March 2008 Archives

Mike recently introduced me to Google Alerts.  I like to surf the internet and read blogs and news articles about farming, but I tend to stick to the sites with which I am already familiar or have set up on an RSS feed.  The beauty of Google Alerts is that I can customize my area of interest and let Google do the search work for me.  I have four search alerts going right now and I learn something new most every day.

It dawned on both of us today that maybe someone out there has a Google Alert set up to search for an organic farm internship work opportunity.  Mike suggested I post a "help wanted" advertisement here on the 'ol blog letting everyone know that we are offering a farm internship this spring and summer.  We are planning on a sizeable expansion this season and we need help in every area of the farm:  planting, maintenance, harvesting, marketing.  You name it and we could use the help.  There is private lodging on the farm and a stipend to boot.  Plus, the lucky intern will get to eat eggs and freshly harvested produce from right here on the farm!

If you know of a college student or young person in good health and the ability to lift boxes who would be interested in this opportunity, please contact us via the links on the sidebar.  

These are the climate stats from the new greenhouse.  Mike left me in charge of managing the temperature and water requirements of all the tomato, pepper, and lettuce seedlings today as he has to be in Atlanta for business.  (He's only called twice to get updates.....on the plants, not the children.)  I've rolled up the side curtains (easier than it looks) and watered almost all of the tomato seedlings.  Those little black plastic trays really dry out in the warm air of the greenhouse. Gotta stay on top of moisture application!

The chard has germinated nicely, as have several of the lettuces.  Mike stumbled on a pack of Napa cabbage seeds from last year that didn't get sown; he planted them on Wednesday last week and they are also sprouting well.  We'll need that wider variety of greens if our CSA gets off the ground. 

Speaking of seedling performance, I am amazed at how much the tomatoes have jumped up since last week.  We transplanted a couple hundred plants on Monday and Wednesday and they are already noticeably and measureably taller and stronger than just one week ago.  Very encouraging to see them so healthy.

As for my box beds, I don't have any beets or carrots planted yet.  But the weather this week looks great and I hope to get to it tomorrow.  When I weed the garlic.  Really! 

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the 11th Annual Georgia Organics Conference.  Georgia Organics moves the conference around the state and this year it was in Dalton, GA - about 18 miles from our farm.  I had a full agenda starting with an in-depth farm workshop at Sequatchie Cove Farm.  Sequatchie Cove Farm is probably the best example of a biodynamic farm I have ever seen personally.  They do a great job of integrating everything they do in to a tightly woven farming operation.  They manage their livestock with sound pasture maintenance and compost production, they rotate their crops, have bees that pollinate and use on-farm materials whenever possible.  They are expanding and raising a herd of nearly extinct, heritage breed dairy cattle, Devon Cows.  Devons are a dual purpose breed: creamy, high quality milk and excellent meat.

Here's a link to a story about the conference and Sequatchie Cove Farm from the February 29th Chattanooga Times Free Press:  GO Article.

Thursday night, Denise and I met with several other farms for the Georgia Organics Farm Mentoring program.  We have been paired with Riverview Farms in Ranger, Georgia.  Riverview is the largest certified organic farm in GA (several hundred acres) and they specialize in grass-fed beef and Berkshire Pork, as well as a large CSA that delivers to Atlanta.  We'll be working with Wes and Charlotte Swancy and look forward to some good advice and interaction throughout the coming year.

The conference continued on Friday and Saturday with several excellent workshops covering a wide variety of organic farming methods.  Everything from cooking to farm management, soil health and farm animal grazing was covered during the conference - good information overlaod.

Last but not least, it was great to spend time with friends Lynne and Barry Morgan during the conference.  The Morgans are heading up a ministry called Acres of Hope America.  Acres of Hope America encourages small rural farmers through a variety of support programs.  We met some other great folks throughout the weekend including our Ringgold neighbors Mark and Gina Tant.

In my next post I plan to give you an update of what's happening here at Burns Best Farm.  We have some new and exciting things in the works, including a small CSA that Denise is working on for the upcoming season.

Until next time - buy locally grown food!