As a farmer, I need to be a full-time lobbyist for common sense. The USDA and folks in Washington D.C. can create a lot of extra work for us small farmers! One seemingly little law or rule change can seriously impact our lives, farms, and future. Currently, there is one such proposed bill going through […]
This time of year is filled with such eagerness and new beginnings. The cold, gray winter is fading fast and we welcome the sunny, cool days of spring. With each coming season new joy and excitement emerges. For me, spring is marked with the planting of seeds. Our windowsills are lined with little pots studded […]
Stephen, the now big brother to our little Joanna Prayse, is my farm helper. (Now, I really think he is helping mom by helping me, but nonetheless, I enjoy spending time with him!) Stephen, like most of my children, and probably like many of your children, loves to work with his daddy. The other day, […]
We have been tuning our stringed instruments, the brass and woodwinds are warming up, and the percussionists are readying themselves! Now, the lights dim and all is quiet. In moments, the orchestra will erupt into an awe-inspiring symphonic masterpiece. Don’t you just love a good piece of music? I do. At this moment, I have […]
I can remember one year, when we had a great February and March, but then April was horrible and May wasn’t much better. That year I didn’t act on the early weather, and was waiting for the normal spring start in April. What a mistake! This year we have tentatively opened up about 3 acres […]
I overheard my daughter Maddy (8) correcting her younger sister Maleah (5) last week. Maleah was using the word “dirt” as they were playing with BRIO train tracks, a Lincoln log house and a few little people. Maddy, in the casual course of conversation, responded to the word “dirt” by saying that it is actually “soil.” […]
I overheard my daughter Maddy (8) correcting her younger sister Maleah (5) last week. Maleah was using the word “dirt” as they were playing with BRIO train tracks, a Lincoln log house and a few little people. Maddy, in the casual course of conversation, responded to the word “dirt” by saying that it is actually “soil.” […]
by Ashley Rodriguez Last April, I was invited by the director, Robert Kenner, to attend a screening of Food, Inc. in Los Angeles. This invitation was all thanks for my brother who filmed much of the movie. I jumped at the opportunity to see the film. Food, Inc. “lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, […]
We are tentatively firing up the tractors and getting ready for spring. I have called the lime spreader and hopefully he will be ready to lime our fields this week. In farming, timing can be critical and for the Klesick Family Farm, with all of our diversity, we need to lime as early as possible. […]
We are tentatively firing up the tractors and getting ready for spring. I have called the lime spreader and hopefully he will be ready to lime our fields this week. In farming, timing can be critical and for the Klesick Family Farm, with all of our diversity, we need to lime as early as possible. […]
I have been trying to stay on track myself, spend more time with my family, lose a few pounds, get a little more sleep and exercise daily. I have been measuring my goals using an excel spreadsheet. It is amazing the accountability that comes from journaling your successes and, need I say it, yes, setbacks. […]
I have been trying to stay on track myself, spend more time with my family, lose a few pounds, get a little more sleep and exercise daily. I have been measuring my goals using an excel spreadsheet.
Lately, I have been thinking about the phrase, “40 acres and a mule.” My perspective of what this actually may have looked like, back in the 1800s when our government was giving out land, is colored by the fact that part of our farm is horse powered. Although my hunch is that not all of […]
by Ashley Rodriquez I have recently become aware of a sub-culture that exists in the ever growing world of food lovers. The people that exist in this culture are passionate, determined, generous, adventurous, tough, gentle and secretive. They are at times self-less and giving and conversely elusive and greedy. For the mushroom hunter, finding the […]
From now through the month of February, not only will you receive the standard thank you gift for your referrals, but for every two people you refer, your name will be entered into a drawing for the chance to win one of three unique prizes!
This is a time of year when people are making lifestyle changes for good. We all start to focus on maintaining healthy eating, exercise and setting goals for ourselves to keep us eating healthy. However, there are so many others—friends, family members, and neighbors—who could benefit from the fresh variety of fruits and veggies that […]
Last week, I attended the American Farm Bureau (AFB) National Conference which was held in Seattle. The AFB hasn’t held its national conference in Seattle since the 1950s. Normally I wouldn’t head off to an AFB convention, but it was so close to home that I decided to go. It didn’t hurt either that the […]
