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Courier’s Haley Completes Farm Course

August 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

(Madison County, NY – Aug. 2011) Madison County Courier’s City Slicker Linda Haley recently completed the “Empowering Women Farmers in the Northeast through Whole Farm Planning” curriculum.

The Central New York Resource Conservation and Development Project, Inc., announced recently the completion of its second year of a three-year program to assist beginning women farmers, defined as those having less than 10 years farming experience.

“The NE Beginning Women Farmer program allowed me to learn hands-on, in-classroom and through peer discussion the real challenges I would be facing as a farmer today, while providing me the tools to address them,” Haley said. “In addition, I leave with a lifelong support system and perpetually growing network of resources to guarantee my success.”

The program instructs participants on using a holistic approach to decision making on their farms. Thirty participants (15 per year) from all across the state met for 10 sessions on topics such as goal-setting; financial, business, and marketing plans; land and infrastructure planning, soil fertility and planned grazing.

The final four sessions were located on farms to allow for hands-on learning.

Participants are provided with a mentor and are connected with a network of other beginning women farmers throughout the Northeast for additional support. Participants from previous classes continue to meet after graduation to stay connected, enjoy the camaraderie created by the training and expand their learning.

“Empowering Beginning Women Farmers in the Northeast through Whole Farm Planning” was funded by Holistic Management International through a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture. Across the Northeast, more than 150 women have graduated from the training giving them new tools, information and perspectives on how to succeed in farming.

Applications for the third year of this program are due Sept. 30 and are available at cnyrcd.org or by contacting Lauren Lines, New York state coordinator, at rcdstaff@cnyrcd.org. The sessions will begin in November and will be located in Central New York for the upcoming year.

Filed Under: Agriculture, Announcements, Business & Finance, City Slicker, Top Stories Tagged With: , ,

Journey to Mule Days as Fun as Event

August 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
CARS and MULES 175

 

City Slicker

By Linda J. Haley

(Aug. 2011) My day started in Syracuse, chasing appointments and running errands in a desperate attempt to get out of the city and off to Brookfield for Mule Days! Finally, I hit the Thruway, jump off at Canastota and zoom up the Oxbow, past Peterboro, through Morrisville and Madison on Route 20 to the Madison County Fairgrounds.

I round the corner in Peterboro, running smack into a field full of sharp cars, oldies music, food and craft vendors plus a chicken barbecue at the firehouse.

What the heck? Peterboro’s Home Town Day!

Well I just have to spend some time here … I’m a sucker for old cars; it’d be a shame to miss all this. It never ceases to amaze me how much goes on in this quiet little hamlet. I wander around admiring the cars – especially a favorite from my youth: a ’67 Camaro SS, when I run into a truly unique ride. It’s a convertible, sort of. The front is entirely enclosed, but the rear sports an open roof. Brilliant!

The owner of this car, a 1929 Chevrolet Landau sedan, told me a fascinating tale. Mr. Chevrolet built this car for his flapper wife. Her girlfriends wanted to go clubbing in a convertible, but she didn’t want her hair mussed. He built this elegant compromise, 298 of them. She drove wind-free while her friends carried on in the back.

Timing is everything … being a very expensive vehicle in the Great Depression, few were sold. Too bad; they even got 20 miles per gallon!

There are only eight left in the world, and here one was in Peterboro? Wow!

Suddenly my camera died, the only thing Peterboro didn’t have was batteries. My editor advises a detour to Hamilton, bringing another unexpected happy discovery: Mosher’s Farm Market. I see a sign: Raspberries, Peas, Corn. Who could drive past that?

I bound up to the busy stand, cash in hand, perusing the gorgeous produce. OMG do I see bags of shelled peas? Are you kidding me, shelled and ready to eat by the fistfuls? Yeah! I snag a bag for the road. I leave $25 bucks lighter and happily munching away back on the road to Brookfield my car filled with the scent of raspberries.

Arriving at the fairgrounds, I see eight horse trailers and dust kicking up in the distance. I walk down to the newly renovated horse arena. Mules! Gorgeous mules of all colors and sizes mounted with just as colorful riders.

I see some familiar faces from the Madison County Fair, and everyone is extremely friendly and welcoming. Don’t you just love mules? They are so darn smart and such characters! I think they have the most beautiful faces.

Some folks say there are horse people and mule people. Personally, I love both, for different reasons. They are similar, of course, due to genetics, but as far as training and working them, they are truly in a class of their own.

Currently, I’m not smart enough to own a mule. I need a lot more schooling, but I enjoy working them with my mentor in Boonville. They never cease to amaze me with their intelligence, tenacity and athleticism.

When I arrive, they’ve finished most heats for the day, running obstacles and doing lots of things we do in horse competitions, only with mules. I observe the keyhole exercise. In this heat, you run your mule to the end of the area, trace the keyhole shape without touching the boundaries then haul ass (literally) to the other end past a timer.

Exciting!

Exciting because I know you don’t “make” a mule do anything, it has to be a partnership toward a common goal. And move? Holy cow, mules are fast. Most folks see mules as workhorses, pulling plows, wagons or the old Erie Canal boats.

There’s plenty of pounding hooves and clouds of dust when these guys lay’em down. And braying? You can’t help but smile and laugh when you hear that sound! Everyone was hooting and hollerin’ words of encouragement – truly a fun group of people passionate for the sport.

Plenty of families had kids in saddle, and the next day promised an open trail ride. The announcer thanked the sponsors and participants, giving the particulars for the next day, inviting everyone equine.

“Remember folks, it takes a horse to make a mule, so all are welcome tomorrow.”

I thought that was great; more folks should take the time to appreciate mules, and the Madison County Mule Days is a great place to start!

Linda J. Haley is a freelance writer specializing in rural and agricultural topics. She can be reached at linda@m3pmedia.com. 

Filed Under: Agriculture, Bouckville-Solsville, Brookfield, City Slicker, Equine, Hamilton, Opinion-Editorial, Peterboro Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Open Farms Unlock Discovery

July 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
OPEN FARMS 2011 002

 

City Slicker

By Linda J. Haley

(Madison County, NY – July 2011) Time for my favorite summer activity, Madison County’s fourth annual Open Farms Day! For those of you unaware, for six short hours on one solitary day, 40 local farms and three farmers markets throw open their doors and welcome you to peek inside.

It’s the Willie Wonka Tour of farming!

Imagine that farm you’ve driven by a thousand times on the way to work: haven’t you always been curious about what they DO there? How they care for the different animals and crops? What they grow and products they make?

Weren’t you always a teensy bit jealous of kids with grandpas and uncles who owned farms they got to visit when they were young? I was! Now’s my chance to catch up. It’s not too late for you, either!

I look forward to Open Farms Day and visiting different farms, cramming in as many as I can, zooming through gorgeous countryside, snacking on whatever I find at each – I know, I know; you’re shocked food is involved. But no worries: it was so hot again this year, I swear I sweated off five pounds.

This year, I conquered two markets and five farms, beginning at town of Lenox farmers market. I start with markets to get my passport book listing farm descriptions and locations for my GPS. The books have a picture key denoting who’s giving tours, who’s got critters and, most importantly, who’s got snackies to try and goodies to buy.

Fist stop? Thistle Dew Farm on Bruce Road. Thistle Dew is about beef and dogs. I was greeted by the loyal Australian shepherd work crew as I pulled in. If you need a good farmhand, the family occasionally has puppies available.

The Taylors treat me to a strolling farm tour, discussing rotational grazing practices. They specialize in 100-percent grass-fed Hereford/angus beef. Have you heard of Smart Cars? These are Smart Cows. Tucked away in an orchard, they looked over, politely mooed, arranged their calves into a nursery display, but were staying put and cool.

I learned about Omega-3’s and raising beef, snuggled dogs and met great folks.

Onto the next, Pushlar’s Amore Mini Donkeys of Cazenovia was packed with kids, donkeys, parents and smiles everywhere! Being my third stop, I earned a baseball cap.

Yes!

A momma donkey with her 3-day-old baby, calm as can be, stood for thousands of petting and stroking hands. What? If I gave birth three days ago in this heat, I wouldn’t tolerate strangers looking at me, let alone touching me and my baby!

Their calf was getting loved on, too. I touched every donkey I could find.

I then raced off to the Cazenovia farmers market, where you can truly buy everything, but resisted staying to zoom to Meadowood Farms on Ridge Road.

Gorgeous!

I have NEVER seen a cleaner, better organized operation of cheese enthusiasts! These people are passionate about sheep’s milk products. It showed in their beautifully textured and yummy cheeses and yogurts.

Off to Brick Farm on Rathbun Road. Brick Farm gets my award for most tenacious marketers in getting us to their remote location at the end of a stone road placing tons of signs begging you follow. I did, emerging to a clearing exploding with families enjoying Brick Farm’s BBQ, Chili Sauce and Salsa on omelets, home fries and meats.

Foodies! Yea!

Kids took wagon rides, barns were open with friendly critters, plus hysterical goats and mini horses to feed. Great job Lavelle family!

It was starting to get even busier there, so I looked at the book to see if I had time for a longer trip. Off to Highland Farms of Hamilton.

Highland gets my Chutzpah award. They’ve only been operating for a year, doing so with limited manpower and still opened their farm to Farm Day. Pretty cool! Not only could you tour and ask questions, they had live music and gave away free plants!

They specialize in organic greens and fancy salad mixes, plus eggs. I fantasize about owning greenhouses like theirs. Highland chickens live Cadillac lives inside a cool stone barn, with fans, happy as can be, with the fanciest rolling coop I have ever seen.

It has solar panels for heat, gravity-fed water and a low disturbance area to collect eggs.

Sheesh!

I had another exceptional day, met great people and learned new things while adding more great places to buy local to my list. I have been truly spoiled by Madison County’s huge bounty of exceptional products.

Thanks, Open Farm Day!

Linda J. Haley is a freelance writer specializing in rural and agricultural topics. She can be reached at linda@m3pmedia.com.

Filed Under: Agriculture, Canastota, Cazenovia, City Slicker, Hamilton, Lenox, Opinion-Editorial, Top Stories Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Fair weather … and Friends

July 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

City Slicker

By Linda J. Haley

(Madison County, NY – July 2011) Summer’s here! I’ve been sent once again to cover parades and events like a real reporter.

First up, Hamilton’s Fourth of July parade. I got there early, staking out a prime spot in the center of town. Half the fun of a parade is sharing the chaos around you.

My corner was exploding with crying babies, wild kids and overheated parents, all excited to see the parade. A mom walked by patiently explaining the holiday in simple terms to her small children. She did an excellent job – I could’ve used her help in school.

Lots of folks ran into friends with much good-natured ribbing overheard. FINALLY, the parade began. And then it happened. Instead of just being on assignment, I actually knew people in this parade!

What the heck? I still live in the city, but suddenly I feel connected. It was weird and neat at the same time! It was like my own Madison County year in review!

* First up was a regiment of Civil War re-enactors looking like they stepped right out of Peterboro.

* Dwight Cramer of Airborne Adventures who flew me over Munnsville’s farms strolled the crowd handing out American flags.

* The Canastota Community Band I heard at Stockbridge was playing a rousing rendition of “Rocky” as they motored past.

* The girls of the Romagnoli tree farm were on a float for Crystal Kay’s School of Dance.

* Kim Hawkins and Kobe from my ‘Doggone Cold’ column glided past in her hot air balloon basket. (Eat your heart out Dorothy!)

* Suddenly, a car highlighting Kaylin Broadwell, FFA District 5 president, was right in front of me; I just met Kaylin at the FFA Farm Days.

* I was still processing it all when I saw the 4H Young Riders Club members (I met at presentations a few months ago) atop their trusty steeds, bringing my favorite thing (horses) back to the streets.

What a day! My favorite part were all the folks around me who shouted out “Thank you for your service!” whenever a veteran passed. Class act, Hamilton!

My next assignment was the Madison County Fair in Brookfield.

What a great time!

I started my day watching obstacle course and barrel racing competitions at the horse arena. I met Mackenzie, riding mule Cletus, and Morgan riding her horse Chappy, both from Ellsworth Farms. They clued me in about the upcoming Mule Days at the end of July. How exciting!

There were two ponies there, or maybe miniature horses? Hard to tell, they were chubby, adorable and hysterical to watch race around barrels the same height as them.

I checked out fancy chickens, ducks, bunnies, horses, goats, cows and met a charming young man named Noah from Hubbardsville who rescued what looked to be a sparrow, taming him into a well-mannered friend.

I wanted to take them both home!

Heading back to the buildings, I saw very well-done exhibits for STOP DWI and post-traumatic stress disorder (with regard to returning veterans). I toured buildings filled with old farming tools, barn displays, tractor pulls and past fair memorabilia, checked out food and flower competitions and ogled some nice quilt work.

I was serenaded with an old marketing jingle by a Brookfield historian and sat in on a magic show, all with the smell of chicken barbecue in the background, yum!

I then went off to experience my first tractor pull.

I was full of questions, and everyone was great about sharing information. Man, there’s a lot of work and pride in those machines. I confess a love for older tractors and relish when they show the crowd how it’s done.

After the pull, I grabbed a smoothie to beat the heat and stopped off in the barn to check in with my editor.

Well, did I see everything?

After she finished wiping her eyes from laughing at me, she handed me a schedule on the wall and said ‘you haven’t even scratched the surface.’ What? I gotta go back to the city.

I can’t believe I’m missing the demolition derby, truck pulls, and more horse stuff and … aauugh! But then I thought, ‘Hey, there’s always next year.’

And that’s why you need to make a point to get out to the Madison County Fair: it’s come a long way baby, and it’s not to be missed.

See you there next year and at the upcoming Mule Days!

Linda J. Haley is a freelance writer specializing in rural and agricultural topics. She can be reached at linda@m3pmedia.com.

 

Filed Under: Agriculture, City Slicker, Opinion-Editorial Tagged With: ,

Do you have ‘S.O.D.?’

July 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

City Slicker

By Linda J. Haley

(June 2011) Off to another farm school-organized farm tour – this time in Madison County! – at Ingallside Meadows Farm, on Ingalls Corners Road, Canastota. Our topic? Soil fertility. Working in obstetrics and gynecology, I’m familiar with human fertility, but soil?

I thought it was just dirt. I was so wrong.

I arrive to a beautiful farm with neat, raised beds of flowers and veggies, barn, pastures of chickens, pigs, cows, horses and an area to sell farm goods directly to the public.

Fuzzy black kittens scamper across my path as I make my way to our makeshift classroom. My classmates and I were completely spoiled with yummy baked goods and perfect coffee.

Daniel Kline, his wife Joanna, and their smart and perfectly mannered children, (two boys and two girls) were our incredible friendly and generous hosts for today’s lesson, staying with our class to offer personal accounts regarding soil fertility.

Our teacher Crystal Stewart, from Cornell Cooperative Extensions Capital District Vegetable & Small Fruit Program was awesome! I have to admit, before class, dirt was just brown stuff on the ground. After a day with Crystal, I’ll never view it the same way. I actually use the word ‘soil’ now, really!

More importantly, I know what ‘fertile soil’ means and why it’s critical to maintain. Crystal started with the basics. (Thank God!) What is soil? Um, what? I have never contemplated soil structure. What’s in it? How does it adhere and maintain air and water? How is it lost and abused?

Holy chemistry class, Batman!

We learned about water, mineral, and energy cycles of ecosystems, and their affect on each other. We learned about “soil community dynamics,” how where, what and when we plant affects or attracts critters from microscopic to Chevy-sized grazers, followed by how critter consumption and travel again affect the soil fertility and farm health.

Crystal calls herself a soil nerd, but I think it’s a case of S.O.D. Soil Obsessive Disorder; I, too, now suffer this malady. If you know this stuff, you can affect the prosperity of your animals, crops, personal health and community. This is a very big deal.

We walked the pastures investigating the soil to see if it was being used to its best advantage. Daniel remarked when he purchased the farm there wasn’t an earthworm on it, and it was his mission to remedy that. At first they struggled to find what worked for them crop- and critter-wise and have really turned the soil around. Major earthworm activity is now present in all their pastures.

The teacher stopped and threw a dart. Where it landed we all crouched down to look and discuss bare ground versus covered, plant type and spacing, litter cover, soil quality and feel, runoff quality and insect activity.

Speaking of insect activity, I got to observe dung beetles. Yesiree, nature shows from far-off continents were playing in my brain as my entire class hovered over a pile of fairly fresh poo to count beetles. As a small plane flew overhead, I imagined what they were thinking, 15-plus people standing around a fresh cow patty … city slickers!

But insects are an indicator of soil health. Supposedly we were “Biomonitoring.”

For me, it’s more bio-awareness. These are living, changing systems, moving targets, and my prosperity as a farmer depends on actively managing these targets. Pasture-to-pasture differences were amazing. I had no idea how destructive pigs are, but that “destruction” is a benefit to the soil, a once rocky craggy area.

Herds do major trample damage, but that can be helpful, if not overdone.

Topography is important too – looking where erosion could be a problem and work to stop it. Pest control was reviewed – how poor choices impact soil health. We discussed grazing and over-grazing, determining and planning yield per acre, per animal.

I never thought much about grazing; when the grass is low, move them on. If it’s a bad year, you buy hay and get a second job to pay for it.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can make a grazing plan that optimizes pastures so nothing gets overgrazed, plants develop strong roots, and animals are better fed without depleting any one area.

Speaking of well-fed, the Klines fed us a traditional Amish lunch. Talk about overgrazing! Besides brain overload, I was now in a food-based coma, requesting a shoehorn to get out of my seat and wheelbarrow escort to my car.

If that’s a traditional lunch, then all Amish should weigh 400lbs. Hmmm. I was full of mashed potatoes and soil knowledge as I left the farm; I’ll recover from the coma but not the S.O.D.!

Linda J. Haley is a freelance writer specializing in rural and agricultural topics. She can be reached at linda@m3pmedia.com.

 

Filed Under: Agriculture, Canastota, City Slicker, Lenox, Opinion-Editorial Tagged With: , , , , ,

FFA Rocks with First-Ever Farm Day

June 22, 2011 By 1 Comment
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City Slicker

By Linda J. Haley

(Hamilton, NY) I got an email inviting me to Hamilton Central School to experience Farm Days. It fell on the hottest day of the week, with a gorgeous drive to the school. I pull up to white tents, squawking critters in pens and plenty of kids spilling out over the grounds.

Cool!

It’s way more than I expected. Incredibly well thought-out, organized and running smoothly – not easy when dealing with animals, kindergarten through 12th-grade students and short attention spans on a hot day at the end of a school year.

I was there to meet Johanna Bossard, the Hamilton agriculture teacher and FFA advisor. She wasn’t hard to spot, running between exhibits checking on staff and participants. I snagged her briefly to ask who did all this … how did it happen? How long have you been doing this?

She answered between runs: the FFA students did it all, they had the idea, found the sponsors and set up; it was all them.

Wow.

“Oh, and it’s our first year at it,” she said.

WHAT? She ran to help some teachers corral children while I sat camera in hand, mouth hanging open. First year? Kids did this? Amazing.

I have attended hundreds of events; this was one of the best. They had a ton of learning stations with baby animals, written information and a handler with each animal to ensure child and animal safety.

They had a pedal tractor pull, maple jug ball toss, wagon rides, a sandbox full of corn and Tonka toys, sanitation stations, a fiber artist demonstrating spinning, everything!

Animals were well cared-for with food and water, treated gently even when under siege by tiny hands wanting to pet and investigate. I was struck by how well-spoken and -mannered the FFA students were both with small children and the adults.

I’m telling you: the heat was brutal, but there was no whining, complaining or short-temperedness to be heard.

Hardworking? These young people never stopped moving, helping one another, volunteering in a minute if anyone needed help. This was after spending more than six hours the night before setting up and three more hours that morning!

I know rural folks aren’t surprised, but to a city slicker it’s a big deal. City kids whine getting out of the car to run into the store for milk; it’s an act of God for them to clean their rooms.

Sacrifice Xbox time coordinating an event educating small children and the community about the joys of farming, getting sponsors and working the event? No Way! Not all city kids are like this, but look on Facebook, and you’ll get the idea.

I wanted to adopt them all – stuff them in my car to bring back for show-and-tell.

Next I meet Kaylin Broadwell, District 5 president of the state FFA. Kaylin’s looking at a future in radio and journalism and, according to Johanna, has gone above and beyond the call for this event and all FFA duties.

I wish I had her poise and confidence; she’s absolutely charming and sharp as a whip. Her district includes Madison, Hamilton, Stockbridge Valley, Vernon-Verona-Sherrill, St Johnsville-Oppenheim, Cazenovia, Canastota and Adirondack Central! Are you kidding? Adults can’t handle that kind of territory.

I was back to a shocked stupor. Five minutes later, she’s back with a thank you sunflower plant for me. She said they grew them in their greenhouse with other plants for a fundraising sale.

OK … huge event … happy, occupied children … and lovely party gifts for the grown-ups-I’m beyond overwhelmed!

Sponsors are critical to the success of these events. Those making this one possible include: Hamilton FFA (tractor and wagon), Tractor Supply (round pen panels), Mohawk Valley Power of the Past Association, Thomas Gerken (host, mini-pedal tractor pulls), Blue Seal Richer Dairy Nutrition (corn), Karen LaBrague (fiber artist), Stockbridge Valley Ruritans (tents). Animals were provided by Darrell Griff and family, the McWilliam family, Luivu Farms, Jeff and Gwen Manley, Jack Ballard, Tassel Hill Farm, The Parfitt Family, Evy Crumb, Sharon Dziekonski, Barbland Dairy LLC, Lamplit Farm, the Woodworth family, Heritage Farms Inc., Dakota Browning and family, Corey Kane and family.

It’s because of these families and sponsors, plus awesome FFA students that schoolchildren and city slickers get to learn about animals and farming. In addition, Johanna gushed about her very supportive administration at Hamilton Central promoting the FFA programs.

Once again I lament my city upbringing; another example of quality-of-life differences found in rural communities. Johanna listed the upcoming FFA events throughout the year – I’m invited to play at all of them; maybe it’s not too late for me, after all!

Thanks, Hamilton FFA!

Linda J. Haley is a nine-to-five working stiff reporting on her love of rural life as she learns about all things country.

 

 

Filed Under: Agriculture, City Slicker, Education, Hamilton, Hubbardsville, Youth Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Crop Watch!

June 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Fms-23-2011 mccmc (Haley - City Slicker (2)

 

City Slicker

By Linda J. Haley

(Fenner, Oneida Valley, NY – June 2011) It’s already begun in Fenner: Crop watch! The seasonal obsession of rural folk everywhere to look out over their fields and monitor growth.

It becomes the topic of every conversation, regardless of setting or company. Everyone swapping ideas and suggestions.

This year, Fenner was the only area dry enough to get the ground fitted and planted without ending up underwater. They planted corn, oats, pumpkins, squash, potatoes, a family veggie garden and, of course, hay.

And with all this rain, it’s growing; really growing! And of course their “calf crop” is already booming too.

What’s new this year? No-till farming. They are trying an experimental field of hay with oats as a cover-crop using the no-till method. I’d heard of this in farm school but never seen it firsthand. Looking at farm topography, you identify areas likely prone to erosion. Instead of preparing the land the usual way, tilling and fitting the soil, you leave it alone.

You don’t break up the soil, you use a machine that cuts long rows in the soil depositing seed at the same time. The theory is that the land folds right back in and the seeds germinate and grow, and you don’t lose any soil to erosion, because its not loose and broken up, easily washed away.

I’m still out on this method. It looks … weird. I do understand the whys of it, but it still seems strange and weedy to me.

We’ll see at harvest time.

It’s always interesting to test new methods and research.

Since planting day, I’ve been stopping by checking the progress of the plants. On the normally tilled areas, the corn is already at the two-leaf stage, with mixed-in pumpkins already pushing out their chunky canopy of leaves. The oats look great and full.

The no-till lot looks weedy, but hanging in there. The potatoes are gorgeous in their hills, and the garden is making steady progress. And hay? They can’t process enough hay between storms, it’s exploding up there. Yikes!

Down on my Oneida Valley farm, we are finally starting to plant. Wet is not the word; more like drenched. Because of this, they just tilled and fertilized this week. Normally, they till early May and plant Memorial Day. Everything feels hurried but still hopeful.

The rain has forced them to try new ideas, too, like hilling up the pumpkin patch so if more rain hits, the soil won’t wash away completely.

Taking a hint from Fenner, they are mixing in some pumpkins into their corn, too, every other row, to see what a difference that might make for weed control. They tried new varieties of corn and pumpkins this year to see what produces best.

When we finish planting we’ll stake the fields and run the bird tape to deter crow-grazing.

Red foil on one side and silver on the other, it flashes in the sunlight, making noise as wind blows through it, supposedly looking like fire from the sky so birds avoid it.

According to the farmer, it only works for a while until the crows get wise to it, and you have to check it often, as it can break in places. It’s enough of a deterrent for the plants to get established instead of being a crow salad bar.

It never ceases to amaze me how these two farms, only 15 minutes apart with similar soil types, could easily be in two different counties because of all the differences the elevations make; not just on timing planting, but harvest time as well.

Fenner was all set. Oneida Valley was drying out. I had a rare day off! I headed to Lake Placid for the day. Nothing soothes like woods, water and mountains. Add a great friend and fantastic lunch at the Cowboy restaurant on Saranac Avenue, and you have a perfect day.

What about their farms? Bad news: they are still way underwater. With a growing season shorter than ours due to early cold, hope is also in low supply. I met a man shoveling manure on top of stones to keep it high and dry until his field dried out.

I know it’s called “Lake” Placid, but I think ‘mountains,’ and these farms are far from area lakes. Poor man was so worried and disgusted he told me the only thing they’ll be growing in Placid this year is bugs.

Double yikes!

I returned humble and grateful for all that we’ve accomplished so far. I’ll be looking forward to crop-watching throughout my Madison County travels.

Stay tuned!

Linda J. Haley is a freelance writer specializing in rural and agricultural topics. She can be reached at linda@m3pmedia.com.

 

Filed Under: Agriculture, City Slicker, Fenner, Lenox, Opinion-Editorial Tagged With: ,

The Zen of Plowing

May 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Russell Cary of Fenner is pictured during his run at Plow Days recently. A gorgeous backdrop of dandelions brings some color to the rain-soaked day.

City Slicker

By Linda J. Haley

(Town of Fenner, NY – May 2011) It was a cool, soggy Sunday in Fenner for this year’s plow day celebration, but a great day, nonetheless. The event was again hosted by Terri Mather’s Farm, sponsored by the New York State Draft Horse Club.

As I headed out on the Thruway under a steady rain, I was worried it would affect turnout for the event. My worries were unfounded. True draft enthusiasts they are, club members and new folks turned out to enjoy the day, which goes to show the fantastic spirit and dedication of these people.

The club trailer displayed a beautiful painting dedicated to Stormy Mather. Stormy was a NYSDHC board member and heavily involved in many Central New York horse clubs, who sadly passed. It was on his family’s third-generation farm that we were plowing this year.

I like to think he’d be smiling as he looked down to see the plowing and fellowship done under horsepower on his land that day. Long straight strips of upturned earth showing a deep, rich brown, as the plows sliced through the green fields dotted with dandelions under a gentle rain.

The variety of teams and breeds that participate is an interesting study in contrast. Belgians, Percherons, Clydesdales and mixed breeds in all heights and colors all strut their stuff. Single-horse setups, teams of two and three abreast made moving people, plows and wagons look like light work.

Thanks to the patience of Russell Cary and his mixed breed team of Belgium, Percheron and Arabian, Prince and Songer (French for “to dream”), this year, I had the confidence to make a few passes down the field. A friend took pictures, and I couldn’t believe how good the team made me look.

Of course, the horses always know what they’re doing and are incredibly patient while I learn. I was thrilled, grateful and amazed at my rows.

It’s a lot of fun and builds different skills, especially multitasking. You sit braced and ready for rocks, a set of reins in your hands, keeping an eye on the straightness of your furrow, the plow wheel just three inches to the side of furrow, all while reining to keep your horse tucked tight into the furrow.

Now, that might sound intimidating, but it’s really pretty easy after a bit. But it’s the perks of plowing that make it so worthwhile.

I’m talking about the Zen of plowing. No, really. The sounds and visual beauty of horses bobbing their heads in unison, enjoying the rhythm of the work; rolling fields of green and gold tuning into strips of rich brown earth begging to be planted.

Nature exploding all around you, birds twittering, geese overhead, low moos from the pasture nearby. On plow day, add bonus sounds of people talking and laughing, horses whinnying greetings and sounds of plow blades scraping a rock or two as they glide along.

And the smells.

Friends laugh about my “dog nose,” but I’m blessed. I appreciate more than the average person. Sweaty horses and fresh rain bringing the smell of the soil to its height, wet leather in your hands as you struggle to keep a grip and fresh-cut dandelions laying askew adding scent. Everything feels so ALIVE, including you.

Spring’s way more inspiring than New Year’s Day!

Suddenly, a man who brought a walk-behind plow was pointed out to me. I dismounted to watch him work a team of two while guiding a plow along the ground. Keeping a plow and yourself upright and the row straight on wet soil is no easy task. He spoke to his team in gentle low tones, reins over shoulders within easy grasp as he guided the plow.

I was impressed with his patience and grace. He introduced himself simply as Kirk. His team was Bob, a Percheron, and Pete, a Clydesdale. They came from Ithaca where Kirk works as a farrier. Kirk said Bob was a runt for a Percheron, but I say Bob’s perfect, with his soft gentle eyes and easygoing manner; Pete, a character, was curious and excited.

I told Kirk I’d never seen Clydesdales used in farm work.

“Exactly, that’s why I like to bring him out to show people they can work and are for more than show,” he said.

Kirk felt the way I did about horsepower: it’s nice to be out working, enjoying the outdoors without the drone of machinery and equipment overshadowing everything.

It was a perfect day, rain and all, and a great start to another growing season.

Thanks, NYSDHC!

Linda J. Haley is a freelance writer specializing in rural and agricultural topics. She can be reached at linda@m3pmedia.com.

 

Filed Under: Agriculture, City Slicker, Fenner, Opinion-Editorial Tagged With: , , , ,

Arbor Day vs. Earth Day

May 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

City Slicker

By Linda J. Haley

(May 2011) I was invited to give an Arbor Day presentation at a local elementary school. Once over my initial panic at public speaking, I declined A) because I had two appointments I couldn’t change; and B) I don’t know a thing about Arbor Day, except you plant trees.

I believe you should be prepared if you’re the guest speaker at a school because kids are brilliant at smelling a fake and would grill me with unanswerable questions.

I began randomly asking people about Arbor Day; they were as clueless as me. Struggling to find the date on any calendar, we resorted to Google, which provided links that explained the date varies from state to state based on prime planting seasons.

But what is Arbor Day?

In 1872, a journalist named Julius Sterling Morton moved from Detroit, Mich., to the Nebraska plains, a city slicker like me. The first thing he noticed was the lack of trees for building, fuel or shade. To him, the Great Plains were not so great, so he began a movement to get everyone to plant trees.

According to a May 5, 2009, “Washington Times” editorial, the 1885 Nebraska City News reported Morton believed planting trees was “no more than a desire to pay a just debt” to our forefathers who had cultivated trees before us.

Tree husbandry was an expression of the human impulse to increase the beauty of the land, “to endeavor to make the world lovely because he has been a dweller on it.”

What a difference one man’s efforts made: more than one million trees were planted that first Arbor Day! The National Agriculture Convention pushed for Arbor Day in every state, and The Iowa State “Register” praised Arbor Day as a holiday “devoted to pleasurable business and happy usefulness.”

Sounds good to me!

I like everything about Arbor Day, so what the heck is Earth Day? I thought it was a new marketing twist for Arbor Day, but I was wrong.

Earth day began in 1970. Riding the wave of the already-established Arbor Day, Earth Day usurped the date of the first Arbor Day (April 22) in an attempt to bring awareness to the critical importance of preserving the environment and the destruction of earth’s natural resources. It began humbly enough as a student-based environmental movement to raise awareness and alter the consumptive practices of people and industry.

Twenty years later in 1990, a full-blown Earthfest was held on the Mall in Washington, D.C., complete with protestors, musicians, celebrities, politicians and federal agencies speaking about recycling, stopping wasteful practices and environmental pollution.

Geez, do we really need all that? I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m not big on politics in my planting. Honestly, being environmentally aware and responsible is simple common sense.

We don’t need Earth Day; we need to exercise a personal awareness that we are an integral part of the environment, our choices affect it in a negative or positive way that enriches or detracts from our quality of lives and those of future generations.

Look at that! Secret’s out with no fanfare or political intervention!

I guess I’m an Arbor Day kinda girl. The Washington Times editorial continued: “Arbor Day does not promote any political agenda. ‘The only stand we take,’ says Mark Derowitsch of the Arbor Day Foundation, ‘is that it’s a great thing to plant trees.’”

Arbor Day does not require nor ask for government intervention, regulation, restriction or taxation. All it asks is that public-spirited individuals and organizations plant trees.

“Anyone can plant a tree; you get your hands dirty and make a huge difference in the world,” the editorial reads.

While Arbor Day stands in Earth Day’s shade, it is still thriving. The Arbor Day Foundation’s national poster contest saw entries from more than a million fifth-grade students, and a record 3,300 communities met Tree City USA requirements, including our fair city of Oneida – its 21st year!

Those planted Arbor Day trees will stand as taller monuments in time than the mound of press releases put out by Earth Day.

I stumbled across an appropriate quote from Dave Nalle of “The republic of Dave” website:

“The difference between Earth Day and Arbor Day embodies the difference between environmentalism and conservationism. It’s the difference between just complaining about the environment and actually doing something to improve it.”

Arbor Day? Earth Day? You decide. It’s spring: GO PLANT SOMETHING!

Give back in a direct, easy, fun-to-get-dirty way to a planet that provides so much every day.

Linda J. Haley is a freelance writer specializing in rural and agricultural topics. She can be reached at linda@m3pmedia.com.

 

Filed Under: Agriculture, City Slicker, Environment and Nature, Opinion-Editorial Tagged With: ,

Cowabunga!

May 15, 2011 By 2 Comments
FM-19-2011 mccmc (Haley - City Slicker) (2)

 

City Slicker

By Linda J. Haley

My farm school classes are winding down, only five left, but they saved the best for last-farm tours! Yea! I love all kinds of learning, but there’s no substitute for the real thing – seeing how it’s done, lessons learned by the host farm and what new ideas I might bring to my future farm.

First up was a dairy farm! Twin Oaks Organic Dairy of Truxton, owned and operated by the Arnold family, Rick, Kathie, Bob and Kirk. I have never been to a dairy farm before – it was fascinating! This farm does rotational grazing; turning their cropland into permanent pasture, work toward an organic goal was achieved in 1998.

Today they’re a totally organic operation offering raw milk to the surrounding community, while selling off the remainder for processing.

We began by meeting “the girls.” Each cow snacks away in her individual slot, just hanging out. They all had a number and a name. I was surprised how curious they were. They weren’t warm and fuzzy, but they weren’t freaky either. And they’re HUGE! As big as my friend’s Chevette in college.

Everyone worked around them like their size was nothing. If they needed to sweep or hook up a milking machine, they’d talk to the behemoth and nudge or push it over a bit. I’d heard about cow kicks and was keeping my distance. A newly employed milker noticed my “safety zone” technique. She generously showed me the best approach, nudging in close while still being observant and getting the task done.

Priceless!

I finally got up the nerve to pet one and ran to catch up to the class heading out to the outdoor areas. While the barn was certainly clean and comfortable, I liked the open area. The herd rotates from inside to outside, so all cows get a little outdoor time. It’s like recess when we were kids. (I wish we still had recess, dodge ball would do a lot for office politics.)

It’s a cow spa –a big open area to hang out and chat up other cows. Places to graze or get a drink, or just hang out and enjoy the fresh air. Then it hit me.

Where’re the kids?

They show me an area full of calves; cow daycare! While still in mom’s sight, calves are grouped together with other calves their age. Cool; mom gets a break, and the kids aren’t lonely. The calves are busy feeding out of bins with teat-looking devices sticking out to latch onto.

Calves are way more curious than mom, very sweet and friendly. They have the weirdest tongue, all slobbery and slick, except for this weird sandpapery section. Get this: they have cow coats! Canvas wraps they use for temperature control.

Say you’re just born, wet and freezing? There’s a calf tanning bed, or cow cooker – a clam shell that circulates 70-degree air to warm and dry the calf in a dark soothing environment. Man … what a deal; so Cow (Club) Med. People say cows are dumb, but I say no one feeds, waters, milks or medicates me while scooping up my poop and cleaning my house!

Cows at Twin Oakes have it made.

They showed us where and how they store feed, how they moved and processed manure and a pasture full of solar panels to generate power. What an operation. Back to the office to study how a dairy is run.

This is where I realized dairy farming is not old-fashioned and sweet. Dairy farming is high science and technology. Our mentor was the herdsman for this farm. She showed us binders and computer spreadsheets documenting every single detail of dairy operation.

Everything is tracked in minute detail, so the farmer can make well-thought-out decisions regarding process or herd changes. Every cow has a sheet detailing every event in her life, her parents, who she dated, mated and calved, what she’s produced for milk, when she’s been sick, high points, low points, everything!

She said it’s an industry standard used to decide breeding, selling and maintenance. Oh! It’s a Cow Fax! So cool!

Dairy farming is way out of my league, an overwhelming – but amazing – operation. If people knew of the intense work, care and science involved, they wouldn’t complain about milk prices: they’re a bargain!

I am grateful to the people who carry on the tradition of dairy farming, a true labor of love.

Linda J. Haley is a nine-to-five working stiff reporting on her love of rural life as she learns about all things country.

 

Filed Under: Agriculture, City Slicker, Opinion-Editorial Tagged With: ,

4H Small Town Training Yield Big City Skills

April 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
E-16-2011 mccmc (Haley - City Slicker) (2)

 

City Slicker

By Linda J. Haley

I got a phone call early one Saturday morning: “Hey, Linda, What are you doing?”

Um, padding around in my bathrobe, looking for coffee? “Oh, I forgot we don’t usually call you on a weekend, but since you’re up you might want to head down to Morrisville.”

My brain’s not processing. Morrisville? Why?

“Because, my wife’s judging this morning, and she thought you might be interested.”

Judging? Horses? Where, what time?

“Not horses; presentations put on by 4H kids.”

Oh, OK. 4H presentations sound like fun.

I envision more of what I saw at the State Fair, just on a smaller scale. Kids dressed in white, showing cows or talking about their projects in sewing or horticulture or health. Cool, I’ll grab some coffee and hit the road. Calling a friend for the fastest directions, I zoom the back way through Peterboro until I reach a campus in the middle of nowhere.

Since my friend had kids in this district, I knew which door to enter and where to go, otherwise you’d be sending out the dogs to find me once I was reported missing by my editor.

I was greeted by Kimberly Williams, who told me 60 kids were presenting today, from kindergarten to age 18. Wow, all in the gym? She laughed and said no; see all those neon signs at each classroom door?

Each classroom has children of the same age group giving presentations. I look past her to see flag upon flag down the hall. I can’t believe there is livestock being handled in all those rooms.

We couldn’t even have snacks in my school, let alone show a cow. I look at her and tell her this.

She laughs, looks at me and says let me escort you and show you what’s going on. I pass classroom after classroom, filled with children holding all kinds of stuff, some dressed in costumes. I mean there was EVERYTHING in those classrooms. Ohhh, presentations, like a massive show-and-tell, without the livestock!

I didn’t know 4H did this kind of thing. It’s part of the 4H youth development program sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County. Youths working in individual clubs research and create presentations to be done in front of a judge. They’re presented annually at city, district and state levels for kids who want to match skills with other 4H regions.

The judges are usually community leaders or former 4H members. Presentations are a minimum of nine minutes up to 15 minutes long. Presenters dress for the event, use props and are to stand and speak confidently on their chosen topic, fielding questions from the judges and audience.

They also learn to say, “I don’t know,” with grace. Once the presentation is finished, the child leaves the classroom with the judges to review their performance and get hints and pointers.

I snuck into the junior’s level of presentations of under-14-year-olds. Let me just preface by saying I hate public speaking, and I’ve had to do a lot of it. I was blown away by these “kids.” I wish I had a third of their skills and poise!

I lucked out, catching a horse-crazy group of girls-bonus! I learned about Proud Spirit horse sanctuary from Melanie Cotter, a three-legged miracle from Amanda Cranwell, Horse ESP from Samantha Spoor and new information about Secretariat from Meghan Cranwell.

These young ladies really knew their stuff and gave excellent presentations.

In closing, the girls have to recite their sources and repeat each question from the audience prior to answering. Plenty of adults could learn a lot from their techniques.

The judges sitting right in the front row are professional, but not scary.

I can’t say enough about their skills. These women confidently strode up to the front, spoke up clearly, had perfectly timed PowerPoint presentations, used flip cards, and were better than most professionals at keeping the audience riveted.

They did their homework, and it showed.

My favorite girl displayed true grace under fire during an equipment malfunction mid-presentation. Her evil tripod started to sink, but she snatched it right up, grabbed her cards and kept right on going, not missing a beat.

That’s a girl I want on my team!

This is an incredibly valuable opportunity for skill-building that 4H provides. It’s immeasurable how much this training will help these kids in the real world in areas far outreaching public speaking arenas.

I really wish I had been a country kid involved in 4H; if your kids aren’t in it yet, don’t wait; contact Cornell Cooperative Extension to find the group nearest you.

Filed Under: Agriculture, City Slicker, Morrisville, Opinion-Editorial, Youth Tagged With: , , ,

Chicken Run

April 9, 2011 By 1 Comment

 

City Slicker

By Linda J. Haley

(April 2011) After my egg hunt article, some suggested I could just get some chickens myself, so I’d have eggs all the time. To be honest, chickens scare the hell out of me, but if I’m going to be a farm girl, I should at least entertain the idea, right?

The day I wrote the rug column, I asked my friend Charles Page about chickens. Well, I had no idea the passion people have for chickens. Charles confessed to be quite enamored of the birds, spending many hours researching breeds and keeping methods, and if I had the desire, he was the go-to man for advice.

I knew nothing of chickens, except whenever I got near them they freaked out and either ran away or, worse, toward me – in a fury of feathers!

Charles went on to tell me they have different kinds, some just for meat, and some just for eggs, and some could be used as both: a chicken hybrid. I asked how much care they needed, and he said there were all kinds of different coop styles, describing the finer points.

He felt chickens were pretty low maintenance, just give them feed mixed with granite or limestone grit, a place to nest and lay safe from predators and clean out the coop, but not too often, as it gets damp.

Wait … Did you say granite grit? Isn’t that stone dust, the stuff they use with brick walkways? Why would you feed a chicken that? Charles’s response freaked me out.

“Well, you have to … they don’t have teeth, you know.”

What? No, I didn’t know! Why would God make something that needs to eat and not give it teeth? How do they chew the corn? Charles patiently explained they have a gizzard that the stones go into, and stay there (creepy!), so when the bird eats grain, it gets ground by the gizzard and passes to the stomach (still creepy).

So they peck around looking for pebbles for their gizzard so they can do lunch? Exactly.

I look at Charles and say what’s the mystery? Obviously they cross the road to get to the stones on the other side because they’re out their own side! Sheesh!

Then Charles says, “Anyways, you go out to the yard, call the chickens, they come, you scatter the grit-feed, and you’re done.”

Wait, you call them? They know this?

“Well, they do have ears, Linda.”

What? I have never seen ears on any chicken, not in person and not in picture books. I pick up a toy chicken in his apartment and hand it to him: show me these ears! Poor Charles realizes he has an idiot on his hands, points and says, ‘here, like small holes.’

I am officially freaked out. No teeth? Chicken ears? I have heard enough. As I leave, Charles says “Haven’t you ever heard that saying ‘scarcer than hen’s teeth?’”

Where would I hear that in the city? What I hear, you can’t repeat! He says come back when I’m ready to take the plunge. Yeah, right! I’m off to Fenner, deciding to ask my friends if they know about the chicken creepy teeth and ear situation.

Once they stop laughing, they say of course they know, everyone knows, but did I know they don’t pee. What? They have to pee, anything that drinks has to pee. Nope they just poop, with liquids and solids all going to the same place.

Well, of course; everything about them is bizarre!

Then they tell me about chicken glasses. Now I’m sure there are messing with me. But noooo, frighteningly, they’re real. Apparently these charming creatures are cannibalistic; if they see blood or a sore on another bird, they will peck it to death. Joy! Tiny red-colored glasses held on the chicken’s beak with a cotter pin use colored lenses to prevent chickens from seeing red blood, thus calming their behavior.

God help me. I have had enough chicken education for one week. I don’t think I’m going to be a chicken kind of girl, folks; sorry. But not totally giving up, I did visit a wonderful Amish farm to learn about rolling chicken coops and free range practices. I noticed their birds were pretty mellow, without any glasses.

Then I found out my farm school class is designated to tour this farm in a month, so I’ll save the experience for another column.

In the meantime if I see chickens, I’ll be the first to run!

Linda J. Haley is a nine-to-five working stiff reporting on her love of rural life as she learns about all things country.

 

Filed Under: Agriculture, City Slicker, Opinion-Editorial Tagged With: , ,
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