One of the perks about being in the Minnesota Food Association’s “Growing Farmers, Growing Food” program is some really fun field trips. Last week we went to Foxtail Farm in Oseola WI (the link is to the Land Stewardship Projects CSA directory. I was unable to find their website). 

It was such a beautiful drive over there and as you can see the farm is beautiful. This house is made from bricks made right on the property around a century ago.

Some Bhutanese farmers.

A highlight was the greenhouse. It was a pretty cold day so the greenhouse was a welcome break.

Cold frame outside the greenhouse for “hardening off” plants or getting them used to the cold before planting.

Paul of Foxtail is a great do-it-yourselfer. Here is a transplanting implement he made himself.

Another essential implement, this one for weeding. Paul recommends auctions, building yourself and keeping costs low. He also recommends fixing things before throwing them away for new. He is in the process of fixing up the old barn on the property and the pack shed is a refurbished old shed, the coolers are old refrigerator trucks. Even the land itself was “dead” when he got it, with all the nutrients, microorganisms and such farmed out years ago. But even land can be renewed.  

Paul said, “there are things that make you money and things that just make your life better,” the important thing is knowing which is which and what really does make you life better. It was so inspirational to meet a family that has been living our dream for nearly 2 decades now.