Chapter News
Good Record Keeping Produces Good Results
Most farmers prefer planting, milking, getting dirty, or working on equipment. Doing paperwork and keeping accurate financial records isn’t always a priority. However, good record keeping produces good results. Did you know that good record keeping can help you...
It’s All About Community
by Penny Molina Rural residents have always relied on their community of neighbors to help them strive and thrive year in and year out. Whether on farms or in small towns, I have seen and come to believe in the power of showing up for one another. Whether we pitch in...
When Grief looks a lot like Mental Illness
Recently, I spent an entire day in bed… when my oldest kitty died… Sounds crazy, no? If I'm honest, I can't really remember a time in my life when I wasn't battling depression. Probably since adolescence anyhow. I don't remember though when the actual word depression...
Manure Digesters – Another False Solution to Climate Change
There has been much media hype about manure digesters and how they “solve” climate change by capturing and burning methane from confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs – aka factory farms). Billions in taxpayer handouts and other incentives through pollution offset...
This Earth Day, Look to Healthy Soil for Healthy Water
by Patty Peltekos It’s April, the time of year when many of us like singing in the rain, scanning the sky and checking weather forecasts for rain.Farm and garden plants, like livestock animals and people, need fresh water to thrive, which is one reason why so many...
Wonderful Wool
Wool socks keep our toes toasty, wool hats and sweaters keep us warm and cozy, and wool is a powerful tool for soil health and plant growth. Wait, what? Yes, wool, which most sheep producers throw away, offers many benefits to farmers and gardeners. What makes it so...