Connecticut Journal; Interview with an Organic Farmer

In. Water. They. Got their. Van for.

The ground. They don't come along. The plant. Put plants in the. Got a good start. That's a big. That's the name of the band. Turned up to about eighty. Three. We're doing. A. Lot of. Really. Good.

Morning. We're going to. Go. Oh. Yeah. Yeah. You don't matter. What. I. Didn't. Read. You. Three. Damn.

How long. LOL yeah. OK. Finale. That's the lecture. Right.

We. Don't. Know. Who would. Hold. On. One. Hand. Right now. Right here right away. Boiling water with the fans might be. Right but. A. Couple big. Puddle. Now.

I'm going to. Bring out your dad bring him along. Those are getting.

Better All right. We're not happy. Yeah. Now this is the only way we can keep this is the way we keep the right tiny details and make holes in everything and. We have to do this until they're almost almost ready to cut. Now later ceding what we planned on July 1 had this problem of the Beatles and off their go round. So now this is all herbs.

Now this is all cauliflower. Broccoli cauliflower. Cabbage and look. For different things. This is strawberries right. Yeah and this is next year's crop of strawberries. And there we have it. And the strawberries. No no. They don't seem to be bothered by anything. So what other kinds. Of things do you do to you know help the growing process of organic practices. Well this field which left

right ration on it grows at high and harrow it back again and I knew we did it for two years so you build up the much confidence. So I do have an organic fertilizer. If this shows stress or anything. It's approved by you know for. What. But I don't. I usually don't need it because the soil is in good shape very good shape. And. I think that I've got one set or one piece of right down here for. Next year. A lot of this was. In right for two years. I don't know. I had some three horsemen. That was last year on the ride but it's already it's just more for providing fibers for the roads.

There's not anything that would give any nitrogen to speak. But it's good. So this is almost like natural growth you know rather than whatever's there but the roots of the plant will go into what's in the soil. We do it very well. It's not spaced closely like a commercial. You've got to get a little more room. And. We keep the rows. Wide just like they were. 40 years ago 60. 30 inches 40 inches. Your stuff is 28 30 inches. Why did you decide to do or. Was. It's good on the market is to bring stuff to market talk to farmers.

They're all the same and one years ago a lot of cabbage at that time used to get DDT 10 percent and they would put it on the cabbage and sandwiches and. They're all saying you know you got to put it on like snow you got to really put it out. And those leaves are like this you know and each few days they grow there's more and more. Make your head ache ever so. But you've got to keep that. Data. So it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that. He'd stay in and. It had. Evidently been a foggy morning. That's just one child away. You know so there you have to pray every three or four.

And that's the material cabbage which was the worst thing at that time. I mean farmers. My family so you could start again with talk about your dad when he had cancer diagnosed in 1965 and he died a year later. He he was never he grew up in a time when you didn't use this stuff.

But. It was because he died of cancer. I didn't want my kids stuff. That you would get from the market even though it was fresh and I. Read everything everything here and plenty of it. And you know there weren't many people interested in organic food at the time. So it was about three or four years later and I got a market in New York that would take a loan once a week and I got stock market. So originally it was just to feed your family then that's pretty much. Yeah. There was a. Person in town who started. Organic.

Juices and stuff it was called a hay station. And they had one on. Pratt Street market you know in the 40s. It was like a hobby with these guys you know. But there were a lot of people then that that wanted to get into it you know they'd buy canned orange juice and canned grateful juice that was organic and so and I was all I knew about this my father had. Arthritis. So bad he couldn't get out of bed one spring like two joints swelled up like this. And the doctor said well there's nothing we can do for you. And then this. Woman who was a teacher said Well can I put you on this diet of. It was a. Week journey. And Joe says all the different juices. And no meats. And within three months he was out of bed. And walking on two

canes and within five minutes he was right. So you know whether it did the trick or not I don't know but he he swore by it. So to us at the farm you know because. He just it just seemed to work. Do you see an interest in your faith in organic foods now growing from that way that man you know. Yes. You know and ratio I don't. I. Know kids in the early 70s they're gung ho about organic farming and they're going to save the world and now they're all executors and they stop at the supermarket on the way home so you know fair weather right people. So how do you have working for you now. Was tired and trashed the furthest too out there came

here the first of April and it came from Pennsylvania. And learn about organic. Farming. And they both graduated from college three four years ago. And they're good workers and really interesting people. And. Has been here three years and she which is really a good farm. Worker. Laurie's been here in Colorado to this area as well. And wants to change things she's into herbs and flowers and she wants them to get it. Did you go through the list of all the crops. All the time. That's. Where you know everything you know. Carrots the. Pars.

So LOTRO. Was Red Green charred green charred that mustard mustard. Carrots. Water much. Much more was made as peppers if you recall. The whole the whole works all the different lettuces. As for all things. Cabbage. Stop we've got to get these can move you like a backer takes a person's heart out that I didn't put it back in. But think about it. We had a rock. It'll be 30 days. Every year like you did with everything you see every year I'd

put in four or five but I don't like to have them on the soil to change the soil from one section to another. But before every year we we had. Three or four new role. And then the following year we plow and this year I got a double order of. The blueberry. Bushes. This is the kind of stuff you put on just a light quad. Over the hill. Let's all the time. How do you how do you think I keep these kids go. I just say keep up the. Yes bend over and pick up some things as close to the plant. Then.

A. Lot of young people that. Don't seem to be able to bend over too well until somebody makes a few comments behind them. And I know this is a step on the way. Because it's damp it doesn't hose well. If you would put a stone to yourself. You mean you

know. What day. Right Laurie. Right. Now yes he did. When we start harvesting them.

PATRICK No he's good he's the best. And she told us you would have you know her well you can use him in a body if you are good. I like the thought of the hell with it. If you're in the hive

and have to tell me I never like chemical. Like I got a right to keep and get the honey I don't want the queen to go into the too hard either in the street or it's just the right for the workers to go. She can like two or three days ago with

joy. Good night from this we got oh it's very hard to. Be a good idea on the outside. A real perfect round. Oh yeah you right way. That.

And I doubt it but it just gets right. Yeah it's here how. Are you. I tell you it's like. You know I don't think you took many pictures of that.

Yeah what. There was one hundred forty each floor. There was two floors and each one of you did you sat around while chigger at your for faction day. But they kept their own lives. Just. Wild. Wild. Well you know they kind of just twisted around to try to escape in the same spot.

Yeah go ahead. But you know. I don't know or. Frankly any your brand anybody out that I'm going to call a. Very nice. Little bit. We got to go to all

feel anyhow. See how she knows how to leave her home. Which way gone what. I go that way. Yeah I said. She was the one I was afraid of. After that she was fine you know just walk up to a woman. Alone Yeah. Yeah right here let's put in. Yeah.

Let's see it when we see it. Good. You know if you've got something go on Saturday don't worry about it. All righty. They get it you guys. Nice meeting you. That's just about. Back there you'll have to get a little. I don't get up in the trees. Just kick it over. The. Bars I have to go.