Our first farm "Field Trip" took us to an organic vegetable and cut flower farm located outside of Pittsboro. Our first stop was at a beautiful new county library (passive solar, rain garden & rain chains, lovely engineered wood beam ceiling). Our group from Forsyth County rode down together in a van. Mary Jac and I sat in back, behind Bob and Janice.
Bob is a surgeon who is on hiatus this year, taking time off to farm his land and enjoy life in general. Janice and her mother are trying to decide what to do with her mother's farm, since her father has died. They raise sheep and rent land to another farmer. (Janice has mentioned that she knows some older farmers who want to retire, but they have noone to take over the farm-might be my ticket to get some land!)
We had two talks- one on insects, one on soils. Both very interesting! Also had a beautiful lunch made from all local ingredients- including sweet potato shepherd's pie, salad, and dessert.
Then we hit the road for the farm- nice trip through the countryside. The farm is 25 acres, but only 2-3 acres are actually under cultivation. The plots are divided into 1/4 acres, and the land goes through a regular rotation of cover crops based on what will be planted on it next. They have a number of hoop houses where beautiful anemones were blooming. They buy turkeys every year & move them around the farm- the turkeys eat bugs & fertilize the soil, and don't scratch like chickens do. Also, the turkeys are slaughtered and sold as free range at Thanksgiving.
We also met for our second classroom meeting on March 13- and will go on our next trip on the 29th. I'll try to post some pictures as I figure out how to do stuff!

First Day of Farm School

Hi all,
I attended my first meeting of the Piedmont Farm School (sponsored by the Davidson Co. Cooperative Extension and NC State U.) last night in Lexington, NC. There were thirty student-farmers enrolled- and what an interesting variety! We had retired tobacco farmers, cattle farmers, folks who live on farms that have been in their families since before the Revolutionary War, farm hands, owners and managers. I may be the only one with no land-but I do have a dream! I hope to document my journey towards farm ownership as I go through the 9 month program.

Our first meeting was all about developing a business plan. Hard work, of course, and complicated, but it will give us a roadmap towards success. What was really intesting was how many people expressed a strong desire to preserve the land from development-I think that may be a primary motivator for many of them to take the course. They are looking for ways to make a real living at doing what they love.

We will be touring several farms later this month, but in the mean time, I will work on my plan. I think I am really interested in the idea of starting some curbside fresh markets here in Winston Salem- a place people could buy fresh local produce every day of the week. I used to own a restaurant (Ninth Street Bar & Grill in Durham, NC), and I think I have some good marketing skills.

So I am looking for a farm. Who knows? maybe I'll find one by the end of this year!