Organic?

This is TJ. This post discusses "organic" agriculture and explains why we farm the way we do.

            Organic. To most this word means nothing but pricier eggs, milk, or meat. Even so, the true understanding of “organic” is much more than higher prices. In order for us to comprehend this word, it helps to take a glance at U.S. agriculture. Though not obvious at first, a study of what has happened to modern day farming—with its unprofitable nature, damaging practices, and alternative methods—can begin to dispel the cloud of misunderstanding. “Organic” should not be ignored. It means something for the farmer, environment, and consumer.

            What has happened to agriculture? Less than 2% of our population engages in the production of food (epa.gov). How can this be? Most would say city life promises more wealth, and they would be right in saying so. The Industrial Revolution accelerated the evolution from pauper to profiteer; having proven an easier life possible through a shift towards mechanization, many attempted to apply this paradigm to agriculture (Howard 59). The application did not produce the same affect however (Howard 60). Only seven years ago the USDA census found that less than one in four farms grossed in excess of $50,000 annually while on average spent over $100,000. A little over 180,000 of the 2.2 million farms accounted for 63% of all agricultural sales (epa.gov). No wonder our population has strayed from agriculture.

            The number of broke farmers may come from our unprecedented perspective on food. By and large, we view food as a commodity; something with value comparable to raw materials like wood, steel, or cotton. Food should be different though. It sustains us in a way unlike other raw materials. Bringing food down to this level presents unintended consequences. We cease to view food from an ecological standpoint, separating our very sustenance from its biological roots. Basically, we place food production in the model of mechanization where it should not belong (Howard 66).

“What we do within living bodies and in the living world is never a simple mechanical procedure such as threading a needle or winding a watch. Mystery exists; unforeseen and unforeseeable consequences are common.” Wendell Berry (conservationist, farmer, professor)

By dealing with mysterious life in a mechanical context, we begin to exploit God's creation (Howard 67).

            This separation, mechanization, and commercialization killed farming. The reasons why may not be obvious, but once we understand food's biological context—it begins to make sense. By considering food as a commodity, we have deviated from nature in a significant way: most all farms are monoculture—meaning that they grow one product. Nowhere in the natural world do we see monoculture. A multitude of organisms, from flora to fauna, all participate in symbiotic relationships and constantly interact with one another (Howard 62). When humanity disregards these relationships, production systems become broken and dysfunctional (Howard 63).

            Consider the way we harvest crops. A significant amount of nutrients are stored in corn and hay. Where do those nutrients come from? The soil. Where do the nutrients go after they have been harvested? They certainly do not go back into the soil. How can we expect to grow more crops the next time around? The nutrients have already been taken. Sure, we can add NPK or lime, but how can a little nitrogen, phosphorus, potash, or alkaline possibly account for all the complicated processes of plant nutrition (Howard 71)? Additionally, artificial fertilizer (like NPK) is known to decimate living soil populations of earthworms and microbes, which are inseparable to the way plants recycle nutrients from dead organic matter (Howard 74). The end product of crop production is nutritionally deficient plants that continually require maintenance (inputs) and exploited soil devoid of organic matter (nutrition).

            Evidently, large scale commodity crop production has its consequences. But an even greater consequence comes from the destruction of symbiosis between the plant and animal worlds as seen in earthworms, microorganisms, and crops. This can also be observed in the way we practice livestock monoculture (Howard 62, 63). When we raise ruminant livestock (like cows) outside of the plant world (pasture) and place them in a CAFO (confined animal feeding operation) they can no longer assist plant life in efficiently recycling nutrition. Cows achieve this by spreading fertilizer (manure) and stamping grass back into the soil for microbial life and earthworms to consume, preparing the nutrients for new grass growth (ruminants are beneficial to the soil and vegetable worlds in a myriad of ways besides this one explanation) (Nation 37). Also, animals subjected to CAFO treatment become sickly and are in constant need of maintenance, while the excess manure in a feedlot creates an imbalance of fertility (through excess nitrogen) polluting surrounding environments (via runoff) (qtd. in Pollan 68). In summary, the separation of animal life and plant life does not exist in nature, and as noted previously, dismissal of nature's systems leads to a broken and unprofitable system (Howard 63).

            Modern agriculture, in being ecologically damaging by harming life's processes and robbing soil fertility, becomes financially unsustainable. How can ecology and economics be connected? In relation to farming, it is quite simple. When one has a broken system, incapable of producing on its own and in constant need of assistance, expenses increase exponentially. Commodity farming requires an enormous amount of inputs to keep it afloat. Corn and soy crops need hybridized seeds, herbicides, fertilizer and fuel; the prices of which have been killing the long term productivity of the farmer—especially in the past decade (Philpott). Albeit yield per acre has been increasing because of hybridization, but production costs have kept pace – especially with the advent of genetically modified seed (Plumer; Philpott). The same has been with CAFOs. The costs of grain, antibiotics, facilities and pollution cleanup can be insurmountable (Sherman 17, 18). Even around the turn of the century, beef production costs in the U.S. were three times that of Argentina, Australia and New Zealand (Nation 7). So if commodity farming is unsustainable what keeps these industries alive and producing cheap food? Billions of dollars are taken from you and me each year and provided as "subsidies" by the U.S. Federal Government for things like grain price "supports," farming "insurance," pollution cleanup assistance, and a host of other “remedies” (Sherman 17, 33). Our agricultural industry is a facade; the results of pushing living organisms outside their natural parameters are clearly seen in farming's economic failure.

            How do we rescue farming from this crisis? It seems our treatment of ecology may have some bearing on the situation. Humans did not design the natural world. If anything we are a part of earth's ecosystems. God has designated living organism to operate within certain parameters (think of homeostasis) that we have only begun to understand. Pushing food production systems outside these limits prevents them from performing as they should. If we are to succeed in farming we must regard these limits; we must follow God's design. For example, in 1975 (when crop production followed nature more closely) a farmer needed 7%-10% of the arable land required in 1991 to make a middle class living (Nation 6). In addition, it is estimated that feeding grain to cattle (as happens in CAFOs) costs seven to ten times more than utilizing equal amounts of pasture (in terms of dry matter) (Nation 192). Clearly, following God's design translates to a healthful system—not only financially, but ecologically through the elimination of pollution and restoration of soil fertility (Sherman 26).

            Commodity farming—through its financial un-attractiveness, flawed methods, and apparent remedies—can shed light on the “organic” situation. It shows us how agriculture must follow God's design in a living, breathing world. That is the true meaning of “organic”. In addition, God commissioned man to be “fruitful”. Robbing the environment of nutrients and disrupting plant's and animal's natural processes is not fruitful or “organic”. As farmers, we should be “organic” not only to be financially productive, but to be fruitful with our natural resources. In the end, our soil, food supply and health (as consumers) are all connected (Howard 176). “Organic” is not just $8.00 for a pound of ground beef. Organic is the solution to agriculture.

Works Cited

"Demographics." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 10 June 2014.

 

Howard, Albert. The Soil and Health: A Study of Organic Agriculture. Lexington: U of Kentucky, 2006. Print.
 

Nation, Allan. Quality Pasture: How to Create It, Manage It, and Profit from It. Jackson, MS: Green Park, 1995. Print.
 

Philpott, Tom. "Why Commodity Farming Is a Tough Row to Hoe." Mother Jones. Mother Jones and The Foundation for National Progress, 26 Sept. 2013. Web. 10 June 2014.
 

Plumer, Brad. "A Brief History of U.S. Corn, in One Chart." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2012. Web. 10 June 2014.
 

Pollan, Michael. The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.
 

Sherman, Doug Gurian-. CAFOs Uncovered: The Untold Costs of Confined Animal Feeding Operations. Rep. Cambridge, Massachusets: UCS Publications, Spring, 2008. Print.

Some Updates...

I plan on posting lessons learned for those who only want to homestead, but we've had way too many distractions lately so for now here are some updates:

The worm hole to 1880 hasn't closed yet... the dryer missed the old washer so much it also failed (they were Maytags that had only been married for about 5 years).

We now have plenty of milk thank the Lord.  These only eat grass, no supplements.  Some dairymen say this can't be done but it just aint so.  This used to confuse me tremendously until a successful farmer explained to me that it's genetics.  Most of today's cows are predisposed to grain thanks to "subsidies" (which also create the perception that grain is cheap).  Grain allows one to keep more cattle on significantly less land (but it also changes the characteristics of the milk [and meat] and degrades its nutritional value because cows get too many carbohydrates and less vitamins, minerals, carotene etc. - a topic for a different post).  Since cows are ruminants, grains also create acidity in their digestive system which causes various health problems (another topic for a different post).  Getting back to genetics - so after multiple generations of cows eating grain, traits of genetically inferior cows that would not normally survive on grass are passed on (and their health problems are masked with medications).

Caleb is transitioning to Warré hives, this year he's deploying 40.  His bee keeping philosophy is changing to being even less invasive.  Warrés are a design resulting from a method that minimally disturbs a hive.  New boxes are added to the bottom of the hive instead of the top after 80% of comb is built (building from top down is consistent with what a hive naturally does).  Hives are also not separated for maintenance and comb within boxes is never moved so that bees don't have to re-generate pheromones.

Warrés do not have frames as do Langsroths.  Caleb is building foundation for them to build comb on which is laid across the top of their boxes (wax is melted in a pot and used to adhere strips of wax into a grove cut into the bars of wood and the boxes are notched to accommodate the wood just like a Langstroth).

Taking a break from spraying hives with exterior grade polyurethane.

One of Caleb's helpers who is supposed to be gluing the boxes together.

Girl power putting lightweight concrete blocks into the bullet proof Toyota farm tractor for staging around the property.  The Warrés will be placed on these blocks, we're assuming that the bees will operate within a two mile radius so we're placing groups of hives on the perimeter of the property.  I'm sure the radius depends on the availability of food and pasture (pasture and the edges between pasture and forest will have more flowering plants than forests).

Two week old broilers.

You must remove any furry chickens from the hen house.

This one... ahh forget it, I don't have time to explain this.

Caleb & Trins building a bee HOA.

Residents moving in.  We were moving fast trying not to run out of daylight.  It was kind of funny when someone else got stung and of course not funny when it was you.  We were joking around by reminding each other that bee stings offer medicinal benefits or to "just walk it off."  Blaise (in the space suit) eventually got stung once on the hand.  Caleb got stung between the eyes.

Farming Lessons Learned So Far

Some have expressed interest in our pursuits.  Here are 10 (or more) things to consider:

1. Draft a plan; define objectives, strategies and boundaries to your operation that all agree to.  Also have the flexibility to adjust or jettison portions once you realize that a particular thing ain't working.  Is your plan just to feed your family - then skip to #10 (or 11).  Do you want to make a living doing this - then read on.

2. Practice and validate production techniques the first year.  Just like learning how to drive stick, you must practice before driving in traffic.  Produce enough for your family and give surplus to friends and potential future customers (and ask for their feedback).

While sitting around the womb Caleb made the most of that time.



3. Research the market (and incorporate what you learn and opportunities discovered into the plan). ID multiple customer groups (food and homeschool co-ops, particular communities, farmer's markets or cooperate with an established producer of a different product, etc.).  Define multiple marketing strategies.  Marketing will likely be half or more of your effort until your customer base grows by word of mouth.

4. Crunch the numbers (another portion of your plan), account for fuel, materials, cost of sale (fees or commissions), losses, etc.  Run different scenarios (what if average bird size is x, or we use x instead of y, or we drop the price to x, etc.).  Estimate ALL labor hours, that means ALL the time you spend on whatever it is that supports that effort to help your “go” or “no go” decision.

5. As Morpheus says (after I make a slight edit), “Don't think you are can, know you are can.” After researching how to raise x or produce y, plan and execute.  Sounds obvious, but many well thought out endeavors are never pursued. Analyze what's holding you back, and if it's simply fear of the unknown (because you've never tried it before - I'm guilty of this), it's probably time to execute.

6. Sell retail (finish the product as much as possible and sell to the consumer).  This generates more revenue than selling to a grocer or restaurant, BUT only if you have an established customer base.  Selling to a grocer or restaurant may make sense if it allows more time to capture retail customers (or gain access to them) or if you have too much product you need to move.

7. When reality demonstrates the opposite of what you thought - the numbers you originally crunched are wrong, selling more of that money losing product only increases your losses.  Another thing that sounds obvious, but for some it isn't.  Focus your time on efforts that maximize returns to recoup losses.  If vending eggs loses money, but selling berries makes money, don't continue the egg endeavor thinking you'll eventually cover costs and then stop, stop the egg endeavor asap and dedicate more time to berries.

8. Network with other vendors pursuing the same or different things to learn from their mistakes and get ideas.  This includes competitors, you'll be surprised how this can help.  A competitor who has become a friend had an inventory shortage and bought the surplus we had trouble moving.

The Egg PoIice, at least they aren't armed.

9. When dealing with Politburos, get clarification in writing (if they refuse to put things in writing, take notes while on the phone and send them an email thanking them for their time and restating anything they said).  They will contradict each other, contradict their own written regs, or simply make stuff up (start a new business and see what I mean).

10. I forgot what the last one was which stinks because I thought it was really good... hopefully I'll remember it for a future post.

11. Since I forgot 10, here's another.  Learn how to maintain & repair whatever machines you'll be using. Things break at the worst times (like the double flat I had - and it didn't end there; a few hundred feet to the destination the trailer got stuck). Own duplicates of tools commonly used and manuals if you don't already have the knowledge to fix what you own. You also need things like a winch, bottle jack, tow straps/chains, etc. to minimize recovery time.

12. And one more thing, have a good 1st aid kit (w/ blood clot) and fire extinguisher ready (you're in the country, 60 min+ away from 911, or in a field or on a fence line far from water - watching an engine fire that destroys less than a hundred $ in parts turn into one that completely destroys the machine will really set you back [the former owner of the dozer in the pic purchased it as a replacement for one that burned and was a complete loss]).

You Are What They Eat

Years ago I was introduced to the idea that the human body can function on anything.  One could eat only fake cheese nachos from 711 and survive without any noticeable ill effects, like a furnace that will always provide heat as long as anything combustible like trash was put in it.

Learning more about food further convinces me that perspective is completely false.  The first big realization came from bread (this is difficult to confess since I used to be a wannabe bread man who hustled delivered [spouse edit] edible “factory second” loaves).  I heard an interview by Tom Woods about how modern wheat impaired one's health (it's linked to inflammation, arthritis among other symptoms) and I didn't believe it until I eliminated it from my own diet and noticed an improvement.  (There are a couple of explanations for this that blame unnaturally hybridized grain.  If I remember correctly, one is that grains not soaked, sprouted or soured extract minerals as you body tries to digest them and another is that an unnatural protein produced from hybridization interferes with your body’s ability to extract nutrients when present in one's gut.)

My latest revelation has to do with chicken.  I never thought much of them, they were the cheap option at expensive restaurants and they certainly weren't anything to look forward to in the morning like bacon.  But no more, it's our second most favorite meat.  Chicken actually has great flavor if raised naturally where they can consume their normal diet (plants, grass, seeds, insects and occasionally small frogs and mice).  Big Agra's chicken is fed an inexpensive processed ration that creates bulk in the shortest time possible but produces a bland bird in comparison (in addition to the nutrient deficient feed they are severely confined which causes them to inhale a considerable amount of dust from their dried excrement, both of these conditions also impair their health).

Cook a pasture raised and a store bought chicken together and see what I mean. What makes the biggest difference is their time on pasture (we limit their time in the brooder where they eat non-GMO feed to no more than three weeks, they then spend four to six weeks on pasture).  Pasture contains an immense number of nutrients that they easily assimilate (beta-carotene, selenium, vitamin E, etc., and a multitude of minerals). Their meat then offers more omega-3, vitamins, antioxidants and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) among other nutrients (see eatwild.com, sfgate.com and others) compared to a conventional bird.

So… an animal's diet really does affect their flavor and nutritional value (they need to consume vitamins and minerals so you can get them).  “You are what you eat” is not quite accurate, it should be stated “you are what they eat.”

Another way to illustrate the difference.  On the left are eggs from free ranging pastured chicken, on the right are chickens fed only non-GMO feed (excellent feed but little to no pasture access). Wish I had commercial eggs in the pic, they would likely be the palest.

Blaise with chicken fan club.  Founder of MoFC (“gimmie Mo Fwied Chick'n”).  It's surprisingly good even though his recipe is totally made up (if he doesn't write it down there will be nothing to keep secret and no reason to call him Colonel one day).

In other news TJ doubled syrup production.

Right click and save this pic for when Apple offers a scratch 'n sniff iPhone feature (non-hybrid grain pancakes from scratch and fresh maple syrup, probably what was eaten in 1880 before spending all day doing laundry).

More on Syrup

Here is a great view to wake up to in the morning, looks like we live on the edge of a vast lake.

More on syrup production; here are a few missing steps from the process.  This is the sap Squeaky emptied into the transfer bucket (shown in the last post). I call it Missouri coconut juice (at least it looks like it to me).

Here is an example of a Puerto Rican maple.  All of the sap is contained in these giant nuts which is convenient because you don't need taps or buckets.

Missouri coconut juice must go into these food grade barrels for protection from little kids. (The longer it stays in here the darker it will be when processed, partly because bacteria will eat a portion of the sugar, so you can minimize storage time to produce a "Grade A" variety unless you want a stronger maple flavored "Grade B").

From there it goes into food service/buffet pans (buffet pans are used to maximize surface area in order to facilitate evaporation) and boiled down into syrup.  TJ has recently calculated a 20 to 1 ratio which is a good indication that the trees are sugar maples (as opposed to red or silver maples, etc.).

Unlike the fake syrup found in most stores (made primarily with corn syrup by Big Agra because it's subsidized with your money a wonderful substitute for other sweeteners), real maple syrup contains sucrose (primarily), malic and amino acids, minerals (calcium, potassium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron and zinc) and trace amounts of vitamins (B5, B6,  D, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, and folic acid).  Big Agra's fake syrup has different ingredients.  Some are sodium benzoate or phosphoric acid  and trace amounts of mercury from within the high fructose corn syrup (all toxins).  It also has its own version of essential vitamins like 2-methylimidazole or 4-methylimidazole from the "caramel color" (promotes tumors in lab animals).

And the best way to end the day is with a meal from produce or animals all raised right here: squash, pastured chicken and raw milk for dinner.

We found a worm hole to 1880...

...in this washer.  It failed and I wasn't going to buy the first one I saw and bring someone else's problems home.  (Plus some of those available at the time weren't close - that's 60+ miles away when you live in the country).

So during the time it took to find an acceptable replacement friends equipped us to wash clothes the old fashioned way. At first it didn't seem so bad, but that thought only lasted a few moments once I tried doing my own load.  A washing machine is a tremendous time saving (and soap saving) invention.  (The blue plunger in the right bottom corner was used on clothes in a five gallon bucket as an alternative to the washboards.)

Besides washing in the 1880s way, we also used the device on the right.  It worked surprisingly well – adding hot water and sealing the lid pressurizes it which pushes detergent into the clothing.  The problem with both methods is that you can’t do large loads (well, you can if you have many hours to dedicate to laundry).

Maple sap collection continues (Squeaky is draining a collection bucket into a transfer bucket).

And the initial production of syrup has been impressive.  It has a strong pleasant flavor other than simply being sweet which I haven't tasted in other maple syrups.  TJ had the finesse of a lab technician as he further refined his pilot batch in the kitchen.

TJ also makes excellent pizza, the crust is made out of Kamut (an ancient grain), I could use a slice as a write this. (The piece of paper in the bottom left corner is made out of nothing).

And the next item on the todo list: excavation.  We'll see how far I get before the next post.

Rocket Stove Update

I've realized that you've got to insulate all areas where combustion occurs in order to intensify the heat and generate a more complete burn.  I sourced a commercial 6" cast iron water pipe 90 degree turn and tee (used for things like large scale fire suppression).  This pic is of the stove turned upside down.

I also changed the config so the barrel is further into the room and increased the amount of exhaust pipe/surface area so more heat is shed inside the room.  I've since stacked bricks so that they touch and surround the tee to further reflect heat back into where the combustion occurs.  (A small fan on each side of the exhaust helps to shed heat). NOTE: if anyone tries this you need to run it extremely hot outside to burn off paint before bringing it inside.

Another way to stay warm is snuggling with a pig but the quality of the heat isn't as good. (They are adorable, for some reason they are so huggable looking, maybe it's because bacon tastes so good - hmmm, I guess that kinda makes sense, hugging them is almost the equivalent of tasting bacon).

Caleb agrees, even squeezing them doesn't help generate additional heat (this is a Caleb Fan Club requested pic).

Sammy prefers this very small breed of miniature horse.  He would like for us to raise some and didn't like to hear that it only comes from China.

Other endeavors: Calvin's first batch of root beer.  It definitely tasted like root beer but was also sour.  I'm really looking forward to his next try.

And TJ's entry into the home made delicacies contest will be maple syrup.  He was recently inspired by his friend Jonathan back in VA and has tapped six trees so far.  (Without leaves you have to study the bark and inspect the leaves on the ground, the tree in the pic is not a maple).

Egg Police

As I continue the barn dismantle I’ve had a lot of time to think about…

...the Egg Pulletburo (or "Politburo," aka the "Egg Police").

Out here there is a group of central planners who I call the Egg Pulletburo.  Under many circumstances you cannot sell eggs without one of their permits.  The Pulletburo has established rules which define what to grade eggs for (by size, shape, air pocket volume, etc.), how to grade eggs and how to package and maintain eggs.  There are also unclear rules on when and what info to collect from customers.  They also collect a "tax" (generate an income) by issuing "permits."

After implementing their rules I realized that they consume many hours and significantly reduce profitability.  It also became very clear to me that I didn’t need the Pulletburo because there is an “invisible hand” that forces me to produce the best eggs I can – it’s my self interest (or “greed”).  It motivates me (like many others - in order to provide for a family or "make millions" and improve a standard of living) to do whatever I can to make customers happy.  The thought of an inferior product slipping thru to a customer and losing to competition is troubling.

I asked a member of the Pulletburo if any there had ever raised and maintained layers.  The answer was “no.”  I asked if any had personally implemented their rules and validated them.  “No.”  Had they ever sold eggs?  “No.”  (They do have a director with a PhD - apparently I'm supposed to believe that offers some value even though they have no practical experience in the area they are regulating).

I've concluded that the Pulletburo is not unlike planners in every other sphere of life.  What confounds me is why the average person thinks we can’t live with out them and their rules (because they somehow think planners remove the ill effects of greed?).  The irony is that the same pro-Politburo average person always prefers the benefits of a free market but will not acknowledge its virtues.

A great illustration of this is the telephone.  On the left is hardware that central planners of the former USSR would be proud of, on the right is the version the average person craves produced by the free market.  They both result from "greed."

The problem is that the greed of the planners on the left has no constraint (only their customers do).  Their greed is the impetus for regulations that eliminate competition (aka consumer’s choices) and severely hinder innovation. (Note that while under regulation the phone changed very little in ~80 years until it was set free by Judge Greene in 1984).  Tons of money was made from this phone but only because of legislated pricing and an authority to punish those who didn’t comply.  People will lament that businesses need to give back to the community – and in this case they’re correct.  It’s a great example of a business, in this case a politburo protected monopoly being compensated for way more than the value provided.

On the right the greed of entrepreneurs has a significant constraint: the desires of a customer who is free to choose.  Because of greed they have to identify and implement all kinds of ways to make a customer happy. Who can’t live without a smart phone today?  Its functionality is a thousand times greater than the phone on the left... thanks to greed.  The entrepreneurs on the right are now fabulously wealthy.  Do they need to give back to the community?  No, they already do each time you use the relatively inexpensive phone in your pocket.  You’re late to a meeting you can’t reschedule and you save the meeting by calling ahead.  Need the quickest way to drive somewhere or you simply don’t want to get lost and needlessly burn fuel?  Need to access the Internet?  Want an alert to avoid a flooded basement?  Or when to sell a stock?  Or see who's at your front door from work?  The ways greedy free market entrepreneurs give back to the community are endless.  Greed should be constrained, but naturally - by the freedom of each of us to pursue our self interest.  Sure, problems and lawlessness will still occur but their negative effect is not as broad as with the planners who produced the phone on the left.

Who clamors for these Politburos, consumers or crony capitalists?  Maybe I'll address that after I make more progress on the barn.