a post out that was titled "Learn Something New" and I got some positive feedback that more of these were desired.  I certainly understand why!  If you are a curious soul, like I am, it can be quite enjoyable to dig into something and learn.  I will also admit that learning new things can be a comfort.  And, after the post just prior to this one, I think we all (those of us who write the blog and those who read it) could use a little comforting.

So - let us dive in to a little learning!

Singing a Night Song

They are out in force!  The katydids and their family make up the lion's share of the soundscape each evening on the farm these days.  Yes, sure, there are crickets and there have been some cicadas.  An owl will occasionally make itself known as well.  We have been scaring up some Killdeer when we walk out to do the chores in the evening as well.

There is a 'click-click' type of noise that we associate with the katydid is an Oblong-winged Katydid - but we have not heard quite as many of those this year as we have in recent Summers.  Most of the noise is coming from critters known as the Slightly Musical Conehead.  But even that song is a bit less than it has been recently.  We also have a significant population of Nebraska Coneheads.  While we haven't laid eyes on them personally, their singing is pretty clear at night.  This also should not surprise us because Nebraska Coneheads use the strategy of dropping from their more  prominent perches in 'weedy patches' into the litter at the base of the plants when they are disturbed.  They make their escape from there. As you can see from the picture, the Slightly Musical Conehead can be found and held for the camera.

I've always thought the sound Round-Tipped Coneheads make was a cricket.  But, if you visit the link, you might understand the confusion.  I am still not certain I will be able to tell the difference between the two when I hear them, but it is interesting to know.  I am also pretty sure I won't be able to tell these and the Nebraska Coneheads apart if I should see them.  And, if I do see them, how should I greet them?  What is polite to a Conehead?  I'm not sure I'll ever know that.

There are around 200 different types of katydids (coneheads are katydids) in North America.  If you are interested in learning more, you can go here to learn more about their calls.

What Does it Mean to Be Certified Organic?

I took the liberty of taking a screen shot of one of the parts of our Organic System Plan for our farm that was submitted for review this past Winter.  The section I 'grabbed' for you all to see highlights the things our farm does to support biodiversity.  When we first started certifying, things were not put together in a checklist like this - instead, I provided text describing everything we were trying to do to promote diversity on our farm.  

The National Organic Program includes guidance for all aspects of an organic operation, including guidance for natural resource and biodiversity conservation.  I need to stress that this is ONLY one part of being a certified organic operation.  But, I think it is an incredibly important part.

It would be natural for those who are not growers to assume these are all 'easy choices' to make.  But, the reality is that there is some conflict for each farm and every farmer when it comes to the actions taken (or not taken) on a given farm.

For example: "leave crop residue in the field for wildlife"

On the surface, this sounds like it isn't so hard to do.  And, in fact, it isn't.  But, it is never that simple, is it?  Some crops will have pathogens that can be stored in the residue and the soil.  Even if you do not grow that crop there the next year, those pathogens can be moved by wildlife, wind and water.   Sometimes the litter from a crop is a host for the very pest that gave that crop problems this season.  If you leave it in the field, you create a better environment for that pest to return.  In other words, there are always choices to be made for each succession of every crop.  Sometimes you leave the residue, sometimes you don't.

And, when you leave crop residue, it is highly likely you will leave some weeds behind as well.  This is where it comes in handy to know some things about weed seed predation by rodents and insects.  A healthy population of seed eating critters can reduce an easily accessible seed source by 7 to 22 percent during the growing season depending on conditions, type of seed and the population of interested seed eaters.  The trick, as we have learned too late over time, is to make sure that seed is available and not buried by fall tillage AND that there is sufficient cover for the seed eaters to want to be in place to predate on the seed.

And now you know more about why one single item on the Organic System Plan means so much more than the eight words and a checkmark.

Is this type of Genuine Faux article to your liking?  Keep encouraging and you'll see more of them!

The Over/Under on Whelmed

We thought we might focus on how the farmers are doing in this blog post.  Not surprisingly, much of how we are feeling is tied to some major events that are indirectly related to our farm.  All of them have some ties to us (as you will see if you read on).  Our last blog that advertised  a check-in with the farmers and how they are doing was published in June.   Here is how we ended that blog:

"Our emotions and our feelings of worth are more on the surface than they usually are.  We tell ourselves to toughen up, but maybe that's the wrong idea.  Perhaps we should be feeling these things more.  The key is not to toughen up, but to keep moving in hopes that we can make more things right than we make wrong."

Feeling a Bit Overwhelmed?

1. Well, let's see.  We entered August after dealing with the normal spray anniversary stuff that comes every year at our farm - along with an annual confrontation that we don't want and they just want to have it (and us) go away.  Every year our hope that we can start swinging the balance away from the overuse of chemicals in agriculture is ground under the heals of... of whatever it is that has heals and grinds us down.
   
2. We continue to watch, horrified, while people can't seem to figure out that Black Lives Matter means there are people who really need our help.  It doesn't seem to matter if we are in cities or in our small towns, a vocal subset of the people in our lives appear to be intentionally misleading others to simply miss the point.  And, it seems too many are too willing to be misled!  BLM is not about an organization (though there is a BLM organization) it is about people who are hurting.  When people are hurting - you focus on providing them solace and aid.  You lift them up.  Period.
3. Speaking of helping others...  Iowa had a derecho that was so big, everyone in Iowa learned what a derecho is.  And yes, California has more record setting fires and Texas and Louisiana are fighting through another big hurricane (just after a tropical storm).  Happily, there are numerous examples of 'the helpers' coming out in force as they respond to each of these natural disasters.  These are people who rarely seek any thanks for their effort and they accomplish so much.  Meanwhile, we have politicians who claim that they have done so much to respond to the disaster - while they effectively have done little to nothing.  If providing aid and compassionate leadership in times of crisis is not the forte of our leadership, then they should no longer be leaders.
4. But, let's make it even harder on people who live in the rural areas, shall we?  Let's start dismantling the post office.  It would be one thing if it was an actual reorganization to improve efficiency.  It's another when you take the tools for efficient sorting of mail, take them apart and put them in a storage garage.
5. Then - I look at our food systems and see that we haven't really been changed much to address the problems that are so clearly visible.  We're still too interested in patting ourselves on the back for ineffectual moves that do nothing for the long-term health of local and healthy foods.  
6. And, all of this while we try to go back to school during a pandemic.  A pandemic that we never really took seriously as a country and we continue to pay the price for lack of willpower combined with stubbornness and poor leadership.  

All of this is going on while we continue to redefine ourselves at the Genuine Faux Farm.  

Yep, overwhelmed.

Living Too Much In Our Heads?

Feel free to ask the question.  Go ahead!  Are we just borrowing trouble by putting all of these 'big picture' things onto our 'list of concerns?'  It is certainly a valid question - and I have asked myself this question more than once.  So, let's do a reality check here.  Should I be allowing these things to take up brain space?

1. We deal with spray issues during three (at least) distinct seasons every year on our farm.  It directly impacts our production and our own health.  Yeah.  Pretty hard to ignore this one - unless we get out of farming and lock ourselves in the house.
   
2. We have have friends and acquaintances who have been directly impacted by racism in ways we, as white people, can barely understand.  Tammy and I don't worry that these things might happen to us.  But, black and latinx people do - on a regular basis.  And we don't think that's right.  I was taught to stand up for people who need it.  So, nope, not ignoring this one.
   
3. We have seen how much damage the derecho has caused and we know there are still real needs out there.  We would not be who we are if we didn't do what we could, when we can, to help.  So, no, too close to home to ignore and there are very real things we can do.
   
4. Tammy and I are already talking about the possibility that we will cease to raise poultry because the USPS is being made to be unreliable.  This is not the only way our farm and our lives are impacted by these moves - but it will suffice to show you a direct impact to us.
5. Remember - we're a small farm that was/is dedicated to local sales.  We have been scaling back as it became more and more apparent that the food systems aren't prepared to handle farmers like us and the general population has no real motivation to regularly support farms like ours.  Tell me again this isn't something I should concern myself with - I won't believe you.
   
6. And, yes, Tammy is currently at school as I write this.  There is always a bit of an undercurrent for us as to when (not if) she has any exposure to a COVID19 positive person and we have to isolate (and hopefully not be sick).
   

I should not need to justify to you why something concerns me, but I do need to EXPLAIN it to me.  Why?  Because, I also need to live a life that is not brought to a standstill by worry and fear.  I cannot do a thing to help anyone if I am immobilized by everything that seems wrong.

I also need not give you (or me) a reason to show that any of these things are directly connected to me.  This is, my friends, part of what it means to care about things other than yourself.  

The environment and small farms are being injured.  People of color are being beaten, killed and treated poorly.  People were set back significantly by the derecho and some are still homeless.  Small businesses, farms and out of the home businesses (among others) are all suffering the effects of postal system mismanagement.  The local and healthy foods system is still not in a position to pick up the ball when the industrial food chain breaks.  And, yes, people have long-term health effects and may die from COVID19.  I happen to care about these things because I believe there are responses that can improve each of these situations.  It isn't so much about me (though it sometimes is) as it is about making things right.

The very thing that distresses me the most about all of this?  It seems so many of these things are byproducts of people not caring for anyone other than themselves.

Underwhelmed By Empathy

1. Perhaps I can see how someone sprays chemicals on a field and is not fully aware as to how it might have long-term effects and unintended consequences regarding wildlife, the environment and future ag production.  But, I absolutely fail to see how it is ever ok to accept that pesticide applications are not being contained to the target area.  Failure to take responsibility for controlling any dangerous tool shows no consideration for anything other than the bottom line.
2. Many of us have no idea what it feels like to have the hope beaten out of you over time.  Sadly, I have gotten an inkling of how that might feel as I have fought negative effects of climate change and pesticide misapplications over the years on our small farm.  What would it be like to have that kind of constant 'downward' pressure on all aspects of my life?  Perhaps I have experienced enough to begin to understand how things might feel to persons of color in the United States?  Why is it so many other folks can't understand this?
   
3. I heard a 'tough, crusty farmer' on the radio.  His voice wavered as he talked about the animals he lost in the derecho.  I heard another person yelling and accusing "people in charge" because too much attention was being given to people who were homeless after the storm and not enough attention was given to their lack of internet service.  I heard another person say it was time to 'move on' from the derecho.  Easy for you to say - the damage to YOUR home is repaired and you have electricity.  Is that all it takes to move on?  I'm fine, no one else is allowed to suffer or get help.
   
4. The president of the US made a statement that he wanted the postal service slowed to make voting by mail difficult (whether that was the motivation for the changes or not is beside the point) and the Postmaster General wasn't even aware of basic operating facts even though he is directing major changes that have become disruptions in service.  Meanwhile, people of modest means lose a service they need to keep their micro-businesses and small farms afloat.
5. Maybe we made a mistake when we all decided food services are supposed to make money.  
6. Masks, distancing, etc were never so much about you as it was (and is) about protecting others from what you might unwittingly do to them.  It shouldn't matter whether your wearing a mask reduces the chances that the person you interact with gets COVID by 25% or 50% or 100%. 
   

And now - perhaps - you understand why I take these things so hard.  I like to believe that we are all better than this.  We (as in ALL of us) are ALL (as in EACH ONE of us) better than this.

Please.  Quit trying to convince me that very few of us even have only a little capacity for caring about (and for) others.

Can't Get Much Nicer

It has been a while since we have gotten any real rain at the farm.  After the last several years of excessive rain and continuous puddle season, we are actually... sort of... enjoying the dry.  That tells you how wet we've been when we actually are kind of enjoying a drought.  I will admit that a nice soaking rain would be welcomed at the farm, but we're still nervous about even hoping about rain too hard.  The last time we did that, it didn't stop... for like, three years.

So, how do you know it is a drought?  The scattered rain showers for your area look like the cloud at the top (just to the right of the high tunnel).  Yep, that was last night's rain shower.  We did a tad bit better in the morning with some real thunder and maybe five hundredths of an inch of rain.

As we enter the month of September, we bid farewell to summertime.  Yes, it is true that we are bound to have some more hot, sunny days with a good bit of humidity.  But, it is also true that we will again see lows in the 40s (probably early this morning) and the watch for the first frost will officially begin on the farm (our guess is officially Sept 26/27 this year).

Just this past week, we had some pretty serious heat and humidity.  Granted, people who live in Florida and Alabama laugh at us for our brief forays into that type of weather - but it was pretty difficult to work hard in it for an extended period of time.  There is a good reason for the 'siesta' model of doing things sometimes.   Apparently the "Iowa approach" is to just fight your way through it and then pay the next day when you overdo it.

Anyway, after the last batch of hot, things cooled down quite a bit.  We had light winds, beautiful blue skies and not too many gnats and mosquitoes to put a damper on things.  The impending full moon lights our way as we do chores and the air has that nice, soft feel that happens only on nights like these.  

You see, we really enjoy evenings like this because we ARE outside frequently.  We must go out and do chores every morning and every evening - regardless of the weather and in spite of biting insects or muddy grounds.  We recognize there is beauty in all sorts of weather during all times of the year.  But, we also realize nights like these... they do not happen all that often.  Even more important, nights like these don't often happen when we aren't so bone tired that we just can't build up the gumption to enjoy them.

Yes, we DO enjoy nice evenings AS we are doing our chores.  I am making a fine distinction here.  The difference I am trying to highlight is that we rarely stop and sit for a while to simply absorb how beautiful it all is.  That's the difference.  We hope you will also find a way to enjoy evenings like these too.

No More Summer Fest at GFF

 

 

It is the end of August, and there was no Summer Festival at the Genuine Faux Farm.  An August gathering just prior to the start of school rapidly became a tradition for us at the farm and not because we were farming and selling produce and poultry.  The origin of this farm gathering actually came from our tendency to offer our place for a before-school starting gathering when we lived near Ridgeway and Decorah.  It was a natural extension for Tammy to invite her colleagues at Wartburg for something similar.  It just happened that some of our customers were some of the same people.

We began trying to hold annual Spring and Fall gatherings at the farm as early as 2006, but our first August gathering at the farm was in 2004 - it just was not billed as a 'farm function.'

 

 

One of the darnedest things about having gatherings is that you never quite know what is going to get the attention of the younger crowd.  This is actually important for a couple of reasons.  First, a farm has some dangerous places and dangerous things.  We worked very hard to try to identify anything that was both dangerous AND attractive to a kid so we could remove access and avoid any unfortunate accidents.  I am proud to say that we managed to accomplish this task for each and every event....  well, we think we did because no one was hurt at any of these events.

Second, there had to be ***something*** "farm-ish" that would be interesting for the kids at the farm.  We weren't always sure what would work, but we tried our hands at several things (with varying levels of success).  But, nothing... absolutely nothing... garnered as much attention as the green carts we used on the farm.  Not a single event (other than the couple that occurred when it was actively raining) went by without an opportunity to take a picture of kids finding all kinds of ways to make a green cart into something VERY fun.

 

Of course there was food.  Sometimes there was music.  We often made a grill accessible.  Later on, we would roast a turkey and provide the basics for sandwiches and ask everyone to supplement with a potluck style event.  There was a painted rock hunt, painting on a fence and doors, lawn games and even some tractor rides.

 

And who could forget the annual 'Scavenger Hunt?'  I would take a few moments away from trying to clean everything up and being prepared for guests and go take a batch of fifteen or twenty pictures.   I would then print sheets out for people to meander around the farm and see how many they could find.

Here's a whatsit!  Anyone know what it is and where it might be located on our farm?

 

 

 

And here is another one.  This one even stumped Tammy!

The painting thing got us into a little bit of trouble - even if we liked the results (see the door below).  You see, not everyone read about the painting in the gathering announcements.  And, once you arrive, how do you tell your child "no" when all of the other kids are painting.  I suspect there were some shoes and other items that were not used again after that little activity was over.  As you can tell from the first photo of this blog post, we moved to colored chalk and encouraged people to draw on our flair box and on other surfaces we provided.

 

Speaking of this door.  We still have it.  It sits in the corner of our garage at the moment - but we brought it out and put it on display each and every event after the one during which it was painted.  Oddly enough...  I still feel good when I see that thing.  I'm just trying to figure out how to put it somewhere so I can see it a bit more often.  No, do not suggest putting it IN the house.  This is a 'farm thing,'  not a 'house thing.' 

So... here we are.  August 31.  There was no Summer Festival this year.  In fact, there were no farm gatherings this year.  Yeah.  Pandemics do that to farm gatherings.  But, so do changes in what the farmers do.  Even if there had been no pandemic, there was a good chance we would have held no gatherings this year anyway.   It is sad to consider that possibility, because there was something very positive about these events.  

Yes, they were a good deal of work for us.  Yes, they could be a bit stressful for us to host them.  Yes, it took a few days to recover from them.  And, yes... we still miss them.

So, happy Summer Festival away from the Genuine Faux Farm this year.  Have a s'more.  Paint a door.  Push a cart around the lawn.  Maybe we'll throw a few tomatoes to the turkeys and record them running around - and it will be just like you're here.

Sharing More Of What I Enjoy

A few weeks ago, I shared a post where I talked about a hobby I very much enjoy, postal history.  The reactions I received were positive (thank you for that) and it made me want to share a bit more.  By now, you know I don't want to be overbearing and I try not to overwhelm people with what I put here regarding this topic.  But, I also make no apologies about my interest and the enjoyment I get out of learning all kinds of things as I explore the history surrounding items in my collection.

In fact, many people have some set of topics or areas of knowledge that they find more than interesting - for whatever reason.  I enjoy hearing people get excited about the things they enjoy.  Why?  Because I understand how good it feels when others take the time to try to understand why I like what I like.  And, it can be pretty amazing what you happen to learn in the process of listening.  Some obscure but interesting fact maybe?  Or perhaps you will learn something about the person that gives you more appreciation for who they are.  

Whatever it is - it's a good thing.

Why did Thurso have so many 'writers?'

I have had this item in my collection for some time now.  It is a very attractive envelope because it shows a pre-printed advertisement for the sender of this mail - Attorney James Mitchell in Milwaukee.  The first thing that makes this envelope interesting to me is that very few businesses were using pre-printed designs for their mail in 1864.

The second thing is that this letter was mailed to Scotland.  At the time I bought this item, that might have been my biggest reason for wanting to purchase it.  Well, that and it looked very nice.  As I learned more, I came to realize that Thurso is the northern most settlement of the main British Isle. 

Some time ago, I came across another item addressed to someone else in Thurso.  I did not buy it, but I noticed it was also sent to a person who was a "Writer".  So, let's back up a second...

The address reads: James Brims, Esq, Writer, Thurso, Caithness, Scotland, N.B.

My initial thought was: "hmm.  Was there some sort of artist gathering in Thurso since there were multiple writers at that location?"   Some quick searching blew that theory out of the water.  Instead, I ran across a directory of some sort from the 1860s in Scotland.  The directory had a note that said "Writers, see Solicitors."

Aha!  I said!  A solicitor in England is a lawyer or attorney.  Therefore, after a little more effort to confirm, I learned that the Scots referred to solicitors as 'writers.'  The idea that James Brims was an attorney in Thurso is further supported by the fact that a US attorney is sending him mail AND by the honorific "esquire" at the end of his name - typically an indicator that this person is a lawyer.

And, now you know.

Active Listening by Writing

We live in a world where we are often more worried about whether or not we are heard than we are about whether we are hearing/listening.

You see it in conversation.  People frequently interrupt each other to get their own opinion vocalized without really paying any attention to what was said.  All they really heard was the general topic area, which triggered some sort of response in their brain that they must now be sure they can press their opinions forward - even if it isn't appropriate for the given moment.

I fully recognize this same tendency in myself.  In fact, I suspect I was pretty bad at this at one time.  But, a strange thing happened - I grew up a little bit (even if I am still 10).  So, apparently we have a rash of 'not growing up' in this world. 

(note: I am still acutely aware that I fail to listen sometimes.  It's part of being human and continuously learning and trying to improve)

Lots and lots of words

Over time, I have written lots and lots of words.  In this blog alone, there are plenty of words (and pictures).  Just look at the illustration below taken from a couple of weeks ago from our blog.  As of this writing, we are sitting at 158 blog posts for 2020.  We are approaching 1400 posts with over one million words worth of writing.  NO... I did not (and will not) count them.  I know I said I liked numbers and counting - but not that much.  Really.

Who will read them?

I have broached this topic before - who actually reads these posts?  Remember, this comes from a person who did write a dissertation for his PhD - lots of words there again.  I suspect there *might* be one or two people in this world (other than myself) who read the entire dissertation.  But, in those cases, it was their job to read it.

I ask this same question when I write for Pesticide Action Network.  Who reads the things I write for PAN?  When they read these things, how WELL do they read them and how WELL do they end up understanding them?  Does it motivate them to think about something carefully?  Will it challenge them to learn a bit more and adjust their opinion even a tiny bit?  

I don't know.  And maybe it isn't important that I know this?  After all, am I writing so other people will read?  

The answer to that last question is my typical "yes and no" sort of answer.  I think you'll understand as you read more of this blog.

Writing reflects my listening and learning

I took the writing of my dissertation very seriously.  I realized at the time that very few people would ever read it.  Yes, I guess I did have a few fantasies that what I would write could become something bigger and more "important."  But, I knew these thoughts for what they were - fantasies.  Even with that knowledge, I still worked very hard to write what I felt was an excellent dissertation.

Why?  Because, by writing, I was exercising my listening and learning skills.  It was a process to put all that I had read, all that I had collected in research and all that I had assimilated into my knowledge base into a cohesive form.  In effect, it became a reflection of active listening and active awareness regarding things that I was trying very hard to understand as well as I possibly could.

And now for the dose of humility.

I was encouraged to submit an article in a professional journal.  Wow, get people to think about the results of my hard work?  Wonderful!  To do that I had to condense my 150+ page dissertation into .... five to seven pages.

First reaction?  "You've got to be kidding me!"

Then I actually accomplished that task - and got it published.

New reaction?  "Why did I write so much in the first place when I could get the point across in seven pages?"

The answer to that question after getting published?  "Because I thought that was what I needed to do - even if it wasn't what I actually needed to do."

My thoughts on it now?  "Writing the original piece was part of my growth and learning process.  The short article was the expression of the resulting mastery of the topic - evidence that I had listened and learned and could succinctly summarize all of that in hopes that others might build from there."

Doesn't that sound like a silly academic?  Alas for me.

So here I am, writing some more

I am still listening and learning - and I am still writing to try and make sense of it all.  I could certainly type all of this or hand-write it into a journal that I would not share with anyone else.  But, then, I would miss the potential opportunity to listen to others and learn more as they respond to my thoughts.  And, perhaps, because there is the potential for some interaction, I am encouraged to explore things I would not bother exploring if it were only for me.  

Maybe something I write will encourage someone else to speak so I can listen.  Perhaps something I write will bring about a new line of thought for another person who might then move forward and do something good.  And, I will freely admit that there are times I hope I can help someone to learn and there are other times I hope I can be a positive or useful influence for others.  I do still have the heart of a teacher and I do still care enough to try to get people to think harder about things.

How much longer will I write?  After all, I have gone through periods where I just did not want to....  I suspect I will go through similar times in the future.  If you take a stroll through the blog, you can probably take some guesses about what leads to more or less writing.  There are numerous periods where the content seems pretty obligatory - after all, this is a farm blog and it is used to inform our customers.  Then, there are times.. like this year since March or the prior year's January...  Times when I seem to have a lot to say.  But, maybe that's because I am in the mood to learn - and I hope I can infect others with the need to learn and grow as well?

That's my story for now and I'm sticking to it.  Until I hear something that makes me consider otherwise.  Then I might write about that.

We Should Walk There Again Too (Two)

A couple of weeks ago (I think - after all, I am not even certain what today is), we took a trip up to Decorah with the expressed purpose of visiting some beautiful places we used to walk through on a semi-regular basis when we were in college and when we lived in the country near the town of Ridgeway.  Not long after the trip, we wrote a blog featuring Twin Springs.   Now we get to show a little of our visit at Dunning's Springs.  

Of the two locations, I suspect Dunning's is the more popular and more frequently photographed.  After all, it does have a nice waterfall.  And, it is closer to downtown Decorah, just across the river. 

What pleases and annoys me (yes, both) about Dunning's is the fact that there is this nice paved road that runs fairly close to the stream.  It sure is easy to take a walk fairly close to the running water.  But, it does tend to detract from the 'wildness' of it all.  However, if you look at the photo above, you might swear that we were well away from roads and homes and...   well, you get the idea.  

Sometimes I take pictures like this because they depict something very real - but there is also an illusion to it.  An illusion of wilderness (of a sort) even though it lies feet away from a paved road.  It reminds me that people can be alarmingly good at making things seem very different than they are.  It also reminds me that you might find truth and beauty by just taking one step off of the beaten path.

The stone bridge wasn't there when we went to college, nor was it there when we lived nearby.  This bridge was completed in 2017 and appears to be a fine piece of work - some real skill was required in making it.  I guess I admit at some level that I wish there was less of the human made and more of nature here.  But, if it encourages people to stay on the paths and enjoy nature without causing damage, I can certainly be for it.  

I admit that I tended to favor Twin Springs because you walked through much less town before you could get to 'country' if you were leaving Luther's campus.  To get to Dunning's you had to walk through several blocks of town proper before you saw fewer houses and felt like you were entering the country.   But, I wonder if I might have come more often to Dunning's if the bridge and pathways were there.  They seem comfortable and inviting enough for a college student to read for a while.  Maybe we'll go back and try reading for while.  

A test drive, if you will.

It was required that we "climb" the falls.  Ok.  I have always found myself climbing up the falls when I have visited Dunning's and this was no exception to that rule.  To our dismay, the two of us found that neither of us was quite as flexible as we once were.  So, the climb up and down was a little more adventurous than we once found it.  However, I think we both found our balance fairly quickly and it wasn't that big of a deal once we got into it.

For some reason, I find the water pouring out of the rocks to be captivating.  Even on a warm day, the colder water keeps the temperatures down. 

Tammy and I have had the privilege of visiting many waterfalls over time.  I think it would be fair to say that Dunning's is one of the hardest to photograph - especially when there is sunshine.  The sun tends to bleach out the top area when you take the picture.  Over all, it is just hard to show the depth and scale of these falls.  

I guess we'll have to go back, take our camera and walk there again.

Caretaker

The artistry of Norman Rockwell has been something that has captured my attention since I first encountered it at my grandparent's house in an over-sized, coffee-table book.  Rockwell had a way of capturing people in a way that let you get lost in the layers of fine detail.  And yes, I mean detail in more than one way.

Obviously, the detail with respect to the content of the artwork is quite amazing.  In the piece shown above, it is absolutely amazing how things like the texture of the wood on the scythe and the roughness of the farmers' hands are so clear to see.  But, even more amazing is the depth and consistency of the detail of the work.  Other than the unlikely appearance of the flying bird in the panel in just that position, nothing really seems out of place.  Nothing rattles against the subconscious - telling us something isn't right.  Even that bird belongs.

It is perfectly clear that the clothing worn by this individual is something familiar and functional.  There is a wear pattern on the handle of the scythe that implies this is not the first time it has been used - just as the hands of the farmer who is wielding it are roughened and experienced in manual labor.  The details showing the difference between skin regularly exposed to the elements (face, hands and neck) versus those less frequently exposed (upper arm) shows an honest familiarity of what it means to work outside.  The hair is likely a little mussed under that hat and it isn't likely to get much better until the end of the work day and all of the chores are done.

This is one of my favorite Rockwell pieces as it portrays the farmer as a caretaker - one who works hard, but keeps an eye on the well-being of the world around him/her.  The farmer has an appreciation for hard work and fully understands that 'things don't get any dunner, if you don't do them!"  At the same time, there is a recognition of natural beauty and the fragility of life.  And - the farmer knows that there is time to observe these things, even while the work waits.

Those tough, thick-fingered hands don't blister much anymore because they are all callous - but they can still hold a small bird.  Gently.  Kindly.  With awe and wonder.

This is the image of farmer I wish we could see realized on a regular basis.  Caretakers.  Not businessmen.  Stewards.  Not commodity growers.  There are plenty out there who have the heart to be this kind of farmer.  It would be good if we could find a way to employ them and realize the depth of value, beauty and worth that this type of caretaker brings to the land.

More or Less

 

It is not really all that big of a plot for our farm.  Maybe 30 feet by 100 feet in size, more or less.  There are three rows of green beans, two rows of potatoes and one row of flowers.   

The potato plants are done for the year, more or less.  There are few that have some greenery on them, but for the most part, the stems and leaves are brown and it is time for us to dig the potatoes.  Once again, the Colorado Potato Beetles were tough this season.  The early wet weather did not allow the beans to really flourish early, which meant any protection they might have given was pretty much a moot point by the time the beetles found the plants.  We got some much needed help picking the beetles off the plants, but that task can get mighty tedious!

Even so, the Adirondack Blue potatoes seemed to have less difficulty and early sampling shows that we'll have a decent crop of those, more or less.  The Adirondack Reds are likely to be less than more because the plants terminated before the tubers really bulked up.  Even so, we have some of those too.

After a slow start, the Provider green beans have done us proud.  Unlike most years where Providers give us one big harvest, this batch is behaving more like the Jades, giving us moderate sized picks nearly continuously.  We don't mind - until we can't manage to keep up with the harvest.  When that happens, more becomes less.

And, of course, we're happy to have flowers in this planting.  Perhaps the cosmos were the wrong choice for their location and the volunteer chleome required a little extra work.  So, we'll remember to put the cosmos at the ends of rows rather than the middles and we'll also remember that chleome actually seem to germinate better later and don't particularly care for us to try to start them early in trays.

And there you are - a blog post about one of our garden plots on the farm - more or less.

Tapped

 

 

What would you do if the Genuine Faux Farm blog had nothing posted on any given day?

You would go about your day and do what you do - minus maybe a couple of moments that some few of you use to read the blog.   

Today was very nearly such a day.  And, in fact, some of you might argue that today IS that day.  After all - a post with a giant tomato at the top that is published nearly two hours after most of our posts have been published on a nearly daily basis.  How in the world can this qualify?  How will the world cope with my tardy and imperfect offering?

It will cope the same way it copes on the days an on-time and slightly less imperfect offering from yours truly shows up here.  It's amazing how many things have more than one sharp edge to them.  It is both re-assuring and disconcerting that the appearance of a daily blog from one farmer in northeast Iowa is really not that important in the grand scheme.

On the other hand, a nice one and a half pound Gold Medal tomato from Eden's (one of our high tunnels) plants IS something of consequence.  We put a single Gold Medal plant into the high tunnel because we both love this variety.  It is one of the sweetest tomatoes and is excellent for sandwiches.  Because of the large size of the fruit, there tend to be very few of them per plant, which is part of the reason we do not typically put this particular variety into the high tunnel.  But, this year, we committed to growing nearly all of our tomatoes in the high tunnel after realizing our outdoor tomatoes were just going to be unable to fight through dicamba issues.

So there it is - the most perfect Gold Medal tomato we have seen in a few years.  Celebrate the tomato... and celebrate a daily blog from the Genuine Faux Farm.

Then go about your day.  I hope it is a good one.

Up-Mixed

It's only natural that we should err.  That we might offend.  That we will mislead.  Hopefully all without intending to do so and also hopefully with the desire to change and fix things when we do.

Someone shared the following with me.  For those who do not know.  JRR Tolkein's Lord of the Rings trilogy was published in 1954.   The first Harry Potter book was first published in 1997.  The people shown here are the actors/characters who starred in roles for the film adaptation of Lord of the Rings released beginning in 2001.

If you can not easily read the review, here is the beginning: "Overall, I like 'Lord of the Rings.' However, I do feel that Tolkien kind of rips off 'Harry Potter' in many ways...."  The commentary goes on to mention other things that make me wonder if the person writing this is just pulling everyone's leg here.  Even so, I have met or witnessed numerous cases where someone who CLEARLY does not know what they are talking about takes their partial knowledge and goes on a tear with it...

Just because YOU saw the Lord of the Rings movie after you saw a Harry Potter movie, it certainly does not mean that they were created in that order.  Yet, people often assume their experience of the world is the ONLY experience of the world.  Then, they make of facts and explanations that fit that experience and reject all others - and the natural response of those who might know better (even if they don't) is to respond by putting their head in their hands...

This is a reminder to me that we do not enter this world with immediate and complete knowledge of all that has gone before our time.  It is also a reminder to me that everyone has blind spots.  Everyone gets lazy sometimes and many people get lazy and still decide to make definitive statements that are flat out wrong.  What's worse is that other people take those statements as truth and.... away we go.

I still have some hope:

• I hope that we can extend grace to those who need to learn more by finding a supportive way to help them to gather the knowledge they are missing and integrate it into what they know.
• I hope that we can find ways to say 'no' and not ignore these instances because continued ignorance is certainly not bliss.
• I hope that those who are told they have a hole in their knowledge will have the strength to explore, learn, and change what they understand.  It's called growing.  And it can be hard.

As a person who has been an educator, who has presented at conferences, who has been asked to speak at various events and who has written for various things over the years, I can tell you one thing for certain:

I am certain I have said or written numerous things that were inaccurate, faulty and probably down-right embarrassingly wrong.  With that knowledge, I put forth these hopeful thoughts.

1. I hope that I did not cause any harm.
2. I hope that I have learned better and made changes to do better since that moment and I hope I have done what I need to in order to make things right.
3. It would be great if the people who witnessed me at my worst would give me a little feedback, grace and forgiveness.

What we think we know at any point in our lives is certainly not the whole truth.  If we believe that is the case, then we are mistaken.  Not only are we mistaken, but we are short-changing ourselves and the world we live in.  This world and its inhabitants are wonderfully complex and often beyond our complete understanding.  Instead of reacting as if you were a large, very bitey rattlesnake (as tempting as that may be) when someone points out that you might be mistaken, perhaps we could be a bit less "bitey" and a bit more reflective.  This is true EVEN IF it turns out you were correct in the first place. After all, someone reacted the way they did for some reason - and you may actually hold some of the fault for that.  Own it and adjust.

Be firm / Be kind:
I try to live by a two-side principle with varying amounts of success.  "Be harder on myself and be kinder to others."  

Before you go jumping to conclusions here, let me clarify.

When I say I should "be harder on myself" I am not saying I shouldn't forgive myself, nor am I saying that I should make myself suffer for perceived and real sins. What I am saying is that I need to force myself to expect more when it comes to figuring out what is true and what is the best course of action.  I do not want to tolerate being lazy when it comes to responding to criticism either.  If someone offers me criticism, there is a reason for it.  At the least, I should consider the criticism on its own merits - even if the actual words of the criticism don't accurately reflect the truth.  Perhaps the problem was in the delivery?  Maybe it was the word choice?  Is it possible I didn't look like I meant what I said?  It is entirely possible that there is another way to deliver what I was saying that will reach the person who responded badly?  And, you know what?  It is entirely likely the criticism holds some grain of truth I can incorporate in the whole of what I know - it is not required that I come away from the experience with a complete reversal of what I once new.  It is only required that I grow, learn and adapt for the better.

In short - I have responsibility for what I say or what I write.  It is important that I own up to how well I support my own learning and how carefully I consider the facts and circumstances and I how I interpret them.  And, as they say, the only good writing is re-writing.  Well, I am coming to believe that the only good combination of belief and knowledge is one that is constantly under revision.  And that, my friends, is also hard.

And as for that 'being kind to others' stuff?  It certainly doesn't mean you keep your mouth closed when someone is doing something or saying something that isn't right.  It means you give them to gift of constructive criticism and you give them the space to process rather than standing over them to achieve 'maximum shaming.'  Your job is to help someone grow and become better here.  To make things more difficult, there is also the idea that there are times when not engaging is the best answer.  Last I looked, finding ways to build resentment or destroy all self-esteem were two excellent ways to prevent improvement.

And yes, I need to be kinder to those that offer me criticism by not immediately responding as the 'bitey rattlesnake.' 

And I can tell you, a leash won't work.  It's really hard to find a neck on a snake.