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We talked about systems to get food from farm to city efficiently and reason for doing it. We discussed farmers having standardized mini warehouses, to speed pick up, that they could store there meat or produce in. Then enter on internet or fax what you have stored then delivery truck will run route to pick up and deliver to food coop\'s and other customers in city. If all farms weren’t big enough for their own stop maybe a community stop could be established. If meat is processed at common places these processing plants could be stops also. We would use the "just in time" technology used by factories so food wouldn\'t have to be warehoused again. There would need to be a coordinator or 2 or 3 that would manage the information coming in and food going out to get everything in the right place. This company structure over seeing all this would need to be a cooperative structure to be able to maintain financial transparency and farmers/consumers trust. Identity of all meats and produces would be maintained and consumers could either go to website or video scanning kiosk/station and read about and see the farmer that grew their food. We would also have to include a cannery or soup or some sort of preserving company to use up seasonal excesses and store them in stable condition to be used in off season or emergencies. I think it would be good to have several food shows or gatherings a year so people could meet the farmer that grew their food. Sometimes bringing the farmer to the city and sometimes bringing the consumer to the farms. With this social interaction I am hoping that each other can realize differences are small and commonality\'s are large and foster a relationship where we realize we need each other and each others value as human beings. Plus we can enrich lives by, not sure how to put this, but there is entertainment, museums, plays and such in city that aren\'t in the rural areas. And there are links to food and earth in rural communities that aren’t available in city. If we share our resources I think this has to be a plus. Also to add another twist I think it would be good if trucking company could deliver processed goods and goods some farmers don\'t grow from one farm to others at the same time it is doing pick ups.

I think Midwest Organic Farmers Coop is in place to handle some of this and I think Sustain has a lot going the right direction already too. I believe there are many groups with same or similar goals in mind. If we can harness all of this energy we might just accomplish something.

Just wanted to let everyone know I am still here. It has really been busy around here finishing up this season and getting started on winter projects all at the same time. I am attending a class for beginning farmers after farming for 26 years and you know what, I think I am learning some things. I guess it just goes to show you you’re never too old to learn. I have been trying to carve out enough time to go get our new to us egg washer we bought on eBay. I am hoping this simplifies the operation greatly and improves the consistency and quality of our eggs allowing us to expand our production. Then I need to get a portable hen house of some sort set up for next season. The brooder house we are using now isn’t the best deal if you know what I mean. Just not what it was designed for.

I also attended a meeting for farmer consumer coalalition I was encouraged that good people from all sorts of walks of life are trying to achieve the same thing. And I agree with their goals. And not just that I agree with them but they are honorable too. Not that I normally agree to dishonorable things but well the more I try to say this right the worse it gets. I am excited and looking forward to all this might bring with it.

Well I need to get back to day to day chores and trying to tame this office that has grown into quite a monster from a summer of neglect.

P.S. I purchased a digital camera yesterday so maybe the scenery will change from time to time on here now.

Hello,

This is my first blog so bear with me. I want to welcome everyone to our website. I am more of a farmer than a writer, no kidding, so please forgive spelling and gramer. But I think you will be able to follow what I am saying. Be sure to sign up for my mailing list. This is going to be a great way for me to let everyone know when chickens are going to be available. And other such news about the farm that I think you might want to know. I promise your address is just for me and will be given to no one else. I could never do that to anyone. I hate junk mail as much as anyone. Oh yeah and Todd showed me that if you ever want off of my mailing list there is a link provided for you to click to be removed. This is going to take me some time to get it all filled out, but enjoy the progress. I also want to take this time to apologise for anyone I may be missing this year. With hiring planting and harvesting custom done by neighbors I thought I was going to have lots of extra time. Well I do believe I took on more than I left off. But believe it or not I am catching up on the long list of to do items. Notice I didnt say done, just getting to do some. After last year that is a major improvement. But still a long ways to go. Well I had better get to bed tomorrow is coming.