Clover Wreath Farm’s Weblog

As we approach the Zenith, we are finding ourselves not getting the much-hoped-for midsummer lull. Mostly because we are spending so much time irrigating. (Pray for rain and stop global warming!) But we are thankful to have accomplished this much thus far and I must be brief so that I can continue to bust my can.

I have heard (from those at Chattanooga’s Greenlife Grocery’s farmers’ market where we sell on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until noon and from emails and calls) that people are thankful that we are growing food for them. I cannot say how much it helps to hear this. I’m not very clear in the spoken word so all I can say is “thank you for saying thank you.” But I mean it with all my heart.

Farmwork has never been easy but a small organic farm in its first year is more tears than joy, we’ve been told. Absolutely on the money. Furthermore, there is no way on God’s green earth that we could be doing this without my parents. My heart goes out to all those trying to pay for land and a home while they start their own farm. This farm was named, housing provided, barns and some fences in place, and my family and I already knew the land intimately before we bought the first chicken or pack of seed. Those who had to buy land in our area couldn’t make it. Too expensive.

So hearing someone who doesn’t know me thank them for the food makes me cry. Tears of gratitude for the recognition of my own sacrifice and the sacrifice of all farmers. Their realization gives me hope.

Thank you to all those lovely people who have gratitude for the person who provides them with food. You keep me going!

Peace,

Breann

Clover Wreath Farm

www.cloverwreath.com

Lots of talk about the price of food lately. It’s nuts to see kale going for a dollar a leaf. But when large scale farms are getting money from the government and small farmers get none, you can expect to be eating lots of genetically modified corn and soybeans.

But there is another problem in the mix now. Agribusiness is opting to grow corn for ethanol because of government money. So instead of eating, we are driving our polluting cars.

I don’t think it takes a genius to see the problem upon us. The fall of the food industry and the auto-only transportation system is here. And meanwhile, our health crisis is growing by leaps and bounds every day. How we react will determine our fate.

I’m biased, but I think the best way to react is to turn to organic, biodynamic farming. Our health crisis is because of our food crisis. Our transportation problem is lessened by local, sustainable agriculture. We could slow Global warming considerably by turning away from modern, corrupt agribusiness right now.

But we need to do this right now.

I hope we do.

So, to combat this problem, I’m planting beets. It’s late, I know, but the ground is just now workable here. Strange spring, but we are thankful for it. We planted in hills, well a ridge actually, one long ridge about five to six inches tall down a row. Did a shallow row, 1/4 inch on top and planted the seeds.

I’m not following the demeter calendar as much as I had hoped. The weather and the demeter calendar has failed to coorespond this year.

I would love more resources on biodynamic and demeter. If anyone knows of some great ones, let me know!

Peace,

Breann

www.cloverwreath.com