Out of hibernation.

The season changed. From fall to winter. Life turns to death. Activity goes dormant. Brown gets covered with white. Flowing water freezes solid.

It seems as though we truly embraced winter. Our blog presence went into hibernation.

With that season change came a bit of a shift for us. We moved down the road to a different organic vegetable farm, Foxtail Farm. In November we entered into our second internship experience. This summer we were delivering fresh vegetables every week to 220 CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) members. Now, we are delivering fresh and processed vegetables as well as fresh made soup, bread, and hummus every three weeks to 185 CSA members. This is one of the first winter CSAs in Minnesota/Wisconsin. It is great in the Midwest, when the landscape is covered in white, to have a fresh flavor, a taste of summer, and know it is still local.

Even though we are still very much in the thick of winter, we have come out of hibernation here...

It does matter. Part I

A couple months ago Ben and I took a trip into the cities to get a family fix. On our way back to the farm we swung by a Trader Joe’s to pick up a couple grocery items. One of the first display stands as you enter the store holds hundreds of bananas. My mouth watered and my body instantly craved the nutrition of a banana. I grabbed a bunch and carried on to the next items. 

As I looked into the cart, my satisfaction of the soon to be consumed banana was squelched. The bright red letters and shining yellow sun stuck to each piece of fruit - DOLE. Even though this name is commonly known, one of the largest fruit purveyors of the world, their unethical production and sourcing practices have turned us off from wanting to support this mega company.

Ben and I saw it at the same moment, we looked at each other and without a word I grabbed the bananas and brought them back to the display. I returned to the cart defeated. “Why do they have to be Dole?” I grumbled to Ben. Individually our thoughts raced to unjust working conditions for workers and hazardous chemicals with life threatening side effects. But our minds quickly shifted to ourselves. We mentioned that its been months since our last banana and how delicious it sounded...what could it really hurt to buy just two bananas? Even if it is Dole? 

So I took the fifteen steps back to the display, snatched up two bananas, and without hesitation went to looking at what cereal to buy. But our consciences screamed at us. This time Ben brought the bananas back.

Dismayed, we returned to the cereal.

Suddenly the thought popped into my mind, "Maybe they have organic! Maybe the bananas are Equal Exchange!" Hopeful, I raced around looking for the smaller, less featured display. I found what I was looking for...but not really. Disappointed, I returned to Ben with the bad news that even the organic bananas are Dole. We discussed it and came to the conclusion that at least these bananas are organic, so the chemical thing is not an issue. We moved right along, organic Dole bananas in cart, contented with the thought of soon eating a chemical free banana.

But something burned in both of us. We agreed that the issue is not just chemical free produce. It is so much more than that. The problem is much bigger. The more integrated we become in the farming system, the more we learn about corruption and injustice in the food we eat and the farming practices used to grow it. We have watched videos, read stories, heard personal accounts. We have ached for those who have experienced pain, become enraged over the injustice, been brought to tears thinking about working conditions, and longed to have it all change for the better. But how? It feels impossible.

Once again we returned the bananas to the shelf. This time determined to not go back with indecision. We did not want to support Dole. Even if it was with a purchase of only thirty cents worth of fruit. We have heard enough stories of unfathomable working conditions and inequitable rights. We wanted no part of it.

We walked triumphantly through the store collecting the other few items we planned to get. Yet ironically still felt unsettled.  

We journeyed toward the farm. Forty five minutes in the car passed. Even as we carried on conversation about other topics, my mind was racing about our little banana dilemma. I abruptly changed the subject with an adamant question, "Why does it matter?!"

It did not feel like we made a difference. Two bananas, thats it. I just wanted a banana. I felt like we had resisted against something just to prove it to ourselves but that it really did not make a difference. Could that lack of a purchase really affect those living and working at the Dole plantation? Is this really the answer to impacting a strong corrupt system?

We dove into a quick economic refresher and talked about the chain of demand, even with bananas. So a store orders a certain amount of bananas based on sales. If sales go up, orders go up. If sales go down, orders go down. Lets say there are fifty couples who have learned about Dole and decided they will not buy those products. For convenience of the story, they all shop at the same store and only Dole bananas are in stock. Even though they really enjoy eating bananas and it is convenient to buy them at this store, they are adamant about not supporting Dole, so they no longer get bananas there. The produce manager soon realizes banana sales have been down, so he lowers how many bananas he orders from Dole. Meanwhile, those couples are either not buying bananas or are purchasing fair trade, maybe Equal Exchange bananas from a different store. It even happened that these couples made it known to the produce manager that if he brought in Equal Exchange bananas, they would start buying those. So the store no longer carries Dole bananas, only Equal Exchange.

This is extremely simplified, but just go with me. Dole is impacted, they have to downsize. At the same time, Equal Exchange is growing (this company purchases from a number of small banana farmers and gives fair prices, equal rights, and quality working conditions.)

Okay, coming back down to reality. This whole consumer situation is actually really complicated, its tough, it often times seems impossible. And yet, we assured ourselves that just two people choosing to not make a purchase can make a difference, it does matter and it has to start somewhere. But it cannot happen if it is just us. If a difference is to be made, more people need to be aware and take action. 

And so these are the things we as consumers need to think about. We have to know that the bananas we buy have a much longer story than just sitting on the shelf waiting to be bought. There are human beings, just like you and me that grow those bananas. There is someone making a profit from our purchase. There is land that continually gives but needs nutrients in order to do so. There may or may not be toxic chemicals affecting the workers, the land, the water, the innocent people living in the nearby village. We have to be educated.

Ben and I try really hard to support quality companies. We buy a lot local. We purchase fair trade. We avoid stores with poor reputations. It is in no way convenient. We live more simply, without so many things. We sometimes have to suppress our wants or desires in order to not support a bad company. We believe - no - we know that every time we spend money, we are supporting something. We want to be sure to support the right things. One resource we use often to help us in this effort is The Better World Shopper. As we stand in front of a wall of chocolate trying to decide which bar to buy, we check out which companies have the best ratings. Sometimes, most of the time, those are more expensive. But its what we believe in. We want to be conscious consumers. So maybe instead of two chocolate bars, we buy one, because thats what fits in our budget, and we want to support the better company. This decision process occurs with every dollar spent, its more than just food, its where we buy our gas, what bank we choose, and what toilet paper we decide to put in our bathroom.

I in no way share this to prove to be better than anyone else, only to maybe introduce new thoughts or to show some possibilities. Ben and I are constantly trying to improve. There are things in our lives that still need to change. We still need to become more educated. We are open to learn. We know that The Better World Shopper is not the only answer.

We use this story to be a springboard from which we can share thoughts that often run through our minds, topics that fill our conversations. We want to show you articles we read and videos we watch. We want to hear from you. We want to be part of a bigger thing than just ourselves, because we know it has to be bigger than us. We want to constantly be reminded that what we buy, the steps we take to support reputable companies, and the educational conversations we have make a difference. It really does matter.

Under Construction.

We are attempting to find our look. Bear with us as the layout of this blog changes.

Where we are.

The summer crew has left and returned to school. It is just Ben and me now. Harvesting zucchini and tomatoes and peppers takes much longer than it did when there were seven of us. The sun is lower in the sky and not as powerful. It seems like 6:00 p.m. when it is actually 3:00 p.m. The leaves on the trees have begun their color show, slowly changing into what looks like a bunch of fruity pebbles. The nights are cold. We are prepared for the looming frost. We must save the vegetables. The apples on the trees are ripe for picking. Fall is near...maybe already here, but I want to hang on to summer as long as I possibly can.

Seasons create transitions. Sometimes too quickly. We had a good thing going. But all good things must come to an end. And so we have been thrust into options of what to do next...the jury is still out. In the processing, we have looked back over the past year to see where we have come. One year ago we just received word that we got accepted to the Farm Beginnings program. We were each secure in our own jobs, not wanting to be there forever, but secure nonetheless. We did not have a formatted farm plan or a community of farming friends. We were lacking experience growing vegetables and building soil and putting up high tunnels and irrigating fields and starting seeds in the greenhouse and really all parts of organic vegetable farming.

Here we are. Successfully "graduated" from Farm Beginnings. We have a farm plan in hand...ever changing...but the foundation has been laid. We are just over five months into a seven month internship...in just over thirty days we will be done with our first growing season experience. We have learned so much about growing vegetables and the food system and working with the weather and identifying weeds and taking care of pests without chemicals and moving irrigation piping and greenhouse management and maintaining quality family time and the list goes on and on and on. We are so much further along in our farming journey than we were one year ago. Much more prepared for our own farm...not yet, but closer. We praise God for what He is doing in us and with us. We thank Him for the experiences we have had.

Sitting in a circle of fellow farming friends, we heard the following words:

A Farmer's Creed

I believe a man's greatest possession is his dignity and that no calling bestows this more abundantly than farming.

I believe hard work and honest sweat are the building blocks of a person's character.

I believe that farming, despite its hardships and disappointments, is the most honest and honorable way a man can spend his days on this earth.
I believe farming nurtures the close family ties that make life rich in ways money can't buy.

I believe my children are learning values that will last a lifetime and can be learned in no other way.

I believe farming provides education for life and that no other occupation teaches so much about birth, growth, and maturity in such a variety of ways.

I believe many of the best things in life are indeed free: the splendor of a sunrise, the rapture of wide open spaces, and the exhilarating sight of your land greening each spring.

I believe that true happiness comes from watching your crops ripen in the field, your children grow tall in the sun, your whole family feels the pride that springs from their shared experience.

I believe that by my toil I am giving more to the world than I am taking from it; and honor that does not come to all men.

I believe when a man grows old and sums up his days, he should be able to stand tall and feel pride in the life he's lived.

I believe in farming because it makes all this possible.

-Mr. Frank I. Mann

Where did July go?

Here we are mid-August...stories to tell, pictures to show.

That one week of summer we had in July allowed for a unique experience. Ben, Annie, and I harvested parsley on Wednesday around 10am. That day was about 90 degrees with intense sun. Thursday's weather was much the same. Friday morning rolled around, I woke with swollen hands. By breakfast time my fingers had a couple blisters that suddenly popped up. I showed them to Ben and wouldn't you know it, he had the same type of blisters. The work day began. We showed Dan and Margaret. They were unsure of what it was...maybe poison ivy? I was certain it was not. It didn't itch. It was not little bumps at all, quite large blisters in fact. It was painful to the touch. When Annie started work, she showed us that her hands were just like ours. We traced it back to the only thing that just the three of us did was harvest parsley. Annie talked to a naturopathic medical friend. Prognosis: Photodermatitis. This is an abnormal skin reaction to sunlight which can be caused by exposure to plants in the Apiaceal or Umbelliferae family...such as parsley. Hmmm...never knew that one. The blisters lasted for about 10 days...but some blisters popped up even two weeks after the parsley harvest. Even now, over one month later, we still have scars and occasional swollen hands. So now you know.

We have carrots!

And eggplant...and peppers!

There have been two events at the farm. First, Bike and Brew. Thirty five people met at an urban garden plot in St. Paul. Helmets on, wheels spinning.

We got on the head of the gateway trail and saw it all the way through to the other side. Rode some hilly country roads overlooking beautiful farmland and rich forests.

Arrived at the river's edge. Loaded ourselves and bikes onto a pontoon to be shuttled to the other side...MN to WI. A two mile ascent up the river bluff. A total of 40 miles. When we all arrived at the farm, it was brick fired pizza and locally brewed beer. What a day!

Second event, one week later. A vintage baseball game. Played in the pasture. 1860 rules. It is a gentleman's game...everyone plays to have fun and there is good sportsmanship. For instance, if a man comes up to bat for his second time, the pitcher may say something like, "it was a very nice hit you had last time sir." Wooden bats. No gloves. Bounders are allowed: a ball can bounce once and it is still fair to be caught. Fair fouls. No sliding into a base. 

This game was Rum River Rovers vs. Osceola Onions. Score 9 to 9. Being a gentleman's game, it could be left that way. What a day!

There are now two pigs on the farm. At first they were shy and skiddish. Now they come investigate when we throw compost over the fence. They are hilarious, chasing each other around, making tunnels through the tall weeds. When we are out harvesting onions, it makes us giggle to hear their snorting as they root around through their food. It is a joy to see the life these pigs live as we think about others we have seen living in tight quarters on concrete void of mud and slop and weeds and room to run. This is how it should be. Every moment, these pigs must think, what a day!

The field of garlic has been harvested. 

We have frogs. I mean seriously. There are more frogs than I have ever seen. We cannot walk five steps without at least one frog jumping out of our way. Leopard frogs. Wood frogs. Spring Peepers. American toads. Tree frogs. Really big. Teeny tiny. We like all these frogs.

One of the wonderful things about being a vegetable farmer is all the time spent outside. The closeness to the earth. The rich soil under finger nails and in between toes. The brisk mornings and dewy grass. The sun beating down, warming and browning our skin. The beauty of a nearby summer storm. These are the things that distract us, that make us stop and look up in awe. Every night we lay our exhausted bodies into bed and think, what a day!