Farms We Might Go To: Divide Creek

Howdy, folks, and welcome to the second look in our series on farms Lindsay and I will be visiting next week.

Let me start by saying I'm as disappointed as you are with how unimaginative the title of this series is. This journey really should have some art to it, so I'm going to come up with something better for the series on what each farm was like.

Anyway, on to the second place we shall stay at: Divide Creek, owned and operated by Robbie George and Clara Coleman. Clara's father, Eliot Coleman, is an author and the proprietor of Four Seasons Farm, a model for modern sustainability.

One of the big draws to DC is its innovative solar system, which actually sells kilowatts to the local electric company and "renders (them) carbon-neutral for five adults annually." Lindsay and I are interested in learning about alternative energies, and solar is still very much a mystery to me, so this is an attractive tidbit.

What I think I like most about Robbie and Clara, though, is their practical and stoic tone. Take this brief paragraph explaining their philosophy:

"Our slogan is Real Farming, Real Food since we are focused on the positive methods of organic agriculture such as good soil fertility, composting, green manures, crop rotations, beneficial insects, nutritious quality produce, rewarding hard work and selling locally. We believe in the power of small farms nourishing local communities."

Notice the reference to hard work, as well as to details about manure, rotation, insects and etc. These are principles and techniques that I think every farm we're visiting would agree with, but I appreciate the straightforward terms in which they couch their message.

There are other signs of this literal world view throughout their site. For one thing, they mostly let pictures do their talking. Stunning images both stir the soul and provide a clear idea of their reality. They obviously perceive and are grateful for the beauty in which they work, and to me, that's how one gets back to Eden.

And they do little things, like promote the manufacturer of the greenhouses they use. In short, they're business people in a business they (and Lindsay and I) like.

It's the same tone that Clara has struck with me in our communications. She was pleasant, but promptly asked for necessary qualifications and references. She made no bones about the competition that we're up against. And she quickly rejected our cat. :( But she was also courteous in explaining what she was looking for, was encouraging of our endeavors, and she graciously offered us accommodations for our visit.

For anyone curious, they do offer a decent stipend of $100/week. And they do have livestock.

We'll be getting to them on Feb. 2. Should be a great place to get the feel for the truths of farming.

Farms We Might Go To: Frog Belly Farm

Next week, Lindsay and I are going to Colorado to visit several of the farms we might intern at this spring. It's sort of like interviewing at colleges. They want to make sure you're a serious student and you want to make sure the campus has a reasonable supply of hot chicks and disreputable liquor stores (sort of like that, but not quite). I'm going to post the profiles of the farms we're considering (and that are considering us) every day this week. Any feedback/thoughts people feel like sharing are welcome.

First up: Frog Belly Farm. Located in Longmont, Colo., just outside of Boulder, Frog Belly is part of the North American Biodynamic Apprenticeship Program. Biodiversity, like permaculture, is focused on the natural ecology of a location. It focuses on growing a variety of produce and livestock that work well in conjunction with each other.

The first thing you'll notice about their site is probably the pleasant feminine folk music. Gotta say, I like the vibe of this band and what it portends for a program that otherwise takes itself very seriously.

Explore their site a bit and you'll discover a few things I feel are of note.

1. The site itself is very well designed.

2. They aren't vegetarian (certainly not a problem, I'm just surprised).

3. They have an agricultural festival on Feb. 2, which is actually the day after we will be there.

I have spoken to Jim Barausky, the consultant who handles their education program. He seems very generous. He immediately offered us a place to stay for our visit and spent a while explaining how nice their new bunking facilities are and how comfortable Lindsay and I will be, which is great to hear. He said in an email that they "would probably have space for us" this spring.

They offer a $200-$400/month stipend depending on experience and a "demonstration of skill." (I'm hoping it involves disc golf.) Reasonably, Lindsay and I could take care of our outside obligations with that, given rent-free living with meals.

Also, we would be very close to friends in Boulder, which makes getting around easier (and maybe will help us find a place for our cat).