Local Seeds, Local Diversity

It was not that long ago, in the grand scheme of things, that multiple seed houses could be found in every state.  Most seed houses had their own breeding programs and might tout some of their best varieties in their advertising.  Sadly, local seed houses have, for the most part, gone away - much to the detriment of anyone who might like to grow a garden.

Wide Range of Breeding Programs

The Faxon Squash is listed in the Biodeversity Heritage Library as being introduced in 1894.  The M.B. Faxon company actually had a fairly widespread distribution of their catalogs in the late 1800s - so we should not make the assumption that a local seed house only sold locally.  However, the sheer number of seed houses throughout the world meant there were many more locations and organizations seeking to select for varieties that did well under all kinds of growing conditions.  The very nature of growing to produce seed implies careful attention to how the plants grow and how hybrid crosses pan out as they are developed.  Can you imagine how many different projects were running concurrently in the United States with multiple seed houses in most states?

As far as I have been able to tell, the M.B. Faxon company seems to have stopped publishing catalogues in the early 1900s and I am not sure if any strains of the "Faxon Squash" might survive today.  Again, I have not taken time to search for it beyond a cursory look, so who knows?

A.H.Ansley and Sons Hits the 'Big-time'

As mentioned earlier, there were many more seed houses and they came in all sorts of sizes with many kinds of specialty crops.  Some of the smaller, more local seed producers, such as A.H. Ansley and Sons might concentrate on developing and growing out particular crops for seed.  Every so often, these companies might hit on a winner.

The smaller, local producers wouldn't necessarily have the publicity to push a particular strain, but there were certainly larger concerns, such as W. Atlee Burpee & Co that might be willing to purchase the rights to introduce it to the public at large.  Some things may be no different then that they are now, I suspect Burpee introduced the "Perfection Wax" without giving any direct praise to Ansley.

The Myth of Perfect Veggies Has Long Tradition

It is true that a grower of produce is always happiest when a significant portion of the crop looks like the perfect picture that is always shown in the catalog (or in this case, the perfect carrots on the envelope).  But, perfect looks have never guaranteed satisfactory taste.  Nonetheless, it is clear that humans have always had a problem accepting that a tasty carrot just might not have that perfect wedge shape.

Some Veggies Have Lost Favor Over Time  

The crookneck summer squash shown above on the E.M. Lymon and Son advertising cover illustrates one veggie type that you just don't see much anymore.  Most growers who do raise summer squash prefer the straightneck varieties that have a smooth, rather than warty skin.  There was a short resurgence of the patty-pan shaped summer squashes, but that also appears to have faded.  It will be interesting to see if or when summer squash and the various types might make a comeback.

Potato Famine or Not, Some Veggies Have Staying Power

Then, there is the potato.  They store easily through the Winter and they can be used in any number of ways.  There is certainly debate as to how healthy they might be, but I suspect that has more to do with the method of preparation than the tubers themselves.  In fact, there are numerous varieties out there, some of which have a colored flesh, that have been show to have more nutrition than some of the more common varieties.

Just Pull an Ear Off the Stalk

There was a time when the difference between field corn and 'sweet' corn was less well defined.  I was briefly introduced to the idea that even field corn could taste good if you got it 'young enough.'  (Thank you Uncle Brownie)  But, then, this also implied that it had not recently been sprayed with a myriad of pesticides and fungicides.  (Thank you again, Uncle Brownie)

While I still prefer to cook our corn on the cob, I still find a certain pleasure pulling an ear off the stalk and eating in the field.  Sadly, we don't grow corn on our farm all that often because it gets low crop priority.  Well, not this year.  This year, I want my fifty row feet of corn.

Then, I'm going out there in August.  I'm going to pull an ear off the stalk, peal back the shuck...

and enjoy.

Get a Better Job

"When you blame a poor person for not getting a better job, you accept that while their job is necessary, whoever does it should be poor." - unknown

I wish I could track down whoever should be credited with this quote.  If anyone knows, please let me know.  However, I think several have said things like this before (including myself and Tammy) - but maybe not so eloquent as this.  Therefore, I will use it.

Disclaimer #1: I am not claiming to be 'poor.'  It would be accurate to say we land in the vicinity of the median income for the United States, with most of our income derived from off-farm sources. 
Disclaimer #2: This post is not so much about us as it is about an attitude. 
Disclaimer #3: This post was started about a year ago.  Rather than wait for the perfect version of this post, I'm just going to give it a quick finish and leave it out there for people to consider and, perhaps, act on.

What is a "Worthy" Job?
We could look at this two ways.  What jobs are held to be most prestigious in the United States or what jobs are compensated (monetarily) at the highest rate based on mean salaries.  I am not particularly interested in quibbling about how the two web articles I linked categorize jobs, nor do I care particularly what professions may be missing or whether the titles used are the best descriptors for the job in question.  What I do care about is the question of how we measure the worth of a given occupation.

The "prestigious" list probably will surprise very few people overall.  Doctors, nurses, firefighters, EMT's, military officers and police officers all land on the list cited above.  These professions are supposed to have something to do with everyone's health and safety.   If you wish, you could include veterinarian in this list, though the focus is on animal health.  I am sure we could have a discussion about where these professions might land on the 'prestige meter' if we separated responses by American sub-cultures - but that is still not the point I want to make.

Other jobs on the list are typically synonymous with high achievement: scientist, engineer and architect.  The perception is that these people are highly trained and often intelligent individuals who bridge a gap between theory and application.  That might explain why you don't see things like 'mathematician,' 'philosopher,' 'physicist' or other similar titles, all cases where the general public may not see the application.  That, and a significant portion of the population claims to be math-phobic, which may artificially raise or lower opinions about various professions.  I could see someone thinking, "Wow! Engineers make all kinds of complicated stuff AND they're so smart with math!"  I could also see the same person thinking, "Ya, I'm sure a person with a PhD in Mathematics is really smart, but they must be a bit touched if they just study math because it's math..." (ed note: full disclosure, Rob does have a B.A. in Math along with Computer Science)

Conspicuously absent are the skilled trades, helping professions, various business positions, etc.  However, another 'prestige' list from a couple of years prior includes teachers and clergy from the 'helping professions.'

The highest paid list, however, shows very little relationship between what our perceptions of prestige seem to indicate. 

Why is the farmer posing next to a wilted crop?  We will never know.

Why Aren't "Worthy Jobs" the Best Paying Jobs?
Most people, if they allow themselves a moment for thought, will agree that they value their health and safety (as well as the health and safety of those they love) over most other things.  And now, here we are in the midst of a pandemic - and it is becoming ever more clear that there are many, MANY undervalued jobs that are incredibly important.

This farmer is more comfortable with this type of 'selfie.'

Among those occupations that often have lower compensation, but have gained a higher appreciation?  Food production and food delivery systems.  Forgive me if I don't share the love with all of the other professions that deserve it at this very moment - I've mentioned many of them earlier in this post already.  Let me just say that each of us should think hard about some of the workers we can not do without.  Then we need to work together to find ways so they can go about doing their jobs well, without the constant worry about how they will pay bills and whether they have to decide to pay the rent or get a necessary medication.

Is Growing Food a Worthy Job? 

Let me put this into a personal perspective to make the final point.

Our farm income would not be sufficient for us to live reasonably well if neither of us worked off the farm.  If we both worked ON the farm full time, we could produce around 10 tons of food (probably more) each year.  To do that, we would still need to hire help.  And, in the end, we would be making some choices about medications versus other necessities.  Argue all you want about intangible benefits that come from this life-style, the point still is that you can't turn some of those things into currency that pays deductibles for doctor visits or pays for fuel to heat the home in winter.  It certainly does not pay for new siding on a house that needs it.

Again - this is NOT about us.  It is about using our farm's reality as a measuring stick.  If there are people out there (and there are) that want to farm on a small scale, sell to local markets and do it to make a living - we are a reasonable comparison to see if it is possible in the current climate.   Is ten tons of good food enough reason to expect those who provide the labor to earn a living wage?  You answer that for yourselves - I have my answer.

We want the people that serve as EMTs to be able to have a sufficient income so that the worry about finances doesn't distract them from doing their job well.  It is important that teachers are not breaking down because of the combined stress from concerns for the well-being of their students and their own family's overdue bills.  Do you want excellence in the products delivered by all those people in the 'service' industry?  Well, let's find a way so they can work one job and live a life that lets them work one job and do it well.

Let's rethink how we value various types of employment.  When you tell someone that they should be motivated to get out of these "dead-end, low paying jobs" and go get a "better job," what are you really saying?  In many ways, these ARE the better jobs.  Let's start treating them with more respect and let's support appropriate rewards for their efforts.

I Don't Think It Means What You Think It Means

How many times have you heard someone talk about how these times, with the Covid-19 pandemic, are "unprecedented?"  They keep using that word, but I don't think it means what they think it means.

The tailgate on Chumley has a 'boo-boo' - UNPRECENDENTED!

 Ok, so the Oxford dictionary says 'unprecedented' means 'never done or known before.'  So technically, we might be correct in saying this sort of damage to the pickup is unprecedented.  Well, actually it's not.  There have been a couple of other farm 'dings' because that is what happens with a farm truck.  By the way, I was not happy at all that this happened.  The how of it will be for another time.

Unprecedented stack of things in the Truck Barn...

 Ok, the stack of things to be cleaned or put away in the Truck Barn is not something that had never happened before.  BUT, I bet these specific items have never been stacked or placed EXACTLY like this before.  That must mean it is unprecedented.  Wow!  I can make anything sound impressive if I use that interpretation of the word.

Soup has never rolled around between this ladder and building before...

Part of what I am getting at is that we all have a tendency to co-opt words that are bigger or grander to try to make something sound more impressive.  'Unprecedented' is just such a word.  It's a longer word with more sylla-bobbles - so if you use it, you must be intelligent, right? 

The chickens have never... oh, wait.  They have.  Never mind.

The upshot of all of my belly-aching about a single word is that 'unprecedented' has been thrown around a good bit for the last four years for all kinds of things.  I notice that we seem willing to misuse 'unprecedented,' but we balk at the phrase 'without precedent.'  Folks... they are one and the same.

Case in point.  "These are unprecedented times with the Covid-19 pandemic, quarantines, shelter-in-place, etc."

But, this is not without precedent.  And many of the people that use 'unprecedented' for the current times will, in the same conversation, refer to the 1918 flu epidemic.  By default, they already know that there is/was a precedent.  Huh?  Perhaps we're using the word 'unprecedented' as an excuse for our failure not to look critically at prior pandemics and learn from them?  Hmmmmm.

This fence is falling down.  Unprecedented - for this fence.

So, here we are.  It is true.  The event of this particular fence falling down is unprecedented.  It has not fallen down before.  But, I am aware of many other fences that have fallen.   Most of the people currently alive in the United States have not experienced a pandemic, so it is unprecedented for them and their lives.  Soup the cat has never rolled around next to that ladder, so it is unprecedented for that specific arrangement.

But, these all miss the point that 'unprecedented' implies a certain enormity that is lost when we over-use it.  These certainly ARE exceptional times.  So, with respect to the pandemic, maybe I'll get over it.

But, the fence... unprecedented, I tell you!

It's Gonna Be a Good Day

One of the things we like about Spring at the Genuine Faux Farm are the returns of some of our favorite bird songs in the morning.  No, we are not referencing the crowing of our rooster or the squawking the hens make.  Though if you view/listen to the following youtube videos you will likely hear a bit of that too.

Our first video features the cardinal that was quite visible UNTIL Rob got the camera going to record the song AND the bird.  Well, at least we got the song.  Turn the volume up to hear.

One of the songs Tammy and I love is the morning/evening song of the American Robin.  It feels to us as if the Robin is telling us it is going to be (or was) a good day.  There are worms to catch and nests to build!

You will also hear some sparrows chirping away in the foreground.  Inspector gets a couple of 'meows' in as well.  After all, he wants to be fed.  And, of course, the rooster chimes in.  You'll just have to pay attention to hear the 'good day' song of the Robin.  Maybe we'll do better with a recording later on.

Thank you Mr. Robin.  Here's to a good day.

Scarred

I took a quick walk around the farm and walked by the field where we grew potatoes last year.  To dig potatoes, we use an undermining implement to dig a trench and bring the potatoes up so we can harvest them with a little less effort.  The wet Fall found us digging some of the rows quite late, so we couldn't really do anything else with the field.  So, as I walked by, I could still see the trenches that were created during the harvesting process.  The earth was still scarred from the process of harvesting what turned out to be a reasonable, if not bounteous, harvest.  

I found myself remembering the efforts that went into planting, cultivating, mulching and harvesting this crop.  And, as we ate a couple of baked potatoes from this field tonight, I found my gratitude for the earth's gift growing.  It made me want to work even harder to "do right" by the soil that provided and it got me to think a little bit differently about being scarred.

Many years ago, I made the mistake of trying to catch a pile of falling drywall and injured my wrist.  To make a long story short, I had a major surgery a year later that required pins to hold the wrist in place.  After several weeks of recovery, the day came to have the pins removed.  Being a person who isn't terribly fond of blood or open wounds, I figured I'd handle it by looking away.  Instead, I ended up watching as the doctor took what was a normal pliers you might find in your own tool box and used it to pull out each pin.  Today, I can look at my wrist and see the puckered area that covers the spot where those pins penetrated my skin.

My skin is scarred and it brings back the memories of the injury, the failed attempts to rehabilitate, the surgery and the eventual recovery to nearly full mobility.  But, more than that, the scar represents key learning that makes me who I am today.  This scar is a reminder of things that are precious.  This scar reminds me that there are people who will do wonderful things to help you to heal and be better than you are right now.  This scar reminds me that a trial can lead to growth.

And all of that reminds me to have hope.

Not my X-ray - it's just here to make the point.

With the current pandemic raging in our world, I find that I have spent more time putting out Facebook posts that I hope are encouraging and useful.  I have always hoped that I could use my modest skills as a writer and farmer to be a useful voice for a few people that might need it. 

But, I also find that I grow frustrated with the speed that the online world heals over.  It seems to ignore or move past anything each of us might do or say after a very short period of time.  As I contemplated this thought, I realized that this is not simply an online phenomenon, it's the way humans have worked for as long as they have been on this earth.  We have memories, but they are selective and limited.  We have recollections, but they are known to be faulty.  We have images of the past, but we don't always connect them to useful learning or appropriate change.  More often than not, they fail to leave a scar.  We have perfect skin in our remembrance, but that doesn't build the character that makes us better versions of ourselves.

I want some of the things that have been written here (or elsewhere) or spoken by me to become a scar that reminds you of something important, or something that helps you to move forward to something better, or reminds you to do your best and not give up.   In fact, it does not matter if I was the source of that scar - as long as it comes from somewhere.

May you find some music, a piece of prose or poetry, a sunrise or a flower, a kind word from someone you love ... something...

Something that scars you.  And makes you better than you were.

2020 Foresight - Farm Credit Program

We are beginning to get more inquiries regarding our CSA program and we though it would be a good idea to get a post out there that clarifies how you can get products form the Genuine Faux Farm in 2020.

 

Genuine Faux Farm is Dead!  Long Live Genuine Faux Farm!

 

First - in case you had not heard - we are no longer running the CSA model we have provided since 2005.  Instead, we have changed over to a pre-paid farm credit program.  This program provides you AND the farm more flexibility.  Credits can be applied to any product we produce, including veggies, fruits, eggs, poultry, starter plants, flowers and whatever else we might happen to have available. 

How Do You Purchase Credits?

• Credits purchased in $50 increments
• Maximum credit balance carried at any time is $200
• You can add more credits at any time ($50 at a time, cap at $200 at any given time).
• You can join us at any point during the season.
• Credits will expire 13 months after purchase (but we will help you get your value before that happens.
• Send payment by mail or via Paypal (contact us for details).

How Do You Use Credits?

• Delivery each week.
• Alternating locations between Waverly and Cedar Falls.
• Weekly email will list available product and provide instructions for delivery day.
• Place an order by responding to the email to reserve the items you want.
• A 'gentle reminder' email on the day of delivery will confirm orders received.
• Individual questions will be responded to at that time as well in separate correspondence.
• Come to the delivery point and pick up your products.
• We will maintain a ledger with your balance and mark off credits used once items have been delivered.

How Do I Pick Up My Produce?

With the ongoing pandemic, we have had to take additional steps to insure the safety of those for whom we provide food.  Please go to this blog post and you will see the steps we are taking.  We will continue to remind everyone about procedures in our weekly email and we will continue to make adjustments as we deem necessary for safety reasons.

 

Our primary pick up location in Cedar Falls is the West parking lot for Jorgensen Plaza.  Our secondary delivery point will be Hansen's Outlet.  Our primary pick up location in Waverly is St Andrew's Church and our secondary site will be at the Yogi Life Yoga and Cycling Studio.  Secondary delivery points will depend on demand and other factors.

 

Our current plan is to alternate weeks between Waverly and Cedar Falls.  You may come to any delivery point.  In other words, a Cedar Falls customer, if they are going to be in Waverly on delivery day, can certainly order and pick up product in Waverly.  The reverse is also true. 

 

 

 

Why Should You Join?

• Like the CSA program, this gives you the advantage of not having to pull out money at each delivery.
• We will give participants better pricing and opportunities than those who might prefer to 'pay as they go.'
• This program provides flexibility to allow you to participate when you are able to do so, regardless of travel schedule.
• Were you tired of receiving produce you really didn't want?  This program allows you to select what you want.
• Did you want more of one thing and less of another?  Farm credits allow you to order what you want from the things that we have available at any given week.
• Were there times you wanted to pick up in Cedar Falls rather than Waverly or vice versa?  Well, you can do that with the new program too.
• Are there times of the year when you are more interested in buying farm products and others when you are not?  Once again, you order as you go, using the credits to acquire what you want, when you want it.
• Did you like the old CSA program?  Well, good news, we can offer packages at each delivery for a certain number of farm credits.  If that is what you liked, then it will be similar - we'll just be counting credits.
• Just want eggs or chickens?  Starter plants?  Flowers? Well, guess what?  They're part of the program too!
• Would you like lower prices?  Members will receive items at last year's prices (which are remarkably similar to the past eight years).  Those who are not members can still purchase, but we will not guarantee the same price.

And The Most Important Reason to Join?

You will be supporting and receiving quality food items from your personal farmers.  Our reputation is solid and our products are top quality.  Our produce is certified organic and our poultry are pasture raised and non-GMO.

Perfect Day?

We haven't even had our solar array active on the farm for a full year yet and we're still learning a great deal about it.

For example, we've learned that even on cloudy days, solar panels are usually able to pull at least a little bit of power out of the highly filtered sun.  It takes a truly heavy cloud cover, with no breaks to shut them all the way down.  On the other hand, we have seen no evidence that a full moon provides anything that registers as power production - despite the fact that a couple of sources make claims that this is possible.

 On the other hand, we have also learned that it is incredibly rare to have what we are now calling a "perfect day" for solar production.  A perfect day can't have any sort of obstruction at any point in time that blocks the sun's rays from the panels.  A small patch of light, wispy clouds can be enough to actually put a dent in the 'curve' that shows a perfect day.

 Above is a graph showing the production for the past week, including today so far.  Yesterday, April 4, was very nearly a perfect day.  However, you might notice (click to see the bigger view of this picture) a couple of notches in the curve.  These are points where a high cloud floated by and briefly obstructed the sun - even if only partially.  April 3, on the other hand, was pretty cloudy all day long. 

But, March 30?  That was a perfect day.  And, it looks like today is on the way to trying to reach that same goal.

I guess we'll have to get the camera out today as well.  Let's see if we can capture another perfect day.

Cacophony

Every year, the "Cacophony" visits the farm in all of its splendor and chaos.  For those who are not familiar with us or our tendency to observe and name things with our own words and phrases, this is yet another case where Tammy and I use the word and we both know exactly what the other means.  Meanwhile, you and everyone else just looks confused.  Until we show you this (listen with the sound UP):

We were visited by a fairly large migrating flock of Red-winged Blackbirds, Grackles, Starlings and Cowbirds throughout the day today.  If you look closely at nearly ALL of the trees in the video, you will find that each has a significant number of birds in them.  There were more on the ground back by the barn as well. 

If you listened to our video with the sound up, you can imagine exactly how loud things were as I was working outside amidst the Cacophony.  The higher pitched and longer tones are the calls of the male Red-Winged Blackbird, which is a song both of us like to hear on the farm in late Spring and early Summer.  Though, we have to admit that we like the song more when there aren't quite as many of them trying to get our attention at one time!

Cornell Labs have wonderful birding resources and here is a "bird-cam" that includes a Red-Winged Blackbird singing.  If you want to see more information beyond the video we linked in below, you can take this link.

Most years we have a few pairs of Red-Winged Blackbirds nesting on the edges of our farm, usually in the ditches by the road.  Last year, we had one male that loved to sit on one of our "no spray" signs and sing to us.  However, if we got too close, he'd take flight and hover, scolding us continuously until we backed off.  Both us have memories of Red-Winged Blackbirds being a bit more aggressive when we biked on county roads frequently.  There were at least a couple of occasions where a bird gave Rob a nice little rap on the biking helmet.

Sometimes, we do a little extra reading about things that interest us and I came across an interesting bit of research involving these birds.  If I understand it correctly, the research found that there was higher hatchling success in the prime habitats (such as Sweet Marsh) vs other areas (such as human disturbed areas, like the edges of our farm).  On the other hand, the research seemed to find that population density might be higher in the less desirable habitats - perhaps because these are the less dominant birds of the species in the region.  In other words, more of the new generation of Red-winged Blackbirds come from the prime habitat areas even though the nesting density might be lower.

More Cornell Lab material on these birds makes mention of what appear to be sub-species of Red-winged Blackbirds that have slightly different coloring, etc.  An experiment where hatchlings were moved to different nests seems to show that these differences are more environmental than genetic.  From the site linked at the beginning of this paragraph:

"Different populations and subspecies of Red-winged Blackbirds vary markedly in size and proportions. An experiment was conducted that moved nestlings between populations and found that the chicks grew up to resemble their foster parents. This study indicated that much of the difference seen between populations is the result of different environments rather than different genetic makeups."

We hope you enjoyed reading a bit about a bird we are happy to see on our farm.

And, for those who know us, you might know what we mean when we say,
"Oh look!  A Red-winged Blackbird.... let's have some coffee."

We'll skip the coffee if that's ok with you.  But, we'll still enjoy our avian friend.

Safe Food

We fully understand that many people are tired of hearing about Covid-19 and the pandemic.  We get it - you don't want to hear one more explanation of how another organization or business or... whatever... is working to deal with the situation.  But, we also want you to pay a little bit of attention so you understand why our farm (and other farms like ours) will continue to be safe options to acquire healthy food for your consumption - pandemic or not.

Our Farm Has Your Health in Mind
We sell all of our product locally.  Most of what we sell is direct to consumer and that which isn't is sold to local restaurants, schools and nursing homes.  If we can't sell it, it goes to the food bank that serves people locally.  It only makes sense that we would want to be sure that the food we provide is safe for human consumption.  First, we really do NOT want to cause anyone harm because - well -  we just don't because that's who we are.  Second, practical business sense dictates that we should take this responsibility seriously because our customer base is so close to us and close to each other.  And, third, it's just the right thing to do (isn't that what I said in the first item?).

We have gone through the grower training for food safety and have the certificate to prove it!  That said, it was good to see that there was very little we had to adjust on our farm after we went through the training.  There are always improvements to any farm, but we were already in good standing before the training.  And, of course, we have additional plans to continue to improve how we deal with food safety because we are always trying to get better at what we do.

Food Safety Is A Good Start to Deal with Covid-19
We wash hands regularly and well.  We clean containers.  We clean surfaces.  You get the idea.  These are all part of the processes that are necessary to help keep viral infections from spreading.  The processes are in place and we intend to keep using and improving them.

Organic Certification Supports Farm Systems that are Good for Public Health

Our farm has been certified organic since 2007.  Every year we submit a farm plan that is reviewed against the National Organic Program (NOP) standards.  Every year our farm is inspected.  Each year, the inspector leaves happy.

That is good for us.  But, what is good for you is that certified organic farms are required to track crops/livestock in such a way that it promotes food safety and public health.  In the end, I see organic certification as a reward for trying to pay better attention to how we do things on our farm.  Organic certification promotes the idea that a farm should carefully consider its impact on the well-being of the environment, the community and the farm itself.

Additional Steps Our Farm is Taking During the Pandemic
The awareness our food safety training and organic certification leads us to consider additional steps we should take in light of the current pandemic.  We are fully aware that we become a possible vector for transmission during our deliveries.  If person A has a virus and hands us something that might be contaminated and we then hand something to person B (and C and D) we could very well cause a problem.  Some of our customers fall in high-risk categories for one reason or another and we are concerned for their (and all of our customers') health.

Direct to Consumer Changes at Genuine Faux Farm until further notice:

1. We will not accept money directly, nor will we give change.  We will accept payments via the mail or via Paypal.
2. During egg/off-season deliveries, we will place your order into your trunk or tailgate, etc.  so you can stay in your vehicle. 
3. As we get into the veggie season, we will not have the market style layout for selecting produce.  Instead, we will have your order in one of our tubs.  Your tub will be set out for you to remove product and place it in your container.  The tub will then be placed in a 'used container' pile.
4. We will wash/santize our hands during deliveries.  However, the biggest effort will be in not making contact with things brought in from 'outside' of our farm during a delivery.
5. We will not accept used egg cartons and other re-usable containers until further notice.  Please hold on to them for a later point in time.
6. If you must give us something during a delivery, we will ask you to place it in the cab of our truck so we do not handle it until after the delivery is completed.
7. If you need a delivery, please let us know.  We will happily make arrangements as we are able.
8. And, yes, if you are outside during a delivery, please maintain your distance (6 feet) from us and from others who have come to pick up product.

Bulk Product Delivery Changes at GFF until further notice:

1.  These should be minimal as we follow standard food safety protocol.
2. Adjustments will be made on a case by case basis.

Thank you for paying attention to your health, our health and the health of others who also patronize our farm!

Rob & Tammy Faux
Genuine Faux Farm

Covered

A couple of nice days and some good workers and viola - the farm house is now officially 'covered!'

As has been the case for any other house rehab project, there were some 'discovered' additional needs that have been addressed or still need to be addressed.  There were some foundation issues behind the brick facade that had once been under the front porch.  We've addressed the worst of it, but there is a bit more to do.

And, if you take a quick look at the portico (that little roof structure over the door on the left) and compare it to the picture below you might be able to notice a difference or two.

We knew it was sagging a bit and in need of a little adjusting.  What we did NOT know was that it was being held up by flashing, a couple of nails and the physics of the diagonal boards that support it.  I was *walking on that thing* as I worked to tear off the old siding.  Eeek.

If you go back to the newer picture, you might notice that the portico is squarer and not leaning forward quite so much.  Nice work, Duncans!

Wednesday was a special day for us because we took the last of the pile of old siding away from the house.  There is still more clean-up to do, but it isn't the big stuff.  I will say that neither of us is really looking forward to cleaning out the perennial flower beds around the house.  There will be plenty of nails, etc that we'll be encountering during that process.  We have some metal to put in the recycling pile and the scaffolding needs to get put away.  Other than that, we just wait until weather warms so we can do all of the caulking, touch-up and window painting / maintenance.

Oh.. and do some of the other 'discovered' things too.  What'd you expect?  It's an old farmhouse!

It Has Been THAT Time Before

We've got a number of things for you, so we thought we'd just get right down to it!

Early Spring Issues

The garlic suppression campaign.

The early warm weather is something we haven't talked about in recent blog posts, but maybe we should.  It is even rarer that we spend blogging time giving specific examples of problems an early Spring can cause for us at the farm.  Well, here we are, doing just that!

If you will recall, we had a very early Spring in 2012 that resulted in some difficult losses with our garlic (see #4 on this post).   Garlic was weeks ahead and their early emergence made them fair game for Aster Yellows.  The end result was that the garlic would not store and we could not use any of our own seed for subsequent years.

Determined to avoid having the same problem, we decided to do something about it this year.  Tammy and I went out and pushed all of those anxious little garlic plants BACK into the ground.  We also made certain to give them a verbal admonition to wait "just a little bit longer - for your own good."  Unfortunately, garlic does not have ears, so they must not have heard us and they popped back up the next day.  It is also possible that a few of them will not be garlic plants anymore since they gave us the 'raspberry' when they popped back out of the ground.

High Tunnel Wrinkle Repair Underway

A good sunny day helps, but botox will not.

The past weekend provided us with much needed warmth on the farm.  One of our normal Spring activities is to do routine maintenance on the high tunnel.  Along with fixing breaks, tightening turnbuckles and preparing the soil is the annual job of ironing the plastic.  This is one task we didn't count on when we first purchased the building, but I suppose we should have realized that the plastic would expand and contract given the temperature extremes it is forced to go through every year.  Since this year was exceptionally cold, the plastic is ... well... exceptionally wrinkly.  We hope to get through to the Fall before we replace the plastic, so we spent a good deal of time with a special ironing tool working the plastic back into shape.  Failure to do so would result in inadequate light entering the tunnel, so this is a critical step.

We were so busy with the process that we neglected to get a picture showing you how we got the top of the tunnel completed.  We'll try to show you a picture in the future.

One Phobia Beats Another
The Bandsaw Man is not too fond of heights.  But...

All I said was, "Look! A snake!"

Anonymous Farmer Project Includes Genuine Faux Farm

We have NO idea who that is.

The Genuine Faux Farm has been selected to be a participant in a new project called the Anonymous Farmer Project.  Since many people do not seem to place much importance on learning about where their food comes from, this project was created to reflect this common approach to food acquisition and consumption.  Photos were selected from those provided by participating farms and were placed on a calendar that can be found in the produce, fruit and meats section of many grocery stores throughout the nation.  In every case, the farmer's identity is obscured - providing the consumer with an excellent excuse for not knowing who grew the food they have purchased or how it was raised.

Dyed Water to Get Colored Eggs
Our farm participates in many research projects.  Some of them are of our own making, and this year is no exception.  We have noticed that the composition of the eggs laid by our hens can change depending on what the birds ingest.  For example, you might notice that the eggs become a richer yellow as they spend more outdoor time on green pastures and they fade a bit during the Winter.  In fact, we've noticed a definite orange tinge to the yolks when we feed them squash.  If you need more evidence, let me point something out.  What happens when you eat red beets?  I rest my case.

After the recent egg sales for Easter, we realized we may have missed the boat on an opportunity here.  Therefore, this Summer, we will segregate a small batch of chickens and put colored dye into their water.  Can you imagine how convenient it would be for all of you to celebrate Easter with pre-dyed eggs?   Our next step will be to figure out how to pre-hardboil the eggs.  We're not sure the chickens are going to enjoy that experiment as much.

Egg Filming In Progress
Iowa Public Television was once again at the Genuine Faux Farm to record supplemental footage for an upcoming Iowa Ingredient show.  GFF will already appear on a show that features the use of duck for this season and next season they will use footage for a show focusing on the use of eggs.

Awaiting the hatch with baited breath

IPTV staff contacted us in hopes that we might have some fertilized eggs that could eventually hatch.  Of course, we do have roosters in our flock, so we responded in the positive.  After all, the operative word in their request was "could."  Or, maybe they could have if they hadn't already been put in the refrigerator - but they don't need to know that - so don't tell them.

The filming crew has been at the farm for the past four weeks, taking turns keeping the camera running just in case the eggs should begin to show signs of hatching.  We suppose we should tell them at some point that these eggs needed to be in a warm environment for them to hatch, but when they aren't filming they've been pretty useful around the farm and we hate to lose the extra help.

Pre-Wilting Technique for Greens
Your farmers spend some time reading up on the newest techniques for production and harvest during the cold months of the year.  One of the hot topics recently has been finding the best ways to deal with post-harvest handling of greens.  Our farm has used hydro-cooling since 2007 in an effort to make it possible for lettuce and other similar veggies to last longer in your refrigerator and we feel we've been very successful with this process.

Note the successful wilting in the row to the right.

Apparently, one of the newer techniques is to stop watering the target plants long enough for the leaves to wilt.  Once wilt is achieved, they are re-hydrated with a heavy irrigation pass prior to harvest. 
The logic here is that those leaves that return to their prior picture of health were the ones most likely to last longer after cutting.  In short, this removes any of the weaker leaves from harvest, resulting in the customer getting the best quality leaves from the plant.

This process may be akin to the recent trends towards removing irrigation from tomato plants for a period of time prior to harvest to encourage more sugar set in the fruit. However, the articles we have read thus far do not discuss the taste quality of the produce in question.

Given the picture above, we can manage the wilting part.  We're not sure if we've got the timing down for the rest.

Rhetorical Farm Cart

If a 'rhetorical question' does not require an answer, then it makes sense that a rhetorical farm cart does not need to carry any payload.  Sometimes, it is all about the existence of the item and the point it is trying to make - at least that's what we've been told.   We purchased this new cart at an auction recently for $15.  Why did we buy it?  Well, we were running short on cash and needed an influx of money somehow...

Now, hear us out on this.  Usually, a little cart like this, in good shape, with good tires, would cost a minimum of $100.  Heck, we've seen a pile of tires go for $15.  In fact, we've seen another running gear without a deck with similar characteristics go for a couple hundred dollars.  At the very least, we figure we saved $50 on this rhetorical farm cart.  So, technically, we are in the positive by $50 or more.  We're still working out why the balance in the checking account went DOWN however.

Litter Harvest Reaches New Record Levels

Apparently word has gotten out that our farm actually resides on one of the richest deposits of scoopable cat litter in the state.  As a result, the demand has gone through the roof since its discovery.

In an effort to keep costs low, we've been re-using old litter buckets to harvest the pure, unrefined scoopable litter from the deposits deep in the earth.

Thus far, we have been only selling the litter 'ore' to larger refining companies, but we are considering working on setting up our own refinery so we can sell local scoopable cat litter direct to the consumer.  The hardest part has been coming up with a name for the new product.  We were sort of thinking about "True Grit" but are a little nervous that there might be some legal fall-out from John Wayne's estate.

Sadly, we had to move to a new vein last week after our outdoor cat farm managers discovered the initial lode. 

Tiny House For Felines


You probably have noticed the 'tiny house' concept for humans - well, here is the next new thing for pets - the litter bucket tiny home!  We read about cat lovers in a Chicago suburb placing litter buckets in the alleys and other locations where feral cats tend to be found.  After all, those poor critters suffer in the elements too!

There have apparently been a few issues with this approach that have yet to be addressed.  We have addressed one of them with Soup's personal 'tiny home' on the farm.  You see, most of the buckets in Chicago were put out with the lids on.  People were forgetting that cats do NOT have opposable thumbs and opening a lid is not likely to be easy for them.  When asked about this, one person said they were worried that the open side would result in the cat getting wet in a driving rainstorm, so they wanted to leave the lid there as a 'door' that the cat could shut.

Our solution allows the cat to get in and out just fine.  We figure if there is a driving rain coming in the opening, the cat can jump out quick and spin the bucket around in another direction.

There were several other problems noted with these tiny homes, but we'll let you figure out that bucket list on your own.

Weed Maze
GFF enters agritourism with first annual weed maze.   Anticipated opening of the maze is sometime in August when the foxtail, pigweed and giant ragweed have had a chance to reach their growth potential.  Tammy was quoted as saying that this would work as long as those pesky tomatoes weren't always in the way.  An attempt to have a weed maze was thwarted when the worker who was sent to mow the maze path was lost.  Recent field clean up revealed that the worker had survived the mild winter, eating frozen tomatoes and field mice.    

Moving Away from Free-Range

If you've paid any attention to our farm, you will know that we are dedicated to practices that work with nature.  We grow certified organic produce and day-range poultry.  However, our days of free-range workers on the farm are coming to an end.

Apparently, the good people that work on our farm are quality individuals who are in high demand in so many other places.  Some of them graduate and then go on to further schooling or to a 'real job,'  leaving us behind with ne'er a backward glance.  Others, for some reason, find themselves taking things called 'internships' in their field of study.  Still others do things like 'get married' or take 'full-time employment' or whatever sad little reasons they come up with.

Well, we've had enough of this.  We are planning on moving to the confinement model for farm workers this year.  As long as we keep them fed and watered, they should be happy.  We may even throw them some excess produce now and again so they can chase it around the pasture like the turkeys do.

We still need to work out how we can keep them under control when we let them out of the pasture to do actual work on the farm.  We have considered the ankle bracelet monitoring systems used for some law enforcement purposes, but that seems cost-prohibitive.  Instead, it seems more likely that we'll just tie a bright red balloon onto a string and tie that string to the worker.  Then, we just need to look for the balloon so we can locate the worker.  I suspect there are some problems with that plan as well, but we have to start somewhere.

Compressed Air Aids Laying Hens
The process of laying eggs can cost a hen a great deal of energy.  And, as we have found, egg production decreases during temperature extremes due to the increase in energy required to maintain body temperature.  We are considering the purchase of a new air compressor with special tubes and attachments to aid the hens with their egg laying tasks.  This special equipment is not entirely unlike automated milking machines in set up, but rather than using suction, puffs of air will be sent through the hoses and into the birds' beaks.  Essentially, the intent is to reduce the effort of laying eggs by helping to push the eggs out with air pressure.  It appears the most difficult part of setting up this equipment will be determining the correct psi (pounds per square inch) setting on the compressor.  Clearly, if the setting is too low, the only thing that the birds will get out of it is an extra dose of oxygen.  On the other hand, we're not entirely sure we want to find out what happens if the setting is too high.  We really do not want to be dodging eggs flying around the room that got pushed out a bit too quickly.

Cucumber Frog Re-applies for Clemency
The Genuine Faux Farm Cucumber Frog applied for and apparently received approval from someone other than Farmer Rob to move indoors during the cold Winter months.  This latest comes on the heels of Mr. Frog's prior application for clemency with regard to prior 'wrongdoing' on his part.

Mr. Frog is known for his tendency to find ways to startle Farmer Rob during cucumber harvest times.  The timing of his 'surprise appearances' can be good enough to cause the farmer to drop freshly picked produce and/or jump backwards quickly while saying something that sounds like "Gaaaah!"  The farmer is quoted as saying "that frog is a menace and hazard in the field. I am just glad I don't have to deal with him at other times of the year." 

Apparently, the Cucumber Frog has been given access to warmer places on the farm this Winter.  And, what could be warmer than the farmhouse itself? Now, with Mr. Frog enjoying these warmer environs during some of those "other times of the year," the farmer has dropped the laundry basket, a pile of books, a stitch and a line or two.   

"Look," said the farmer, "I appreciate all Mr. Frog does to keep down some of the pests in our cucumber field and I don't want him to leave the farm.  I can tolerate his shenanigans during cucumber harvest.  But, I just don't feel I should have to worry about him jumping out from behind the shower curtain when I'm trying to use the loo."

In later news: Yes, the Farmer Did Say "Use the Loo." 

Star Wars has it Right
Wheels?  Who needs them?  We have decided that wheels are over-rated and we're looking at new ways to move things about the farm.  Rob is working on a 'hover-craft' of sorts and has already identified the payload - the old flair box shown in the picture below:

A thousand and one uses....

Thus far, efforts have met with mixed (at best) success.  The first effort with a series of shop-vacs pumping air out the bottom resulted in some lift, but there was no room left for anything else because it took too many vacuums to get it to go.  For all of you I borrowed shop vacs from - I'll get back to you (see below).

The second effort seemed to work better.  I put the shop vacs on another wheeled cart and then had the vacuums suspend this box over the cart.  It looked neat until I realized I was still relying on wheels.  In disgust, I cut off the power to the shop vacs.  So.... about those shop vacs I borrowed.

My next effort was an attempt to get electromagnetic suspension to work.  Using maglev suspension methods that are used for some trains as a model, it seemed like I could be in business.  The parts only cost a little bit.  Well, ok, let's just say I owe more than I'll ever earn in my lifetime.  The whole project hit a snag when I realized I needed to lay rails everywhere I wanted to go on the farm to make this thing work.  Since I didn't want it to be limited to only certain areas, I decided to lay track "on the fly."  As the thing moved forward, I picked up the rails that were behind it and moved them to the front.  It's not hard to move them with the loader on the tractor.  Did you spot the problem with this solution?

Yep, the chickens kept getting in the way.

Speaking of chickens, my latest idea is to strap a whole bunch of chickens to the bottom of this thing and get them to fly.  What could possibly go wrong?

Next Year's Project: Rear-Discharge Lawn Mower

We Assume You Have Figured It Out By Now
Why yes... today IS April 1.  And, yes, you might have seen some of these before.  Why?  Well, we went out grabbed some of the April Fool's mini-articles from the past several years and put it into one.  Will there be a new one in 2020?  Well, what is today?  And, when do WE usually post our April Fool's posts?  We shall see!

March 30 Walkabout

We hadn't seen the sun at the farm for several days in a row.  The grey skies were starting to feel heavier than they had a right to be.  Perhaps it had something to do with the added worry that comes with a pandemic and all of the adjustments and the issues that arise because of those adjustments?  Then, March 30th comes along and gives us a glorious day.  The pandemic was still here and frankly, it was still terrifying.  The adjustments and the issues that come with them were still here as well.  But, somehow, the sunshine and blue skies helped us feel that there is a way forward.

 I took a walkabout on the farm with camera in hand during the morning hours.  I am not much of a photographer - more of a point, shoot and hope to get lucky hobbyist - but I do know good lighting when I see it.  So, I tried a few things for fun and I took other shots to just record the state of our farm at this time.
 

 Our seemingly perpetual puddles were calm and there was no wind.  I just happened to look and see that one puddle was showing a reflection of the granary that has our logo painted on the side.  I thought it might be neat to capture it, so I did. 

 The old barn has a melancholy attractiveness to it right now as it continues the process of coming down on its own.  Hopefully, we can begin working to salvage what is left this Fall and early winter. 

 Part of me wishes we could salvage at least part of the building, but the logistics and costs are probably more than we can bear.  We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.  In the meantime, we'll see if we can get some interesting pictures out of it.

 It is the time of year when I start looking at the soil more critically to determine when I might be able to do some work in the fields.  This is particularly important this year because I hope to create swales (ditches) and raised areas using the soil removed from the swales so I can deal with the higher moisture levels we have been seeing.  I think the soil might still be a bit saturated - what do you think?

And, the sky was really blue.  No filters on the camera.  Just blue.

I did make sure to appreciate it.  I hope you did to.