2-26-10

STAN AND HIS GIRLIES

OUT OF THE STARTING GATE

THE GIVING TREE

MULCHING THE ONION ROWS WITH SAWDUST

YOUNG ONIONS

WAXING MOON OVER WOODLAND

The French Boys and the two of us helped Stan at his farm all day. Stan is a neighbor farmer who grows and sells produce and eggs for Laurie and Will's CSA. We left this morning to drive 20 minutes to his farm at 6:30am. Breakfast consisted of coffee, eggs, biscuits, and pork sausage if one were inclined, and as soon as we were done eating, we headed straight for his fields. He is a 6th generation Alabamian farmer, but unlike his father, farms organically. We mulched 9 onion beds that Stan already planted earlier this week in the early morning using 50 year old sawdust. The ground was frozen and the wind was fierce. But the sun was out and we didn't have 24 inches of snow carpeting the soil. The mulch is supposed to keep moisture in the soil and prevent weed growth. The sawdust also absorbs heat from sunlight which enables the roots to grow strong.

After working hard, we took a mid-morning break. Stan offered us each a Dr. Pepper and a Payday candy bar. We inspected the packages and he stated: "Don't read it eat it." Jen refrained while Aaron indulged in the candy. More onion mulching, then we lunched on beans with carrots and celery, and plenty of corn bread. One of the two versions of cornbread was spicy with hot peppers that we mostly shied away from. Stan, a true southerner, had country music on his radio the entire time we were there. He lives in a shoddy small home by himself.

We harvested some baby onions in the afternoon, and asked Stan about his farming philosophies. He plants by the Moon, insisting anything else is a waste of time. Today was an Aries day which is a bad planting day, but a good day to weed, which we did plenty of. He hopes to plant more crops in a few days when there is a full moon. Life moves in cyclical motions, and following moon cycles may have a great impact on many elements of farming. Whether one chooses to believe is of great importance when deciding to become an organic farmer. We worked really hard today but the work was rewarding and it was a really good day overall.

Silvon and Eve made us crepes for dessert tonight...really delicious.