RicelandMeadows

                                                      May 7, 2011

     I like the old ways of farming. It was a simpler time back then when large corporations didn’t control most of the markets. People knew their neighbors and folks helped one another in the struggles of life. Farmers knew their farms, every inch and treated the soil like the life giving “mother” it truly is.

     We manage our farm and soil with compost and common sense. We are mindful in matters of conservation and livestock density. We rotationally graze our pastures and rotate our crops. We don’t use commercial fertilizers, choosing instead a more sustainable approach to soil health using trace mineral ammendments and the rich black composted manure from our livestock. The balance can be seen in our crops and the animals who live here… even the 2 legged ones.

     The Husker/Shredder in the photo is an old fashioned piece of farm equipment that takes the whole corn plant, husks the ears from the stalk, then shreds the stalk and husk into small pieces like mulch. The ears of corn are stored in a crib while the shredded plant is blown into the upper part of my barn or into a pile where the animals rip through it eating what the want and using the rest for bedding. The bedding and manure makes its way to a large composting area to rot down and cook. The compost is then applied to our fields when conditions are right.

     We garden and raise our food in the way of our grandparents. I am so thankful that they took the time to teach me how. I plow and use horses on my farm for power along with small tractors and equipment. The balance of time and nature keeps me sane  and happy. I don’t know all my neighbors, but will help any of them in their time of need. I am pretty sure they would come running to help us too. I embrace the old ways and am passing them along to my children and grandchildren … no matter how much they complain :o!