Memphis Democrat Column from August 17, 2008

We seem to have slid right from summer into fall. At least the nights and mornings feel like it. It is strange to see folks in the middle of August starting their days sitting on the porch in their hooded sweatshirts. It definitely feels mighty good to wrap one's fingers around that first cup of hot coffee or tea. The weather patterns this year are having an impact on our crops. Some things have done quite well. We had an excellent wheat harvest and dug some very nice garlic. However, our mustard seed, black beans and pinto beans didn't make it. Sorghum harvest is still to come and we are keeping our fingers crossed that it is a good one. Results have been mixed in the garden, too. Some of the greens and the beets have done very well. We have also had some nice harvests this season of onions, leeks, potatoes, green beans, okra, and zucchini. The tomatoes are trying to fight off foliage disease and my hot and sweet pepper plants don't look as big as they normally would at this time. We have been processing our tomatoes, but we also have purchased some cases of very nice local organic tomatoes to make sure we get enough in jars for the winter. After the fruit famine last year, we are enjoying the return of abundance this season. We have finished the black current harvest. Laird noted on the sitting room calendar that the last batch was picked on August 1st and that this is the latest harvest ever at Sandhill Farm. We have been picking peaches in the backyard and apples from the pond orchard. Apple and Thea have made some really amazing apple sauce. Some of our crew have been going out the past few days to harvest the abundant chokecherries along our back road. Renay has had a busy and fun summer, but is looking forward to the start of school later this month. In addition to attending summer camp for the first time, she participated in the Cahoka Swim Team again and did very well in the area meets. She and her mother went to Cape Cod for a vacation with Gigi's family and Renay also went to Minnesota with French to spend time with his family. With more children in her age group at Dancing Rabbit, she has also had a chance to do some inter-community socializing. She has also been baby-sitting and helping me with some organizing in the FIC office.

We welcomed our new intern Nick into our midst August 2nd and he plans to be with us into October. He recently finished a tour of duty with the Marines and is enjoying getting to learn some new skills while he is here. We said goodbye to our Dutch intern, Mark, the same day. He had a long trip back to the Netherlands, but emailed to let us know that he made it home without any problems. Emily left on August 11th to attend a friend's wedding in Iowa and then travel back to Eugene, Oregon where she has been living. She will be returning in September to participate in the sorghum harvest. Our late summer/fall fair season got off to a bit of a slow start this year. Jacob participated in the Quincy Food Fest on August 2nd. This is held in conjuction with the farmers market at Washington Park and showcases local food. Michael and I were scheduled to do the Florida Festival on August 9th and 10th at Lake Mark Twain, but it was cancelled due the site of the fair being partially flooded. We enjoy doing this event and look forward to being there again next year. Stan has been on the road this summer doing organic inspections. He did a fairly long swing through Nebraska and has also done inspection trips in Kansas and Missouri. Laird is currently on a trip east. He attended oversight meetings for the Fellowship for Intentional Community at Shannon Farm in Virginia and is at Twin Oaks Community, also in Virginia, for a communities conference this weekend. Jo and Elke are meeting him there to help run the Community Bookshelf sales table, as they have done for some years. Laird plans to also visit Ann at her home in Floyd, Virginia while he is in the neighborhood. Folks have started to contact us us about helping out with the sorghum harvest. In addition to the labor exchange crews from Twin Oaks, Acorn and East Wind communities, a number of friends have expressed interest in being here. The harvest this year is going to have the feel of a reunion and we are looking forward to seeing everyone. We have also decided to have a Sorghum Festival again after a hiatus of a couple of years. There will be an open house at the farm from 1pm to 4pm on Saturday, September 27th. Among the activities that will be featured are hayride field tours, a garden tour, demonstrations of our sorghum cooking process and live music and dancing. This should be a great afternoon of fun for everyone in the family. You can call us at 660-883-5543 or email us at sorghumfest@sandhillfarm.org if you need directions. Look for our flyers at local businesses in the area.

http://www.sandhillfarm.org

Stan's blog (new address)

http://sorghumco.wordpress.com/

Laird's blog

http://communityandconsensus.blogspot.com