One of the blessings that fell into our lap this summer is working for Barba Family Farms helping them sell at the local farmer's market. For me it's great to retell some old Teacher Jokes to kids, sell produce and help some farmer friends. We've got to peek into another side of agriculture and learn. We've also learned some things that aren't so pleasant also.
The Barba's lost one of their wells to the drought and pumping like many around here. Water is huge in the Central Valley, and when politicians negotiate to send water downstream for fish instead of for drinking water and farms you know you're in trouble. And the good governor just signed a bill into law that will regulate groundwater in the state. I can here Ry Cooder's, "Taxes on the Farmer" playing in the background.
On top of that the Barba's planted and were selling produce to a local CSA organization that promotes itself as a local family farm producing CSA. The CSA told them they would buy their produce, but then reneged at the beginning of September. The produce the Barba's planted, based upon the CSA saying they would buy it, is now unpicked in the field.
The good news is the Barba's are starting their own version of a CSA.
Good for them! We definitely want this to work.
On another note, Soup died this morning. Soup was our almost 4 year old turkey. Soup, and her partner Dinner, were part of our gateway into suburban farming. Years ago we had been growing vegetables and fruits and had some laying hens in the backyard. When the second flock of chickens needed to be purchased, two turkeys came home with them. Dinner and Soup were raised, and Dinner met his fate for Thanksgiving one year. That has been documented before.
Soup, which didn't have a name at the time, was spared because Dinner was 40 pounds dressed out. With that much turkey it took us a while to eat through the rest. Soup became the protector of the hen flock, and eventually a friend. Each morning she chortled her "Good Day" to whomever was feeding the flock. Eventually she was named because after a few years she would have been too tough to eat any other way than in a soup or stock. Then she was going to be made into sausage. Then the story was Dad could never do anything to Soup, so she would live out her days protecting the hens. Dad, me, still had plans for sausage. Alas, Soup had other plans.
Soup was good for me. It is alright to be friends with you animals, and still harvest them. It will be hard though. Turkeys are good farmyard birds, and city birds also. They aren't too loud like a rooster, and fit in nicely with chickens. Some at Cal Poly have documented that turkey manure is helpful for the prevention of chicken diseases. Don't know, but Soup was a good family member. She was protective of the hens and wasn't afraid to peck dog or human in protecting the Girls. She will be missed.
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