Share Life Farms

Just in case you think now that my CSA season and one of the two markets I go to have closed until spring that I am on vacation, think again. Last week I was planning on a big work week now that there weren’t as many plants to take care of. Then the outside went bad for Rosie so I had to do what she would have normally done outside. Then Sue Baird called and needed help at the Missouri Organic Association booth at the small farms show in Columbia so I was there all day Thursday. I was glad to help out and it gave me a good reason to go. Otherwise I would have not taken the time and I always pick up a little bit at these events. Friday since Rose couldn’t help outside we spent the day getting ready for market in Columbia and then market on Saturday so last week seemed like a normal schedule.

One great think did happen last week, THE ELECTIONS! No more campaign ads! Ya know I think they ought to pass a new campaign law based on what my parents and grandparents taught me. IF YOU CAN’T SOMETHING NICE ABOUT SOMEONE THEN JUST DON’T SAY IT. That would sure cut down on the number of ads wouldn’t it? Just think of all the money we would save plus helping clean up the filth on TV. Also I think every politician should have to answer every direct question with either yes or no or they couldn’t say anything at all. It sure would be a quiet campaign season if they couldn’t put their spin on every question to avoid a direct answer. Isn’t it sad that anymore most of us are more excited about it being over that the outcome? That is my political commentary for the year.

First thing on the agenda for next week is to get the garlic planted. Now that doesn’t mean that is going to happen but it is at least a plan. I was talking to a fellow grower at the small farms show about this to do list my son always tells me I should make and then just start at the most important on down. I always ask him what you do when you have 5 half day jobs and every one of them is the most important. This grower agreed and then added that, then you walk out of the house and immediately you see something that just has to be done that takes all day! It sure was comforting to know I wasn’t the only vegetable farmer that faces this dilemma on a regular basis. My son is coming home for Thanksgiving maybe I’ll give him one of my to do lists and let him show me how it is done. Probably not a good idea, he’d probably luck out and get it all done and then I’d never hear the end of it. Besides the list is getting smaller, tomorrow I am down to one half day job, one two day job and two three day jobs that I’d like to get done. Well if nothing else my days are interesting.

Your friend in farming bringing you food with integrity

This has been a winter like we haven’t seen in many years have we?  Actually I am on of those nuts that like to see snow that stays awhile in the winter time.  I do however prefer to have temperatures in the 20’s instead of single digits or worse.  I would also like a few more sunny days.

I was just thinking that whoever named the seasons must have had year like this in mind.  For after all this dreary weather we have been having they are saying we might have 60 degrees by the end of the week.  Just like it has been lurking in the shadows waiting to spring upon us.

We have had a short winter but an eventful one.  The Columbia market went this year until the Saturday before Christmas.  I had produce in the fields I wanted to plow for this spring so I didn’t think I was going to get any fall work done.  However after the market close it finally got dry enough to get most of the ground plowed.  One field never was dry enough so I got some compost spread on another field instead.  I sure could have used a couple of more days but I spread on December 23 and then it rained all day on December 25.  That pretty much finished the season as the rain was followed by snow and cold.  Oh well I was ready for a rest anyway.

Christmas was quite different for su this year as it was the first time that neither of our children would be home for Christmas.  It works a lot better for Jake to come home after the first of the year as Christmas is a very busy time for him.  Because of that both of our families postponed our Christmas get togethers until our children were home.  Christmas day was very quiet around here.  Our children were able to get here the second week of January and we were able to enjoy a week with them.  It was the first trim we saw our second grandson James and Rosie got in a lot of Grandma cuddling time.

Last summer it became aware that I had developed a hernia.  I went to a doctor who told me she thought I could wait until after the busy season to have it fixed.  Actually I found out that I had two.  This is away a very scary time for Rose as I am the only one that really knows how to deal with her environmental illness.  So I was able to get the repairs done while the children were here.  Actually two turned into five and a half  hour surgery became two and one half.  She was really glad to have her kids there.

In all the years I have been in the vegetable facet of farming I don’t believe  that there has been a year that he possibilities have been so exciting.  The local food movement is really catching on and there is great opportunity.  It is also very frustrating for me as I don’t have the resources to take advantage of the opportunity.  I have been trying to get a couple of different videos made to put on my website explain my dreams but the weather and working with someone else’s schedule it hasn’t happened as fast I had hoped.  Please continue to look at the website for updates.  As most of you know, I don’t have a traditional CSA because of our remote location.  In most CSA’s besides the cost of your share, you are required to contribute either some time and labor to the farm.  In our CSA you have not had to do that.  This year will be no different except for the fact htat I need help in promoting my dream.  All I ask is that you look at the videos when they get posted and if you would like to see the dreams come true, then spread the word to all your electronic contacts encouraging them to view my site.  I truly want to improve my ability to provide local organic food but I have come to realize that to arrive at my goal I am going to need some help.

To explain all this in deal in this letter would make it several pages long.  I did not want to burden you with that much time in this letter.  It will be faster in a video and hopefully will better convey my passion so I hope each of you will check out the website.  We are also looking to put up another hoop house to extend our season.

We hope to have a little less rain and a little more selection this summer. We hope to be able to serve each one you again this season.  Please let us know of your intentions as soon as you can.  If some of you find yourselves struggling because of job loss or slow down, please communicate with us and let’s see what we can work out.  Hope to hear from you soon.

Your friend in farming bringing you food with integrity.

Jim and Rosie Thomas Jr.

Well if you have been outside the last few days I am sure you have noticed that finally the weather seems to be heading in the right direction. Maybe that is why whoever named the seasons called the next one spring. Because after a winter like this and the warmer weather arrives we soon forget those blustery sub-zero days and it seems as if this pleasant weather just sprung upon us, hence the name spring. The last week around here has been a blessing.

The hoop house was planted in early February which should have been adequate time to have produce by mid-March. However the cloudy days and continued cold prohibited germination. It took almost two weeks for radishes to come up and with adequate environment they are usually up in three days. In fact here it is three weeks and they are still coming up. It can dry up pretty fast once the weather warms up but as much moisture as there is in the ground prospects for an early outdoor spring planting seem dim.

We got to spend a week with our children and their families in January. The bitter cold did not seem to bother our 2 year old grandson who has spent all but a couple of weeks of his young life in the Mojave dessert. He was always at the back door wanting to go outside with Papa. His parents however, who both were raised in Missouri, liked to have froze to death. They would hardly venture out at all. What softies they have become!

We are about to get the heated greenhouse full. We are re-potting some of the early plants because we were afraid they were going to get too big for the pots before we could get them outside. We are looking into the possibility of putting up another hoop house this spring.

I think the extended cold this winter lulled me to sleep thinking winter was never going to end, so I am slow in getting my CSA letter out this year. Don’t give up on me it is coming soon I promise.

Since I have been in the vegetable facet of farming I don’t believe there has been a year when I wanted so bad to get so excited about the coming year and yet have at the same time been so frustrated. When I read articles in the farm publications about the high demand for local food and have new businesses contacting me wanting me to raise for them I get excited about the extreme possibility of this trend in food production. But then when I look at my own limited resources I get discouraged because I know without some outside help I will not be able to use my farm to its full potential.

To this extent I have been trying to get a video made to put on my web-site explaining my dream for Share-Life Farms. If you are concerned about local food, organic food, better health, the environment or good common sense you will want to see my videos. Keep looking for them soon I hope. My social networking ineptitude has caused me to rely on others to help me with this and then the weather has also been a hindrance. We have a great window of opportunity now but farmers need your help or I am afraid the window may close as fast as it opened. Watch the videos for little things you can do to make a big difference.

Until next time your friend in the farming business.