Despite the forecast dropping back into the 40s & 50s this week, Spring has definitely sprung here on the farm! Sandhill Cranes and Canada Geese circled the orchard this evening as I was out pruning and tonight the Spring Peepers are so loud I can hear them through my closed windows. The honeybees were super busy this afternoon bringing pollen into the hive to make food for their larva. I find it fascinating to watch them and to wonder what flowers the pollen is coming from. Today they were bringing back some dull yellow pollen, some bright yellow pollen, and some brilliant red pollen. From red maples, maybe?
This week on the farm we're going to start working with soil, garden design, and soil preparation. First, though, here's a nice 6 1/2 minute review of factors to consider when starting seeds indoors (you can easily develop your own version of their "garden planner" in MS Word or Excel): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWCIaydwM_w&nohtml5=False. We will begin the "hardening off" process with some of your seedlings this week.
We've been talking about the importance of well-stewarded seeds in producing nutritious, delicious, diverse, and organically grown food. Equal in importance to good seeds is good, healthy soil. This short article by Tom DeGomez (University of Arizona), Peter Kolb (Montana State University), and Sabrina Kleinman (University of Arizona) explains the 5 basic components of soil:
http://articles.extension.org/pages/54401/basic-soil-components
After you've got the basics, watch this 15 minute fireside chat in which Dr. Elaine Ingham talks about the effects of "modern" agricultural practices on soil health:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtl09VZiSU
So one of our primary tasks as organic farmers is to restore the life to soil that has been killed by an agricultural system which until recently didn't appreciate the difference between "dirt" and "soil." We'll show you how we are doing this through our garden designs, cultivation methods, cover cropping, and composting.
We'll also talk a bit about how managing the soil of perennial crops like fruit takes a slightly different approach than managing annual vegetables. We're currently transitioning the orchard from a non-organic to an organic management system. As we're working this transition, can you guess one part of the orchard we're paying special attention to? You're right, it's the soil! And can you guess what part of the soil we're especially concerned about?
If you guessed "microbes," then you've been paying attention. Here are a couple of 5-6 minute videos by organic orchardist Micheal Phillips that describe the sort of soil biology we are trying to foster on the orchard floor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3-zi-6YrIE&nohtml5=False
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJugfnZWhVY&nohtml5=False
We'll have you help us with a project we're working on to help nurture those good fungi that Phillips talks about. Part of it may involve moving branches around, so you may want a long-sleeved shirt to protect your arms.
Questions for you this week: What part of this class has been most interesting for you so far? Why? What are you most hoping to learn more about at this point? Please respond in the comments section.
I really enjoyed last week’s discussion of grafting. It was something that I hadn’t previously given much thought to; I was vaguely aware that grafting is a thing that we do to some trees, but I hadn’t thought much about the process. It was interesting to get to learn more about how it works, and to hear the explanations behind why it’s necessary. Trying out the various tools/methods also served as an important reminder that the things we’re learning are skills, and we won’t be perfect at anything immediately. (My first attempt was truly horrendous!)
ReplyDeleteI also have another major reason for appreciating this discussion. Over the weekend, I went to visit my grandfather. He has Alzheimer’s disease, which means that our conversations can often be difficult. He has a hard time remembering who I am, so I try to stick to telling stories that are relatively self-contained. I don’t want to confuse him further by throwing a lot of unnecessary details at him. While we were talking this weekend, I told him that I had gone to a farm and was learning how to graft apple trees. He was extremely interested in this. It made him think back to when he was planting trees (including an apple tree) in the backyard of my mother’s childhood home. He talked a little about tending to the trees and the rest of the yard while my mother was very young. (Over fifty years ago!) As my grandfather and I often have trouble communicating, I thought it was wonderful that this moment served as a little moment of connection for the two of us.
This week’s videos and article left me with a lot of questions. I feel like there is so much about soil that I’ve never stopped and thought about. How does one go about testing soil, anyway? That’s a really basic question, but I’m realizing I’ve never thought it through. Dr. Ingham talked about the process of making compost – I’m wondering how we make this process work in urban/suburban spaces. How can we make composting work in situations where we have very limited space to do it? I’m also thinking about The U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Texture Triangle mentioned in the article. The article seems to imply that other countries may use slightly different versions of this schematic. Does that mean that the
So far I have really enjoyed this class; I especially enjoyed planting my cabbage seeds last week! I am very excited to see how much they have germinated tomorrow when we get to the farm. I also was very interested in learning about grafting, because before last week I was virtually clueless about seeds, variations of apples, and parent generations and all that stuff. I had a lot of fun trying to graft the sticks with the knife, and I am interested in seeing some grafted trees outside if we are planning on checking any out.
ReplyDeleteEspecially after watching these videos about soil and soil biology, I am hoping to learn more about keeping plants healthy by means of good soil. I recently bought a plant (nothing special, just a small house Lily), and I really want it to grow big and healthy but I am worried now after watching all those videos about needing healthy soil. I am curious to go to the farm and see the different things you guys are doing with fungi on the apple orchard, but I am also interested in learning about how you can create good soil and living environments for indoor plants as well? I also would like to know if you have any tips on keeping my Lily safe from the kitten that lives at my house; she has a bad habit of chewing on the leaves and I’m worried about my plant. Any advice?
I have thoroughly enjoyed every topic brought up either in class, on the blog, or on the farm. Last Thursday’s discussion was especially interesting to me because it gave me a deeper understanding of the seed industry around the world and made me start to consider Amy’s main questions 1) who controls the seed industry? 2) who does it benefit?. Pondering these questions deeper, along with the other topics we have discussed in class such as the biology behind growing seeds and how to order seeds allows me to take another vantage point on how I perceive the plant sector of the food supply industry. On another note, the lessons in this class give me the knowledge to grow my own food one day and to hopefully, be successful at it.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing in particular I am most hoping to learn more about, I’m just excited to learn anything anyone in the class, Amy, John, or the class materials have to offer. I was able to look at Dejah’s topic for this week and I look forward to the class discussion on Thursday about food education in the general school curriculum.
So far I've actually been the most interested in learning about the business side of the farm and how Amy and John keep up with everything. Small-scale farming has always seemed so incredibly difficult (basically impossible) to me that it has been really inspirational to see it happen successfully in real life. I would like to learn more about how to make small-scale farming more accessible to more people and the viability of it (or other alternative forms of food production) to feed the masses.
ReplyDeleteI have really enjoyed the hands on aspect of this class, so things like grafting and planting radishes have been real highlights. This seems pretty obvious, and should have been something I expected, but I think I forgot how much I've missed learning through doing, since it has been so removed from my college experience. I'm someone that struggles with attention and focus I guess and I've just been really grateful for the chance to really engage with a subject like this while still operating through an academic lens. I'm looking forward to so much in the class, but I think I'm most excited to explore the stories the land can tell and the ways in which we can all engage in that story telling.
ReplyDeleteSimilar to Anika, I have also really loved the hands on aspect of the class! I truly learn best experientially, so getting my head and hands into the soil really helps my heart engage with what I'm learning and brings out a sense of passion within me. So far, I've been most interested in understanding how grafting works, and soil biology (these videos are awesome-- thank you!). Grafting interests me because it's something that I had to be awakened to-- I had no idea that so much of what I've been consuming is basically "altered" or even "created" by man's mind/idea of joining parts of plants together to create a hybrid-esque plant. As of now, the awakening to parts of historical/modern agriculture through certain topics we are learning in class holds much of my interest because it is, for lack of better words, mind-blowing.
ReplyDeleteI would, however, like to learn more about permaculture and the differences, both socially and economically, between having a permaculture farm and a CSA.
I think seeds and planting breeding have been the most exciting topics yet. I knew a tiny bit about biology of seeds/breeding and controversy surrounding patented seeds, but seeing planting breeding in action was a quite different experience. I often find myself awed by how ancient this practice really is. Thinking about how we are still working closely with different plant variety gives me hope – maybe because it shows how integrated humans could be in the natural system (instead of being exploitative).
ReplyDeleteBut I have also been enjoying hands on aspect and more down-to-ground side of the class. I often get sucked into the abstract land of philosophy and science, so it has been very helpful for me to just see what daily operation looks like. I guess it breathes life into the theory and abstract, making them more worthwhile.
I am excited to learn more about the social/political aspect of small organic farming! What barriers exist within and surrounding small food systems, how do we overcome those barriers, and who impose those barriers?
So far in the class I have been really interested in the transitional process from inorganic to organic farming, such as for the fruit trees at John and Amy's farm. I imagine it isn't healthy to just all of a sudden completely stop using herbicides and pesticides on plants that have been used to those chemicals for years. So in my mind this would take place as a weening off process, but I may be completely wrong. I have been very interested in learning more about the transitional process and what role the soil plays in this process. The soil videos this week indicate how important healthy soil is for this transition, but what else has to happen to make the transition in the best way for the trees? Therefore, I am really interested in learning more about the process of transitioning from inorganic to organic, how the method of transition will effect the plants, and what else will happen with the fruit trees in this process.
ReplyDeleteLike everyone else, the hands-on, gardening process is the most engaging process. I think I spent 10 minutes just playing with the soil while stamping out little mud cakes, rubbing them between my fingers, molding them like clay, etc. There is something visceral, energetic, about the soil, from its moisture, texture, and consistency. Planting the seeds, fluffing up the soil, petting the dog, etc (One of the listed activity is not like the other). The “visceral” aliveness of the soil is a stark contrast to my biology labs, as contradictory as it sounds. I feel like life is sacrificed for the sake of intelligence, where we carve away the “inconsistencies” and “compounding variable” until all we have remain is indistinguishable sterile lab equipments. For example, I “knew” that Na+ is outside of the neuron pathway, and that it was the electrochemical gradient that sent nervous signals down the cell. But the moment I learned that the Na came from NaCl, salt, I REALLY “knew” the system. I didn’t have to memorize it anymore. Our ancestors are from the ocean, there’s salt in seawater, so evolutionarily our cells are accustomed to submersion in saltwater, NaCl. But we don’t learn that anymore, we don’t learn about the ocean - so that’s what I’m most interested in for this class. Not just the art of farming itself, but the traditions that has been passed down for ages, a “farmer’s trick” or “green fingers” if you will, that actually has a scientific background to it. So yes, the fungal microbes are a great example. We know about the microbes such as it nitrogen fixing microbes, but they didn't sound as exciting when I mechanically memorized their Latin names.
ReplyDeleteSo far this quarter, I have enjoyed the class discussions as well as the interactive component regarding to farming. I have been enjoying hearing the stories of my classmates as it relates to gardening. I feel like these personal discussions have allowed me to not only learn more about the topic of gardening, but it has allowed me to learn more about the students and staff in the course. I think it is important to learn beyond the classroom, and that’s why I have been enjoying farming as well. The interactive farming component allows what we discuss in class to come to life. The most interesting part of the course so far has been learning more about gardening as it relates to components that we don’t think about. For example, through the blogs, we learned the difference between what dirt is and what soil is. Additionally, we had an opportunity to see and feel different forms of soil. I hope to learn more about what mistakes to avoid when growing food. I am interested in health and wellness and would eventually want to grown and cook my own food.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy learning about seeding and how to grow food indoors from where you live. Especially if you may live in an urban area you can still grow your own food with the right care. It was also interesting to learn about plant breading. Before this class and our discussion I did not know people breed plants and put patens on them. We went from everyone growing their own food to a few large companies owning and controlling our food resources. This alarms me a little bit because I feel like these companies do not have everyone best interest in mind, they are out to make money. It is also concerning how they treat their workers with low wages and poor working conditions. I am hoping to learn more about growing my own food at home or in an urban city area.
ReplyDeleteI think the engagement in farm is very impressive. It includes different aspects of farm. I find I am not only a "volunteer" engage in farm, but also a member of the farm. Even though I can only be the member in limited time but I found a lot interests in the farm. Includes something I familiar and something I do not know before. Discussion in class and farm is an ideal way to take seminar, also is one of the most attractive parts of the class. I learn a lot from people in different majors and know many attractive stories. Everyone's response of the post is like supplementary materials for me. As a reader more listener, it helps me a lot of the class.
ReplyDeleteI expect the class going to have more connections with our College Career. I would like to see the joints between our seminar and K-plan. In addition, I really want to know more about the farm world.
For me, one of the most interesting parts of the class was learning about soil and the effects that inorganic pesticides and fertilizer have on it. My mom once told me a story about my grandma's garden and compost piles. Apparently, one year a company with the incorrect address sprayed her garden with inorganic pesticides and fertilizers. When my grandma found out, she was furious because she had spent so much time and effort in order to maintain a garden with healthy, organic soil. She ended up filing a complaint with the state but the damage had already been done. My mom told me about the amount of time she would spend researching soil and natural processes. Once part of the story that interests me is that my grandma, who had such an immense body of knowledge about nature and gardening, never went to college. Nowadays, there is an assumption that formal education is the only way to develop a sufficient understanding of a topic. This is, of course, foolish, considering that some of the societies with the best agricultural systems didn't have the system of universities that we have in our society.
ReplyDelete