NOFA NY

Even though it was a while ago, I still want to write about the conference that we attended. Northeast Organic Farmers Association New York (also known as nofany) hosted a three day conference in Saratoga Springs. After a harrowing drive through yet another snowstorm (go subaru go!) we arrived around lunch time. I went to a lecture on brambles which was pretty interesting, especially learning about how the three farmers speaking set their pricing and how they decided wages. One of them paid health insurance, which is pretty rare, while another thought that enough fresh berries is all the health insurance you'd need. They had a variety of marketing strategies, including pick your own, farmers markets and CSAs.

A few of us went to Friday night services with Betsy at a local temple which was pretty great. The next morning I went to a presentation by Half Pint Farm near Burlington, VT. They seemed really happy with their farm and their life and gave me a lot of confidence in farming as not just a profession but a lifestyle.

I also went to a fascinating talk about cost of production tracking and farm records. Definitely makes me want to get a book on small farm business management since there seems to be lots and lots to learn.

Over all, it was an interesting, well done conference. Hopefully I'll be able to go back someday!

Prospective Students

We've had a good time hosting prospective students this fall. It's fun to see the type of people interested in this program and meeting so many folks from different walks of life who also want to take a year off from the 'real world' and live on a farm together. This week I had my first person come up to me and say that she had read my blog. Not only did it make me feel like a superstar, it also let me know that besides this being a place for funny pictures of sheep and an outlet for typos, but it's also a helpful tool in recruiting people to such a wonderful place.

In that vein, if anyone is reading this and is interested in farming, or The Farm School (or more funny pictures of sheep) I invite any questions, no matter how mundane. I remember this summer when I was packing and kept wondering if the beds were normal or extra long like in college and therefore what sheets I should bring. So, any and all questions are welcome.

In other news, we erected the beginning of our timber frame this afternoon. So exciting! Pictures to come.

Conference Time!

We're headed to Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York's conference for the weekend. Hopefully it'll be a fun, informative weekend. More to come on my return!

Also, This Happened

I found this on Brian's facebook page: www.factoryfarmmap.org

Meat CSA

If you ever want to become even colder during late November, pack up the meat CSA. It's a chilly job.

We run a CSA (community supported agriculture) of meat through the winter. It's 12 pounds of meat once a month for five months. We try to give a good variety of the lamb, pork and beef that we raise and, as you can see, folks lucked out with some bacon this month.

The whole CSA versus farmers markets conversation is very interesting (right up there with meat versus vegetables). On the one hand, in a CSA you are paid up front by your customers and deliver your product later. You have a stable income before even beginning the farming process. The downside is that if your turnip crop fails (horrors!) or your freezer doesn't work, you've lost the product that someone has already paid for. Farmers markets offer a bit less stress, since if you thought you'd have 50 chickens and only have 45, you haven't lost five customers you've promised chickens to. However, you then have to move all your meat/veggies/whatever out the door with no guarantee that you'll be able to sell all that you've produced.

So, as ever, the conclusion is that you'll never make much money farming. At least I'll always have something to eat!

Temple Grandin

How did I not know about this? I had heard vaguely of her research, but didn't know that she published books. For those of you who don't know, she's a farmer who has tackled autism and working as a woman in a man's field (field... get it...?). Her groundbreaking work has changed how we deal with animals and conceive of their thought process. In the midst of packing, moving and saying goodbye, I'm going to have to pick up one of her books.

Farm City

What a wonderful book! Just finished it and it made me so exciting for farming. Can't wait until I'm sitting in my own kitchen, frying bacon from a pig and eating fresh fruits and veggies from my own garden. It makes me think that it's fine not to know everything and that mistakes are simply part of the game.