Did you know that the University of IL and other large universities have an extension website that offers free webinars on topics of interest to farmers and educators?
I listened/viewed the Planning your Organic Farm for Profit presentation by Richard Wiswall of Cate Farm in VA. Richard writes regularly for Growing for Market and has a new book The Organic Farmer's Business Handbook that comes with a CD of excel budget and cash flow templates. For anyone that is serious about growing food for profit, I highly recommend the monthly journal Growing for Market. I learn new things with every issue.
You can also listen at your convenience to past webinars. Several past and future sessions that are of interest to me are High Tunnel Production, Organic Blueberry Production, Increasing Plat & Soil Biodiversity on Organic Farmscapes and Cover Crop Selection.
Check out the website: www.extension.org/organic_production
A journal of our adventures in construction, garlic farming and growing our own food as we transition from life in Chicago to life in Southwestern Wisconsin.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
One of my 2010 Goals - Check!
Spent hours on the laptop this weekend and succeeded in getting all of our finances on QuickBooks. I set up two companies - one for us personally, which includes the rental endeavors and the farm, as well as personal expenses and tracking the farmhouse rehab. The other is Bill's LLC - that one, in fact, I recreated 2009 so I can take reports to the accountant.
I knew it would take a good long while to get it up and going - and I'm glad to have spent the time now during the dreariness of March.
I knew it would take a good long while to get it up and going - and I'm glad to have spent the time now during the dreariness of March.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Blight Resistant Tomatoes
I attended a session at the MOSES conference on tomato blight.
Tomato blight is caused by a fungal-like organism called Phytophthora investans which is a water borne organism. 26 Wisconsin counties experienced tomato blight outbreaks in the growing year 2009 specifically on the Solanaceae family of plants (tomato, potato, pepper, eggplants). This particular strain is unable to overwinter in soil, but since this also affects potatoes the danger is that any potatoes that were missed during harvest can still be harboring the pathogen in the soil and exposing tomato and potato plants anew in the 2010 season.
Essentially the fungus is airborne and water events cause it to spread. In layman's terms, the organism is floating around in the air and wind and when it rains or is humid, those conditions allow the activation of the organism. Morning irrigation and good airflow are helpful to slow the spread of the organism, but once it is in your fields, you need to aggressively cull infected plants immediately to stop the spread. Do NOT compost the infected plants. Most compost piles do not reach the temperature heights to kill the organism, and conversely don't get cold enough in the winter to likewise kill the organism. Burning or bagging and throwing away are the recommended means for disposing of infected plants.
Organic growers can use copper products which have some positive results in combating the organism, however every leaf on both side must be treated to appropriately protect the plant.
Some varieties that are allegedly blight resistant. (Although a member of the audience shared that he had many of these varieties in his production last year and he lost all of his crop). I haven't listed the entire hand-out, only those sources that I am familiar with.
Cultivar
Source(s)
Organization claiming resistance (i.e. who did the research)
Comments
Fruit Type
1. Legend
Jungs, Territorial
Cornell, Oregon State, Jungs
Excellent late blight resistance
Determinate, large round red fruits, early bearing, self-fertile, large fruit
2. Matt's Wild Cherry
Johnny's, Seeds of Change
Ingliss et al 2000
Good late blight tolerance (and frost tolerant)
Indeterminate, rampant vines, many fruits per plant, fruit clusters, red cherry, 1/2" size, sweet flavor
3. Juliet
Johnny's
Cornell, Dillon et al 2000
Some resistance to late blight in NY trials, crack resistant fruit
Indeterminate, red grape tomato
4. Golden Sweet
Johnny's
Cornell
Some resistance to late blight, crack resistant fruit
Indeterminate, yellow grape
5. Pruden's Purple
Johnny's, Seeds of Change, many others
Inglis et all 2000
Good resistance to late blight, tomato vining
Indeterminate, brandywine type, color is purple to b lack
6. Green Zebra
lots of suppliers
WI field observations 2009
Some resistance to late blight seen during 2009 outbreak, no other disease resistance claims
Indeterminate, 2" round, gold with green stripes, green flesh, lemon-lime flavor
7. Roma
lots of suppliers
WI Field observations 2009
Some resistance to late blight seen during 2009 outbreak, also resistant to Verticillium wilt,
Fusarium wilt 1, and Altarnaria stem canker
Determinate, pear shaped, red plum fruit, open pollinated, few seeds in meaty fruit, good for canning and sauces
8. Aunt Ruby's German Green
Seed Savers and others
Cornell
Moderate resistance to late blight
1 lb fruit, pale greenish color, with a slightly flattish shape
9. Black Plum
lots
Cornell
High resistance to late blight
Indeterminate, sweet, meaty, oval shaped fruit
10. Brandywine
lots
Cornell
Moderate resistance to late blight
Large, meaty, 1 lb fruit, pink to reddish color
Two potato varieties that showed some resistance to late blight
1. Defender
Russett -type
2. Jacquelyn Lee
Yellow variety
And the forecast for 2010? No way to tell. I guess we will know soon enough.
Happy planting!
Tomato blight is caused by a fungal-like organism called Phytophthora investans which is a water borne organism. 26 Wisconsin counties experienced tomato blight outbreaks in the growing year 2009 specifically on the Solanaceae family of plants (tomato, potato, pepper, eggplants). This particular strain is unable to overwinter in soil, but since this also affects potatoes the danger is that any potatoes that were missed during harvest can still be harboring the pathogen in the soil and exposing tomato and potato plants anew in the 2010 season.
Essentially the fungus is airborne and water events cause it to spread. In layman's terms, the organism is floating around in the air and wind and when it rains or is humid, those conditions allow the activation of the organism. Morning irrigation and good airflow are helpful to slow the spread of the organism, but once it is in your fields, you need to aggressively cull infected plants immediately to stop the spread. Do NOT compost the infected plants. Most compost piles do not reach the temperature heights to kill the organism, and conversely don't get cold enough in the winter to likewise kill the organism. Burning or bagging and throwing away are the recommended means for disposing of infected plants.
Organic growers can use copper products which have some positive results in combating the organism, however every leaf on both side must be treated to appropriately protect the plant.
Some varieties that are allegedly blight resistant. (Although a member of the audience shared that he had many of these varieties in his production last year and he lost all of his crop). I haven't listed the entire hand-out, only those sources that I am familiar with.
Cultivar
Source(s)
Organization claiming resistance (i.e. who did the research)
Comments
Fruit Type
1. Legend
Jungs, Territorial
Cornell, Oregon State, Jungs
Excellent late blight resistance
Determinate, large round red fruits, early bearing, self-fertile, large fruit
2. Matt's Wild Cherry
Johnny's, Seeds of Change
Ingliss et al 2000
Good late blight tolerance (and frost tolerant)
Indeterminate, rampant vines, many fruits per plant, fruit clusters, red cherry, 1/2" size, sweet flavor
3. Juliet
Johnny's
Cornell, Dillon et al 2000
Some resistance to late blight in NY trials, crack resistant fruit
Indeterminate, red grape tomato
4. Golden Sweet
Johnny's
Cornell
Some resistance to late blight, crack resistant fruit
Indeterminate, yellow grape
5. Pruden's Purple
Johnny's, Seeds of Change, many others
Inglis et all 2000
Good resistance to late blight, tomato vining
Indeterminate, brandywine type, color is purple to b lack
6. Green Zebra
lots of suppliers
WI field observations 2009
Some resistance to late blight seen during 2009 outbreak, no other disease resistance claims
Indeterminate, 2" round, gold with green stripes, green flesh, lemon-lime flavor
7. Roma
lots of suppliers
WI Field observations 2009
Some resistance to late blight seen during 2009 outbreak, also resistant to Verticillium wilt,
Fusarium wilt 1, and Altarnaria stem canker
Determinate, pear shaped, red plum fruit, open pollinated, few seeds in meaty fruit, good for canning and sauces
8. Aunt Ruby's German Green
Seed Savers and others
Cornell
Moderate resistance to late blight
1 lb fruit, pale greenish color, with a slightly flattish shape
9. Black Plum
lots
Cornell
High resistance to late blight
Indeterminate, sweet, meaty, oval shaped fruit
10. Brandywine
lots
Cornell
Moderate resistance to late blight
Large, meaty, 1 lb fruit, pink to reddish color
Two potato varieties that showed some resistance to late blight
1. Defender
Russett -type
2. Jacquelyn Lee
Yellow variety
And the forecast for 2010? No way to tell. I guess we will know soon enough.
Happy planting!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Back up your computer!
My laptop crashed and I had to have it rebuilt. Guess what I forgot to do before that?!?! - Back up my documents.
This is a fairly new laptop so I didn't have much - but what I did have - sigh.... my 14 page 3 Flat Acres business plan and my draft farm budget excel spreadsheets. I have been working on these documents since October. I have a dated version of the business plan (from January) on my jumpdrive but Bill and I have literally have put in hours on this document and all of that is gone.
Just a warning to all of my blogging friends - get a backup schedule and system and stick to it.
This is such a drag. I can't even fathom starting over tonight so I think I'll go sit on the couch with the cat and read a book. This is a mistake I will only make once.
This is a fairly new laptop so I didn't have much - but what I did have - sigh.... my 14 page 3 Flat Acres business plan and my draft farm budget excel spreadsheets. I have been working on these documents since October. I have a dated version of the business plan (from January) on my jumpdrive but Bill and I have literally have put in hours on this document and all of that is gone.
Just a warning to all of my blogging friends - get a backup schedule and system and stick to it.
This is such a drag. I can't even fathom starting over tonight so I think I'll go sit on the couch with the cat and read a book. This is a mistake I will only make once.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
(Farm) Book Reading
Terra Brockman, author of A Season on Henry's Farm and founder of The Land Connection is reading from her book Wednesday, 2/24 at the Chicago Downtown Farmstand Market.
She works on her brother's farm (that is Henry) in Central Illinois. They sell at the Evanston Farmer's Market.
The book is wonderful. I am savoring it - so I am not finished. Should be an interesting evening.
She works on her brother's farm (that is Henry) in Central Illinois. They sell at the Evanston Farmer's Market.
The book is wonderful. I am savoring it - so I am not finished. Should be an interesting evening.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Comment to the USDA re genetically modified seeds!!
Did you know that the USDA is considering letting Monsanto patent its genetically modified alfalfa?
In its draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), issued on December 18, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) claims that there is no evidence that consumers care about genetically modified (GM) alfalfa. Click here to learn more.
If you care about this issue - and how can you not - please comment. This is the basis of our food system! As Joel Salatin says, farmers are first and foremost, grass farmers.
Comment to the USDA here.
We can't undo this one. Once it is out there, there is no going back.
In its draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), issued on December 18, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) claims that there is no evidence that consumers care about genetically modified (GM) alfalfa. Click here to learn more.
If you care about this issue - and how can you not - please comment. This is the basis of our food system! As Joel Salatin says, farmers are first and foremost, grass farmers.
Comment to the USDA here.
We can't undo this one. Once it is out there, there is no going back.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
2010 Goals
It might be helpful to have our 2010 goals laid out on the blog.
2010 is going to be our year of education and continuation of infrastructure improvement.
Here is the high level goals:
Education:
Farm - Attend MOSES Conference
Farm - Attend CRAFT workshops (the 2010 schedule hasn't been set yet)
Farm - Attend workshops at Michael Fields Agricultural Institute
Farm - Spend several days during the season working on our new farm mentor's farm
Infrastructure
Farm - Stabilize barn
Farm - Demo house interior down to studs
Farm - Work with an NRCS official to set conservation plan
Farm - Stabilize waterway area to control erosion
Farm - map different pasture areas, name them and have soil tests performed
Church - Complete prairie planting in the yard
Home Building - Drywall interior back stairway
Home Building - Turn 4th floor studio/office into a small apartment for Chicago weekend stays once we move - involves turning a utility sink area into a small kitchen and installing a shower
Other building - finish 2nd floor gut rehab (target date is 3/31/10) and painting of common areas in hopes of renting for 5/1
Other building - 3rd floor fix ups: new kitchen cabinets & counters, new sink, relocate water heater to basement and replumb up to 3rd floor. Remodel bath and add a shower. (The tenant that has lived there for 38 years has never had a shower in the apartment. He is pretty excited when Bill mentioned installing a shower - as you can imagine!)
Other - continue to clean out closets and storage areas in preparation for 2011 relocation to Wisc.
I think the key will be to just pick an area and plug away at it. The highest priority is the apartment at the other building, as we would clearly like to have the rental income again from it.
Wish us luck!
2010 is going to be our year of education and continuation of infrastructure improvement.
Here is the high level goals:
Education:
Farm - Attend MOSES Conference
Farm - Attend CRAFT workshops (the 2010 schedule hasn't been set yet)
Farm - Attend workshops at Michael Fields Agricultural Institute
Farm - Spend several days during the season working on our new farm mentor's farm
Infrastructure
Farm - Stabilize barn
Farm - Demo house interior down to studs
Farm - Work with an NRCS official to set conservation plan
Farm - Stabilize waterway area to control erosion
Farm - map different pasture areas, name them and have soil tests performed
Church - Complete prairie planting in the yard
Home Building - Drywall interior back stairway
Home Building - Turn 4th floor studio/office into a small apartment for Chicago weekend stays once we move - involves turning a utility sink area into a small kitchen and installing a shower
Other building - finish 2nd floor gut rehab (target date is 3/31/10) and painting of common areas in hopes of renting for 5/1
Other building - 3rd floor fix ups: new kitchen cabinets & counters, new sink, relocate water heater to basement and replumb up to 3rd floor. Remodel bath and add a shower. (The tenant that has lived there for 38 years has never had a shower in the apartment. He is pretty excited when Bill mentioned installing a shower - as you can imagine!)
Other - continue to clean out closets and storage areas in preparation for 2011 relocation to Wisc.
I think the key will be to just pick an area and plug away at it. The highest priority is the apartment at the other building, as we would clearly like to have the rental income again from it.
Wish us luck!
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