Plows, Berry and Grandma Lydia

Ah, yes!!  There is nothing that says SPRING like freshly plowed ground.  By all accounts its been a long, cold winter but the calendar says its Spring.  Now we are all hoping that "Spring" looks at the calendar and decides to get with the program as far as temperatures are concerned.  As I travel the local roads each day, to and from work, I'm on the lookout for farmers that are already beginning to plow.  From what I have seen, there are not that many plowing yet.  My observation to this point is that the only ones plowing at this time are the Amish/Mennonite farmers.  They are not plowing before the others because they are more industrious but because they are using either horses or mules to pull their plows.  Draft animals are able to work on ground that is to wet for heavy machinery, enabling the "plain" farmer to get a little headstart on the "English".  As far as I know all Amish use either horses or mules while Mennonites use either horses, mules or tractor.)
  

The plows at Lil Bitty Farm

Although I do not really "plow" here at Lil Bitty Farm like "real" farmers, I still have a small collection of plows.  The big plow on the left and the small one on the right were my grandfathers.  He used them on a regular basis (back in the day) and they were part of the tool set that allowed him to feed his family and bring modest prosperity to his farm.  The plow in the middle I bought at a farm auction in OH, while visiting Marla's family a few years ago.  The one on the left and the one in the middle are designed to be pulled by draft animals (horse, mule or oxen) while the small one on the right is designed to be pushed by a human.  Most people would say, "Why hang on to that old junk, its just taking up space".  I keep them for two reasons.  1.) I like old agricultural tools for the same reason I like old woodworking tools.  Their quality, simplicity and aesthetics (they are often more pleasing to the eye) are usually superior to their modern counterparts  2.) I also hang on to them because there is something in the back of my mind that tells me there is a good possibility that a day will come when either I or my boys will truly "need" them to help ourselves produce crops to sustain ourselves and our families.  (I know, sounds "kooky" in today's world but that's how agrarian minds tend to work).  

As I said, this plow was my grandfathers.  I've had it for many years but never used it til two years ago when a friend, Jon Witt and I went to a local "plow day".  We were the only ones there with a team of horses, everyone else was using a tractor.  This was the first time either of us had used a walking plow so we were obviously "greenhorns".  It took a while but we eventually got the hang of it.  (After seeing another guy that couldn't even keep his plow attached to the tractor Jon and I felt a little better about our ineptness.  At least we didn't have that problem.)  Fortunately, the horses knew more about plowing than Jon and I did and they were very patient with us!  The plow is dated "1878" and has seen many miles of furrow.  I fitted new handles to it before Jon and I took it to the plow day.  It was a beautiful day to plow and both the horses and Jon and I got a good work out.  Walking behind the horses and the plow all day gave us a much greater appreciation for how much work was involved in putting food on the table and feeding the farm animals 100 yrs ago.  Understand, plowing was only the first of MANY steps necessary to growing a crop on the farm.

This little guy is called a "Planet Jr".  It is designed to be used in a garden.  The small plow is only one of many tools that can be fitted to the frame so many different jobs can be accomplished.  I use it every summer to help weed the sweet corn.  

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                SIX AGRICULTURAL FALLACIES by Wendell Berry
                              Part 2 of a 6 part series

2.  That a sound agricultural economy can be based on an export market.

    "We should begin, I think, by assuming that a sound economy cannot be based on any market that it does not control.  And we should assume, further, that any foreign market for food ought to be temporary, and therefore, by definition, not dependable. The best thing for any nation or people, obviously, is to grow its own food, and therefore charity alone would forbid us to depend on or wish for a permanent market for our agricultural products in any foreign country.  And we must ask too whether or not charity can ever regard hungry people as "a market."
     I find it very interesting how Berry sees Christian love (charity) as a primary reason NOT to pursue a global agricultural market.  But the USDA tells us that it is America's responsibility "to feed the world" therefore seemingly justifying it's industrial agricultural doctrine.  Very little thought and consideration is given to the long range consequences for the farmer, the farmer's family, the farmer's land or the local farming community.  The only thing that matters, to the USDA, is "increasing production" so that America can "feed the world".  On the surface "feeding the world" sounds like a noble thing but I suspect that this noble sounding idea is not the true motive.  I suspect the USDA's main objective is to promote the financial interests of the huge corporate agribusinesses that deal in seed, fertilizers, machinery and petro products.  (The old "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" routine.)  While American farmers have increased production and "fed the world" to some degree, this type of agriculture has led to many problems on the agricultural horizon here at home.  Very few (and aging) farmers, declining soil health, declining vigor of rural communities, unknown dangers of genetically modified seeds, extremely liberal uses of pesticides, insecticides herbicides and a total dependence on fossil fuels for fertilizers and motive power are a few of our agricultural woes brought on by modern ag doctrines.       

                              THE GARDENING HAS BEGUN

The raspberrys trimmed and tied up

The asparagus patch weeded and mulched with straw

The first seeds of the year have gone in the ground.  These are lettuce seeds from Marla's grandma Lydia's lettuce.  She passed away almost 40 years ago but her family has been faithfully planting, harvesting and saving the seed from her lettuce for all these years.  Marla and I are going to try and do our part in keeping this going.

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Part of the raised bed is planted. From left to right. Grandma Lydia's lettuce, Spinach, Romaine lettuce, onions, radishes

THE BARN PROJECT: 2013

After the "UnAmish" barn roof raising it was time to put the tin on the roof.  Very grateful for my brother-in-law, Jon and neighbor, Tom who helped with this part 

Really looking forward to making this barn functional this May.  The first inhabitants will be four little piggies who will grow up be four big porkers.  We are getting low on pork so we are definitely anticipating  restocking the freezer with some good home-grown pork this fall.   Stay tuned for future pictures and updates.

I leave you with these agrarian verses from Psalm 144: 12-15

    " Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants, and our 
      daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace; let
      our garners be full, furnishing every kind  of produce, and 
      our flocks bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our 
      fields;  Let our cattle bear, without mishap and without loss,
       let there be no outcry in our streets!  How blessed are the
       people who are so situated;  How blessed are the people 
       whose God is the LORD!

Thanks again for stopping by to visit Lil Bitty Farm blog.  Happy gardening!!

Todd