We are introducing a few new things to Stoney Acres to work on our goal of creating better boxes and to increase the diversity on our farm. There will an expanded offering of culinary herbs; an expanded U-pick tomato patch; a new variety of strawberries; and our first full harvest of asparagus. Our most exciting news hinges on the addition of Mushrooms and Bees!
stoneyacres's blog
TIME - ByLisa Abend Monday, Jan. 25, 2010
It works like this: grass is a perennial. Rotate cattle and other ruminants across pastures full of it, and the animals' grazing will cut the blades — which spurs new growth — while their trampling helps work manure and other decaying organic matter into the soil, turning it into rich humus. The plant's roots also help maintain soil health by retaining water and microbes. And healthy soil keeps carbon dioxide underground and out of the atmosphere.
A deepening divide between big agribusiness firms and family farms will be on display Friday when the Obama administration launches a series of workshops probing antitrust issues in agriculture. Big firms say the forums will show a well-functioning market, but some some producers hope the meetings will expose a system increasingly hostile to family farms. Click here for full story from NPR.
We are expanding our labor force this year, from 2 full-time employees to 2 full-time and 2 part-time employees. This change in labor is taking place because we are adding a new Schultz-Becker to our ‘farm crew” and family in mid-July. Riley is very excited for a new sibling who is… “coming when raspberries come” and we are looking forward to the blessings, excitement and challenges a new farm baby will bring.
We just returned from the 2010 Organic Farming Conference and had a wonderful time catching up with old friends, meeting new farmers and friends and finally meeting Lynne and Justin, our 2010 interns in person!
A few highlights from the conference schedule
A workshop on mushroom production which gave us some new tips as we prepare to grow shitake mushrooms on our farm.