Fixing a Hole Where the Rain Gets In

"I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in and stops my mind from wandering, where it will go. I'm filling the cracks that ran through the door and kept my mind from wandering, where it will go."

The greenhouse is an essential component of a farm. It is where the newly seeded plants are placed and where they will germinate and begin to sprout. The greenhouse provides a warm and secure environment for the newly developing plants. Though certain crops are directly seeded into the soil in prepared beds, most plants start their life in a greenhouse. In addition to protection from the elements, in the greenhouse the farmer can control how much water the plants will receive. The greenhouse provides the new plants with the warmth that enhances their growth and development. As a new farm, Z Food Farm needed a greenhouse. Over the course of a couple of weeks, and with help from Farmer Matt, David erected his greenhouse. A few pictures were presented in the previous posting. In this post are pictures showing the process of building the greenhouse.

In the previous post it was mentioned that the posts needed to be hammered into the ground. This is that process. David is using a spacing board that was sent by the manufacturer of the greenhouse. This ensures that the posts are evenly spaced.


Also mentioned previously was that the hoops came in three parts and had to be assembled. Here are the pieces of the hoops.


Here is the completed frame of the greenhouse. If you click on the picture to enlarge it you will see the cross bars running along the top, corner braces, and wood running along the bottom of the posts. This is all intended to provide support to the structure to help hold the greenhouse together.

In this picture David is digging a hole into which will be place a post. Four posts are embedded in the ground. 2x4 lumber will then be placed on top of the posts. These 2x4's provide the foundation upon which the end walls will be built. Along the ground you can see heavy duty landscaping fabric- this will suppress the growth of weeds.

Here you can see the frame one of the end walls. You can see the 2x4's along the bottom and how the top pieces are attached to the metal of the last hoop. You can also see rock that has been placed on top of the fabric. This was done to help, somewhat, level the ground.


After receiving assistance from Farmer Matt in framing one end wall, Farmer David is beginning the process of putting up the frame for the other end wall.


Having completed the second frame, the next step in the process was putting plywood onto the frame. In this picture David is using a reciprocating saw to cut off and round off the plywood. The shiny, metal object that you also see are vents that will open up when the heating unit and fan are in operation.


In this picture the end wall has been primed in preparation of being painted. Also, on the left side of the picture, about half way up you can see some wood that is running the length of the greenhouse. This will be used to help secure the plastic to the greenhouse.


And here you can see the truly green, greenhouse. You can also see the fan that will be used to help with both the heating and the cooling of the greenhouse, depending on what is needed. You can also see that the door has been put in place. In some ways getting the door situated so that it would close and stay latched was one of the more frustrating aspects of the entire process.

Here it is, one greenhouse. Actually, at this stage there are still a number of tasks yet to be completed, but you have a general sense of what the finished project looks like.


Here is a picture of the interior of the greenhouse.


In this shot David, with the help of Farmer Dean (he no longer farms, but once a farmer, always a farmer), is beginning the first of various final stages. Here he is putting on pieces of wood that will help hold the plastic on the end walls.


Putting the greenhouse up was a long and arduous process. Actually, the notion of long and arduous sums up most aspects of the life and lifestyle of a farmer. To be a farmer, in particular a small scale, independent family farmer requires commitment, dedication, and a love for what you are doing. It's been said here before, and will be said again, when you go to a farmers' market take the time to get to know the farmer you are buying from. Ask them questions about the food you are buying. And remember to thank them.

Peace, hopefulness, and healthy eating to all.

GETTIN' THERE

"Well there's just a little bit of magic in the country, music we're singin' so let's begin. We're bringin' you back down home where the folks are happy. Sittin', pickin', and a-grinnin' casually, you and me. We'll pick up the pieces, uh huh."

Since the last post a great deal has been taking place at Z Food Farm. There will be time to sit and sing later on, but for now Farmer David is more putting the pieces together rather than picking up the pieces. This point was mentioned in the previous post, but the truth of the matter is that despite how much time David has allowed himself to get things done, such as putting together the greenhouse, things still take longer than anticipated. But day by day David is gettin' there. One important item to mention is that the website is, sort of, up and running. 'Sort of'- the site is still a work in progress with much yet to do (there is an ongoing theme here). Thanks to David's friend Gab, with assistance from brother Peter, for getting the site moving towards excellence. To visit the site go to www.zfoodfarm.com.

The following is paraphrased from the book "Bringing It To The Table", by Wendell Berry- "People live for quitting time, for weekends, for vacations, and for retirement. One works not because the work is necessary, valuable, useful to a desirable end, or because one loves to do it, but only to be able to quit. This is explained, of course, by the dullness of the work, by the loss of responsibility for, or credit for, or knowledge of the thing made." The reader can decide for them self the extent to which this statement is true for them. For Farmer David, and the farmers within his local farming community, as well most small family farmers, this is simply not the case. Small farmers, and even some who are part of the large agri business farm system, couldn't do what they do if they did not have a passion and commitment to what they do. For the most part 'quitting time' for a farmer is when the sun goes down and there is very little that is dull about the process of farming. When you go to your local farmers' market, get to know the farmer and learn about their love for what they do. Peace, happiness, hopefulness, and healthy eating to all.

And now to bring you a little up to date with some of what's been going on at Z Food Farm.

It might be a little thing, but appearances are important. On the left is the before, on the right is the after. The color of the newly painted door is Miso.



Greenhouse construction- Part 1: The first step in constructing the greenhouse is to pound the posts into the ground, in as straight a line as possible and to as an equal depth as possible. A surveyors transit is used to get the posts to the same height, relative to the level of the ground.

While the posts are being pounded into the ground, the hoops are being put together. Each hoop consists of three pieces that are connected with a bolt and a nut. Both of these steps is very time consuming and took the better part of six hours.

To install the hoops one end is placed in one of the posts. Then it requires team work with one person pushing the hoop to get it in line while the other person pushes the end of the hoop into the post. A vice grip is put on the end of the hoop end to make sure it doesn't go to far into the post. A nail is then inserted through the pre-drilled holes that are now lined up in the post and the hoop end.


After the hoops are in place one cross beam is attached to the top of the of the hoops and two are attached along the upper sides. In the picture you can see Farmer David pointing to the top beam and around waist high you can see one of the side beams.






The reality of life on a farm is that ground hogs are not the farmers friend. They are very destructive of crops. While traps can be effective at capturing ground hogs, the best weapon against them is man's best friend, the dog. Here Hule has dispatched her first ground hog at Z Food Farm.



At the end of a busy day, Hule enjoys a well deserved nap.


There will be more pictures of the construction of the greenhouse in the next post. Until then, happy and healthy eating to all.

Doing It Again

"Standing in the middle of nowhere, wondering how to begin, lost between tomorrow and yesterday, between now and then. And now we're back where we started. Here we go 'round again, day after day I get up and I say, "I better do it again""

Each spring brings the beginning of a new farm season. Tasks from previous years need to be repeated. The wheel turns and events repeat themselves. There is a sense of stability in the repetitive nature of farming, a sense of reassurance in the renewed beginning of a new season. And while all of this is true for Farmer David there is a different sense of anticipation, excitement, and trepidation in that Farmer David is establishing a brand new farm. Just as you plant the seeds that will grow into plants, David is 'planting' and establishing his own roots with Z Food Farm.

As it is in other endeavors, getting things accomplished at a farm always seems to take longer than one would like. This has been especially true in putting the parts together for the green house (more details and pictures about the green house will be in the next posting). Be that as it may, there has been movement forward at Z Food Farm. A tractor has been purchased. Seeding has started. A mail box has been posted. And there has been progress in the building of the green house. There is a little over two months to go before market season starts and there seems to be so much that still needs to be done. In the spirit of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters, there is only one way to go, 'Further'.

If you are going to grow stuff you need to plant the seed in seeding trays with the proper soil mix. Here David is mixing up a batch of soil. There are various components that go into the soil mix- peat moss, vermiculite, lime, greensand, and a couple of other things.While traditional fertilizers can not be used in organic farming, the basic peat moss can be enhanced to provide good growing conditions for the newly planted seeds.


(NOTE- A big shout out of thanks to Farmer Matt at Cherry Grove Organic Farm. Matt, knowing that David's green house would not be finished in time for the beginning of seeding, offered David space in his green house. Also, in a variety of other ways Matt has provided David with assistance. David is greatly appreciative of all that Matt has done for him.)

Once the seeds have been placed in the trays and covered with the soil mix they need to be watered. It sounds obvious, and it is, but the process of watering can not be taken for granted. At all stages of growth, from the initial seeding to the time when the seedlings are planted in the ground, the trays need to be thoroughly watered. While David is doing this initial watering by hand, Farmer Matt has a watering system within his green house that saves an amazing amount of time. David will be installing a similar system in his green house.



This is the first days seeding. While this may not seem to be all that much, these trays are full of bunching onions. Each cell contains 5-6 seeds. One reason for so many seeds per cell is that not all of the seeds will germinate. Another reason is that these are onions that will be harvested and sold in bunches rather than individually.



Here it is, Farmer David's first tractor. It is a Ford 1710. This particular tractor was built in 1986. The tractor was refurbished and is in great condition. Long may you run.


And here is Farmer David peering into the future, contemplating what adventures lie ahead. Needless to say the hope is that the adventures, while challenging, will be surmountable. Go forth young farmer.


That's all for now. Next posting will detail the putting up of the green house. Until then healthy eating and peace to all.

Prairie Wind

I tried to tell the people but they never heard a word I say
They say there's nothing out there but wheat fields anyway
Just a farmer's wife hanging laundry in her back yard
Out on the prairie where the winds blow long and hard

Z Food Farm may not be on a prairie, it is in Lawrenceville NJ, but wheat fields and a farmer's wife hanging laundry does convey a pretty picture. At this time things at Z Food Farm are moving along at a steady pace, but in truth it is the calm before the storm. In the calm Farmer David has been making some purchases. Among them- produce crates, components for his soil mix, the various parts of what will be his irrigation system, a green house (hoop house) and a tractor. David has also ordered his seeds (which took an extensive amount of time to do) and they have started to arrive. He's also been working on the paperwork for organic certification. The approaching storm is the green house needs to be built, a deer fence needs to be put up, and seeding needs to start. At this time the putting together of the components of the green house has been somewhat delayed by (dramatic pause) the weather. Yes fans of farming, it is early March and already the weather has had an impact on things. Those of you in New Jersey might have vague recall of those snow storms that dumped record amounts of snow on the area. Well, when you have snow on the ground it is challenging to get into the fields to build anything. However, within the next week construction of the green house will commence and once that has been accomplished it will be full speed ahead. It is hoped that the snow is not a harbinger of weather challenges in the coming months. If you recall from last farm season the rainy weather of June had a significant impact on the entire season. Hopefully the coming weather will be kinder to all farmers.

Michael Pollan, in his book, "In Defense of Food" offered a rule to those interested in healthy eating and the importance of healthy sources of food, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly Plants." Well, Mr. Pollan has expanded on his rule in his most recent book, "Food Rules - An Eater's Manual". If you are interested in reading more about this, apart from buying the book, you can go to an article/interview in the New York Times (Jan. 8, 2010) by Tara Parker-Pope:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/08/michael-pollan-offers-64-ways-to-eat-food/?scp=1&sq=Michael Pollan Offers 64 Ways to Eat Food&st=cse

An influence on the work of Mr. Pollan is the work of Wendell Berry. To close today here is a quote from an essay of Mr. Berry's from the most recent book containing his essay's "Bringing It To The Table - On Farming and Food", "Eaters must understand that eating takes place inescapable in the world, that it is inescapably an agricultural act, and that how we eat determines, to a considerable extent, how the world is used."

Mindful, happy, and healthy eating to all.


Here's Hule exploring her new farm. It is her farm. She allows Farmer David to think it is his.


Before the snows came, Farmer David borrowed a tractor with a mowing attachment. Cutting the growth will make it easier for the soil to be turned as part of the seeding process once spring finally rolls around. Thanks to Farmer Kelly of Cherry Grove Farm for the loan of the tractor.


In this picture you can see how high things had grown.


This is what the field looked like after the mowing.


The moss will be combined with compost, a soil, and other ingredients to make up the soil mix in which the seeds will germinate in the seeding trays.


On the left side of the picture are 'hoops' that will support cloth that will be placed over the plants in the field. The cloth will create a 'hot house' effect to help promote the growth of the plants. Center front you can see some ground cover- this plastic will be placed on the raised beds and once the plants are in the ground will aid in the suppression of weeds. Center back and right are components of the irrigation system. Think of a dripper hose that you might use to water flowers or shrubs in your home garden.


Peace and good eating to all.

Hello, Goodbye

To borrow from and paraphrase from the Beatles, goodbye, hello. Farmer David is bidding a fond farewell to Gravity Hill Farm and Hello to Z Food Farm. WHAT? Yes, you read that correctly. Here's the a summary and update.

During farm seasons 2004, 2005, and 2006 David was an intern for Farmer Matt at Cherry Grove Organic Farm; Lawrenceville, NJ. This was, in a manner of speaking, Farmer David's undergraduate degree in farming. For farm seasons 2007,2008, and 2009 Farmer David was the farm manager for David Earling and his wife Maria Nicolo at Gravity Hill Organic Farm; Titusville, NJ. This was, in a manner of speaking, Farmer David;s graduate degree in farming. And now for the big news- as of Tuesday, December 22, 2009 Farmer David has a lease for land to establish his own organic farm- Z Food Farm. To continue the educational theme, Farmer David is now pursuing his post doc in farming. As David takes his 'leap of faith' in starting a new farm operation, he wishes to express gratitude and appreciation to a) Farmer Matt for providing him knowledge, support, and encouragemnt during the three years of his internship and continuing over the course of the past three years, and b) David and Maria for providing him the opportunity to manage their family farm and for their support and encouragement.

Though this is being posted rather late in the relation to the past farm season much thanks to the crew who worked at Gravity Hill Farm this past season. Thanks also to those of you who have purchased your produce through the farm markets where Gravity Hill sells its produce. As many of you know, this past season presented very unique challenges with all the wet weather, particularly during the month of June. The rain caused a ripple effect of problems with various diseases and pests throughout the rest of the season. The biggest disappoint being the limited time that those wonderful heirloom tomatoes were available. Sigh of sorrow even now.

So now, in the spirit of an adventurous spirit, onwards and upwards. Though it might seem early, there is much that needs to be done starting now to get ready for the upcoming season, especially for a new farming operation. There is a deer fence to put up. Supplies and equipment to be purchased. A greenhouse to build. This in addition to the routine business of prepping for a new season. So, stayed tuned for the further adventures of Farmer David and the brand new Z Food Farm. In addition to this blog there is going to be a website (www.zfoodfarm.com), a Farcbook page, and a twitter. Once everything is organized and up and running there will be announcements about which farmers' markets Farmer David will be selling his produce.

A new article with Michael Pollan appeared in the Jan. 8, 2o1o NY Times. The article is a brief interview with Mr. Pollan that discusses Here is a link to the article http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/08/michael-pollan-offers-64-ways-to-eat-food/?scp=2&sq=tara%20parker-pope&st=cse.
In the article, which is a brief interview, Mr. Pollan is asked about his new book, "Food Rules: An Eater's Manual". The book provides 64 rules that are intended to encourage people to eat in a healthier manner. The book uses Mr. Pollan's quote, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." as a foundation. The book has three sections, with each part of the quote representing a section of the book.

In the spirit of the New Year, good health, happiness, peace, hopefulness, and healthy eating to one and all.

Below are some pictures of Z Food Farm. Stayed tuned.

The frame of the greenhouse to the right of the building is no longer there.



In the recent past there was a farm stand on the land, Little Acres Farm Market Too. To accommodate Farmer David's needs, the inside of the building will need some modifications- most importantly the installing of sinks and running tubing into the building to get water to the sinks.

Farmer David will have about 20 acres of land to use. There are 'two' fields, each about 10 acres. The front field will not be used this first year. It was last farmed, conventionally, within the past two years and would not qualify for organic certification. The back field has not been farmed for an extended period of time and will qualify to be organically certified.



On the right side of the picture the white square is a walk-in cooler. As with the frame of the green house it too has been removed. A new walk-in cooler will take its place.


That's it for now. Happy New Year. Good health, happiness, hopefulness, and peace to one and all.

Good Day Sunshine

Good day sunshine, Good day sunshine, Good day sunshine
I need to laugh, and when the sun is out
I've got something I can laugh about
I feel good, in a special way
I'm in love and it's a sunny day
Good day sunshine, Good day sunshine,Good day sunshine

While the sun may have been out more recently than not, Farmer David, and other organic farmers, are still reaping the adverse consequences of all of the rain from previous months. Whether it is disease (basil downy mildew, late blight for tomatoes) or pests (bugs eating carrots or broccoli) or the rain, this has been a very challenging season. One of the consequences of the earlier rains is that certain crops are not presently available, or available in less quantity than would otherwise be the case. People might think that the current drier weather means that all produce should be available. The reality is that the earlier rain wiped out plantings of certain things or prevented the planting of others. So, sadly, just because it is drier now, the damage has been done.
Despite all of this, Farmer David, and other local organic farmers, persevere. While they are obviously not thrilled with what Mother Nature has thrown at them, they accept that the various conditions come with their chosen profession. Perhaps profession is the wrong word. People who choose to go into farming, particularly those who have chosen to be in organic farming, don't view what they do as a job. It is who they are. The reasons that bring a person to farming are many and varied, but the bottom line is that they believe in what they are doing. They have a commitment to what they are doing. Farming is not the type of 'job' that a person can just show up for, go through the motions, and go home at the end of the day. Farming requires a passion for a lifestyle that continually challenges a farmer's resolve. It has been said in this blog before, and it will be said again in the future, when you go to a farmers' market, thank the farmer at whose stand you shop.

The term 'local' has been used frequently in this blog. The context of this has been to promote the notion of the smaller scale farmer who sells their produce within a relatively short distance from where the food is grown. The implication of this is that the closer to home the produce is the fresher it will be for the consumer and the less the carbon footprint will be in bringing the produce to market. This is a concept that over the past few years has become increasingly popular. An article by Kim Severson in the NY Times (May 13, 2009) addresses the issue of what happens when large companies start to promote themselves as embracing the notion of 'local'. It is an interesting article the examines what it does mean to be local and how large companies are trying to use people's belief in the concept to promote their own interests. To read the article go to- http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/dining/13local.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=When Local Makes It Big - Kim Severson&st=cse

Another suggested article, this one by Michael Pollan. The article is adapted from his introduction to Bringing It to the Table, a collection of Wendell Berry's writings. Wendell Berry is someone who, in the early 1970's, began to write about the importance of food and agriculture in American culture. To read the article go to- http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090921/pollan

Regardless of your thoughts about the meaning of 'local', there is a difference between those farmers who are connected to large corporations and those farmers who operate on a much smaller and much more local level. When possible support your smaller, local, sustainable, and organic farmer. And if the notion of organic is not of large importance to you, buying from local farmers is still a great thing to do.

Peace and good, healthy eating to all.


While the late blight was devastating to the tomato plants, Farmer David was able, for a brief period, to bring an array of tomatoes to market. While the variety may not have matched what was available last season, they were wonderful and colorful. Here's to a better season next year.



Ah, the beauty of nature.


Asian eggplant- less seedy, more creamy, and with less of the traditional eggplant bitterness. And they are gorgeous.


Just your basic, traditional red onion. Tasty raw, wonderful sweet when sauteed.


This is what happens when a farmer spends too much time under the hot sun.

Better watch out for those speeding tractors.

Hope to see you at market. And if unable to come to one of Gravity Hill's markets, run, don't walk to the farmers' market closest to you. Peace to all.

Shelter From The Storm

twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood
When blackness was a virtue and the road was full of mud
I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form.
Come in, she said,
Ill give you shelter from the storm.

Whether it be storms or droughts, insects or disease, oppressive heat and humidity, bitter cold with bone chilling wind, farmers have been at the mercy of the elements throughout the course of time. Over the course of time farming changed from small farms that used methods of farming that was conducive to good taste and colorful appearance to large, industrial type farms whose main goal was to make food as inexpensive as possible even at the risk of decreasing the flavor of some of the produce. Farming changed to include the use of chemicals to prevent and treat disease, to protect the plants from bugs, and to allow the produce to be shipped many, many miles and to have a long shelf life. In the process people lost contact with the people who were producing their food and took their food for granted. In recent times, things have started to change back to 'the good old days'; food increasingly grown in a manner that is local, sustainable, and abstains from using chemicals that are less than healthy for the plants, the soil, and the consumer. Organic farmers are thus more vulnerable to the elements. During the current growing season many/most/all organic crops throughout the northeast, including Pennsylvania and areas as far west as Ohio, are being afflicted by various ailments. Two in particular are particularly devastating to organic farmers- late blight and downy mildew. In the previous posting links to two articles were offered to provide information about tomato blight. Another article that addresses the issue of blight and its impact can be reached through the following link- http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/opinion/09barber.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Dan Barber&st=cse

One suggestion from the article to mention- if you are going to do home gardening and you don't want to start your own plants from seed, buy your plants from local farmers or local nursery's who have started their plants from scratch. This point is being made due to the blight being partially the result of diseased plants that were started elsewhere being sold at 'box' stores where the disease went unrecognized. If you are supportive of local, sustainable, organic agriculture and want your own garden, buy your plants from a local supplier of plants. With this in mind the problem with late blight and downy mildew has been exacerbated by the wet weather conditions throughout this farm season. Farmer David is not alone in having his crops effected by disease; this is particularly true for all organic farmers. While there are some substances that are organically approved to combat pests and disease, conventional farmers are much better able to protect their plants from disease. For Farmer David, in addition to the tomato plants being struck by late blight, downy mildew has had a stark impact on cucumbers and summer squash. Basil and winter squash have also been damaged.

Last season Farmer David had head lettuce for sale at the farmers' markets every week but one. He had salad mix almost as often. This season due to wet ground lettuce plants did not get planted, some that were planted were unable to be harvested and salad mix and arugula were unable to be directly seeded into the ground. As you consider the impact of weather and disease on small, local, organic farmers, please make it a point to buy your produce at farmers' market and help local, organic farmers remain a viable alternative to the traditional chain supermarkets. Yes, these stores have a role to play in providing us with food throughout the year when local produce is unavailable and providing a wider diversity of food in an area whose climate is not conducive to certain items.

Remember- Shop at farmers' markets. Buy organic. Get to know your farmer. Ask questions about your food. Enjoying good food is at your finger tips. To all who have enjoyed Gravity Hill produce at the New Hope Market, the Pennington Market, the Lawrenceville Market, and from the farm stand, thank you for your support. Your use of Gravity Hill Organic Farm for your produce needs is greatly appreciated.



Happy and healthy eating to all.

Seeding, germinating, and planting continue. To borrow from the wisdom of Yogi, 'the growing season ain't over 'til it's over'.


From germinating seed into the field. The process is ongoing. From the fields of Gravity Hill to a farmers' market near you.


Now, if can only stop raining all of this wonderful stuff will make it to your table.



This is what downy mildew does to plants. As goes the plants, so goes the fruit being produced by the plant.




Here it is, tomato plants with late blight.




As you can see in this picture, the plants are, despite all odds, attempting to continue to produce fruit. To date David has been able to bring an abundance of tomatoes to market. Not as many as would have been available. Not as many varieties as had been planted. And certainly not lasting as long into the season as they otherwise would have been available. However, plenty of tomatoes nonetheless. In this David and Gravity Hill have been far more fortunate than many other farms throughout the afflicted area.

Pretty as a picture. Oh, it is a picture. It is even prettier in person.


Again, thanks to all who come to market. Remember, farming is hard work and it takes a total effort on the part of Farmer David, David E. and Maria as well as all the people who work at the farm. Thank a farmer, any farmer, for their hard work.

Peace and healthy eating to all.