Northern California Farmer Sings Praises of Bee-friendly Farming

[Ladyhawke1]

http://rareseeds.com/blog/ca-seed-s...farmer-sings-praises-of-bee-friendly-farming/


:bee

 

[seedcorn]

2010 Farmer Rancher Pollinator Conservation Award, sponsored by the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign and the National Association of Conservation Districts.

Now that is a mouthful. 9 acres makes you a farmer/rancher? OK. By the time you pay off $10,000 acre dirt, I would love to see how he cash flows. Not to be negative, I just don't understand how, I would truly like to know. He must have some outside income.

 

[hoodat]

If he has rare sheep he may be making more on them that on the veggies. If he is selling at a farmers market he also makes more money by cuttting out all of the middle men and putting their profits in his own pocket. There are normally three or four middle men between the farmer and the customer.
A man who is happy with what he is doing is also likely to settle for less income than someone doing a 9 to 5 grind.

 

[lesa]

Hoodat, you are truly a wise man!
I can very easily see a huge difference in my gardens since adding a hive. I also find myself more generous with weeds- if they get a flower, I leave them alone. After, all that's bee food! I wish the author would explain what he does to discourage cucumber beetles!

 

[hoodat]

Try beetle juice. Buy a cheap used blender. They go for low prices in thrifts. Catch as many of the beetles as you can and whirl them in a blender with a little water, then strain the ucky mess and spray the juice on the cukes. It's best if the juice is as fresh as possible. No one quite knows why it works but it does.

 

[seedcorn]

Try beetle juice. Buy a cheap used blender. They go for low prices in thrifts. Catch as many of the beetles as you can and whirl them in a blender with a little water, then strain the ucky mess and spray the juice on the cukes. It's best if the juice is as fresh as possible. No one quite knows why it works but it does.

I can think of a few reasons........yuck.

on 9 acres how many sheep could he have or sell per year? I understand show stock can be quite expensive but he would have $500/acre in interest alone without taxes, etc. I'm not saying he's not doing it (he obviously is) but I'd like to see the books--not in being nosy but trying to educate myself.

 

[thistlebloom]

2010 Farmer Rancher Pollinator Conservation Award, sponsored by the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign and the National Association of Conservation Districts.

Now that is a mouthful. 9 acres makes you a farmer/rancher? OK. By the time you pay off $10,000 acre dirt, I would love to see how he cash flows. Not to be negative, I just don't understand how, I would truly like to know. He must have some outside income.

Yes: "Paul does most of the farming; Elizabeth handles the business side and also works as a public health nurse; both juggle the raising of their young children, Lucas and Anna."

 

[seedcorn]

thanks, I missed that about his wife working off of farm. Explains a lot.

Now how do I get my wife to get a job so I can stay home and "farm"?

 

[thistlebloom]

You can bet your bloomers that acreage in Sebastopol Ca. is waaaaayyyy higher than 10,000 an acre too. Just sayin...

 

[ninnymary]

I go to the Sebastopol area every 5 months for my chicken feed because it is almost half the price of what I can get close to home. Acreage anywhere in California seems to be pricey.

Some of the farmers markets are also pricey. But it seems people are willing to easily buy organic eggs for $5 a dozen and to pay higher prices for good, beautiful organic food. I think if you shop at farmers markets you are more concerned about supporting local farmers and buying local than prices.

I only buy organic strawberries at farmers markets because they are so much sweeter. I won't buy them in stores.

I would say he is probably breaking at least even.

Mary