Small Farms Quarterly
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The following excerpt, “The Reasons to Garden,” is the fourth of a series of essays written by Bill Duesing from the book Living on the Earth: Eclectic Essays for a Sustainable and Joyful Future. As the days get longer and the soil begins to warm — thoughts of spring and the promise of a new…
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If you are calculating your farm product prices based on what others are charging, you are making assumptions that your farm probably can’t afford. We know it can be tough to get buyers to pay a price that provides a consistent profit for your farm. Yet, the whole idea of growing something and selling it…
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When you’ve got an unconventional idea about farming, rural people (born and raised) are guaranteed to put it through the wringer. These are the shrewdest judges you’ll ever meet, so before you start running your mouth in front of them, you’d best be prepared. It was only after six months of experience that I brought…
Read MoreIt occurred on a spring morning in the mid 90s in New Jersey. I had lambing season. I drove out to my flock to the pasture I rented from the state. When I arrived I discovered a devastating scene. The flock was clearly disturbed. The field was littered with dead lambs. A couple of sheep…
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I spent three seasons on an organic vegetable farm in Virginia when I was in my twenties. The farmer there frequently quipped, “Anyone can grow food. The hard part is selling it to the right person.” While “the right person” is not a static demographic across the board, for small-scale farms, it often means someone…
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Welcome to the Northeast SARE Spotlight! SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) offers grants to farmers, educators, universities and communities that are working to make agriculture more sustainable – economically, environmentally, and socially. Learn about whether a SARE grant would be a good fit for you. The Farmers Market Line In 2002, Todd Fowler…
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Calling all aspiring farmers. If you have a calling to farm but you have no land, no money and no farming experience. No problem. Be a SPIN farmer! My name is Linda Borghi, and I am a SPIN farmer in Walker Valley New York. SPIN stands for Small Plot INtensive. It’s an organic-based production system…
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Last fall CCE Tioga staff and local farmers put up two “caterpillar” tunnels on vegetable farms in the Southern Tier of NY, one in Tioga County and one in Schuyler County. We decided to trial these “caterpillars” at a couple of local farms because, while more widely used in Eastern NY, their use and construction…
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Springtime is just around the corner, with the hustle-bustle of warm weather activity and a chance to hop-to on your long list of outdoor tasks. These last few weeks of winter have us all peeking anxiously out windows, looking for the first break in the weather, and tapping our toes with impatience. However, it can…
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The Story of New York City’s Newest Farmers When anyone thinks about New York City, fixtures like concrete sidewalks, skyscrapers, large office buildings, heavy traffic, storefronts, and subway stations come easily to mind. Green spaces are generally relegated to designated city parks, and most flowers are pre-cut, bundled into ready-to-go bouquets. However the metropolitan topography…
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