Musings, Ideas, Rants

Do you need freezer space?

Vermont Refrigerated Storage of Shoreham is a family-owned facility striving to provide affordable, efficient, and high quality storage for the agricultural community in Vermont and the surrounding states.

They’re currently trying to assess if there’s a demand for pallet based, frozen storage in the area.

If you’re interested in this freezer space, please email David (david.dolginow@gmail.com) to let him know. If there’s enough demand, they will likely construct something this summer or next summer.

For more info abut Vermont Refrigerated Storage visit www.vtrstorage.com.

Report out from Pleasant Valley Farm Tour

Paul and Sandy Arnold hosted growers and customers at their farm in Argyle NY this past Sunday.  The Arnold’s have been perfecting their approach to diversified market farming over the past 20 years.  They farm 6 acres of organic vegetables for farmers’ market and csa shares.

Take Homes:

• Planning for successive plantings is essential in increasing production and profit on limited acreage
• Irrigation is incredibly important for improving yields (Paul feels it has been his most important infrastructure investment and what really allowed for growth of the farm)
• It pays to “run the numbers.”  This goes for time management (really understand man hours and where investment in equipment will pay off), crop management (calculate profit per square foot AND yield per acre depending on planting intensity, aisle and row widths), etc.
• High Tunnels, especially when automated, can substantially add to season extension and yield.

It was interesting to hear Paul’s perspective on new farmers.  It sounds like the Washington County NY markets don’t have many new commercial growers joining them.  Is Rutland County unique in its addition of new farmers at our markets in the past couple of years?  Is it just a blip, or are there more folks currently interning on local farms that are planning on beginning their own commercial operations over the next few years?  What do you all think?

Paul is very interested in sharing his knowledge and experience and has mentored farmers in our area (like Paul Horton of Foggy Meadow Farm).  He also hosts interns each growing season.  If you are interested in learning from Paul and Sandy, contact them through their facebook page.

Best Blog Post of the Rutland Farmers Market

Sharon Nimtz’s love and pride of all things food and farming in our community shines in her most recent post on the new farmers and old favorites she met at the first Saturday market of the year in Depot Park, Downtown Rutland.  Read her inspiring accounts of the farmers, their products, and insights into what makes them all unique.  Really, please read, it’s just lovely.  Makes me wish it was Saturday right now so I could run over and experience it all myself, right now. http://www.thriceshy.blogspot.com/

Let’s profile the Rutland Region’s new farmers! What do you think?

I just read a great article in Yes! Magazine profiling america’s “New Crop of Farmers.”  It was fun and exciting to read each farmer’s short farm description and profile.

Many of them spoke about their farming philosophy and what incited them to pursue farming as a career and lifestyle.  Others talked about their business and how they’ve approached farm start-up.

http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/food-for-everyone/new-crop-of-farmers

I want to put together profiles of the Rutland Region’s  “New Crop of Farmers”!  What do you think?  Would you be willing to draft a short farm profile of yourself and your farm, send in a pic and share your story with the rest of us?  Are you interested in reading about other new farmers in our area?  Would this help you feel more connected to our farming community?  Comment with your thoughts and interest!

Looking for Contributing Writers for the Blog!

I’d love to invite a few contributing writers to participate in this blog.

Any new farmers out there willing to blog about your experiences getting started?

Posts could be on topics like – How things are progressing, where you’re hitting challenges (and how you solve them), joys, photos, etc would be awesome.  I’m thinking one post a week?

What do guys and gals think?