Lida Farm

I sometimes get despondent. Whether news on climate change or cancer rates, I find myself feeling overwhelmed with how big our problems are. How can we ever overcome? Maybe we won’t and the world will spin off into a Mad-Max like disutopia in my children’s lifetime.

But then I think about actions I can take and one’s I’ve already taken. Over time I’ve realized that our one farm cannot change agriculture in America just as our one family cannot fix a whole community. We can only take the actions before us and consider the greater good. 

For me, this has brought me to my latest project: A collaborative farm stand at Manna Food Co-op. It’s not just a farm stand for the use of Lida Farm, but open to other growers and artisans associated with the co-op. It’ll be a nice addition which just won’t give producers a sales outlet, but, I hope, build a little community on-site as we do some Friday evenings farmers markets there. 

To date I’ve been gathering partners and ideas to launch it. A group of Amish builders are constructing this timber-framed building and we’ve been in conversation the co-op and other growers on how this could work. I just need to pull in a little more funding to make it work. I think the idea is a good one and I hope will be one more step to helping to make the world a little bit more cooperative and filled with good food.

Please read about the project and consider sharing and contributing at this kickstarter page at http://kck.st/2W0zw3g

The plane touched down in Minnesota. The air was crisp and dry. The energy of New York City closed off our 2018 with fireworks, but coming back into the terminal and seeing a bunch of boring Midwesterners in brightly-lit and orderly MSP felt good. I felt a sigh of relief.

A week ago, Amtrak brought our family through a cross-section of the US. A whistle stop in Winona. A quick hike through downtown Chicago. A two-hour romp down the mall in Washington DC before pulling into the glorious chaos which is New York City. We enjoyed the subway and people-watching, no doubt. We contended with crowds, witnessed a police raid, and ate really awesome pizza. The kids are a bit more street-smart, no doubt.

Back in my subzero home, not unlike all of you, I’m reflecting on the year and setting intentions for the new one.

I think we found a nice pace to farming in 2018. A little organization gave the season a flow while still pumping out some great produce. I should kick back and celebrate this new-found ease after so many years of pushing, but I’m an accomplishment junkie. I’m now dreaming up projects so I have a new mountain to summit. Still, I’ve begun to think about farming more of a practice than a series of tasks. As I eye 2019, I would like to continue the practice of soil building. Last year we produced just as much stuff on four acres as we did on five acres in 2017. If we are to continue this march to greater productivity we need to better manage fertility to make every square foot count.

My farming ambitions were in check in large part because I dumped so much time into Manna Food Co-op and rode all the ups and downs of a start-up retail storefront. We experienced the highs of a huge sales day at Mannafest, a successful search for new employees, and the opening of the deli—where you can get the ever-popular Ryan’s Green Machine 🙂 We also felt the lows of leadership changes, labor stresses, and worry about making payroll. As the guy who writes the checks and jumped into the fray to help manage the store during the summer, I must say that I’m stronger for the experience and grateful for the many people who have taken us this far – all board members, suppliers, staff, and customers. I think slowly but surely we’re building something good.

One of my personal intentions for 2019 is to re-commit to the local businesses and people that transform the pretty landscape in which we live into a really cool and interesting place. If we want a strong local community, we need to commit to being part of that community, not live with one toe in and our hearts focused elsewhere. The universe produces lots of things that pull our attention not only from community life, but even our own families. I hope I can make 2019 a year of reconnection, a time of living my ideals.

From the earliest time of man, we have followed the season. Hearkening back to my college anthropology class, from the Ancient Greeks to Mayans, cultures and traditions have built events around the seasonal milestones.

For us, our seasonal milestone is our annual harvest party. Like other farm operators this is our time to celebrate the bounty of the harvest and just getting through one more season – phew! The event was a lot colder than we ever expected—snowflakes were falling on Saturday morning. The hearty souls who made the trek did their utmost to stay warm, and, I hope enjoy themselves. We’ve always hosted the party at the end of September, which coincides with the fall equinox, but the weather’s fairly unpredictable. Two years ago, we had 82 degrees!

These gatherings are nothing too elaborate, but I feel it has the elements for a good end-of-season celebration: good food, drink, and a coming-together of people. Farming can be lonely at times and I so appreciate the opportunity to talk to some of you face to face instead of being a name on my CSA checklist. I also appreciate the opportunity to say “Thank You” for joining us for the summer. I say this each harvest party: CSA member make Lida Farm. Our family can do this only through the willingness of you, CSA members, to sign up with us for a whole season.

In the box:

• Butternut squash
• Russet or Mountain Rose Potatoes
• Pie Pumpkin
• Black Spanish Radishes and Watermelon Radish
• Parsnips
• Brussels Sprouts
• Spinach
• Yellow Onions
• Garlic
• Harlson Apples
• Carnival Squash