Farm Blog

 We have been out picking early this morning for our Saturday Farmers Market located in Deerfield Township. We had on light jackets when we started. Quite a difference from  the very hot and humid weather we have been having the last few weeks, how refreshing.

 We really felt in the Holiday mood picking flowers. They have expoded in color, just like fireworks. We were in a sea of red, white, blue, and about every other color and shade you can imagine, but not as noisy.

 We started our market season last Tuesday in Wyoming, Ohio and went back again yesterday for the second market. We will start picking this morning for the the Lebanon Market which begins tomorrow. Deerfield begins next week and Madeira will soon follow.

 Seeing all the familiar faces and renewing acquaintances, especially at the first few markets, is a wonderful feeling. Although we only see our customers for a few minutes (if that), it feels like seeing an old friend or family member and really energizes us. It helps carry us forward in the months to come.

 It is a very busy time of year and the days start to blur together. It is both exuberating and exhausting, and we love it.

Conard bought 6 pigs the last of March and brought them home and put them straight out in pasture, in our biggest bottom field that we call Betty's bottom. This field is named after a wonderful lady that attended our Meeting (church) and whose family owned a neighboring farm for almost two hundred years. 

  If you are not familiar with farm slang and wonder what a bottom is, it is the farm ground that surrounds a creek, river, or stream and it seems everyone has a story about a bottom field, if you ever farmed one. They range from floods to quicksand. When Betty found out that we had bought this property that adjoined us, she had to tell us her stories, of this bottom field and woods. She finally stated that she had worked and played in that field so much her name was written all over it. So we named it Betty's bottom. She has since passed away but was a terrific lady and neighbor.

 Sorry I got side tracked, this blog is about Conard and his pigs. Well Conard has always enjoyed raising pigs for the fair and always wanted more. He likes pigs better than the fair. Last year he started his own enterprise of raising organic sweet corn. So this year he has started another enterprise of raising pasture raised pork. They are living high on the hog (pun intended) in this field, doing their best to root it all upside down. They have free access to pasture, and Conard's feed ration he is getting is customed blended.

  It really feels good to have hogs back on the farm. We raised hogs in the 1980's and 90's with Guy's brother. They are a great joy to watch and work with. He is planning on getting more next month.  

  We pleasantly suprized ourselves last Wednesday evening when we checked the boiling sugar sap and the hydrometer (fancy name for a floating tube that tells you when the syrup makes) read 32.  Success, it's maple syrup. Over one and half gallons total.  

 Our fun and syrup adventure involved alot of time and help from friends and family. We tapped the trees on Sunday evening, Conard collected the sap on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Guy went to our neighbor Phil's to get his propane syrup finisher that Phil and his dad used in the 1970,s when their sugar camp was in full operation. Phil was pleased to see it being used again, and he was a major resource drawing from years of experience.

 Sandy was getting the boiling pan and all the other equipment together when she realized the boiling pans were wanting to leak. Sandy took the pans to her dad to seal. Which he did in a fine fashion. On her trip over she spyied that a friends of our's sugar house had smoke coming out of the chimney, we decided we should go and get some advice from him. Jeff had his sugar house in full swing and the sweet smell was just overwhelming. We left with encouragement and a nice sample of finished syrup to try.

 We started boiling Wednesday morning, and thanks to Phil stopping by a few times to check on us sap rookies it went pretty smooth. Success was achieved about 7:30 that evening. We tasted way to much and put the wonderful syrup in canning jars with a triumphet look in our eyes.

 The next morning we just had to have pancakes. 

 The last time we wrote we talked about how we were glad that the cold weather and snow had returned in early February as compared to the mud we had in January. Well probably a lot of you must have wondered how we were liking it when we kept getting snow and more snow. 

 We liked it just fine. The livestock did use more feed and it was a bigger chore keeping fresh water unfrozen to them, but the farm being blanketed in snow was just beautiful. Now we are in the spring thaw and more mud, but we are mentally prepared for it. Spring is here and bringing its wonders, sights, sounds and new challenges.

 We have gotten our existing two hoop houses planted. Also we have started many seed trays with a variety of crops. Yes, we are eager to get our hands in the soil. 

 While we are waiting for the soil to dry out for major field work and projects we are trying something new. We tapped fifteen of our sugar maple trees and going to try our hand at making some maple syrup. This is a project we have wanted to do for several years. We were blessed a few years back to receive sugar maple making equipment when Guy's Aunt Estella Jo sold her farm and shut down her sugar camp. We never have seemed to have enough time to try making some until this year. We have a lofty goal (for us) to make a whole gallon this year. Wish us luck, it should be fun.

 Cold weather came back about a week ago and the last two days brought us about 6 inches of snow. Cold, snowy weather can add more work and time to daily chores. It makes us haul more feed and contend with frozen water for livestock. Haul more wood to keep the house warm, work harder to keep equipment starting and running. It might seem odd but we enjoy it.

  We feel cold weather is much better than the alternative-MUD. The mild two weeks we had in January was nice for a lot of people but we had our feel of mud, mud, mud. Now don't misunderstand us, we will be happy when spring gets here and the mud it brings along with it, but that is short lived because the days are getting longer, warmer and planting season will be coming soon. But a gray wet winter seems to drag on forever. So let it be cold and snowy when it is supposed to be. Get out and enjoy the freshness of it. Take a winter walk and see what critters are leaving their foot prints in your yard or park. And when your better half or friend isn't looking, hit them with a snow ball. That is guaranteed to warm you both up. 

  It has been a long time since we have blogged and we thought it was time to let everyone know what we are up to. The girls are back at college and Conard is back in the swing at high school. Here at the farm most of the work consist of getting firewood, taking care of the livestock, and doing small projects as the weater cooperates. All of us did get a chance to do some ice skating on the creek and some sledding during the nice cold snowy period we had after Christmas.

 Sandy and I are catching up on paper work, finishing seed orders, planning chicken and turkey logistics for the coming year, doing taxes, doing inventory. Lots of good inside work. We are looking forward to some great conferences coming up. The Ohio Ecological Food and Farms (OEFFA) annual  Conference  in February is always great. Also we hope to attend the Innovatve Farmer of Ohio (IFO) confernce in March. We are attendig lots of local meetings concerning local food and farm market issues. It is always good to get reconnected with folks we haven't seen for some time, share ideas, and get our personal batteries recharged..

 Hopefully you are able to get some items caught up and do some relaxing on these January days.

Hi Everyone ,

Our family is asking for your help in defeating Issue two. We generally do not mix politics, freindship, and business but we feel this issue will effect us all, growers and consumers.

Below is and editorial we sent to several newspapers.

We hope you are having a great fall.
Guy, Sandy Ashmore and Family

Editor, News journal

      We are small, independent livestock producers who direct market all of our livestock products directly to our consumers and we urge everyone to vote NO on Issue 2.

      Issue 2 is nothing more than an attempted power grab by special interests and large agribusinesses. This proposed Issue 2 will be a state constitutional amendment based on fear. The fear that the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) or the People for Ethical Treatment for Animals (PETA) will come into Ohio and try to eliminate animal agriculture, especially large scale operations. In order to fight off this fear, they propose to give thirteen political appointees complete control over how farm animals are raised in Ohio, and by a constitutional amendment no less.

      We already have a state Department of Agriculture that oversees the livestock industry. It is already doing a fine job of over regulating us. Look up their website and see all the rules we have to follow now (www.agri.ohio.gov). Why do we now need a political appointed Livestock Board? This Board will have total jurisdiction. They will be judge, jury, and executioner. No appeal, no public input, no transparencies. If HSUS or PETA do present ballot initiatives in the future we will have an opportunity to vote no on this initiative as well.

      Our farm, as well as hundreds of others that sell direct to consumers, is in the safe, local food business everyday. We are transparent, and we welcome public input and interaction.

 Do not let this perceived fear limit livestock producers animal husbandry options, and do not let this perceived fear limit you as a consumer on your options for safe, local food.

     Help stop this special interest corruption of our state constitution. Vote NO on Issue 2.

Guy and Sandy Ashmore

That Guy’s Family Farm

394 St Rt 380

Clarksville, Ohio 45113

937-289-3151

Editor, News journal

 Our family urges everyone to vote no on issue 2, the constitutional admendment that will create a Livestock Care Standards Board on November 3rd.

 This constitutional admendment is for more control by Agribuisness and has nothing to do with safe, local, or affordable food as the misleading advertisements claim. This board will be made up of ten political appointees who will have control over how livestock is raised in this state. No public imput, no debate. If they feel free range chickens are not safe, for example, then free range chickens will not be raised in this state.

 We already have a Department of Agriculture that has rules, regulations, and enforcement. These regulations can be viewed on their web site www.agri.ohio.gov . Why do we need another board that has no oversight or public imput. It will only put more control over consumer and sustainable farmers options.

 Please see www.ohioact.org for more information, and please tell your friends and families.